BG vs The Roos

[BGSU33]

Down by only 2 with 8 min to go. And yes BGSU33 I am still watching.

That's 2 hours of your life that you're never gonna get back.

[gmartin]

BG still #9 seed, but with Miami winning another loss could put them all the way to the #12 seed. 5th straight loss at home.

[hammb]

Down by only 2 with 8 min to go. And yes BGSU33 I am still watching.

That's 2 hours of your life that you're never gonna get back.

Meh, I suppose that's a fun way to look at it. I knew we were likely to lose going into the game as well. Akron is really good and we're really not. But it was still an entertaining game. We actually played a lot better than we have the last few outings. If we had played like this against some of the other crap teams we've been losing to we would have won.

Unfortunately, we didn't play our best, and even then I'm not sure if our best is good enough to beat Akron.

1) this team needs to find some heart. The run in the 1st half won this game. We went from up 20-9 to down something like 35-22 or something silly. We tempered it a bit to end the half, but there was a long stretch there where we basically lost the game. The 2nd half didn't matter after that. When Akron started making their run our guys just showed no fight at all...dunno what it is, but we've been seeing it in other games too, they don't seem to fight when things get tough.

2) We fell way too in love with the 3s because we hit a few of them early. A large chunk of that big Akron run we had Alcegaire chucking 3s that weren't good shots and couldn't make 'em to save our lives.

3) The refs were NOT going to let us play defense on Johnson. 3 of Wiggins fouls were super ticky tack, and at least one of Worrel's was as well. I'm talking getting called for fouls by putting your hand on the guys back as he tries to back you down in the post. And the dude is like 3 bills there is no way our guys were going to defend him without touching him at all. Really hurt us that we had to play Gomez due to these fouls.

4) We have way too many guys that just don't contribute anything. Gomez is one. Tisdale is another. Fox played, but he is pretty much worthless if they're not going to drive & kick to him. I know he can shoot the 3, but he needed to make at least a few of 'em just to make up for the ones he gave up on defense.

5) We didn't guard the arc well, but AKron is not a good 3 point shooting team. They shoot a huge volume of them but are about a 36% clip normally. We weren't gonna beat that team when they shot closer to 50% behind the arc. Some of that was defense, but a lot of it was Jackson (a 36% shooter) going 6-8 with most of them being about 5-10 feet behind the arc. Normally I'd say you let them just take those shots, but my god he kept making them...He looked like Steph Curry out there...our luck.

6) Amid the loss both Worrell and Parker had very good games. And Denny really struggled again.

Yet another freaking home loss. I cannot make the game on Saturday, so I assume they'll win just since I cannot see it. Losing to Akron sucks, but that team is so much better than us it's not funny. We probably don't have a player that starts for that team, and they bring their best player in off the bench. Speaking of which I hope he's ok, but it looked to me like he broke his leg. That kid is a beast and has some serious skills around the rim. He's the type of player that could have really helped Akron win a tourney game or two if they win the league tourney.

[BGSU33]

Last night was yet another example of a team with multiple guys who can shoot and score, and BG trying to do the same but doesn't have those kind of players. We just don't have a balanced consistency or guys who can do it. Maybe one game someone can or does, then they can't the next four or five games after. Time after time Akron had multiple guys either in the paint or beyond the arc make buckets. They have multiple threats. We saw CMU, UT and even BSU do the same.

We can defend like hell all we want, but the name of the game is to outscore your opponent and we struggle like hell to do it. Last year we had a proven scorer in the post and capable guards who could score and stretch teams from the perimeter. This year we have very little in the post, and get a decent outing from Parker of Denny here and there. That's not gonna cut it. Both of our point guards are non-threats (one plays in slow motion, the other is out of control), our bigs are very young and getting taken to school most nights in the MAC, and our best actual shooter is a guy who rarely plays. Wes jacks shot after shot that can't find the bottom of the net, Parker drives the lane looking for a foul every time throwing up bad shots, and Denny has a better shot at hitting the rafters than he does threes with his shot anymore. It's not a good combination and we're seeing the painful results from it now.

[guest44]

It also doesn't help when you have multiple players on scholarship, who haven't seen any significant playing time with 3 different coaches. That's the textbook definition of wasted scholarships. I'll stand by my statement last offseason. BG would have been better off if multiple players had left the way they apparently tried to.

