Am I Crazy Or...?

[BPardonMyTake]

Listen, I'm a simple Falcon fan whose roots run deep in the 419. I was born and raised there, went to high school/college there, and didn't move too far away after college to stay close to my folks who both still live in Bowling Green. I've gotten through the football season the past few years just biding my time until the hoops season kicks off as I'm sure most of you have. I don't like to post a lot on here but I have always enjoyed all of your thoughts/insights and I am curious once again to hear where Falcon Nation is at heading into this season.


This year feels....different? The massively overhyped pre season expectations aren't there which I do think hurt us last year, all of the college basketball "experts" are writing us off after losing turner, and we return virtually everyone BUT turner. Shooting returns with Diggs/Matheny/Fields (when he's wide open in the corner). We've added size through transfers and incoming freshman. We have experience with Plowden/Fields/Diggs/Mattis. I was way off on Swingle's potential but that is an addition by subtraction IMO. He just didn't and never would have fit with the offense (cam black 2.0).

I felt the same way last year heading into the season up until we lost Matiss who I still think is the X Factor for this team with his experience, size, and ability to stretch the floor/run with our backcourt. We've got a notable OOC game against Ohio State with respectful opponents like Robert Morris, Dusquene (sp?), and potentially Yale to get us ready for MAC play.

My only concern is Huger's ability to put all of this talent together to gel for a full season. Does he fix the stagnant offense we see at times? Does he put the right 5 guys on the floor at crucial moments? Will he finally buy into the small ball lineups without a massive center clogging the floor? Can he keep everyone happy with playing time? I am not big into blaming the coach for everything that happens in any sport at any level, but it really does feel like a big part of our success this year depends on his in game coaching abilities /adjustments.

Just had to get this out there. It's crazy how quickly the season is approaching. You forget how fast time flies when the country isn't on lockdown!

[hammb]

I'm excited and ready to get back to the Stroh for some hoops! Tickets are renewed, and I cannot wait to see how badly BG Athletics fudges this all electronic ticketing, so that'll be a fun adventure no matter what!

I have zero idea what to expect from this team. For starters with the COVID rules we have a TON of players. I have no idea how coach is going to come up with a consistent rotation, there's just no way to get all of these guys minutes. Hopefully the competition will raise everybody's bar and we'll settle on a rotation of 8-9 guys that really work.

I'm with you on the Swingle loss, just never saw anything there. I don't know what to think of Matiss at this point, we only ever seem to see him for short spurts and his injuries have really derailed his career. I think Diggs & Plowden should carry this offense, and I REALLY hope we see some big time growth from Matheny.

The Turner thing is, as you said, reason for pundits to write us off, but I'm just not certain. Juice was a great player for us, but he was REALLY inefficient last year. He never got into any consistent rhythm the entire year, always felt like he was pressing trying to do too much. His percentages were really down across the board, to the point where you'd say we won't miss a player like that. But we absolutely WILL miss having a guy with the stones to take the big plays to close out games. Turner didn't have a great success with that last year, but he had a 3 year track record of succeeding as "the man" in crunch time. We may not miss his inefficiency throughout the games, but until I see somebody else step up and hit big shots late in games we just don't know.

I always love getting an OSU in the OOC slate. They're far from invincible in hoops, and are a sturdy test for the program. Not sure if this is the year we could take them down, but I like having the chance. We've taken down Cincy in recent years, so why not the Buckeyes too? I'd love to see us consistently play the Cincy, Xavier, OSU, and Dayton teams in OOC. I know we always have to find home games, but it's so frustrating (as a ticket holder) to play so many games against awful competition. I like to see us tested.

[BPardonMyTake]

I'm excited and ready to get back to the Stroh for some hoops! Tickets are renewed, and I cannot wait to see how badly BG Athletics fudges this all electronic ticketing, so that'll be a fun adventure no matter what!

