BG Finishes 2-1 in the Land of Peameal Bacon

The Falcons cruised to an easy win over Phase I hoops, a Canadian developmental program.   BG won 80-64 by holding Phase I scoreless for most of the second half of the game.  And now the clock begins to run...November 11, the opener at the Stroh Center.

MAC Preview

Welcome to the start of the pre-season run up to the opening of Falcon football.  We start with a MAC preview....then we'll zoom in on BG, looking at offense, defense, special teams and then a game by game call and what we can expect.

So, the MAC.  I think it is safe to say that things are pretty wide open as it relates to the overall title.  NIU and UT both look to be very high quality teams, and WMU is apparently good as well, while in the East, there are four teams that could win it.  Given Miami's shocker in the title game last year, you really have 7 teams (out of 12) who have a very legitimate shot at winning the whole thing.

So, with no fear and virtually no chance at being right, I dive into the prediction of what to expect in the MAC this year.


East

There are 4 very evenly matched teams in the East.   Below, I will examine each of them...make the case for them winning, and then saying why I am or am not picking them.

1.  Kent

The case:  Kent was never as far behind as they looked, lost a lot of close games and they return a very strong team up front.  Their new coach will take an underachieving team and have immediate results, almost in the Urban Meyer vein.

2.  Temple

The case:  Despite big graduation losses, Al Golden left lots of talent which I think Steve Addazio will know how to use.  They are set even if Pierce is not healthy, and Mike Gerardi is underrated at QB.

Why not #1:  Temple lost a lot of defensive stars from the conference's second best defense, and the fall off is enough to cost them the title.  However, they end the season with Kent at the Linc.

3.  Miami

The case:  They were the media's pick.  They have the best QB in the East and a very strong defense.  They have 17 guys back from last year's title team.  They have a new coach, and a guy who will be a good one, and you just start to think they have the ability to do it again.

Why not #1:  They had a huge turnover advantage last year and won a bunch of close games, something that Phil Steele will tell you is difficult to replicate.  They don't look to be able to run the ball very well, and they have a relatively tough schedule, especially in cross-over land.

4.  Ohio U.

The case:  Phil Steele not only picks them #1 but says they will finish #34 in the country based on the easiest schedule in the MAC.  They got the most 1st place picks in the MAC media poll, but still finished 3rd, which means that at least some people agree with me...this team is overrated.  Anyway, the case for them is that they were 8-5 last year and their games against last year's weak East teams are the same games everyone else plays.

Why not #1:  They are breaking in a new QB, have major defensive issues and don't have the offense to outpace a weak defense.  While their O-line might look good, they have a very low number of accumulated starts among them.  Also, in the MAC, just because teams were poor last year does not mean they will be this year.

5. BG

The case:  Miami did it.

Why not #1:  While I expect BG to be improved this year and think the program is on the track to success, this year is going to be tough.  BG has a very difficult cross-over schedule, and even though the defense will be stronger, it will still be very young and the O-line is very unsettled--should be better, but I don't know how high the ceiling is.  If everything breaks right, this could change, but I don't think this is the year for BG to challenge for the title.

6.  Buffalo

The case:  Miami did it.

Why not #1:  I think Quinn will do well in Buffalo, but they are similar to BG...weak on the O-line, weak in the defensive secondary, and not enough horses to compete this year.

7.  Akron

The case:  Not applicable.

Why not #1: Akron lost a lot of players from a bad team...making them young and weak.  They have a long way to go to be competitive, even in the East.

West

In the West, things are a little more settled, in that I really think there are two team with a shot at winning and maybe one dark horse.

1.  NIU

The case:  I really like NIU.  They had a ridiculous offensive juggernaut last year and bring huge amounts of offensive talent back, including the MAC's best QB and a very solid line.  Even if the defense is weaker, they can score enough to win.  They had the best defense in the MAC last year---they didn't need it.  After last year's disappointment, they get the job done this year.

Why not #1:  Well, they have a new Coach, no one knows how that will click.  Also, they will not be a solid on defense.  They have to replace more starters than any other team in the MAC.

2.  UT

The case:  They were the media's choice as well as Phil Steele's.  Beckman has very quickly assembled a very good football team up there.  Steele says their schedule is slightly better than NIU's and they have 18 starters back.  They play NIU at the Glass Bowl.  I'm picking NIU, but this one is very close.

Why not #1:  They might be strong, but they are not as good as NIU.  They are solid and deep at QB, but Harnish is better and while they didn't lost a lot of players, they did lose some key defensive players.

