Ohio game

[Class of 61]

The misery continues for the Falcons.... 71-46 loss to Bobcats, who are probably the best team in the MAC; certainly the most improved. At one Pt. BG was 5-20 from 3pt. Land. Seems like they are getting physically overwhelmed, probably due in part to the limited...and short roster.

[HoopsFan]

Watching this team, pretty much shows us that the rest of the MAC has caught and passed BG. The coach needs to review what type of players we recruit.

The most maddening was having the ball in the hands of the 5'3" player trying to put the ball up in the paint with the shot clock at 3 seconds or less.

Sure, we have an Erica Donovan, but why not 3 or 4 Erica Donovans?

Of course, after the last two winters in the flatlands, I would guess BG doesn't have much to offer. LOL

HoopsFan

[Schadenfreude]

Watching this team, pretty much shows us that the rest of the MAC has caught and passed BG. The coach needs to review what type of players we recruit.

Hey now. Many others on this board are watching the team more carefully than I have been, but didn't they lose three or four of their best players to injury?

We are seeing in Cleveland the difference a couple of good basketball players can make. I see no reason to think the Falcons can't be among league leaders again next season.

If we still see this kind of play next season, I'll be concerned. Until then -- these women are doing the best they can, but it's a terrible situation.

[falconwomenbball]

Watching this team, pretty much shows us that the rest of the MAC has caught and passed BG. The coach needs to review what type of players we recruit.

The most maddening was having the ball in the hands of the 5'3" player trying to put the ball up in the paint with the shot clock at 3 seconds or less.

Sure, we have an Erica Donovan, but why not 3 or 4 Erica Donovans?

Of course, after the last two winters in the flatlands, I would guess BG doesn't have much to offer. LOL

HoopsFan

I don't agree at all. Other than our point guards, we have a lot of people who are playing out of position. Miriam and Haley are not posts, they are wings in our offense. We have to control tempo because of our lack of bench and lack of height. Is it the ideal situation to have the point guard late in the shot clock drive to the basket? Maybe not but it worked earlier in the season. We have 7 healthy players, well 8 if you count Erica Fullenkamp. 3 are true freshmen (Sarah, Rachel M. Haley), 1 a redshirt freshmen (Kennedy) with limited collegiate experience before this season. 1 sophomore (Rachel K.) who played less than 10 minutes a game last year, 1 junior (Miriam) who is playing out of position, 1 Sr (Deb) who is playing tons of minutes. Our other senior, Jazz is hurt and will play limited minutes or maybe not at all the rest of the season. I think people are forgetting that we were 7-2 when all the injuries struck. I feel the season would have been completely different if we had no injuries.

Certainly the MAC has gotten better. Our dominance made other teams get better. Does that mean BG can't win anymore? I don't think so. Give this team a break, I think they deserve one due to the circumstances. Everyone needs to remember the transition from high school basketball to college basketball is a big one. The maturation process takes time. Remember how Jill Stein and Jillian Halfhill looked as freshmen. Remember how they looked as juniors and seniors. We will be better in the future because of this. All of the players have talent. It is just a matter of having the experience to compete at a high level. Have some faith that the coaching staff will develop the players and will keep getting good players. I know i support this team and the coaching staff. I believe the future is bright. GO BG!!

[ccollin13]

The only true post player on this team able to play right now is Sarah Baer. And I'm talking both 4's and 5's. Miriam played some 4 last year and a little more this year, but she's out of position. Roos hasn't shown a lot of confidence in Baer, starting her for a few games lately but still giving her limited minutes. BG has HAD to play a 4 to 5 guard lineup and has mentioned in the press conferences how the team has had to install an entirely new offense for it. For the CMU game alone, they put in several new offensive sets, because they simply don't have the personnel to run the sets they learned, trained for, and played for the first half of the season.

We've spent the entire pre-season and non-conference running one system with one set of personnel which includes a lot of veteran players. Then we have to change to entirely different system with a different set of personnel with virtually all freshman. They're just not able to execute it and they're exhausted, too.

As far as recruiting goes, I said on this board several years ago that we were going to be in trouble in the future if we didn't start recruiting more true post players. Jill Stein was the last true center we had, and before her, maybe Albert and Zuercher. Hennegan was in there too but we didn't recruit her. We also had Papenfuss and Rogers in there, who were more 4's than 5 but could still play either slot. I understand we've always run the pick-and-roll, so your posts are usually away from the basket anyway. But it seems like the recruiting for these type players has been pretty futile. Really wish we could have seen Bolton play.

[Flipper]

Abby Seifker isn't a true post?

Baer isn't a "true" post either...saw her play HS ball a few times and she was definitely more of a 4 than a 5...much more comfortable facing the basket.