I have zero idea what to expect from this team. For starters with the COVID rules we have a TON of players. I have no idea how coach is going to come up with a consistent rotation, there's just no way to get all of these guys minutes. Hopefully the competition will raise everybody's bar and we'll settle on a rotation of 8-9 guys that really work.

I'm with you on the Swingle loss, just never saw anything there. I don't know what to think of Matiss at this point, we only ever seem to see him for short spurts and his injuries have really derailed his career. I think Diggs & Plowden should carry this offense, and I REALLY hope we see some big time growth from Matheny.

The Turner thing is, as you said, reason for pundits to write us off, but I'm just not certain. Juice was a great player for us, but he was REALLY inefficient last year. He never got into any consistent rhythm the entire year, always felt like he was pressing trying to do too much. His percentages were really down across the board, to the point where you'd say we won't miss a player like that. But we absolutely WILL miss having a guy with the stones to take the big plays to close out games. Turner didn't have a great success with that last year, but he had a 3 year track record of succeeding as "the man" in crunch time. We may not miss his inefficiency throughout the games, but until I see somebody else step up and hit big shots late in games we just don't know.

I always love getting an OSU in the OOC slate. They're far from invincible in hoops, and are a sturdy test for the program. Not sure if this is the year we could take them down, but I like having the chance. We've taken down Cincy in recent years, so why not the Buckeyes too? I'd love to see us consistently play the Cincy, Xavier, OSU, and Dayton teams in OOC. I know we always have to find home games, but it's so frustrating (as a ticket holder) to play so many games against awful competition. I like to see us tested.

Great point on Turner. It's a very underrated quality for a mid major team to have that go to player when the game is on the line. Is Plowden that player? Can Diggs become a better all around scorer to become that player? Can Fields/Matheny/Fulcher make that kind of a leap? I just hope this isn't a team that we have to wonder where the points are going to come from every night. And absolutely 100% correct there is zero reason why we can't be scheduling the better Ohio teams before conference play every year.


I'm interested to hear everyone's thoughts on Buffalo? Are we tough enough to compete/beat them in March? Will we ever have an answer for Mballa? I think from the starting 5 to the 12th man we have the most pound for pound talent in the conference, but there's just something about Buffalo that makes me nervous. I'm pretty middle of the road with my thoughts on Huger, I just think he's fine. One thing I think that leaves something to be desired is the identity of the teams he's coached. He's proved he can beat just about anyone on any given night, but teams aren't afraid to play us. We haven't had that gritty/hard nosed teams that will at least compete every night.

[BleedOrange]

It seems odd to me that we aren't mentioning guards Mills, Gordon, and Curtis. All three of them bring creds at least as good as any of our returning players, except for maybe Plowden. Honestly, I don't see how Fields will even see the court this year. Methany will fight for playing time as well. I expect 3 of our starters to be newcomers.

[BillyLP]

It seems odd to me that we aren't mentioning guards Mills, Gordon, and Curtis. All three of them bring creds at least as good as any of our returning players, except for maybe Plowden. Honestly, I don't see how Fields will even see the court this year. Methany will fight for playing time as well. I expect 3 of our starters to be newcomers.

Fields's defensive prowess alone earns him playing time in my book. He is a shut down defender on guards. If he improved, even marginally, on offense, he has All-MAC potential, IMHO.

[BPardonMyTake]

It seems odd to me that we aren't mentioning guards Mills, Gordon, and Curtis. All three of them bring creds at least as good as any of our returning players, except for maybe Plowden. Honestly, I don't see how Fields will even see the court this year. Methany will fight for playing time as well. I expect 3 of our starters to be newcomers.

Fields's defensive prowess alone earns him playing time in my book. He is a shut down defender on guards. If he improved, even marginally, on offense, he has All-MAC potential, IMHO.

That and a returning senior in a young-ish backcourt bodes well for him. Though I gotta say, this idea that he is a lock down perimeter defender feels like something that was talked about a couple times and now everyone just assumes he's one of the top defenders in the MAC. I think he's fine but it's still hard to forget LCJ absolutely cooking him last year.