3.  WMU

The case:  Steele actually has them as co-favorite with UT and says they will be one of the most improved teams in the country.  They have a very strong QB and return the MAC's top WR.  They have the best special teams in the West, and they were 5-3 in the MAC last year.

Why not #1:  Steele is pinning a lot of hope on Tevin Drake at RB and I'm not sure he's shown enough to put that kind of weight on his shoulders.  Their defense isn't that strong, and they play UT and NIU on the road.  Also, Cubit seems to have a history of underachieving and I have yet to be convinced he is a complete coach.

4.  CMU

The case:  CMU fans were ready to part company with Dan Enos after only one year, but I think you'll see him turn things around.  They have to be better---and they have a strong QB and WR and....well, Miami did it.

Why not?:  The Chips will be better, but their defense will limit their upside--especially when they have to face the offenses in the West.  Their O-line could struggle too.

5. BSU

The case:  They could finish ahead of CMU...I don't see a higher run.  They have a new coach, and he might be able to harness the team's underperformance from the Parrish years and make a run.

Why not?:  Just too far to climb in this division.

6. EMU

The case:  They have to compete eventually.  Right?  They have Ron English and Mike Hart coaching....someday, things have to turn around.  Miami did it.

Why not?:  Someday EMU will be competitive.  Honestly.

Championship....The West champion should be the favorite and since I have NIU, I like them to win the Title.  They should have won last year and they make it up this year.

Going to Bowls....

Kent
NIU
UT
WMU
Temple

A Dispatch from Moscow...

The opener is racing up on us, and I was on the internets today and I found some information from the opposing camp....our friends in Moscow, the Idaho Vandals.

The big news is that they cancelled their full-pad scrimmage on Friday.    They are apparently battling injuries and didn't want to push it.  Right now, Akey is saying that he is only worried about one guy being ready for the opener, but that remains to be seen....you can easily imagine a motivation to say otherwise about right now.

The biggest issue is Justin Veltung, their top WR, who has turf toe, but they have 2 TBs down and a couple of guys on the O-lineman, along with a LB, a d-lineman and the long snapper.

Other notes:

• Their QB Brian Reader (Sr.) has been very effective this Fall.
• The defense was torched in their previous scrimmage and was better this time, though they continue to struggle at CB.
• Apparently, (this is funny) one of the team's DBs said that Idaho wants a bend but don't break defense.

To which Akey said:

 “I think I need to have a conversation with old Channel 6 (Grymes) there because I don’t want to see bend-don’t-break. I want to see … let’s don’t bend (at all).

• They are looking at about four true freshman to play.
• One guy to watch out for...true FR. Todd Handley, described as having "elite speed."

More Idaho stuff as we get closer to game day.

Rough Day in the Big Smoke and Men's Basketball Schedule is Out

A couple of more items related to men's basketball.

First, it was a tough night for the Falcons against "A Game Hoops" who we beat a couple of days ago.  This time, we played with FIBA rules and a 24-second shot clock and the guys from the Great White North got the better of us, winning 77-63.  BG sounds like they fouled a lot, as A Game made 20-23 free throws to ice the ball game.

We play Phase 1 today.

Some pictures of the team at Niagara Falls and CN Tower can be viewed here.

In other news, the schedule was released for the Falcons.  We have 15 games at the new Stroh Center, including 3 in the CBE Classic.  This is actually a pretty strong home schedule.  In addition to the 3 CBE games (all D-1 opponents), BG also has Temple coming in.  The opener is still against Howard (note date change), and then there is one NAIA game against Malone.  Anyway, the home schedule is not too bad, though all but one of the non-conference games are in November and, in fact, four of them take place in one week where we will get to know the Stroh Center very well.

As for the road games, BG goes to Georgia, MSU (they come to the Stroh next year), Western Kentucky, Valparaiso, Florida INT, Duquesne, and Texas San-Antonio.  I haven't had a chance to see if those teams are expected to be any good, but on paper it appears to be a pretty tough slate.  With the exception of FIU, those are all very solid programs--UTSA was in the Big Dance last year after we beat them.  These are all teams we have crossed paths with....except for Georgia they are all part of home and home deals---Valpo is a Bracket Buster return.

I'd like to think we have a shot to do something this year, and if so, I do like this schedule.  I think it will help to prepare us for the MAC season, where they only thing that really matters is leaving the Q with a trophy.

We will host a bracketbuster game as well.

The MAC season is what it is, I guess.  We play Akron and Kent consecutively on both rotations...Trey Zeigler will come to the Stroh Center...Miami comes to BG on leap day....

Looking very forward to the men's basketball season.


