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As I mentioned in an earlier post next year the BG team should AT LEAST finish MAC play 11-5 or 10-6. Anything else is a disappointment. We have the talent returning but this coaching staff needs to put its best athletes on the floor. When I was a high school coach for 13 years in Illinois I always put the best athletes on the court (unless their were situations that prevented). Some of Coach Orrs rotations and substitutions are mind bogging. He likes to substitute position for position but our players are talented enough that a forward can play the #2 spot or play at the occasional center position. Crawford is our real true PG. Can Dee Brown sub a few minutes for him, absolutely. Put Brown at point and move 0thomas to #2 while Crawford rests. At no time should we see Erger and Kraus on the floor at the same time. In fact, Coach Orr needs to shrink his rotation to about 9 players and go with that. We also can no longer play this 2-3 zone the whole game. Being a former coach it is the easiest zone to break. The trap works well at times but if you break the trap your looking at a layup. In this zone all you have to do is go to the wing on each side of the foul line and throw over the zone. If the center comes up to guard but someone rotates over then you are wide open for a three. If teams can penetrate to the foul line more than likely they will get an open look.

As I said, put the best playmakers on the court, shorten the bench, and don't be afriad to sub a forward with a guard or vice versa. Sure you may have a mismatch. But what is a mismatch on one end is an advantage on the other end.

This would be my starting 6ive for next year:

Crawford, Brown, Thomas, Calhoun and Ogles. When its time for subs bring in McElroy and Sealey to sub Thomas and Calhoun. When its time for Brown to sit for a break move Thomas over to fill in for Brown. Leave in Sealey or McElroy to replace Brown's normal position. And when Crawford needs a rest you can leave Thomas at #2 and have Brown run the point. To gives Ogles a break we have Cam Black. If Ogles or Black were to get in foul trouble. We could go with a smaller lineup and put Sealey or McElroy down low. This would be an 8 man rotation. It would be great if we could develop another guard and big but I don't see Erger and Kraus giving us the production we need. Nothing wrong with going 8 or 9 deep but going 11 deep frankly is not the best way to go!! This team should challenge for the MAC title next year if managed correctly. The coaching staff cannot be afraid to play players at other positions. A #2,3,4 is basically the same especially since our #2 doesn't make many three's. I strongly believe we are a PG away from winning a championship but there is no reason why Dee can't give us good production at a PG position.

Next year will be our year!

There is a ton of time between now and October. But right now, I'd have to say the development of Cam Black is necessary for a championship season. It looked, to me anyway, that defenses were able to crowd the BG guards secure in the knowledge that there was no one inside to make them pay for it. Oglesby showed glimpses this season, but he is not big enough to play center, unless the style is more fast paced.

I'm hoping C. Black can get it done. The combination of Calhoun-Brown-Thomas-Crawford is a pretty good place to start. The progress and impact made by this year's sophomore class is reason to believe the post position can be a force next year too.

FWIW, I think hammb said in a post earlier this week that Black appeared to injure himself earlier this year. Steve Mix on Thursday's telecast mentioned being at a previous BG practice where Black was limited because of injury.

This is kind of an outsider's view since I'm not a huge college hoops fan but I have seen BG a handful of times when they've been on TV. It looks like we have an athletic team but at the same time we have a lot of the same types of players. A lot of 6-4 to 6-7 guys who slash to the basket. No real consistent threat from 3-point land. No guy who will plant himself with his back to the basket and post up on the low block. Calhoun looks like he could be that guy but it seems he has a tendency to disappear at times. I thought Thomas was more of a 3-point threat but in the games I watched he didn't display it.

Gmartin I agree with almost everything you say.

However, I disagree with Kraus. I love your premise of playing guys at different spots and I think Kraus allows us to do that because he is tough enough to guard 3s. I really like Kraus and think he can provide some pretty solid bench minutes.

Also you ignored clarke and hendo.

I'd put money that (barring injury or any other unexpected occurrence) Cam Black starts over Ogelsby. The staff likes it when Calhoun can play the PF instead of C, as Coach Stone alluded to in the postgame show after the NIU game. Also, Black was our starting center this year before he dinged up his knee.

Hopefully Sealey improves his outside game a bit in the offseason, too so the coaches can feel more comfortable using him at small forward, etc and get more run in the rotation. He's got some REAL ability.

While I'm on the topic thought we do need a pure shooter in the worst way. Brown can knock em down when he's open and he's money from inside 15 and I like that he's going there more, but I still think he struggles to get open off the ball.

I didn't ignore Clarke or Henderson. We just haven't seen them play a D1 games and I put very little stock on Freshman coming in and making a great impact. I agree Kraus gives us minutes but he also has made some boneheaded defensive plays and when his shot is off it is down right bad. If he can improve his jumpshot and be smarter defensively then I have no issues with giving him substantial minutes but I see no reason why we can't bring in another post player and move Thomas to the #2 guard and move Dee to the point at times.

Also, does anyone know for sure if Chauncey Orr is planning on attending BGSU? I have not heard any news. And if I am not mistaken if he plays at BG and his Dad is still coaching he don't use up a scholarship and it frees up one for another recruit. Anyone have any word about Chauncey

I thought we were suppose to focus on the other BG sports still playing...

Most of the teams in the MAC will be improved next year. I don't see BG being any better than 10-6. We will still need a proven shooter and a bigger point guard.

Miami is my pick to win the MAC next year followed my Western Michigan. The league will be as good as it's been in 5 or 6 years.

kdog27 wrote:I thought we were suppose to focus on the other BG sports still playing...

+1

kdog27 wrote:I thought we were suppose to focus on the other BG sports still playing...

-1 hate jump stops and 2 handed push three pointers.

Globetrotter wrote:

kdog27 wrote:I thought we were suppose to focus on the other BG sports still playing...

-1 hate jump stops and 2 handed push three pointers.

LMAO...no doubt. You couldn't pay me to watch women's basketball.

I was semi joking but the reality is we could put together a team of people on here and give the team a game.

No...I doubt the people on this board have the cardio to go end to end with women for 40 minutes. I supect the last 15 minutes would be pretty brutal

I'll take the Women !! $$$$

Globetrotter wrote:I was semi joking but the reality is we could put together a team of people on here and give the team a game.

Don't know what kind of shape YOU"RE in, but I know a whole lot of AZZer's who'd have a hard time making back from the other end of the floor!
Seriously, and I know Hambb and a few others hate women's basketball, which is their right. But if you tell me you can get at least 5 guys willing to try it. GO FOR IT!!!! (You'll get killed, IMO)