BG vs Ohio State

[ZiggyZoomba]

Let's make sure we peak at the start of the tourney.

Better yet... let's peak at the END of the tourney!!

[JWEIII]

Clearly our best player? I don't know about that, I don't think we have anyone that is clearly our best player. For a couple stretches last night Miller looked great. For other stretches he looked like our worst player.

The offense just seems to run better with him in there. He gives us a legit scoring option in the paint. No offense to Otis, Marshall or Larson, but without Nate in there we are really just looking for jump shots. I think what I'm trying to say is that he keeps the defense honest? Just me?

[Warthog]

Larson-played 11 solid minutes. Was not a liability and threw his body around.

Couldn't disagree more. Whenever he was on the floor, I couldn't help but think 'WHY IS HE PLAYING???" Eleven minutes, 0 rebounds, 0 assists, 0 blocks, 0 steals, 1 turnover, 3 fouls. How is that eleven solid minutes?

[hammb]

Clearly our best player? I don't know about that, I don't think we have anyone that is clearly our best player. For a couple stretches last night Miller looked great. For other stretches he looked like our worst player.

The offense just seems to run better with him in there. He gives us a legit scoring option in the paint. No offense to Otis, Marshall or Larson, but without Nate in there we are really just looking for jump shots. I think what I'm trying to say is that he keeps the defense honest? Just me?

He definitely gives us something that nobody else on the team does. I like him when he's moving without the ball and finishing when they get him the ball. I don't like him when he's trying to create with the ball in his hands, for every drive and finish he'll have a turnover or draw a foul which he cannot make the free throws.

He's a worthwhile player, yes, I just don't think he's our hand's down best. I don't think ANYONE is our hand's down best player. We've got a lot of depth and a lot of contributors, but we don't have any one go to guy. Moten might be the closest, but we'll see.

In the end though it's about the TEAM, and I think this has the makings of a pretty good team even without any true go to guys.

[Jacobs4Heisman]

If Larson doesn't see any action, I think we win that game.

Seriously. He was by FAR the worst player on the court.

[San Fran Falcon]

Bravo. Down by double-digits at two Big Ten schools and battled back in both. This team doesn't quit. I sure would like a crack at OSU or Minn on our floor, but I will just keep waiting.

My only real concern is all the blocks in the paint. Seems like everyone (Marschall, Otis, Larson and Miller) wants to give five or six pump fakes before going up. Attack the basket! Go up strong! All that deekin' drives me nuts. Otherwise, love the effort this team gives.

Finally, I know Nate has been in the doghouse, but he is clearly our best player (free throws excluded) and should be on the floor almost the entire game, as long as he stays out of foul trouble.

JW, I totally agree. That was my biggest gripe last night. Take it to the rack strong. Way too many missed shots inside the paint.

[VDub26Falcon]

I've only had a chance to watch the first 5 or 6 minutes of the game and I've already counted half a dozen missed opportunities, on BOTH ends of the floor. We cannot throw away opportunities against a team like OSU. Let's make sure that's out of the way before the MAC season starts!

[BleedOrange]

What was most striking to me was how tentative we were in the half court. We snapped out of this a ways into the 2nd half. Marcshall was tentative inside and didn't play with near his usual creativity.

The post about Miller being undersized against larger forwards and a step slow against guards was perfect. Miller presents some significant matchup problems, depending on our opponent. This was particularly evident against players like Romeo Travis and Quintance Hamilton. Last night, Miller was trying to post up against Lauderdale and Turner, both of whom where 6-8 and quick off of the floor.

I went into this game underestimated OSU's athleticism. Lighty, although he didn't score much, is an exceptional athlete. He'll be a 1st round pick once he polishes up his floor game. Turner is another sweet athlete who will make a name for himself in the Big 10 this year. Lauderdale is strong, quick, and athletic and looks more like 6-9 than 6-8.

What really stood out was BJ Mullins ineffectiveness. There is no way that kid should've been a top 50 national recruit. Wow. He looks like he'll go on to be an average Big 10 center. OSU fans have to be severely disappointed in that kid.

