Ummm... Testing. Testing.

Bleeding Orange · Post by **Bleeding Orange** » Wed Aug 15, 2007 11:59 pm

I just want to make sure this forum is still operable:

I CAN'T WAIT TO WATCH THE 2007-08 FALCONS DESTROY THE MAC!!!!

So, on that note, is there any noteworthy news to be had about the team? It has been far too long since I have had any, and I am not ashamed to admit that I'm starting to get the shakes.

TG1996 · Post by **TG1996** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 12:09 am

Maybe not about our team, but OU's team MVP from last year announced her intent to transfer (Fredericks, I think?). Between her departure and McCoy leaving Akron for the Promised Land, the rest of the East may have taken a hit in talent. (I don't follow the other teams in the conference all that closely to know for sure, but when two teams in the division lose top players who have eligibility left, I can only imagine that's not a good thing for them.

)

Jacobs4Heisman · Post by **Jacobs4Heisman** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 6:13 am

This year is going to be extremely interesting. We know we have a TON of young talent, with a few solid veterans mixed in. We also know we have a very effective system to plug them into, and a staff that knows how to recruit to that system. What we don't know, is how many of the freshman will be ready to contribute from day 1, and how the older kids will handle their new leadership roles.

There will obviously be a drop-off in success from the last couple years. I don't expect this team to come very close to sweeping the MAC schedule. I expect them to grow up during the offseason, win a weak East (12-4ish out to be plenty), and then be in the hunt for the tourney title and compete in the NCAA. Those are lofty expectations for such a young team, but I think we have the talent to pull it off. Fredericks transferring would weaken our main competition. Ball State may still be tough.

What are your expectations?

BGFalconfromCincy · Post by **BGFalconfromCincy** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 8:21 am

TG1996 wrote:Maybe not about our team, but OU's team MVP from last year announced her intent to transfer (Fredericks, I think?). Between her departure and McCoy leaving Akron for the Promised Land, the rest of the East may have taken a hit in talent. (I don't follow the other teams in the conference all that closely to know for sure, but when two teams in the division lose top players who have eligibility left, I can only imagine that's not a good thing for them. )

Did you hear anything about schools Fredericks was interested in going do

Harry Hood · Post by **Harry Hood** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 9:22 am

I spoke with Katie A. at the golf course earlier this week. She is really excited about the Freshman bigs and their ability to run the floor and crash the boards. Sounds like they much prefer to bang it inside rather than float around the perimiter.

Joe Foss · Post by **Joe Foss** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 9:31 am

Rachel Frederick is transferring to Duquesne, as has Eve Pyle, formerly of Miami.

Women's Basketball: Brother's illness forces transfer
Thursday, August 16, 2007

By Paul Zeise, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Former North Catholic High School standout Rachel Frederick has transferred from Ohio University to Duquesne where she will continue her basketball career after sitting out this season. The news of her decision came as somewhat of a surprise because Frederick, who was heading into her junior season, was having an excellent career.

She was the Mid-American Conference rookie of the year in 2005-06 and last season averaged 13.1 points and 9.9 rebounds per game en route to being named the team's MVP and earning third-team All-MAC honors. She was the team captain and led Ohio in rebounding and the MAC in double-doubles.

Frederick of Gibsonia said the decision to transfer had little to do with basketball or school and everything to do with a desire to move closer to home to help support her family. Frederick's older brother, Adam, a former quarterback who led Shady Side Academy to the 1998 WPIAL AA championship and then played at Kent State, was recently diagnosed with cancer and has started chemotherapy.

"I've always said my priorities were God, then family, then basketball and school," she said yesterday. "And I felt like I needed to really make sure that was the case. This year both of my grandmothers have died and I lost a 13-year-old cousin as well and now this situation with Adam ... I knew I needed to be closer to home.

"I know with what Adam is going through we are going to all have to lean on each other to make it through. We've always been a close-knit family, we've always said family is first and I just felt being three hours away was too far for me to help."

Frederick said that her brother, who is 27 today, has a tumor the size of a softball growing on his hip. It grew so large that it ruined the joint. She said after he is done with chemotherapy, he will likely undergo reconstructive surgery on his hip.