[hammb]

Last night was yet another example of a team with multiple guys who can shoot and score, and BG trying to do the same but doesn't have those kind of players. We just don't have a balanced consistency or guys who can do it. Maybe one game someone can or does, then they can't the next four or five games after. Time after time Akron had multiple guys either in the paint or beyond the arc make buckets. They have multiple threats. We saw CMU, UT and even BSU do the same.

We can defend like hell all we want, but the name of the game is to outscore your opponent and we struggle like hell to do it. Last year we had a proven scorer in the post and capable guards who could score and stretch teams from the perimeter. This year we have very little in the post, and get a decent outing from Parker of Denny here and there. That's not gonna cut it. Both of our point guards are non-threats (one plays in slow motion, the other is out of control), our bigs are very young and getting taken to school most nights in the MAC, and our best actual shooter is a guy who rarely plays. Wes jacks shot after shot that can't find the bottom of the net, Parker drives the lane looking for a foul every time throwing up bad shots, and Denny has a better shot at hitting the rafters than he does threes with his shot anymore. It's not a good combination and we're seeing the painful results from it now.

Our defense seems so/so, but UA is a great offensive team and they shot better than they usually do, s**t happens.

Like you said though our offensive talent is so lacking. This is what happens when you have a coach for 7 years who basically recruited 0 offensive talent in his time here. Yeah we had some scoring punch last year because a couple of the guys he recruited DEVELOPED into scorers, but he didn't have a single guy that could come in and SCORE. We haven't really had a real scorer since Nate Miller.

Like you said we're so limited offensively. Parker plays out of control at times driving the basket and hoping for fouls...he doesn't really finish well in that traffic, IMO. Denny is pretty much worthless on offense lately. His jumper was looking so great the first 10-15 games of the season, but for whatever reason it's gone cold. And yeah teams are keying on him a bit, but he's had plenty of open looks that he hasn't knocked down. Clearly Huger is old school and wants it all to run through the PG, which I love, but you pretty much nailed the issue with our PGs. Fox can shoot but is a complete liability on defense and cannot get open for his shot...he camps on the arc and needs a drive & kick. He did hit one off a screen last night, would like to see more of that. Alcegaire has talent, but for some reason falls in love with 3s and his mechanics on his shot can be so hit or miss...last night every 3 he took he was falling back even though many were wide open looks. When he attacks the rim and/or shoots midrange he looks to have skills...he could be the scorer we need, but hasn't shown it yet.

I will say that I've been impressed by Lillard's ability to finish around the rim. Hopefully he continues to develop and can earn more PT. I've also been impressed by Worrell's ability to put the ball on the rim softly, and even move out to 6-8 foot for jumpers and has knocked some down. But watching Thompson last night, I was really missing that ability to make moves and finish at the rim. Worrell isn't there yet.

I hope Huger can get some talent in here. 7 years of a coach that didn't recruit offense followed by back to back short year recruiting classes. This roster is a mish-mash...we need some stability and talent.

[Falconfreak90]

I liked how BG fought the whole game...I was sure we were gonna lose by 30 cuz Akron is gearing up for their yearly title chase and we've been playing like dog crap lately. Gonna need a couple years to get the Huger system in place.

[hammb]

I liked how BG fought the whole game...I was sure we were gonna lose by 30 cuz Akron is gearing up for their yearly title chase and we've been playing like dog crap lately. Gonna need a couple years to get the Huger system in place.

When UA was in their big run at the end of the half I told Tara that we might lose by 40. Thankfully we hit a couple shots before the half and found some sort of fire in the lockerroom. We kept fighting back, we'd get it close or even tied, then UA would rip off 7-9 unanswered points. I thought we showed some good fight in the 2nd half, but that huge run at the end of the 1st half lost us the game before the 2nd half even started. Very disappointed in this teams' consistent ability to give up MASSIVE runs that can destroy the entire game. How many times have we basically forgotten to play a half? This team has to find a fight/fire, and Huger has said as much. If he cannot get it from these guys he'll get it from his recruits as time goes on.

[Globetrotter]

I liked how BG fought the whole game...I was sure we were gonna lose by 30 cuz Akron is gearing up for their yearly title chase and we've been playing like dog crap lately. Gonna need a couple years to get the Huger system in place.

