Winless Eagles Come to Stroh

Next up, the EMU Eagles.  This team is an interesting picture of what can happen in today's college basketball.  Here are the players EMU expected to lose last year...three really good players, in fact.  Be a problem on its own...

James Thomson IV  All-MAC
Elijah Minnie All-MAC HM
Paul Jackson, 14 PPG
Isiah Green

Then, on top of it, they lost five more players to transfer

Daivon Stephens and Tariq Silvers, transfer to Tallahassee Community College
Malik Ellison, transfer to Saginaw Valley State
Bud Jones, St. Thomas University
Kevin McAdoo, Bradley

So that's 9 scholarships Rob Murphy had to fill for this year.  That's also nearly impossible.  By definition, a lot of transfers happen after signing day...when the top players, even JUCO players, have already chosen a home.

It's just unbelievable...9 new players.  They have 10 players who started their career at another college or JUCO.  It's just a brutal way to go.

They are 10-8 with 4 non-D1 wins.  Their kenpom is 226.  Their best win is a good one, @ North Texas (#86).  They have lost their first 5 MAC games and their last 7 D1 games.  They have not won a D1 game since December 17.

BG has won 6 out of the last 10 but only 3 of last 5 at the Stroh.

So, what you get with EMU is a 2-3 zone and a consistently strong defensive unit.  You get that this year, as well.  Their problem is that they are just dreadful on offense--last in the MAC, one of tghe worst in the country.  Look at that spread on the EMU offense/BG defense!  (MAC games only).  The defense is good, 3rd in the MAC and will be a test for BG, which has struggled with this zone.

Starting with the EMU offense, this is just amazing.  EMU is last in the MAC in shooting and in turnovers.  They are last in 2FG% and 3FG%.  They are 11th in FT% and 11th in offensive rebounding.  They are first in getting to the line, but, as noted, don't convert very well.  If BG can hold NIU to .88, they out to be able to get EMU under .9 as well, and have an oustanding shot at winning the game.

The problem is, BG has had some absolutely dreadful, cringe-worthy experiences against zones, especially this one.  Coach said after the last game that BG needs to make shots to beat the zone, something they did not do against NIU and haven't been great at all year.  The Eagles are only 9th in FG defense and actually #10 in 3FG defense.  They are 2nd at forcing turnovers and #3 on the boards, both areas with big differences with what we seen for BG so far.  If BG takes care of the ball and makes shots even at their average, they should be good to go in this one.

One other note.  They lead the MAC in steals, which is a turnover that can yield a transition attempt, unlike a dead-ball turnover.

Still conference games, they are led in scoring by Noah Morgan, a 6'5" JUCO transfer.  He's scoring 13.4 PPG on 44% shooting overall and 33% from 3FG.  He leads the team with 21 of their 80 turnovers.  Yeikson Montero, also a 6'5" JUCO transfer, scoring 10.6 PPG on 36% and 21% shooting.  He leads the MAC in steals.

Two returnees also figure prominently.  Ty Groce (6'8") scores 9.8 on 33% and 32% shooting and 2nd on the team with 5.6 RPG.  He is 2nd in the MAC in steals.

Lastly, big man Boubacar Toure is averaging 9 PPG and 10 RPG...he's #28 in the country in tempo-free defensive rebnoudning.

BG is 4-1 and heads to Toledo on Saturday.  This seems to be an everyone can win in the MAC...so far, except EMU, but that can change.  BG needs to hold serve on this one at the Stroh.