Observations from the week-end

[BleedOrange]

Despite the team's schizophrenic week-end, I am feeling okay about our prospects. I don't at all believe that this will be a single digit win year. This team has a good blend of different talents and skills, moreso when Wright, Moten, Sullivan, & Rad come available. Furthermore, they displayed guts and toughness Saturday afternoon. It is awesome to see that in a young team at such a formative time.


Some observations:

Nick Wilson played today. So much for the redshirt theory, which seemed very probable. Why would he sit Friday and Saturday when walk-ons get significant minutes? Strange.

To my great relief, Clements and Marschall have shown the ability to get shots and the willingness to take them. They are shooting for decent %s in the early going. Marschall is going to the boards.

Soler: 7 boards and 8 assists today. His turnovers and fouls have been WAY too high, especially for a senior. Given his playing style, they seem to be errors of commission. He seems to be getting involved on the floor and playing aggressive. We can live with the fouls, but the turnovers have got to go.

Floyd's shooting too much. His % horrible. He's forcing shots. Wright and Moten's presence will cut his playing time in half. As a result, I situations where Floyd needs to force shot will hopefully disappear. Frankly Samarco's shooting percentage is bad too. However, I expect that stat to get better as he and the entire team get more comfortable in the offense. Also, Wright will attract a LOT off defensive attention on the perimeter, and Samarco will see better shots as a result.

Robinson, on the other hand, isn't shooting frequently enough.

Let's count our blessings: We have a legitimate 6-11 big man in the post who can score, board, and defend. Furthermore, he's a smart player. He's no Chris Kamen, but he's better than average in the MAC.

If JD Campbell doesn't somehow produce information on Lionel Sullivan's eligibility, I will go to his house, knock on his door, and ask him in person.

[Warthog]

If JD Campbell doesn't somehow produce information on Lionel Sullivan's eligibility, I will go to his house, knock on his door, and ask him in person.

He lives just down the street from me. Want me to do it for you?

[transfer2BGSU]

If JD Campbell doesn't somehow produce information on Lionel Sullivan's eligibility, I will go to his house, knock on his door, and ask him in person.

Take a look at FERPA. This may be the reason he has not released that information.

[JWEIII]

1-2 or 3-0. Non-conference record just really does not matter with this team (an at-large bid to any post season tournament is totally unrealistic). This is a young team and they got some experience, I think that is what is important. BG is gonna have 4 games under their belt before many of the MAC teams open their seasons. Win, lose or draw all these games are going to pay off when MAC play starts. Winning MAC games is what matters to me.

[San Diego Falcon]

1-2 or 3-0. Non-conference record just really does not matter with this team (an at-large bid to any post season tournament is totally unrealistic). This is a young team and they got some experience, I think that is what is important. BG is gonna have 4 games under their belt before many of the MAC teams open their seasons. Win, lose or draw all these games are going to pay off when MAC play starts. Winning MAC games is what matters to me.

Well said. It's exciting to see that this team is truly capable of beating anyone on the schedule. After all, most people at the beginning of the season would have said the game with VT on their floor would be the toughest of the season. And yes, we are capable of losing to anyone on our schedule. But this team should improve and could be a force to be reckoned with in the MAC.

[Tricky_Falcon]

Yeah the main thing is making it to the MAC Tournament and winning it....

[commonsense]

Bleed Orange, I do agree with some of your observations. You make some excellent points. This team proved that they could be very good this year with their win on an ACC school's home floor. However, you made some points that I do disagree with.

"We have a legitimate 6-11 big man in the post who can score, board, and defend."

-Lets let the kid have a few more games before we assess that he can score. He has had one double digit scoring effort in 3 years, which he followed with 4 and 2 point performances. Also, you think he can defend. He is playing an average of barely over half the game and has 13 fouls in 3 games. To put it simply, his D needs work.

Another statement that I am having trouble digesting is the idea that you think Robinson can shoot. I know you are anti-floyd (although I can't understand it after the kid was the best player on the floor vs. an above average ACC team), but there are no facts to back your statements up. Robinson is living up to last years statistics once again this year, shooting 25% from the floor and under 50% from the foul line. Why do you want him shooting more????

[Jacobs4Heisman]

Bleed Orange, I do agree with some of your observations. You make some excellent points. This team proved that they could be very good this year with their win on an ACC school's home floor. However, you made some points that I do disagree with.

"We have a legitimate 6-11 big man in the post who can score, board, and defend."

-Lets let the kid have a few more games before we assess that he can score. He has had one double digit scoring effort in 3 years, which he followed with 4 and 2 point performances. Also, you think he can defend. He is playing an average of barely over half the game and has 13 fouls in 3 games. To put it simply, his D needs work.

Another statement that I am having trouble digesting is the idea that you think Robinson can shoot. I know you are anti-floyd (although I can't understand it after the kid was the best player on the floor vs. an above average ACC team), but there are no facts to back your statements up. Robinson is living up to last years statistics once again this year, shooting 25% from the floor and under 50% from the foul line. Why do you want him shooting more????

