Thinking about next year

Jacobs4Heisman · Post by **Jacobs4Heisman** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 10:12 am

With no MAC game until this weekend, and being bored at work this morning, my mind has been wandering towards the makeup of the team for next season. It is certainly going to be interesting watching all the new and semi-new faces try to keep the train rolling.

PG -- we're in great shape here. Kate will obviously start, and Jazz should see an increase in minutes off the bench.

SG -- We're in good shape here too with our other consistent returner -- Golds. If Whit comes back full strength, we'll see her fighting with the freshman guards for PT at 2 and 3.

3G/SF -- I'm hoping Clapper can come back strong and win this spot, otherwise we'll probably be looking at a freshman here.

PF/C -- These two spots will be very interesting to watch. Breske looks like a potential block and rebound machine in the paint. She's looked impressive on D in limited minutes in her last few games. Her block of McKinney, the premier Athlete in the MAC, yesterday was impressive as hell. I haven't really gotten a read on the type of player Bugher is going to be yet, but hopefully she'll be able to step up and work into the rotation down low. Past that, we'll have freshman like Uhl fighting for these two spots.

We know that Achter will probably be first team all-MAC, and she can take on a bigger scoring role if necessary. We also know Golds will be one of the best "glue" players in the MAC. She'll D up the best guard, hit the open three, cause havoc in the passing lanes, and work the boards well. She and Achter will need to carry the very young team at times, and I think they're capable of that. They are both also excellent leaders on the court, and will be needed to fill the void left by Ali.

If Clapper can come back, we'll have a nice core of young bigs with Bugher and Breske thrown in there. I expect Uhl to challenge for minutes right off the bat as well. If we can get solid contributions from those 4 players, we'll be solid enough down low to win the MAC. If we can also get some good bench scoring from Prochaska and maybe Lee Jennings, I think we can remain on top of the MAC next year. If we can do that, and get another big-time recruit the following year, I think we can make the leap to perennial power.

Next year will be hugely important. We need to show that we can reload and continue to be a top-25 caliber program year in and year out. I expect us to lose some winnable games next year as all the youngsters grow up, but I think we can win 12 or 13 MAC games, and get right back in the tourney. A lot depends on how quickly the freshman come along, obviously. From reading about their character and abilities, I'm willing to bet at least a few of them can become major contributors by the second half of the season.

BGFalconfromCincy · Post by **BGFalconfromCincy** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 10:46 am

I also think about this from time to time and next year will be very interesting. Another big factor will be the OOC schedule, how we do against it, and how the freshmen adjust in those early games to see who will be tha factors when MAC play rolls around. Another thing I ponder about is redshirts, since the freshmen class is so big, it wouldn't shock me to see the PG we got from Illinois redshirted

Dayons_Den · Post by **Dayons_Den** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 11:10 am

I think a telling tidbit from what you have posted is the fact that we can bring in freshman that could play right away and be impact players in their first year. That is a luxury of a strong program.

Jacobs4Heisman · Post by **Jacobs4Heisman** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 11:16 am

Dayons_Den wrote:I think a telling tidbit from what you have posted is the fact that we can bring in freshman that could play right away and be impact players in their first year. That is a luxury of a strong program.

I was reading some chatter on a Kent message board, and a few of their long time fans that have followed Clapper's career think she could've started for Kent and averaged 10 a game pretty easily. Kent is 6-2 and the second best team in the East. On this team, Clapper was averaging 7-8 garbage minutes a game. That's pretty cool.

I'm really excited to see Prochaska play.

theziggies · Post by **theziggies** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 11:45 am

I think Jasmine will start along with Kate solely based on experience. Just because she is the backup point guard doesn't mean she can't be a starting wing.

Jacobs4Heisman · Post by **Jacobs4Heisman** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 11:56 am

theziggies wrote:I think Jasmine will start along with Kate solely based on experience. Just because she is the backup point guard doesn't mean she can't be a starting wing.

Jazz will need to improve this offseason for that to happen, but I don't think she's enough of a scoring threat to play off guard. This team will need scoring from that position next year. I think Miller might be forced to start Jazz early in the season, but I think somebody else will need to step up into that position if Jazz doesn't improve her game. To this point, Jazz has played zero minutes at wing in her career. I think it's tough to envision her there long-term with all the wings we have coming in.

