Without question our priority for local sports, Ohio State, and the Dayton Flyers have shown to be a priority for readership in the primary Press Pros market, and state-wide, as well. (Press Pros Feature Photos)
As always, we’re happy to receive and respond to your opinions and questions regarding recent posts…regarding summer basketball moves at OSU and Dayton…baseball…and why didn’t Press Pros attend…in person…the Big Ten Baseball Tournament this year?
As always, the end of the school year seems to bring bottom-line questions regarding what we’ve witnessed with the concluding sports year, along with questions over what we expect to see come September and the next one.
In particular, once in a while we get the question pertaining to NBA basketball (which we don’t see), the Cavaliers, and just how much fan interest exists outside of Cleveland.
“I found your Press Pros site from Medina County during the state basketball coverage and I’m interested to hear your opinion about the NBA and interest in the Cavaliers. Is there a reason why you don’t write about them, or the WNBA team in Indianapolis. I do enjoy the Press Pros site, but it does seem like you guys write about what you want to write about.” … Allen Gano
(Ed. Note: With apologies for the edits to your response, let me start by saying that Press Pros has about a dozen contributors and none that have the patience for masochism that Cavalier beat writers (Cleveland.com and The Athletic) must have. It’s a whole ‘nuther reality when there’s no LeBron. And you’re correct in saying that we do what we enjoy, and what area readers enjoy, by covering OHSSA sports, Ohio State, and the University of Dayton. As for the WNBA, I’ve never watched it that much, and according to financial reports, others have made different choices, as well. Up until the 2025-’26 season, the league has never made money, even with the incredible push they get from Disney and ESPN. But my biggest issue with professional basketball is that the season is too long, the rules are too strange, and for interest sake I change sports interest with the vernal equinox (spring). From what I saw in the Cavaliers’ playoff series with the Knicks they looked totally disinterested and suffer from the reality of any major league sport. To be entertaining you have to win when good seats costs $350 (in Cleveland). In New York and Los Angeles you can pay four times that. It’s no wonder that there’s so many homeless there. No, we do fine (see accompanying reader density chart) without covering professional basketball.)
UD/s DeShayne Montgomery said repeatedly that he loved Dayton, but he couldn’t wait to leave for Louisville, his fourth school in five years.
“This question may be for Hal McCoy, but do you expect UD (Dayton) to be active in the basketball transfer portal this summer? It seems like they take a step forward and two steps backward with their recruiting. Money? I’m an alum, but I couldn’t afford it now.” … John Miller
(Ed. Note: For Hal’s sake, better to reserve his incredible talents to writing about what he sees on the court, not to what he sees walking out the door for the next school down the road. Unfortunately, the Flyers don’t have any choice but to be active in the portal, and would you agree…you never know what you’re getting when they leave someone else to come to your program? Don’t you think it says something when De’Shayne Montgomery has now left Dayton for Louisville after telling people at every press conference how much he loved Dayton…the school, the team, the community, the fans? He didn’t love Dayton, at all. Just Dayton’s money, which you question how much they’re willing to spend on the next Montgomery. Bryce Heard is gone, Adam Njie is gone, and no one will notice. Suddenly a bronze statue of Obie Toppin out front of UD Arena seems a good idea…for old time’s sake.)
“Why do you think the Buckeyes lost so many in the portal – Devin Royal, Gabe Cupps, Colin White – all three of their Ohio Mr. Basketball guys? What’s happened to you win with people at Ohio State?” … Tom Killilea
Devin Royal’s departure for Villanova amounts to what one local writer claims, “The last chance at money he’s going to make playing basketball.”
(Ed. Note: Sadly, time and change (the kind that spends) has surely shown there’s no firm friendship anymore with being a Buckeye. It doesn’t mean what it once did compared to the lure of someone willing to pay you more to play at the University of Illinois, Chicago, where Gabe Cupps has now committed to. That’s not even a lateral move, and it makes three schools now in four years for the Centerville grad. Royal has reportedly gotten his new deal with Villanova, and no doubt saw the handwriting on the wall regarding his role with freshman Anthony Thompson coming this fall, because Thompson is going to demand the basketball to become what former Buckeye Malaki Branham did as a freshman. A Philly cynic writes, “Playing for Kevin Willard (Villanova) is the last chance at money Royal’s ever going to make playing basketball.” BTW, Branham’s one-and-done as a Buckeye has hardly made him a household name as a professional (developmental league). Colin White is going to Akron, hoping to improve on the 46 points he scored as a Buckeye…in two seasons. While you can question Dayton’s position (above) with talent in/talent out, the Buckeyes have some interesting lineup options with Mobley returning, Amare Bynum, transfer Jimmie Williams (Duquesne shooting guard), Thompson, and Justin Pippen (from Cal, son of Scottie). Time will tell, of course.)
“Is this year’s improvement with Ohio State baseball a sign of more good things to come in 2027, and beyond? And I noticed you didn’t attend the Big Ten Tournament in person. Is there a reason for that?” … Danny Burcham
(Ed. Note: 13-37 to 30-25 can be attributed to three things, actually. One, the return of Henry Kaczmar as a veteran leader at shortstop and a .330 hitter at the top of the lineup. Two, improved starting pitching with Gavin Kuzniewski, Chris Domke, and Pierce Herrenbruck. And three, Justin Haire cleaned house with the roster after the 13-37 season and upgraded with people like Dane Harvey (first base, 19 home runs, and hit .300), Noah Furcht, and better bullpen arms. In addition, other y0ung talent came of age in the person of Lee Ellis and Maddix Simpson. And you can’t say it enough. They just plain pitched BETTER. Haire didn’t win COTY honors, but no one in the conference did more to flip the script than he did in 2026. More good things to come? They’re very enthusiastic about their recruiting class for next year, and their upward trend is bound to attract more and better portal talent…if they have the money to spend. That has been a work (and a hard sell) in progress. As for not attending the tournament in person, choices have to be made. The expansion of the league to add the four West Coast teams changes everything in terms of travel, efficiency, and frankly…security. Air travel sucks. It’s never on time and planes are a petri dish for arriving sick. Costs have skyrocketed, and you can’t help but think about driving alone in Los Angeles or Seattle in a rental car and taking a wrong exit. I don’t mind watching the evening news, but I don’t want to be in the headlines.)
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