FalconBlog--Triumphs and Trials in the BGSU Falcon Nation

Falcons beat Capital

BG won their exhibition game against Capital on Wednesday night. I did not attend, but here is what I understand from the observations of others.

First, midway through the first half we were down 11 to these guys. Then we went on a huge run, and win 95-74.

Martin Samarco, who could well lead the MAC in scoring, had 32 points. Perhaps just as importantly, JC transfer Ryne Hamblet had 22 points, 10 assists and 5 steals. If Hamblet can be a player on the point, he can take huge pressure off of Martin, and help to open up the entire offense.

In general, fans were very positive about this performance. Of course, it's early. When we were in trouble against Capital, we just pounded the ball inside, where they were helpless. Still, from the reports I have seen, the team looked athletic. (Note: any team in basketball shooting 65% from the field will look good.

People also felt Ryan Sims had some good plays. Lionel Simmons did not play (or dress) on account of him not doing things he apparently needed to do to dress. Let's hope, after a forced redshirt year due to eligibility, he isn't on the transfer track already.

Here are Coach's opening comments in his presser (note emphasis is added):

"We played this game against Capital for a reason because they're an experienced group that got good at the end of last season and had some local kids between Fanning, Stahl and Kyser and we knew it wasn't going to be a track meet. They don't shoot quick shots, they handle the ball, they pass to each other and we thought this would be the perfect team to play that would expose our weaknesses. Those weaknesses being number one, when we think we're tired we guard nobody, two, the fact that we have a real hard time keeping the basketball in front of us and three getting on the defensive glass and I thought those were all exposed tonight and it was just what we needed."

"I wasn't rooting for us to lose, but when it got back to 14 I thought it would be a pretty good lesson if it got closer than that. I thought we quit playing when we got up 26. At 26, we stopped guarding and we got up because we were making everything and if we weren't it would have probably been a different story."

On Capital being up 11 in the first half

"In the timeouts I wasn't even getting mad. I just said listen guys keep playing the defense and I told my coaches we'll be up at the half if we stay with the defense and we did get up at the half as we had 19 deflections. Then they got it back because in the second half we had only two deflectionswith six minutes to go."

The season starts for real Saturday against Denison, which should be a similar game to this one. We won't be in attendance, though we hope to catch up to the next available weekend game.