Here's an interesting thought though -- what if Jazz does make the necessary improvements to warrant a starting slot, and none of the freshman guards are ready to start? We know Kate can score in bunches, and her shooting is improving. Perhaps we could see a slowed-down, better-decision-making, Jazz start at the point, with Achter sliding out to 2 guard for stretches? That could be really interesting. I don't think Kate and Jazz have ever been on the floor together. With Jazz at 1, Kate at 2, and Golds at 3, with 2 shot blockers down low, could any MAC team even hope to score consistently on us? The defense played by that group would be sick.

BGFalconfromCincy · Post by **BGFalconfromCincy** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 12:52 pm

Jacobs4Heisman wrote:I don't think Kate and Jazz have ever been on the floor together.

Actually they were during garbage time of the Central game, and after the game Miller said he wanted to do it for awhile, but we just never did.

Jacobs4Heisman · Post by **Jacobs4Heisman** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 12:55 pm

BGFalconfromCincy wrote:
Jacobs4Heisman wrote:I don't think Kate and Jazz have ever been on the floor together.
Actually they were during garbage time of the Central game, and after the game Miller said he wanted to do it for awhile, but we just never did.

Oh yeah -- that's right. I'm sure Miller would like a few more blowouts this year so he can give them extended minutes together to see if it will work for next year. If Jazz can make a mental leap this offseason, with her physical ability, and finish around the rim a little better, they would make a pretty unstoppable guard duo.

Falconfreak90 · Post by **Falconfreak90** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 5:27 pm

Good topic, J4H. It will be a very interesting year in 07-08 but based on what I've seen out of the returning players, BG will be in the hunt for the MAC title again.

Man I love this program.

GO FALCONS!!! BEAT CHICAGO STATE!!

Jacobs4Heisman · Post by **Jacobs4Heisman** » Tue Jan 30, 2007 10:45 am

I wonder how Miller will approach the OOC schedule next year. Do we schedule like we believe we're a perennial top-25 program, as we did this year? Or do we back off a bit to ease all the freshman into the college game, and allow the returnees to figure out life without the seniors?

I'm not sure at this point which way I'd lean.

bg_bball · Post by **bg_bball** » Tue Jan 30, 2007 11:45 am

I think the biggest thing is that we might have to adopt somewhat of a new system without the seniors

look at the wings now, and the wings next year - what's missing? 3 pt shooting. You don't have the athletic ability of Carin to get her shot whenever she wants.

In the post, you don't have the same range. These girls can hit some 3's, but they aren't going to be putting up as many attempts as Liz or even close. Nobody can fill Ali's shoes in the ways that she can play both inside and out.

Not knowing anything about who we are bringing in, I'd think that we start the 3 guards that return

1-Kate
2-Jazz
3-Goldsberry

The posts would either need to be transfers or freshman, we would need Tara and/or Laura to have a great summer to be ready to play big minutes next year. Clapper has the size to play inside, but I don't think Coach is looking to take her off the perimeter, but the recovery from an ACL and possibly losing quickness could have alot of say in that.

I would think that with the success we've had in the past few years, and the ability of our coaching staff to recruit, we could land a very good post (or two) in this class. You could really pitch that you can step in and start as a freshman to these kids. That alone might bring in a higher recruit over a school where they might sit for a year or two.

Jacobs4Heisman · Post by **Jacobs4Heisman** » Tue Jan 30, 2007 12:13 pm

Some of the highlights of the incoming recruits are as follows:

Chelsea Albert -- 6-2 -- fifth best senior in the state (MI) according to the Detroit News -- Miller expects her to contribute immediately in the post

Jen Uhl -- 6-1 -- rated fourth best senior PF in Ohio -- has range to stretch defense but is an excellent post player. Also will be counted on to play right away

Kelly Zuercher 6-1 -- developmental low-post player, that Miller thinks is the second-best center in the state. Miller was quoted as saying we were very fortunate to keep her away from the power conferences.

