43 years & counting for NCAA, now 0-32 for MAC Tourney title

[BGSU33]

This is why I simply have no faith. I have been following BG since I first stepped foot on campus in 1993, so my pain has only been felt for the last 18 years. But it's been nearly two decades of more of the same. Did I expect this year's team to break through? No, not at all. But I have seen much better teams, higher-seeded squads and even players who would go on to the NBA end is similar fashion as today. No matter our seed, coach or players, BG just dies in MAC Tournament. During our now 43-year NCAA Tournament drought, there have been 32 years (counting this one) of the MAC Tournament in which BG has won a grand total of none of them. However, a MAC East team has won the last 6, and what's more - with four different MAC East schools winning the last four tournaments coming into this year’s event. Only BG and Buffalo have never won the tournament, and in UB’s defense, the Bulls didn’t join the MAC until 1999. Just sad....

Ball State - 7
Ohio - 5
Kent State - 5
Miami – 4
Eastern Michigan - 4
Central Michigan - 2
Akron -1
Western Michigan -1
Northern Illinois – 1
Toledo – 1
Bowling Green - 0
Buffalo – 0

[TG1996]

Are you the guy that always posts death dates on Wikipedia when celebrities die, too?

[JWEIII]

This is always one of my least favorite days of the year. In all, the team was far more entertaining than I was expecting this year (finally have a couple guys who can rock the rim). And they played .500 ball in confernece. And, no offense to JoeJak, the core players all return next year (barring transfers, academic issues, pot arrests, ect. ect.).

But 33 has a point. Under Coach Orr we are 2-4 in the tournament since 2007-2008. Perhaps more disapointing, BG has only won ONE GAME in Quicken Loans in FOUR YEARS! Sweet Lord!

2008 BG lost in the first round @ Toledo.
2009 #1 seed MAC Champs beat OU in the quarter finals (Cleveland) before losing to #5 Akron
2010 BG lost in the first round @ Western
2011 Won at home, but taken appart in the quarter finals by Western.

My point? Not only are we not winning the tournment, we aren't even competitive. Take that 33!

[BleedOrange]

This is why I simply have no faith. I have been following BG since I first stepped foot on campus in 1993, so my pain has only been felt for the last 18 years. But it's been nearly two decades of more of the same. Did I expect this year's team to break through? No, not at all. But I have seen much better teams, higher-seeded squads and even players who would go on to the NBA end is similar fashion as today. No matter our seed, coach or players, BG just dies in MAC Tournament. During our now 43-year NCAA Tournament drought, there have been 32 years (counting this one) of the MAC Tournament in which BG has won a grand total of none of them. However, a MAC East team has won the last 6, and what's more - with four different MAC East schools winning the last four tournaments coming into this year’s event. Only BG and Buffalo have never won the tournament, and in UB’s defense, the Bulls didn’t join the MAC until 1999. Just sad....

Ball State - 7
Ohio - 5
Kent State - 5
Miami – 4
Eastern Michigan - 4
Central Michigan - 2
Akron -1
Western Michigan -1
Northern Illinois – 1
Toledo – 1
Bowling Green - 0
Buffalo – 0

Thanks '33!

1. When you say "no faith" in BG, no matter what the coach or team, are you implying that that you think supernatural forces have permanently dictated BG's post-season failures? Or, do you think that there is some invisible, metaphysical aspect of BG hoops, as opposed to the rest of the MAC, precludes an NCAA appearance? Or, maybe there's a conspiracy? Or, is it BG-ness itself?

2. Seriously, everybody out here is acutely aware of this situation. What's the purpose for this tedious, redundant post?

[gmartin]

CAN WE JUST ALL COOL DOWN AND ENJOY THE SUCCESS OF OUR TWO TEAMS THAT ARE IN POST SEASON TOURNAMENTS. FOR CRYING OUT LOUD THE SEASON IS NOT EVEN THREE HOURS OLD.

[JWEIII]

are you implying that that you think supernatural forces have permanently dictated BG's post-season failures?

Absolutely...

[Matty B]

Everyone forgets... this was supposed to be the year in which Chris Knight dominated the MAC. Can you imagine this team with Calhoun as the #2 option??

DAMN YOU, GREEN MONSTER!!

[JWEIII]

In case anyone cares (you don't), I was having some bad wine and wondered, "is my analysis fair?" So I checked it out:

Since the 2007-2008 season BG has only advanced past the quarter finals once. BUT in that same time period, four MAC teams have failed to make it out of the quarter finals (win a game in Cleveland): Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, NIU and Toledo (HA!). Buffalo, like BG, has only done it once, but they could get a second tonight (v. Kent).

