BG vs BSU - MAC Tournament 1st Round

[BGSU33]

Ball State has lost 16 consecutive games. It goes without saying we "should" beat them. But this is going to be a big test for our guys -mentally. This team is coming off back-to-back heartbreaking losses. As a fan/alum those losses were crushing and I'm not on the court and can't do a thing about them. It has to be weighing on them in some capacity. But this is where this team can put a stamp on this program. The MAC Tournament has been a House of Horrors for BG. Quicken Loans Arena may as well be in Albuquerque as far as we're concerned because BG has been absent and hasn't even advanced there in several years now, let alone won there. I remember going to a quarterfinals game last year and I heard a guy behind me ask the guy he was with in all seriousness, "I thought Bowling Green was in the MAC?" To the casual observer that I pegged him for, I couldn't blame him for asking. It's like the old if a tree falls in the woods question....I guess if you haven't seen a team in the tournament after several years it begs the question here too.

The Ball State game has me concerned not because of the Cardinals, but because of the Falcons. We've lost 4 of our last 6 games marking our worst stretch of the entire year, we've lost 4 of our last 5 home games which is where this one will be played, and we have choked big time in the MAC Tournament the last three years including the two times prior to last season when we hosted and were upset by a pair of poor CMU and Miami teams at the Stroh. What's more, the last few games teans have shredded us from three as we're not closing out on shooters like we used to much of the entire season or even getting a hand up as we've allowed 24 threes made the last two games alone (KSU 13, UB 11).

This team simply winning a first round game in the MAC Tournament and getting BG back to Cleveland would be an accomplishment. I would love nothing more than to see us finally win this damn thing, but I know we have a helluva hill to climb to do it. But we gotta get to Cleveland first in order to make a run at it, and since we lost out on any shot at the four tournament byes, this game is now officially a "must-win" contest. Get us back to Cleveland, Falcons.

[hammb]

Looking forward to this game. Hopefully we can beat up on BSU, but if Holmes cannot go I expect us to have some struggles to win. Thankfully Gomez has started to look like he can give us some decent minutes, and we'll certainly need them if Holmes can't play.

I hope we can pull a big crowd tonight, but I don't expect that at all. In year's past they've given us these playoff games for free to try and build a big crowd. This year not only are tickets not free for the general public, but season ticket holders had to buy them too. And then they pop us for another $2.50 fee on top of the $15 face value in order to secure our tickets online? I'm sorry but that's a bit shady. Give us only til noon today to get our tickets, AND screw us with another $2.50/ticket fee? Sigh....

I paid it, and am excited to watch this game. I HOPE we can make it to Cleveland this year. I REALLY hope we can find a way to advance because the only game I can make in the Q is Friday night...I'd LOVE to have a reason to drive out there. Been way too long since I've seen us play in Cleveland. I'm afraid that the ticket prices for this game, combined with our limp to the finish, will have us playing in front of one of our smallest crowds of the year.

[Falcon137]

This year not only are tickets not free for the general public, but season ticket holders had to buy them too. And then they pop us for another $2.50 fee on top of the $15 face value in order to secure our tickets online? I'm sorry but that's a bit shady. Give us only til noon today to get our tickets, AND screw us with another $2.50/ticket fee? Sigh....

I paid it, and am excited to watch this game. I HOPE we can make it to Cleveland this year. I REALLY hope we can find a way to advance because the only game I can make in the Q is Friday night...I'd LOVE to have a reason to drive out there. Been way too long since I've seen us play in Cleveland. I'm afraid that the ticket prices for this game, combined with our limp to the finish, will have us playing in front of one of our smallest crowds of the year.

I've never bought tickets in person from BG. Do they charge a fee if you buy them in person?

[Hdog]

per Toledo Blade story: Jans said Holmes did not practice with the team Sunday, and his status for the Ball State game is “questionable.”