Nov. 5    TIFFIN (EXH.)          TBA
Nov. 11 HOWARD          7 PM
Nov. 13 at Georgia (CBE Classic/ESPNU)    6 pm
Nov. 21 AUSTIN PEAY (CBE CLASSIC)       7:30 PM
Nov. 22 DETROIT (CBE CLASSIC)       7:30 PM
Nov. 23 GEORGE WASHINGTON (CBE CLASSIC) 7:30 PM
Nov. 27 TEMPLE          2 PM
Dec. 4    at Western Kentucky        TBA
Dec. 7    MALONE          TBA
Dec. 10 at Valparaiso          TBA
Dec. 17 at Michigan State        TBA
Dec. 22 at Florida International       TBA
Dec. 28 at Duquesne          TBA
Jan. 1    at Texas San Antonio        TBA
Jan. 7    OHIO *           TBA
Jan. 11   AKRON *          TBA
Jan. 14   at Kent State *         TBA
Jan. 18   at Miami (Ohio) *        TBA
Jan. 21   BUFFALO *          TBA
Jan. 25   CENTRAL MICHIGAN *       TBA
Jan. 28   at Eastern Michigan *       TBA
Feb. 1    at Western Michigan *       TBA
Feb. 4    NORTHERN ILLINOIS *       TBA
Feb. 8    at Ball State *          TBA
Feb. 11 TOLEDO *          TBA
Feb. 15   at Ohio *          TBA
Feb. 18 ESPN BRACKETBUSTERS       TBA
Feb. 22   at Akron *          TBA
Feb. 25 KENT STATE *          TBA
Feb. 29 MIAMI (OHIO) *        TBA
March 2/3 at Buffalo *          TBA

New Format for Basketball Tournaments

Well, the MAC went off and did something I like.  Who knew?

Anyway, above are the new brackets for the MAC basketball tournaments--both men's and women's--though I am going to talk Men's here.  As you can see, the top two teams move directly to the semi-finals and the next two move directly to the quarter finals.  Most pleasing and surprising of all is that the seeding will be done regardless of division.  So, if a team from one division ends up winning with a 9-7 record, they would be seeded accordingly and not just leap to #2, as in the past.

I love this format.  Most of all, it creates real meaning for the regular season.  A team that hits the top two seeds significantly increases their chances of making the Big Dance--not only do they need to win twice, but they will be (at a minimum) playing a team that played the night before and maybe playing a team on their third game in three nights.  It will inject a lot more drama into the regular season.  The difference between being #4 and #5 is pretty huge.

Yet, it could happen.  It doesn't stop a team like OU, or #6 Akron, from making the run.  It just lets team earn an easier road.

Good on ya, MAC.

Huge Men's Basketball News!

Big news found on the web for BG Basketball.  The Falcons are going to play---and be a host!!--in the CBE Classic, a November exempt tournament.  This is a little bit like what went on at Calihan Hall last year...four teams (BG, George Washington, Austin Peay, and Detroit) will play a round-robin set of games at the Stroh Center.  Games will be November 21-23.

That will be proceeded by a game @Georgia on November 13 that will be on ESPNU.

This is like the tournament last year in that it is not a tournament we can advance in, but getting onto national TV and then having 3 games on our home floor against D1 opponents is a pretty exciting coup.  Great job to the people who made this happen, and I'm looking very forward to it.

Falcons Win First Game in Toronto

Good news for the men's hoops team, they picked up a W in Canada over a group of guys called "A Game Hoops."  I'd never heard of these guys...the idea is that players who played in Europe or in the NCAA (of Canadian College ball) join the team and get prepared with the goal of getting pro contracts in Europe.  There also help the development of high school players.  You can check their roster out here.


How good are they?  Well, this all hard to tell.  BGSUFalcons.com had this...

The team had just come off of a seven-point win over Atlantic 10 school Duquesne two nights earlier.

That's a Duquesne that has had some success against BG recently.


Anyway, the Falcons won 91-87.  Sounds like we "played tag," but BG shot the ball well and the Coach from the Canadian team said we were well coached.  Here is the report.

Dee Brown led a balanced Bowling Green effort with 14 points as the Falcons shot 58 percent from the field and made 5-of-7 three-pointers. A'uston Calhoun had 13 points and Scott Thomas added 12. Jordon Crawford knocked down three of the team's five three-pointers and ended with 10 points. The team also made 12-of-14 free-throws down the stretch to ice the game.

91 is a lot of points with only 5 3 pointers.  We must have been playing "inside out."


Anyway, a good start.  Rematch on Friday.