Our ballroom for the dance is...

[BGFalconfromCincy]

The guy announcing keeps saying, "The MAC CONFERENCE."

everytime I heard it I kept thinking someone is going to bring that up on the board

[bgsufalcon24]

I never thought I would hear myself say this, but we're going to have to start playing some defense if we're gonna win. As tough as that may be with their tall post players...

We're doing just about everything else well, although maybe a few too many turnovers.

[AyZiggy97]

Yikes. 8 first half three-pointers. 2 so far in the second half.

[bgsufalcon24]

Yeah, too many turnovers, and we didn't shoot free throws particularly well down the stretch.

Oh well. The margin for error today was very, very small and for the most part I think we played pretty well. Good job ladies.

[Class of 61]

Bottom line...and Curt has alluded to it previously re: what UT has/is doing...they've created the desire (and recruiting) efforts to get some large, physical post players into the league..
Obviously, there aren't a heck of a lot of 6'9" girls out there, but this team BADLY needs at least a 6'3"+ who can play... I give Tara a ton of credit,...but a 6' girl doesn't have a heck of a lot going for her against the BIGS....
Thought about our last (sweet 16) team... we had Ali and Carin, but just as important, Liz(not radically tall, but a true WIDE body)... if you saw MSU you saw several of those wide bodies that we just couldn't handle.

Still, an exciting team .... and a truly FUN year of watchin BG basketball...congrats ladies on a great season.

[redskins4ever]

Its tough for BG to compete in physical contests, especially when refs allow the offensive player to bowl over the defender time and again.

Hard way to end the season, but there were other signs in the game that decreased the opportunity for BG to win this game. Sloppy passing, a lack of hustle to loose balls, a lack of movement on offensive side of the ball. I thought BG would've been the quicker team considering BG was the smaller team, but that never materialized.

[TG1996]

I do have to say, though, the announcers did an outstanding job calling the game. Very level the whole way through, pointing out good and bad for both sides. I figured Lobo would start to show love for the major school, but she was almost even pulling for BG at times. Aside from the outcome, it was actually pretty enjoyable to watch. Wish I could say the same for 95% of the men's tourney announcers.

[Tricky_Falcon]

I do have to say, though, the announcers did an outstanding job calling the game. Very level the whole way through, pointing out good and bad for both sides. I figured Lobo would start to show love for the major school, but she was almost even pulling for BG at times. Aside from the outcome, it was actually pretty enjoyable to watch. Wish I could say the same for 95% of the men's tourney announcers.

I noticed the same thing. It was very enjoyable to watch, except for the final score.

[HoustonFalcon]

Not having a big post player didn't hurt us today. MSU only had 8 more rebounds. We shot 59% from the free throw line, 37% from the floor, and had 16 TO's to their 10. We lost because MSU played very good defense on the perimeter, not letting our guards get a lot going. And when we did get it to the basket, they weren't very good shots. There were a lot of shots that were thrown hard off of the backboard. It's not because the girls were out of control, they looked scared to get their shot blocked. MSU had 68 shots to our 51. They made 28 to our 19. DeHaan only had 8 points. She had 11 rebounds, but she wasn't the difference maker. Jefferson had a great game, but she didn't do most of her damage on the inside, she was 2-3 from the 3 point line, and hit a couple more outside jumpers. I get so tired of people on this board complaining that we don't have enough 6'2 and above. This game was won because MSU made fewer mistakes, not just TO mistakes. They played a better total game. The difference wasn't the inside game. There are so few big kids that can actually play the game at a higher level. And the kids that can, a lot of them can't play the uptempo game that well. Curt and the staff have won a lot of games, and a lot of consecutive regular season championships. We could have beaten MSU today, if we would have only made 5 more free throws, had 3 fewer turnovers, and made three more baskets. That's just on the offensive end. I really liked the play for the most part on the defensive end. It's a tough loss for sure, but not one we can contribute to not having a wide body big girl. Congrats to Curt and the staff on another great season, and I am already looking forward to next year!

[fredthefalcon]

Not having a big post player didn't hurt us today. MSU only had 8 more rebounds. We shot 59% from the free throw line, 37% from the floor, and had 16 TO's to their 10. We lost because MSU played very good defense on the perimeter, not letting our guards get a lot going. And when we did get it to the basket, they weren't very good shots. There were a lot of shots that were thrown hard off of the backboard. It's not because the girls were out of control, they looked scared to get their shot blocked. MSU had 68 shots to our 51. They made 28 to our 19. DeHaan only had 8 points. She had 11 rebounds, but she wasn't the difference maker. Jefferson had a great game, but she didn't do most of her damage on the inside, she was 2-3 from the 3 point line, and hit a couple more outside jumpers. I get so tired of people on this board complaining that we don't have enough 6'2 and above. This game was won because MSU made fewer mistakes, not just TO mistakes. They played a better total game. The difference wasn't the inside game. There are so few big kids that can actually play the game at a higher level. And the kids that can, a lot of them can't play the uptempo game that well. Curt and the staff have won a lot of games, and a lot of consecutive regular season championships. We could have beaten MSU today, if we would have only made 5 more free throws, had 3 fewer turnovers, and made three more baskets. That's just on the offensive end. I really liked the play for the most part on the defensive end. It's a tough loss for sure, but not one we can contribute to not having a wide body big girl. Congrats to Curt and the staff on another great season, and I am already looking forward to next year!

