Offensive Woes Continue to Plague Falcons

For 17 minutes, BG played with the Michigan Wolverines, trailing by 1 with 3:18 left to play in the first half.  At that point, the score was 28-27, UM.  BG would not reach the 38 point for 13 minutes, when Cameron Black hit a layup with just inside 11 minutes left to play.  By then the Wolverines led by 15 and the game was over.

Note the very flat BG line in the chart below.....

NCAA Basketball

The season is young, but this is reaching the level where it certainly is a concern.  Despite having some players capable of scoring, this team has a tendency to go in long scoring droughts where shots do not fall, and you can play as good a defense as you want, you aren't going to win.  And, of course, you're on the road in the Big 10.

For the game, BG shot 29.6%.  In the second half, BG was 5 of 25 for 20%.  That's right...a half of basketball netted just 5 FGs.  All 2-pt FGs, for that matter.  For the game BG was 2-14 from behind the arc.

I'm not going to go through the players and how they shot, because it is clearly a team issue.  A'uston Calhoun shot 40% from the field.  Every other player on the team shot worse than that.  For the game, BG's offensive efficiency was .78 points per possession, which is among the worst performances dating back into last season.

This chart pretty much gives you the story.  BG did not play great defense either.  Michigan scored 1.07 points per possession.  Note the very strong shooting and offensive rebounding by UM.  It was more than enough to make up for some sloppy ball handling by UM and the fact that BG did get to the line and make some FTs.

College Basketball Stats

There were some positives.  A'uston Calhoun had 16 points in 21 minutes, but 12 of those were in the first half.  Given the difficulty we had scoring the basketball, I am not sure I understand why we didn't find more minutes for Calhoun.  He did miss a couple shots, but I remember at least two that just rimmed out.  He showed the ability to score off the dribble and with the jumper.  Anyway, I'm sure there was a reason.

I'm really pleased with the progress Danny McElroy is making.  I think he's going to develop into a very nice player.

We started Kraus and Crawford at guard with Jakubowski and Brown coming off the bench.  I don't think it matters so much who comes off the bench and who starts.  Brown certainly got into the flow of the game and was our only other double figure scorer.

There was one little Michigan spurt that I think played a role in the flow of the game.  BG's Luke Kraus got a steal and was heading in for a layup and Zack Nowack came up from behind and got the block.  With a basket, BG takes the lead.  UM scored 2 treys and a layup over the next 3 possessions and that represented a nice turnaround.

Nowack did the same thing later to Jakubowski in more spectacular, if less meaningful fashion.

One note on Luke Kraus.  I like him as a player.  I think he is tough and fearless.  It did seem like he was a little out of control sometimes in the game tonight, and I am sure that is something he will improve on as he matures.

So, a loss at Crisler Arena.  (We did not, by the way, hold them below what the Wolverines scored on the football team, but it was close).  I am not surprised we lost, but it is frustrating to be chased out of a game by the complete inability to get a basket.