BleedOrange you make a solid point my friend. Do you have any insight on any of the transfers in terms of eligibility for those 3? Are they just automatically eligible to play from the Covid season? I never know about stuff like that and would be even more interested in hearing about the eligibility status of Gabe O'Neal and Joe Reece. I hope you're right those 3 guards are good enough to plug/play immediately and Matheny/ Diggs headlining the second team off the bench would be absurd in terms of offensive upside. Curtis obviously has the prior accolades surrounding him but I don't know anything about Mills/Gordon aside from where they transferred from and general stats.

[BleedOrange]

Everyone on our roster is eligible this year.

Brandon Mills averaged 13.8 ppg and shot 40% from 3 last year. Myron Gordon averaged of 15 ppg and had efficient shooting percentages as well. Both are athletic. You'd have no problems finding videos of them on the web. Both are candidates to start.

Joe Reece averaged 7.8 ppg and 5.5 rpg at Old Dominion last year. He's an athletic 6-9 with a good overall floor game. I see him starting.

Gabe O'Neal played behind 1st Team All-MAC Danny Pippin at Kent last year. His points and rebounds per minute statistics were impressive. In videos, he looks very physical and active in the post. He fills a giant hole that we've had the past few years - a physical presence in the post.

And, of course, Samari Curtis was 2019 Ohio Mr. Basketball. He's the first Ohio Mr. Basketball to ever show up in the MAC. He has a tremendous ceiling and could break-out big time.

If the freshman Ubong Etim is ready, then we will be legitimately 12 deep this year.

[Matty B]

And, of course, Samari Curtis was 2019 Ohio Mr. Basketball. He's the first Ohio Mr. Basketball to ever show up in the MAC. He has a tremendous ceiling and could break-out big time.

Keith McLeod was also a Mr. Basketball

[BleedOrange]

And, of course, Samari Curtis was 2019 Ohio Mr. Basketball. He's the first Ohio Mr. Basketball to ever show up in the MAC. He has a tremendous ceiling and could break-out big time.

Keith McLeod was also a Mr. Basketball

McLeod was never a Mr. Basketball.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohio_Mr._Basketball

[BleedOrange]

As it turns out, Samari Curtis is far from being the first Ohio Mr. Basketball to show up in the MAC.

[mbenecke]

And, of course, Samari Curtis was 2019 Ohio Mr. Basketball. He's the first Ohio Mr. Basketball to ever show up in the MAC. He has a tremendous ceiling and could break-out big time.

Keith McLeod was also a Mr. Basketball

McLeod was never a Mr. Basketball.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohio_Mr._Basketball

He was an OHSMBCA Mr. Basketball. It's a slightly different award.

[BleedOrange]

I just went thru MAC rosters.

I would say that our crop of transfers has at least as good creds as the rest of the MAC combined.

[mbenecke]

In today’s MAC Men’s Preseason Coaches’ Poll, BG was picked to finish 6th in the MAC.

1. Buffalo
2. Ohio
3. Toledo
4. Kent State
5. Akron
6. Bowling Green
7. Miami
8. Ball State
9. Western Michigan
10. Central Michigan
11. Eastern Michigan
12. Northern Illinois

[BillyLP]

Surprised at Ohio being at #2, but otherwise this all looks about what I'd expect.

[Diemilkweed]

As it turns out, Samari Curtis is far from being the first Ohio Mr. Basketball to show up in the MAC.

According to the wiki linked above, it has happened one other time. The 2020 Mr. B went to Kent.

Samari was the 2019 Mr. B - so you could argue in a weird way that he is the 1st Mr. B to sign with the MAC.

Ohio Mr. B that is.

Either way, having it happen one other time during the same time frame as Samari is pretty exclusive. I don't think that qualifies as "far from" the only one.