I'll just say one thing. You can't use the "we've only played three games" argument against statistics in one sentence, and then use statistics from those same 3 games to back up your next point.

I do agree right now that Moon has not looked good with his stroke. But I'd like to see him put it up a few more times a game and get in a rhythm to see if he can still shoot the rock. Shooters don't do well shooting about twice a game.

The best case scenario is if we can get Dusan and Stevie back and eating up most of the shots along with Samarco.

[commonsense]

I should have been more clear when talking about these 3 games. I don't see much difference between Lefeld's defense this year and the past 2 years. He had 13 fouls in 3 games this past weekend. For the past 2 years from what I have seen, his defense has not consisted of blocking shots or having good position on defense. It has consisted of hacking. I'm sorry for making it seem like I was basing this observation on 3 games, although these three games seem to continue the trend. I was encouraged by the 14 point performance, I'm just not convinced yet that he can score.

[Jacobs4Heisman]

I've never been a big Lefeld or Moon fan. I don't think either of them are MAC caliber players. Lefeld is obviously closer because of his height but until this year he was the most useless 6-11 kid I had ever seen. I'll reserve judgement on his improvement until I see him in person. His line against WCU was obviously promising but then back to the old days against VT and Radford.

I'm trying not to form any opinions on this team until the injured get back in the lineup. I don't think we'll see this team take shape until January.

[JoeFalcon]

This team has a good blend of different talents and skills, moreso when Wright, Moten, Sullivan, & Rad come available. Furthermore, they displayed guts and toughness Saturday afternoon. It is awesome to see that in a young team at such a formative time.

Exactly. If a good ACC team can be beaten without four key pieces of the puzzle in only the second game of the year, it's scary to think how good they'll be when everyone is healthy, eligible and ready to participate.

The heart and will possessed by the current collection of players will carry them a long way until the reinforcements arrive.

[BleedOrange]

Bleed Orange, I do agree with some of your observations. You make some excellent points. This team proved that they could be very good this year with their win on an ACC school's home floor. However, you made some points that I do disagree with.

"We have a legitimate 6-11 big man in the post who can score, board, and defend."

-Lets let the kid have a few more games before we assess that he can score. He has had one double digit scoring effort in 3 years, which he followed with 4 and 2 point performances. Also, you think he can defend. He is playing an average of barely over half the game and has 13 fouls in 3 games. To put it simply, his D needs work.

Another statement that I am having trouble digesting is the idea that you think Robinson can shoot. I know you are anti-floyd (although I can't understand it after the kid was the best player on the floor vs. an above average ACC team), but there are no facts to back your statements up. Robinson is living up to last years statistics once again this year, shooting 25% from the floor and under 50% from the foul line. Why do you want him shooting more????

Gahhh!!! Silly. Argumentative.

Check his high school stats. His FG% and 3pt %, while not outstanding, were fine.

You CAN NOT assess his shooting ability on the basis of what few attempts he's had in college. There simply is not enough statistical observations.

[commonsense]

What is silly is bringing up high school statistics for a sophomore in college. It is a completely different game. It is much easier to shoot over 5'7 guards than it is to shoot over 6'3 guards. When penetrating, its a little easier to finish over a 6'4 post player than a 7 footer. The only thing that is the same is a free throw. If a good shooter gets 31 attempts from the foul line during college games, they should hit more than 12 as Robinson has in his career. I just can't believe how you are refusing to look at the numbers on this one Bleedorange. We will see as the season progresses. I hope Robinson proves me wrong, but I still think we are a better team with Floyd on the floor.

[BleedOrange]

What is silly is bringing up high school statistics for a sophomore in college. It is a completely different game. It is much easier to shoot over 5'7 guards than it is to shoot over 6'3 guards. When penetrating, its a little easier to finish over a 6'4 post player than a 7 footer. The only thing that is the same is a free throw. If a good shooter gets 31 attempts from the foul line during college games, they should hit more than 12 as Robinson has in his career. I just can't believe how you are refusing to look at the numbers on this one Bleedorange. We will see as the season progresses. I hope Robinson proves me wrong, but I still think we are a better team with Floyd on the floor.

No no no. Not silly at all. Shooting is shooting. An open shot is an open shot. What's more, Robinson played in the Chicago city league. What will differ, generally, is the number of attempts and %s less so (unless he has Floyd's shot selection). Robinson won't attempt to finish over a 7-footer. Robinson's college stats aren't yet meaningful because we have seen enough attempts in consistant playing time across many games. 31 FT attempts just aren't meaningful. You're not understanding how to apply statistics in assessing a player's potential.

[brewer]

BleedOrange, out of curiosity only (not taking sides on this discussion), what were Moon's shooting percentages in high school? I'm particularly interested in the FT %. Thanks