We have accessory players trying to carry the load as primary scorers and they're playing too many minutes to be truly effective. You have a freshman F in Baer who looks like she needed a year physically playing and Puk seems to have had so much thrown at her that she seems a bit lost at times. It's a mess....nobody's fault but fate, but it's a mess.

[falconwomenbball]

The only true post player on this team able to play right now is Sarah Baer. And I'm talking both 4's and 5's. Miriam played some 4 last year and a little more this year, but she's out of position. Roos hasn't shown a lot of confidence in Baer, starting her for a few games lately but still giving her limited minutes. BG has HAD to play a 4 to 5 guard lineup and has mentioned in the press conferences how the team has had to install an entirely new offense for it. For the CMU game alone, they put in several new offensive sets, because they simply don't have the personnel to run the sets they learned, trained for, and played for the first half of the season.

We've spent the entire pre-season and non-conference running one system with one set of personnel which includes a lot of veteran players. Then we have to change to entirely different system with a different set of personnel with virtually all freshman. They're just not able to execute it and they're exhausted, too.

As far as recruiting goes, I said on this board several years ago that we were going to be in trouble in the future if we didn't start recruiting more true post players. Jill Stein was the last true center we had, and before her, maybe Albert and Zuercher. Hennegan was in there too but we didn't recruit her. We also had Papenfuss and Rogers in there, who were more 4's than 5 but could still play either slot. I understand we've always run the pick-and-roll, so your posts are usually away from the basket anyway. But it seems like the recruiting for these type players has been pretty futile. Really wish we could have seen Bolton play.

I wish we could have seen Leah Bolton play too. She would have helped from everything the coaches said about her. But we did recruit Maggie Hennegan out of high school. She just decided to go somewhere else first. We've had some transfers who fit that mold, deciding to go somewhere else then deciding it would be better to be at BG. Post players are somewhat hard to come by especially the way our system is run. You are right, our posts will spend a lot of time away from the basket. Given time and recuperation, Lauren Webb will help. I'm sure we have recruited true post players, but they have said no to our offers. There also may have not been a lot of them available in particular high school classes. Some positions are always stronger than others. Given the health of our players next year, we should be fine. We may see a player or two signing in the spring period.

[Falconfreak90]

Watching this team, pretty much shows us that the rest of the MAC has caught and passed BG. The coach needs to review what type of players we recruit.

The most maddening was having the ball in the hands of the 5'3" player trying to put the ball up in the paint with the shot clock at 3 seconds or less.

Sure, we have an Erica Donovan, but why not 3 or 4 Erica Donovans?

Of course, after the last two winters in the flatlands, I would guess BG doesn't have much to offer. LOL

HoopsFan

I don't agree at all. Other than our point guards, we have a lot of people who are playing out of position. Miriam and Haley are not posts, they are wings in our offense. We have to control tempo because of our lack of bench and lack of height. Is it the ideal situation to have the point guard late in the shot clock drive to the basket? Maybe not but it worked earlier in the season. We have 7 healthy players, well 8 if you count Erica Fullenkamp. 3 are true freshmen (Sarah, Rachel M. Haley), 1 a redshirt freshmen (Kennedy) with limited collegiate experience before this season. 1 sophomore (Rachel K.) who played less than 10 minutes a game last year, 1 junior (Miriam) who is playing out of position, 1 Sr (Deb) who is playing tons of minutes. Our other senior, Jazz is hurt and will play limited minutes or maybe not at all the rest of the season. I think people are forgetting that we were 7-2 when all the injuries struck. I feel the season would have been completely different if we had no injuries.

Certainly the MAC has gotten better. Our dominance made other teams get better. Does that mean BG can't win anymore? I don't think so. Give this team a break, I think they deserve one due to the circumstances. Everyone needs to remember the transition from high school basketball to college basketball is a big one. The maturation process takes time. Remember how Jill Stein and Jillian Halfhill looked as freshmen. Remember how they looked as juniors and seniors. We will be better in the future because of this. All of the players have talent. It is just a matter of having the experience to compete at a high level. Have some faith that the coaching staff will develop the players and will keep getting good players. I know i support this team and the coaching staff. I believe the future is bright. GO BG!!

Agreed. This season has been very challenging and the rest of the league is getting their shots at us this year. We will be back near, or at, the top when fully healthy again.

[ccollin13]

Abby Seifker isn't a true post?

Baer isn't a "true" post either...saw her play HS ball a few times and she was definitely more of a 4 than a 5...much more comfortable facing the basket.

We have accessory players trying to carry the load as primary scorers and they're playing too many minutes to be truly effective. You have a freshman F in Baer who looks like she needed a year physically playing and Puk seems to have had so much thrown at her that she seems a bit lost at times. It's a mess....nobody's fault but fate, but it's a mess.

Forgot about Abby. Another huge loss not having her on the floor - she had grown a lot this year.

