Falcon Basketball Game by Game

2008-2009 SCHEDULE

11/14/08 vs. Georgia State Minneapolis, Minn. L

Georgia State wasn't very good last year, but they have four transfers coming in from major programs and a coach who has been successful elsewhere. They are going to be up-tempo. This is their first game together, but we're without three players and two who are starters.

11/15/08 at Minnesota Minneapolis, Minn. L

Middle of the pack Big 10 team, but on their home court. Undermanned Falcon team should struggle to win.

11/16/08 vs. Concordia-St. Paul Minneapolis, Minn. W

Should be a win. This is a D-II team.

11/20/08 vs. Wayne State Bowling Green, Ohio W
Former Falcon David Greer is coach here, but its not a Division I program and we should win....and they are expected to be in the middle of their pack in their conference.

11/24/08 at Ohio State Columbus, Ohio L

Ohio State is better than Minnesota and playing at home, this would be a great victory for us if we got it.

12/01/08 at Savannah State Savannah, Ga. W

This is a team that was 12-18 last year, and doesn't seem to bring anybody back from that squad. They are an independent though, and play a tough schedule. Still, I think we can win this one for a road win.

12/06/08 at Illinois State Normal, Ill. L

Home court, #3 ranked team in strong conference, and MVC pre-season player of the year mean a tought day for the Falcons.

12/14/08 vs. Detroit Bowling Green, Ohio W

Detroit is picked to finish near the bottom of the Horizon Conference, and we should win this game at home.

12/20/08 at Central Arkansas Conway, Ark. W

First, their men's team is the Bears, and the women the Sugar Bears. K? We provided the Bears with their first D-1 win, but they are picked to be last in the Southland Conference and we should win this game.

12/22/08 vs. Towson Bowling Green, Ohio W

This should also be a win. It is on our home court, and they are picked to be 10th in their conference.

12/28/08 vs. Eastern Illinois Bowling Green, Ohio W

They were 7-22 and lost five guys and aren't anticipated to be very good (10th in the OVC). We should win, even in a Christmas Break-Anderson Arena.

12/31/08 at Duquesne Pittsburgh, Pa. L

Duquesne is picked 12th in the A-10, this is an eminently winnable game. I just have a feeling that they pick us off on their home floor.

01/03/09 vs. Fordham Bowling Green, Ohio W

Picked below Duquesne and on our court. We should win this won.

I have already registed my thoughts on the MAC, so I won't do individual game summaries...here's what I see.

01/10/09 vs. Buffalo Bowling Green, Ohio W
01/14/09 at Kent State Kent, Ohio L
01/17/09 vs. Akron Bowling Green, Ohio W
01/20/09 vs. Miami Bowling Green, Ohio L (important early game)
01/24/09 at Ohio Athens, Ohio L
01/28/09 vs. Ball State Bowling Green, Ohio W
01/31/09 at Northern Illinois DeKalb, Ill. W
02/04/09 vs. Western Michigan Bowling Green, Ohio L
02/07/09 at Central Michigan Mount Pleasant, Mich. W
02/11/09 at Toledo Toledo, Ohio W
02/15/09 vs. Eastern Michigan Bowling Green, Ohio W
02/18/09 at Buffalo Buffalo, N.Y. W
02/21/09 TBA (ESPNU BracketBusters) -----
02/26/09 vs. Kent State Bowling Green, Ohio L
03/01/09 at Akron Akron, Ohio W
03/05/09 at Miami Oxford, Ohio L
03/08/09 vs. Ohio Bowling Green, Ohio W

18-11 overall.
10-6 in the MAC.

Lots of positives here.

• At 18 wins, we have our first winning season since 2004-5. And, it would be our best season since that year. (The non-conference schedule is pretty well set up, though.)
  
• A 3-game improvement is a reasonable expectation, see my previous preview post.
• 10-6 is in the neighborhood for a first round bye.