While I agree with you that we shot poorly at the FT line and had too many turnovers, that in itself would have only made it close and we basically would have played a nearly perfect game to do so. We were basically outplayed by a bigger more physical team and that was the major difference. While Dehaan did not have a big influence due to back spasms, the other bigger girls (Jefferson, Aitch, and Johnson) wore us down, not so much with height (they're all 6'1") but with their bulk and strength. The Blade and Curt himself indicated that to be the largest contributing factor to the loss and turnaround in the second half. We were unable to score in the paint throughout the game and I think the wear and tear took the legs out from our bigger girls, thus dropping FT % and fewer boards.

BTW MSU is reloading next year with 3 of the top 4 Michigan Girl BB recruits including a 6'7" replacement for DeHaan as well as Miss Basketball from E. Lansing High.

[Class of 61]

Not having a big post player didn't hurt us today. MSU only had 8 more rebounds. We shot 59% from the free throw line, 37% from the floor, and had 16 TO's to their 10. We lost because MSU played very good defense on the perimeter, not letting our guards get a lot going. And when we did get it to the basket, they weren't very good shots. There were a lot of shots that were thrown hard off of the backboard. It's not because the girls were out of control, they looked scared to get their shot blocked. MSU had 68 shots to our 51. They made 28 to our 19. DeHaan only had 8 points. She had 11 rebounds, but she wasn't the difference maker. Jefferson had a great game, but she didn't do most of her damage on the inside, she was 2-3 from the 3 point line, and hit a couple more outside jumpers. I get so tired of people on this board complaining that we don't have enough 6'2 and above. This game was won because MSU made fewer mistakes, not just TO mistakes. They played a better total game. The difference wasn't the inside game. There are so few big kids that can actually play the game at a higher level. And the kids that can, a lot of them can't play the uptempo game that well. Curt and the staff have won a lot of games, and a lot of consecutive regular season championships. We could have beaten MSU today, if we would have only made 5 more free throws, had 3 fewer turnovers, and made three more baskets. That's just on the offensive end. I really liked the play for the most part on the defensive end. It's a tough loss for sure, but not one we can contribute to not having a wide body big girl. Congrats to Curt and the staff on another great season, and I am already looking forward to next year!

I too, don't disagree with your analysis, except for one thing...and YOU already mentioned it... If the size factor and the "wide bodies" that I mentioned weren't a factor, then why would our ladies be "afraid" of shots being blocked? It's the Effect of that size and the intimidation that it presents that causes you to worry about shots being blocked...put them up there...if they're blocked so be it...when I "compared" this team to the sweet 16 team, it was to point out that the latter group was bigger physically than this year's team... not necessarily in height, but overall size...and I think it DID make a difference yesterday. Nonetheless, I've already said it...another outstanding year for the ladies and the coaching staff,which continues to recruit talented players.

[OptionQB]

As we were in Freedom Hall watching warm-ups, my dad looked surpised and said, "well, other than the big girl (the 6'9" girl) the height isn't going to be an issue, but MSU just looks stronger"

This was my first game watching the ladies this year and from what I could tell, Lauren bounces around the 3 point line, uses the screen and roll, is able to knock down shots when given space and occassionally drives, but does't necessarily get to any one spot in a hurry, meaning she looked more quick than fast. Fair assessment?

That being said, after 0-8 start and the 15-0 BG run to take the early lead, it was pretty obvious that the message was delivered was simple from the Sparty bench . . . Ride Prochaska physically. She has 13 big pts in the first half and looked physically worn down for most of the second half before finishing with 19 on a great overall effort.

Physically the Spartoons were just bigger, stronger and faster. Jen Uhl and Lauren were able to get to spots all day, but the physicality really hurt them especially late.

I don't know who or what has been identified as need areas in recruiting this season, but I think that the team could really benefit from getting a couple really physical, enforcer type power forwards. Girls who aren't going to be go-to options in the offense but will score a bunch of "garbage" and hustle baskets, but they know that if a situation arises where a team is riding Lauren physically or the other guards, then you put them on their behinds within the rules of the game, of course

It's often part of the game that goes unnoticed and each team needs these types of players.

The most noticable scene came when BG was shooting FTs in the second half. We sat roughly at the FT line opposite the BG bench and Tara was bent over at the waist clutching her shorts as was #20 the Sparty PG. Both looked to have similar physical builds. Eventually unless we were knocking down a bunch of shots or causing a truckload of turnovers the physicality was going to play a role.

GREAT overall effort and I enjoyed watching the team play. It looks like they return quite a bit of the team to keep th success going forward. I thought it was a great moment for Coach Miller to honor his seniors at the end as well, which received a very warm reception from the large Falcon crowd.

One last unrelated note, I realize this is beating a dead horse, but I wonder how many times, Coach Brandon and Coach Dakich (even Coach Orr, for that matter) ever came to watch the women play. They certainly could have learned a thing or two about Public Relations from Coach Miller! It's always nice to see a coach and his team that just played their butts off, acknowledge those who have come out to support them, win or lose, and walk off the court with class and their heads held high! Great season and Congratulations!