BG vs. San Jose State

[mbenecke]

On Wednesday night at 7:00pm inside the Stroh Center, the BGSU men's basketball team takes on the San Jose State Spartans. They're off to a rather slow 2-3 start, after winning their most recent contest against Idaho State, 62-54.

They average 70.6 points per game while giving up just 68. They shoot just 44% from the field, and just 34% from beyond the arc. They also shoot 70% from the free throw line as a team. They also average 3.2 blocks and 40 rebounds per game. Their KenPom ranking is 301, while ours is 208.

They seem to be a team that wants to grind it out, so this may be a tough matchup. They beat us last year at their place (77-76), so I definitely will not chalk this up as an easy win for us. They have 2 guys that are 6'11, and another 3 guys that are 6'8 or taller. I don't think their bigs will be able to match our pace, so I hope we push the ball up the floor in transition and make good decisions with the ball.

Let's get a win, Falcons!

[gmartin]

Wiggins will struggle against their rotation of big guys. Wiggins has had 3 good games and 4 sub-par to bad games. And I'm sorry if Wiggins happens to read this but I'm not the only one who says this. Against average or above average and taller big guys Wiggins struggles. He struggled this weekend. I even called him a pussy because he cannot finish down low. He plays too soft. Wiggins could be a force if he played with more grit and toughness but he plays pattycake. I do think our quickness will wear down SJSU and BG wins by 12 or 14.

[mbenecke]

We need more toughness and grittiness. I absolutely agree with that.

If we toughen up a bit, both physically and mentally, we will be a tough out all year.

Like the hockey team says, we have to be tough to play against.

[hammb]

Excited to welcome the guys back home tonight after a pretty successful holiday road trip. Man, is this the real Rodrick Caldwell? The talent was always obvious, but throughout most of his Freshman year he struggled to put it together for a full game; then he goes out and dominates 3 games in 3 days?

If we get guard play like that we're going to be a fun team to watch.

This matchup should be interesting...Wiggins is going to have his hands full. I'd think we might see more of Gadson as well? And this could be the last game without Lillard? I hope he's taken his time on the bench to see what he has a chance to be a part of.

[gmartin]

Plowden and Cummings have shown at times they can provide points and a spark off the bench. We've seen Turner do well a couple times.

Imagine if Frye, Turner and Caldwell all play their A game. Wiggins bulks up and plays with more toughness. You have UJU also coming off the bench for a few minutes of relief. And now bring in Lillard. Don't forget Koch who earlier had a 15/15 game. A 6'10 freshman Godson coming off the bench.

Our only senior is Fox whom probably wouldn't play much at any other MAC school. This team should be the team to beat next year although this year is becoming exciting!

[hammb]

I, too, expect next year to be a huge year for this program. We should return all of our real contributors, and they'll all have one more year of experience.

But this season is starting off way too fun for me to look that far ahead. The talent level on this roster is just night & day different than what we've had for the last 10-15 years.

What I'm waiting to see is if they look great to us because we've been so devoid of talent for so long, or if they truly are an upper echelon grouping of MAC talent.

[Globetrotter]

I, too, expect next year to be a huge year for this program. We should return all of our real contributors, and they'll all have one more year of experience.

But this season is starting off way too fun for me to look that far ahead. The talent level on this roster is just night & day different than what we've had for the last 10-15 years.

What I'm waiting to see is if they look great to us because we've been so devoid of talent for so long, or if they truly are an upper echelon grouping of MAC talent.

You wanted pgs for years. Now we have 3 guys who can handle the ball and Turner isn't too bad either. Actually Koch can pass too.

[Globetrotter]

SJ State

Looks like they turn the ball over a ton 83 turnovers to 79 assists
Looks like they play a bunch of people. Everyone is over 10 mins a game.

1) 21 Jalen James 6-4 175 SR 5 starts 6.4p 2.8r
2) 25 Jaycee Hillsman 6-6 213 JR 5 starts 10.8p 3.6rpg 3apg
3) 5 Keith Fisher 6-8 215 FR 5 starts 9.4p 3.8r
4) 32 Ryan Welage 6-9 205 JR 5 starts 19.6p 4.6r
5) C Oumar Barry 6-11 230 Junior 13 5 starts 6.6p 4r 2b 42% from FT (FOUL HIM!)

BENCH
10 Isaiah Nichols 6-5 180 SO 6.8p, 7.6r
20 Noah Baumann 6-5 180 Freshman 5.4p 2.2r

[Globetrotter]

Interesting that Welage ended up at SJ St. He is from a small town in between Cincy and Indy. Offers were from Lipscomb, N Kentucky, IUPUI and Colgate.

[gmartin]

I predict a BG victory. Originally I said 14 point victory so I will stick with that. BG 86 SJSU 72

[Globetrotter]

This is my favorite BG team since Pardon-McLeod-Whoever-Klassen-Matela.

Whoever=Trent Jackson-Crawford

Almanson and Netter were on that team.

[Globetrotter]

Dylan Frye missed dunk will go on https://twitter.com/WhiteBballPains" target="_blank

[Globetrotter]

All around good performance so far.
Koch and Turner in double figures already. Wiggins 6-7.

[gmartin]

And again we blow a big lead!!! Common theme coming out of halftime.

[FalconRollAlong]

BG holds on for win! Glad that complacency didn't bite us in the butt.