So one ain't much, but we ain't Toledo (HA!).

Anyway... (I gotta put down the bad wine and find something to do).

[ZuluWarrior]

gmartin, you're in the wrong forum if you want to talk about other sports. Right now, another incredibly disappointing Men's Basketball Season - 10 in a row! 43 Years - UNACCEPTABLE!

[Falcon Fanatic]

CAN WE JUST ALL COOL DOWN AND ENJOY THE SUCCESS OF OUR TWO TEAMS THAT ARE IN POST SEASON TOURNAMENTS. FOR CRYING OUT LOUD THE SEASON IS NOT EVEN THREE HOURS OLD.

+1

[BGSU33]

I care too much for BG basketball, and football for that matter. And I realize it. I’m happy when we win and I’m upset when we lose. I wear my heart, emotions and colors on my sleeve. Bowling Green is my alma mater and my favorite school. Not Ohio State, not another BCS or bigger-named school, it’s BG. Period.

Do I expect us to win a MAC Tournament title every year? No, absolutely not. Do I expect us to win one every five years? Not expect, but contend for one, yes. Do I expect us to win one every decade or so? Damn right I do! There’s no reason not to. There’s no reason why all these other schools in the MAC - who we are supposed to be on par with - can accomplish it and we haven’t. Yes, I do expect more out of my school than this. Having not made - not win a game in the NCAA Tournament, just simply make the field – in an NCAA Tournament in over 40 years and also never having won a MAC Tournament in over 30 years is unacceptable to me, period. I’m sorry, it just is. I hate what this once-proud program has turned into. It’s embarrassing to me as an alum and as a fan to see what we’ve turned into, playing in front of crowds barely over 1,000 fans, seeing teams come into BG and run us off our home floor, etc. Trust me, I would love nothing more than to eat my words and to see us break through. Because it’s gone on too long for me. It just has.

Next year we “should” have a team capable at making a run. We’ll be in a new arena, almost everyone is back, we red-shirted a player and have a couple new guys coming in. And I hope like hell we can do it. We can agree to disagree, on this or any other topic for that matter. I can’t make us play better, I can’t make us coach better and I can’t make more people come out to support us. But what I can do is keep on doing what I’ve been doing - giving money to this university and these programs, buy my season tickets, go to home and road games, etc. But I’m not going to settle for seeing things continue as they have been.

[AyZiggy97]

gmartin, you're in the wrong forum if you want to talk about other sports. Right now, another incredibly disappointing Men's Basketball Season - 10 in a row! 43 Years - UNACCEPTABLE!

I agree! Let's fire Jack Gregory. That otta rectify the situation.

[ZuluWarrior]

The ole Cheshire Cat was around too long too! He absolutely has accountability in our basketball programs demise in the 80's.

[Drago]

There really is no excuse for the basketball program to not have made the tourney at least once every 10 years or so. I really don't see much changing next year, we'll be better by a couple of wins, but unless our bigs turn into forces inside, we'll struggle when it matters.
In regards to Jack Gregory, I think his last year of being AD BG won the Reece and Jacoby Cups. I would take him over our AD now....he may raise money, but he isn't good at producing winning programs or drawing fans. Hopefully the new president will make a change right away so we can be compete for titles in more than two sports.

[Matty B]

There really is no excuse for the basketball program to not have made the tourney at least once every 10 years or so. I really don't see much changing next year, we'll be better by a couple of wins, but unless our bigs turn into forces inside, we'll struggle when it matters.
In regards to Jack Gregory, I think his last year of being AD BG won the Reece and Jacoby Cups. I would take him over our AD now....he may raise money, but he isn't good at producing winning programs or drawing fans. Hopefully the new president will make a change right away so we can be compete for titles in more than two sports.

You're right. It's absolutely the AD's fault for bringing in a former Big East coach of the year to lead our basketball program and a two-time NCAA FCS (1-AA) NATIONAL coach of the year to lead our football program. Gimme a break

Once these programs start winning, which should happen soon given these guys' track records and the talant they've clearly begun to assemble, then and ONLY then will you draw crowds.. but you DEFINITELY can't pin the recent struggles in the W/L column on the A.D... what do you want him to do, bring in Mike Krzyzewski and Bobby Bowden?