[Class of 61]

I don't know how hard we went after the twins from Chagrin Falls. One is 6'1, the other 6'4. To my knowlege, one ( 6'1) is going to OU, the other to Mich. Can't remember names , at least correct nam W/ correct sister.... But I don't recall us EVER having a woman over 6'2. Seems like several MAC teams have found a few. I've said it before...IMO we cannot enter another season with only 12 on the roster.

[falconfan1]

With Matthews out today (which has really been the case all year in terms of her actual health though dressed), we have the four freshmen and one each in the other three classes. Plus our volleyball player

That will not get it done. In practice. In games. Five student-athletes lost for the year including three starters and the first post sub.

We compete hard- and for certain stretches well- as long as we can. Absolutely. We can knock down some threes because we recruit shooters. But all the size is gone and the players left must go for way too many minutes and (for many) in positions they were not recruited to play. We continue to fight and work together. And support each other. (If you want to see implosion, take a look at CMU women). But when you play five guards, you have a lot of issues. And all we can do is play five of our six guards at one time plus a little Sarah Baer and walk on Erica F.

So we must look forward. Injured players will work hard to return. We have some signed players coming in including a big scorer.

But if I am an unsigned uncommitted player in upcoming HS classes, I might be saying what an opportunity coming up. Great facilities, great history, great university and opportunities to contribute.

You would be able to see that. And we must have a roster full of healthy athletic players that both fit our system AND allow us to compete with size/strength. We have to be able to do that from rosters spots 1 through 13 w roles for each.

We will get back. Absolutely.

Go Falcons!

[Class of 61]

With Matthews out today (which has really been the case all year in terms of her actual health though dressed), we have the four freshmen and one each in the other three classes. Plus our volleyball player

That will not get it done. In practice. In games. Five student-athletes lost for the year including three starters and the first post sub.

We compete hard- and for certain stretches well- as long as we can. Absolutely. We can knock down some threes because we recruit shooters. But all the size is gone and the players left must go for way too many minutes and (for many) in positions they were not recruited to play. We continue to fight and work together. And support each other. (If you want to see implosion, take a look at CMU women). But when you play five guards, you have a lot of issues. And all we can do is play five of our six guards at one time plus a little Sarah Baer and walk on Erica F.

So we must look forward. Injured players will work hard to return. We have some signed players coming in including a big scorer.

But if I am an unsigned uncommitted player in upcoming HS classes, I might be saying what an opportunity coming up. Great facilities, great history, great university and opportunities to contribute.

You would be able to see that. And we must have a roster full of healthy athletic players that both fit our system AND allow us to compete with size/strength. We have to be able to do that from rosters spots 1 through 13 w roles for each.

We will get back. Absolutely.

Go Falcons!

FF1,

I know we all know about our exceptional injury prob. , but aren't women allowed MORE schol. Than men? It's why I don't understand why we went into this yr. w/ only 12 players. Hard to believe we couldn't recruit at least one or two quality players considering our history. It's why I wondered about the Chagrin sisters as an example.

[falconfan1]

Yes 61, we could have begun the year with another player. But it would need to be the right player. There are several factors involved w scholarship offers, banking, years, needs, late departures etc. Most of these are judgments- the whole process is a judgement- by the coaches. If the right player is lost at a certain point in the process and no other adequate player is available then you are where you are. These situations would occur in most programs. Most programs wouldn't sign a player to fill a roster spot unless that player literally was a fit and needed.

The coaches know about players throughout the US from twins in NE OH to scorers in WI. They evaluate all over. Recruiting is a tough business. Sometimes you get your person. Sometimes you don't.

Just like my job, where I might say if only I would have done this or that at a different time, the outcome would have been different, coaches- anywhere- can look back and say we might have gone a different direction or done something differently. Just like in my job, you learn from it and move on. To the next opportunity.

One often overlooked factor is a possible transfer. Sometimes, a scholarship might be held in case a transfer contacts the University through the appropriate channels w a release. A Rogers and E Donovan were/are great players. Generally, you must have a scholarship available to attract those players with those type of decisions often made at different points in the year.

Bottom line is I cannot remember season in men's or women's basketball where five student- athletes/three starters were lost for the season. Most (all the starters) after a solid 7-2 start.

We'll get back. And you are right. Recruiting will play major major part in that. Along w strong rehabbing.

Go Falcons!

[Falconfreak90]

I met the Kent State women's coach at church a couple weeks ago, Danielle O'Banion. When I told her I was a proud BG grad and huge fan of the BG women's team, she had nothing but praise for our program. She alluded to the injuries and said "Despite all the injuries and being short of players, BG ALWAYS plays hard. They are just outmanned this year due to lack of players. This is why our team was giddy when we beat them at the MAC Center because BG has set the bar so high in MAC women's hoops!" She is a class act and battling cancer right now.