[Globetrotter]

If Larson doesn't see any action, I think we win that game.

Seriously. He was by FAR the worst player on the court.

I am convinced that people who think Larson was a liability did not see the game. I am not sure he made a single mistake while he was in there. He may not be a great player, but he was certainly not a liability.

[Globetrotter]

What was most striking to me was how tentative we were in the half court. We snapped out of this a ways into the 2nd half. Marcshall was tentative inside and didn't play with near his usual creativity.

The post about Miller being undersized against larger forwards and a step slow against guards was perfect. Miller presents some significant matchup problems, depending on our opponent. This was particularly evident against players like Romeo Travis and Quintance Hamilton. Last night, Miller was trying to post up against Lauderdale and Turner, both of whom where 6-8 and quick off of the floor.

I went into this game underestimated OSU's athleticism. Lighty, although he didn't score much, is an exceptional athlete. He'll be a 1st round pick once he polishes up his floor game. Turner is another sweet athlete who will make a name for himself in the Big 10 this year. Lauderdale is strong, quick, and athletic and looks more like 6-9 than 6-8.

What really stood out was BJ Mullins ineffectiveness. There is no way that kid should've been a top 50 national recruit. Wow. He looks like he'll go on to be an average Big 10 center. OSU fans have to be severely disappointed in that kid.

Lighty is a jr already and there is a similar player on every decent team in the country. Mullens was incredibly passive but remember this is his 2nd game as a collegiate and Polk is no slouch, especially when it comes to strength.

[Jacobs4Heisman]

If Larson doesn't see any action, I think we win that game.

Seriously. He was by FAR the worst player on the court.

I am convinced that people who think Larson was a liability did not see the game. I am not sure he made a single mistake while he was in there. He may not be a great player, but he was certainly not a liability.

The two turnovers in the first two minutes when he was back with Jak on the press? The 4+ rebounds that were coming right to him which a guard from OSU jumped over him to grab? Playing 4 on 5 against an active zone? These aren't liabilities?

[hammb]

If Larson doesn't see any action, I think we win that game.

Seriously. He was by FAR the worst player on the court.

I am convinced that people who think Larson was a liability did not see the game. I am not sure he made a single mistake while he was in there. He may not be a great player, but he was certainly not a liability.

The two turnovers in the first two minutes when he was back with Jak on the press? The 4+ rebounds that were coming right to him which a guard from OSU jumped over him to grab? Playing 4 on 5 against an active zone? These aren't liabilities?

Larson can man up defensively and make his presence felt, and that is about his only value to the team. He has absolutely the worst hands I've ever seen. Whenever you pass it to him he double clutches it, and by the time he corrals it he no longer has position to do anything, or he turns it over. Because of this deficiency he is a horrid rebounder as well...balls routinely hit his hands, he doesn't control them though. Otis isn't exactly great with his hands either, but Larson is far worse. He's like basketball's answer to Braylon Edwards.

Larson is a good kid and a hard worker. He'll give you all he has on defense, but he really shouldn't be seeing many minutes against the likes of OSU. He just cannot compete with them.

[Warthog]

Larson is a good kid and a hard worker. He'll give you all he has on defense, but he really shouldn't be seeing many minutes against the likes of OSU. He just cannot compete with them.

That's what I'm saying. He works hard and everything, but against a big athletic team like OSU, all his faults are magnified.

[98_BG_GRAD]

And I have to give Jim Jackson props too, I thought he and Gus Johnson did a fantastic job calling the game, and actually seemed to give BGSU some credit instead of just writing us off as a "sub major."

I think Jim Jackson is great on games. I was at the game last night so I didn't hear him on this game but from what I heard last year, he should have a gig on ESPN very soon. I think he is a rising star as an analyst. And Gus Johnson is the man doing play by play. I love listening to him do games.

[Falconfreak90]

Johnson and Jackson were both very good last night.