When UA was in their big run at the end of the half I told Tara that we might lose by 40. Thankfully we hit a couple shots before the half and found some sort of fire in the lockerroom. We kept fighting back, we'd get it close or even tied, then UA would rip off 7-9 unanswered points. I thought we showed some good fight in the 2nd half, but that huge run at the end of the 1st half lost us the game before the 2nd half even started. Very disappointed in this teams' consistent ability to give up MASSIVE runs that can destroy the entire game. How many times have we basically forgotten to play a half? This team has to find a fight/fire, and Huger has said as much. If he cannot get it from these guys he'll get it from his recruits as time goes on.

I wonder if he can get it from guys not getting a ton of minutes. Tisdale and Malik to name 2. Malik hasn't played since 1/12, They can't be trying to redshirt him right?

[hammb]

Can't redshirt Malik because he played. I have to believe if he showed anything that could be an improvement on Ali/Joseph in practice he'd be getting minutes.

Tisdale is god awful and already plays too many minutes. He cannot shoot, cannot dribble, cannot pass, doesn't shoot free throws well. Other than that he has it all!

Seriously, if the problem is offense (and it has been) then JD Tisdale is about as close to the solution as seeing if some random fan can suit up. He plays passable defense with his long reach/athleticism, but he brings NOTHING to the table on offense. He's almost as painful to watch as Gomez.


The problem is that we have back to back years of stunted recruiting coming off 7 years of a guy that didn't know how to recruit. I just don't think there's much this team can do in the immediate other than try to find a way to get the players we have to play harder. But when half of them came to play for the "god be the glory" snoozefest of the century, I'm not at all surprised that they lack fire...

[Globetrotter]

What was the deal with Denny maybe getting a redshirt but potentially playing too late into the year. Malik hasn't played for over a month. That's before Denny went down.

[hammb]

What was the deal with Denny maybe getting a redshirt but potentially playing too late into the year. Malik hasn't played for over a month. That's before Denny went down.

I believe that rule is only relevant if there is a serious injury preventing the player from playing. In that instance the player can get Redshirt if they play under a certain percentage of team games and the last game they play is before a certain date.

If there is no serious injury preventing a player from playing any playing time, even a single minute in the first game, counts as a season.

[HoopsFan]

Not to be mean, but, (I love starting a sentence with that) I'd be happy to see ALL of the Orr years players gone. Watching Gomez play is like watching a train wreck. Parker is good when he's driving the ball and lazy when he's not, Denny's Division 3 or 4 high school is catching up with him, and he was the point guard in his school, and Mayleben/Tisdale are just fillers.

We already know Orr's ability as a coach, evidenced by letting Cam Black/Luke Kraus/James Erger play over the likes of Holmes, Denny, and a tree stump, so there's no need to revisit that thread. Oh yeah, his ex-assistants are making quite a splash and living up the their worthless status.

It looks like our bigs need a lot of weight work and can be get a Brandon Pardon for the point? Oh yeah, maybe the bigs can work on HOLDING ON TO THE BALL, like catch and shoot or grab a rebound or two.

HoopsFan

[guest44]

Think of how many years of scholarships have been wasted on Gomez, Erger, Maybelen, and Tisdale. Delvin Dickerson came and went in one year, and had a much bigger impact than all of those guys combined. Thanks again Lou.

[hammb]

The Orr era was brutal, no doubt, and we are still feeling the effects of it. But I'm not going to ONLY lay it at his feet. This should have been the year that Chris Jans's first recruits were taking a step forward and he brought in a real freshman class after having a full normal recruiting year. Instead he had to play grab ass at the bar and we have back to back years of stunted recruiting classes scrambling to fill out the roster.

As I said, we're feeling the effects of the whole damned thing. I do think Jans & Huger have managed to at least get some contributors in the last 2 years, but no difference makers as we're seeing now. Hell our 2 best players are still Orr recruits, who have been here playing under 3 different head coaches in the last 3 years.

7 years of a coach who flat out couldn't recruit, followed by back to back shortened recruiting years because we had to replace a coach with a year on the job. Honestly it's a miracle we've won as much as we have. Going into the season I thought 12 wins would be an accomplishment.