Although she is leaving a good situation at Ohio, she is also moving to a good situation at Duquesne, where former Penn State and WNBA star Suzie McConnell-Serio has taken over as the head coach. Frederick will have to redshirt this season because of NCAA-transfer rules which means she'll be able to spend more time with her family than if she were playing.

Falconboy · Post by **Falconboy** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 3:07 pm

Bleeding Orange wrote:I just want to make sure this forum is still operable:

I CAN'T WAIT TO WATCH THE 2007-08 FALCONS DESTROY THE MAC!!!!

So, on that note, is there any noteworthy news to be had about the team? It has been far too long since I have had any, and I am not ashamed to admit that I'm starting to get the shakes.

Just starting to get the shakes BO? I've had them for at least 6 months!

I'm of the mind that no news is sorta good news, at least when it involves our beloved Coach Miller and another school.

Oh yeah, as you can see by my banner, I'm still in Super Senior withdrawal mode right now as well. I've been wondering when I should take it down and put up another.[/i]

Flipper · Post by **Flipper** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 12:44 pm

Just to let you folks know...the moderator of this unusually polite forum still checks in from time to time....

I'm looking forward to this season almost as much as last...while we don't have the expectation of winning as much, the talent appears to be there to build around. It's a lot like Christmas...you have a some shiny boxes under the tree...you just hope that they aren't all socks or sweaters. We lucked out a few years back and got a bunch of GI Joe's with the Kung Fu grip....

Bleeding Orange · Post by **Bleeding Orange** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 1:56 pm

Flipper wrote:Just to let you folks know...the moderator of this unusually polite forum still checks in from time to time....

So, are you trying to say that we should behave ourselves, or just keep our pants on?

I really don't know what my expectations are for this season. Knowing the coaching staff, though, I know what the team's expectations are going to be, though, and that is good enough for me.

Really, I guess I just wanted to get some discussion going about the upcoming season. I'm definately excited for it, and I would love to hear how things are going in practices, if they are practicing right now (I am never sure of basketball practice schedules/guidelines).

h2oville rocket · Post by **h2oville rocket** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 10:53 pm

Flipper wrote: We lucked out a few years back and got a bunch of GI Joe's with the Kung Fu grip....

"You didn't know she had the GI Joe Kung Fu Grip?" With a nod to Bradley Nowell and Sublime.

Falconfreak90 · Post by **Falconfreak90** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 10:39 pm

I expect this team to bust tail, give everything they have and leave everything on the court. Obviously you don't just replace the SR's we enjoyed watching the last 4-5 years but this team is not short on talent. Inexperience? Yes. Talent? Heck no. While I don't expect 31-4, I do feel BG will win around 20 games and the East. Coach Miller expects excellence and this program delivers.
Don't count out a 4 peat.

GO FALCONS!!!

falconfan1 · Post by **falconfan1** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 4:47 pm

This season will be a challenge. We do have the following:

1. The finest coaching staff in the country
2. The finest point/combo guard in the Midwest
3. A crazy fan base led by Bleeding Orange with the best atmosphere for women's basketball in the league.
4. A team that has been busy getting stronger- regulars at the Sebo Center.
5. The best seventh man in the MAC moving up in role this year
6. A group of other returnees spread among soph and sr classes who are a year smarter, a year tougher and, in the case of the senior, poised to prove that she can flat out play.
7. A group of recruits who. on paper, are one of the best classes ever in the MAC. This includes an all-MAC practice player to help us stay sharp.

I have seen etc these freshmen and they seem ready to go and eager- but they look so young! Because they are so young. The three biggest kids (Zuercher, Albert, Uhl) do look pretty athletic and I know the bigger Zuercher and Uhl give their all as I have seen them play multiple times. But this is a different level. Scorers Prochaska and Jennings will probably have to do a little of that. Pontius can spell Kate and perhaps move Kate over for some sets if she is capable of stepping in. Murdaugh and Hooten will be versatile defenders who are athletic. But who of this group is really ready? That's what coaches and practice determine.

I hope our sophs stay/get healthy and step right up.

So we will have plenty of growing pains, in my view, and some losses in and out of the league. But come March....

Go Falcons!

Ummm... Testing. Testing.

Ummm... Testing. Testing.

Excited about the Freshman class

Re: Ummm... Testing. Testing.