[hammb]

This year not only are tickets not free for the general public, but season ticket holders had to buy them too. And then they pop us for another $2.50 fee on top of the $15 face value in order to secure our tickets online? I'm sorry but that's a bit shady. Give us only til noon today to get our tickets, AND screw us with another $2.50/ticket fee? Sigh....

I paid it, and am excited to watch this game. I HOPE we can make it to Cleveland this year. I REALLY hope we can find a way to advance because the only game I can make in the Q is Friday night...I'd LOVE to have a reason to drive out there. Been way too long since I've seen us play in Cleveland. I'm afraid that the ticket prices for this game, combined with our limp to the finish, will have us playing in front of one of our smallest crowds of the year.

I've never bought tickets in person from BG. Do they charge a fee if you buy them in person?

I don't believe so. I contemplated just waiting to buy at the gate, but I do love my seats. Obviously highly unlikely that they'd sell my seats anyhow, but I figured I'd pay the extra $5 just to be safe (and hopefully save some time at the game tonight).

There was no (that I could see) option to print my tickets myself either, so apparently we'll have to do the Will Call thing (along with all other season ticket holders). That will be fun to see how that works out...

[Lord_Byron]

. . . we'll have to do the Will Call thing (along with all other season ticket holders). That will be fun to see how that works out...

It will work out like it always does --

Someone in front of you in line will be absolutely unprepared to execute the simple transaction of picking up pre-ordered tickets. They will take an inordinate amount of time to clear a 10-second transaction while the line behind them gets longer and longer.

You, in the meantime, will begin expressing frustration to your wife, who will tell you to calm down, and by doing so will only elevate your level of frustration. By the time you reach the front of the line you will be sufficiently frustrated by the whole process, but your better judgement and general good nature will prevent you from saying anything.

On the other hand, I hear parking is free tonight.

[transfer2BGSU]

There was no (that I could see) option to print my tickets myself either, so apparently we'll have to do the Will Call thing (along with all other season ticket holders). That will be fun to see how that works out...

Interesting. I seem to remember hearing that you could have your tickets forwarded to your e-mail or mobile device so you would not have to wait in will call lines.

[hammb]

There was no (that I could see) option to print my tickets myself either, so apparently we'll have to do the Will Call thing (along with all other season ticket holders). That will be fun to see how that works out...

Interesting. I seem to remember hearing that you could have your tickets forwarded to your e-mail or mobile device so you would not have to wait in will call lines.

I thought it was odd as well. It showed up in the portal as a "renewal" of my season tickets for $30. It gave me no other options when I checked out, nor were there any links in the confirmation email. Logging back into the ticket portal shows no upcoming events for me to manage in any way. It's acting as though it didn't get added to the system as a game...

[jpfalcon09]

This sadly has trap game written all over it. If Holmes can't go I can see this being back and forth all night and coming down to free throws late, which we've seen this year isn't necessarily a good thing.

A win tonight will do wonders for confidence and hopefully 1) bring some confidence back to the players and 2) buy enough time for Holmes to heal up if he doesn't play.

[MarkL]

I hope Holmes can go but plays sparingly. Get him back into game tempo but allow him to rest for the most part until round 2. Only bring him in for significant minutes if we need him ... and I hope we don't.

[hammb]

Turns out will call was no big deal. No doubt aided by the fact that there are less than 1000 people here.

[BGSU33]

Holmes not starting, Gomez starts. BG down early. Ball State attacking paint on every possession. Mayleben now out there. Looks like Holmes is out.

[BGSU33]

Akron is leading NIU right now 37-10 with 7:00 to go in the first quarter. Wow

[Rollo83]

What is it with any team we play? Ball State hitting 3's like anything. We aren't playing bad defense but they are hitting tough shots to stay in this thing.

[BGSU33]

What is it with any team we play? Ball State hitting 3's like anything. We aren't playing bad defense but they are hitting tough shots to stay in this thing.

I was asking myself the same thing. Teams just catch fire from three against us it seems anymore. Three after three for them during a stretch but BG has finally built a nice lead, up 16 at the break.