Crystal Murdaugh -- 5-11 -- perhaps the new Carin Horne-type player. This quote from Miller says it all: "She is a versatile player, and will be counted on to play multiple positions while at BGSU. Crystal has the size and strength to create matchup problems at the offensive end in numerous positions. She has an excellent mid-range game, and can create off the dribble. Crystal received national recruiting attention from schools including Xavier of the Atlantic 10, as well as several Big Ten and Big 12 programs, and we are very happy she chose to become a Falcon."

Liana Jennings -- 5-8 -- The heir apparent to Achter, but can also score and play the 2-guard. Regarded by many to be the best athlete in the state of Ohio. Great leader

Tracy Pontius -- 5-6 -- ranked 175th on the Blue Star Index's top 200 players in the nation -- best 3-point shooting guard Miller has ever recuited. Crafty scorer, but makes players around her better as a PG.

Bianca Hooten -- 5-10 -- another big wing, she's a good defender, and Miller is very excited about her upside. I'm thinking she may be a RS candidate.

Lauren Prochaska -- 5-11 -- Big recruiting coup for us, as she was destined for Ohio State ever since she was a freshman. Will be the first girl in Ohio history to be first-team all state all four years in HS. Averaged 24.3 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 5.3 steals last season, and is scoring even more this year.

If Prochaska is as good as advertised, I would not be surprise at all to see her start at the 2 over Jazz right off the bat. Like I said before, next year's team will need scoring, and at this point that is not Jazz's strength. She'll still get plenty of minutes at both guard slots, and we'll still need her defense, but unless she improves her scoring and decision making markedly this off-season, I don't think she'll start next year.

Falconboy · Post by **Falconboy** » Tue Jan 30, 2007 3:31 pm

Jacobs4Heisman wrote:Some of the highlights of the incoming recruits are as follows:

Chelsea Albert -- 6-2 -- fifth best senior in the state (MI) according to the Detroit News -- Miller expects her to contribute immediately in the post

Jen Uhl -- 6-1 -- rated fourth best senior PF in Ohio -- has range to stretch defense but is an excellent post player. Also will be counted on to play right away

Kelly Zuercher 6-1 -- developmental low-post player, that Miller thinks is the second-best center in the state. Miller was quoted as saying we were very fortunate to keep her away from the power conferences.

Crystal Murdaugh -- 5-11 -- perhaps the new Carin Horne-type player. This quote from Miller says it all: "She is a versatile player, and will be counted on to play multiple positions while at BGSU. Crystal has the size and strength to create matchup problems at the offensive end in numerous positions. She has an excellent mid-range game, and can create off the dribble. Crystal received national recruiting attention from schools including Xavier of the Atlantic 10, as well as several Big Ten and Big 12 programs, and we are very happy she chose to become a Falcon."

Liana Jennings -- 5-8 -- The heir apparent to Achter, but can also score and play the 2-guard. Regarded by many to be the best athlete in the state of Ohio. Great leader

Tracy Pontius -- 5-6 -- ranked 175th on the Blue Star Index's top 200 players in the nation -- best 3-point shooting guard Miller has ever recuited. Crafty scorer, but makes players around her better as a PG.

Bianca Hooten -- 5-10 -- another big wing, she's a good defender, and Miller is very excited about her upside. I'm thinking she may be a RS candidate.

Lauren Prochaska -- 5-11 -- Big recruiting coup for us, as she was destined for Ohio State ever since she was a freshman. Will be the first girl in Ohio history to be first-team all state all four years in HS. Averaged 24.3 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 5.3 steals last season, and is scoring even more this year.

If Prochaska is as good as advertised, I would not be surprise at all to see her start at the 2 over Jazz right off the bat. Like I said before, next year's team will need scoring, and at this point that is not Jazz's strength. She'll still get plenty of minutes at both guard slots, and we'll still need her defense, but unless she improves her scoring and decision making markedly this off-season, I don't think she'll start next year.

Gosh J4H, your makin' me drool again.

bg_bball · Post by **bg_bball** » Tue Jan 30, 2007 3:47 pm

are those commits? i didnt think you could bring in 8 players in one class

Jacobs4Heisman · Post by **Jacobs4Heisman** » Tue Jan 30, 2007 3:53 pm

They're all signed and sealed.