MBB Permutations

 

Can BG MBB Make it 4 MAC Wins In a Row

 Last year, starting on February 21, when Javonte Campbell daggered the Rockets at the buzzer, BG started a winning streak that ran to four straight MAC games.  BG moved from 4-9 to 8-9 and eventually qualified for Cleveland.  This year, the hole isn't as big, and we're already at 3 in a row...this is a tough week, though.  However, to the extent you are thinking you want to make that big run and win the MAC, these are the teams you will need to beat at Rocket Arena.

The next opponent is Kent State. They are 22-9/20-9/10-3 and in 3rd place in the MAC.  Their losses in conference are to Miami and Akron, the top two teams in the MAC, and then an inexplicable loss to CMU in Mt. Pleasant.

BG played a really tough game against Kent and probably should have won the game.  BG played with Ruffin out and Thomas essentially out. The score range was 13 points.  If you recall, BG was up 1 with :13 to play and had a stop.  But Campbell lost the ball in his legs, and Delrecco Gillespie picked it up and scored, putting Kent in the lead, and they went on to win.

It was a big offensive game for both teams.  It was BG's best offense in a losing effort this year.

Kent has now beaten BG 13 straight. It has been 2,544 days since we beat Kent.

All in all, this isn't the greatest Kent team.  They are #6 in offense and #5 in defense.

On offense, they are 11th in shooting, 10th from 2FG, and from 3FG. They are 5th in trying 3FGs. Their offensive strengths are offensive rebounding and getting to the line, both of which they are #1 at.  They are good at the line, shooting 76%. BG is #2 on the defensive boards, and that will be a key battle.  BG needs those boards to get into transition. Our work on the boards is pretty consistent, although UT really crashed the boards last time.

Back when we played all zone with Orr, Kent always had a game plan for attacking it.

Flipping it around, Kent is #2 against the shot, but they don't force turnovers. They are pretty good on the defensive boards (#5) and #8 at putting opponents on the line. They are #3 in defending the 3FG and the 2FG.  And yet, BG scored against them last time.

Kent is led by Delrecco Gillespie, a truly outstanding big man. He had 32 points and 10 rebounds in the first one. (MAC games only). He averages a double-double, 19.1/12.8.  That's 3rd in the MAC in scoring and 1st in rebounding.  He shoots 56% from 2FG and 81% at the line.  He insists on trying 3FGs and makes 29%. He's #2 in blocked shots. He draws 6 fouls a game. He's a career Flash who really rounded into form this year.

Rob Whaley is Gillespie's cousin and transferred from UNLV.  He is scoring 13.5 PPG on 55% 2FG shooting. He battled four trouble in the first meeting.

Morgan Safford transferred from Miami. He is scoring 12.8 PPG 49%/29%/82%.

Cian Medley leads the MAC with 6.9 APG.

So here we go.  BG will need that same all-possession intensity, because you know Kent will bring it.  Let's hope for a big crowd after the UT win.  BG is a 2.5-point favorite.  Let's snap that streak.

BG Wins, Hated Rockets Fall.

Sent with love from all Falcon Fans🧡#AyZiggy | #FlyAroundandFindOut pic.twitter.com/PdxrvbrdpQ

— BGSU Men's Basketball (@BGSUMBB) February 15, 2026

Now that's a Valentine's Card.  What a game that was.  Our boys put together the performance they have been capable of all season.  They seized the lead, and they never allowed a serious run after it.  They closed the game under pressure.  They won a game where every possession was a knife fight.  And they sent a big crowd home happy, hoping to see them again on Tuesday.

Well done, guys.  That was sweet.

The game was tied after 6 minutes, and BG was up 3 a minute later. UT went on a 9-0 run to take a 6-point lead with 10 to play.  You're paying attention now, as a Falcon fan.  They stem the tide, chip away, and with 6 minutes left, Aidan Goins (he's rounding around) scored to give BG the lead.

BG never trailed again.

The Goins hoop was part of a 13-1 run to give BG a 9-point lead.  Unfortunately, UT scored the next 7 to trail by 2 going into the locker room...Trey Glover blocked a shot by Blyden to preserve the lead at the buzzer.

Coming out of the locker room, BG set the tone for the second half.  BG scored the first 8 points to take a 10-point lead, and the chaser had been identified.

The Rockets chased it to 7 with 17 to play, but BG scored the next 6 to lead by 13 with 15 minutes left and then led by 16 with 12 to play.

The game is far from over.  We didn't have one of those famous airgaps...BG battled hard the whole way.  UT got it to 10 with 9 to play and 9 with 8 left. 

What happened next?  BG scored the next 8 points.  It was not closer than 10 again.

In all, BG essentially led by 10 or more for 16 minutes.

With 10 minutes left, UT went to full-court pressure.  Kowalcyzk is going to try to shift the dynamic, which wasn't working for them.  For all the times that our team has melted under full-court pressure, BG handled it perfectly.  Ball movement.  Don't dribble too much.  If the ball gets in the corner, let them chase and get it out.  Be patient.  It was good to watch.

So, the Falcons win by 10.  They haven't beaten UT by 10 since 2008 when STAN JOPLIN was their coach. Orr's first season... the last three seasons have been split.  Maybe one more meeting lies ahead.

BG won both ends of the game.  The Falcons scored 1.22 points per possession. They are 6-1 over 1.2 this year. BG shot 57% EFG. That's 46% from 2FG, which is OK, but 52% from 3FG, with 36% of shots from 3FG, which is high for us.  But the key was turnovers.  You shoot that well, and then you can take advantage of the extra possessions that come from only turning the ball over on 10.7% of your possessions.  That's BG's best turnover rate, essentially all year.  The only better ones were non-D1 and LeMoyne.  BG was +3 at the line.

Defense was equally the key. BG held UT to 1.07 PPP, almost the same as the first game. UT had 47% EFG. That was 38% on 2FG and 42% on 3FG.  The 3FG is pretty good, but let's double-click on the 2FG.

That's the lowest 2FG% this year, if you eliminate Aquinas, Chicago, and VMI.  The next lowest in MAC play was 43%...the last time out.  Here's the deal...UT was 3 of 15 inside the restricted area. That's just amazing...BG had 6 blocks and numerous misdirections.

Coach said the zone is key.  Obviously, it should be hard to score close to the basket in a zone, but Glover is coming into his own in there.  (Remember, there's more to basketball than scoring). UT faced outright hostile harassment at the rim, and it was the most important factor in the win.

Javonte led BG with what Todd Walker called a "quiet 19."  He is very efficient...7 of 11 and 1 of 2 shooting, 2-2 at the line (one-and-one in the last minute), 4 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals over 2 turnovers.  He's just such a luxury. When you are killing clock, being able to have him dribble out the shot clock and then get to the rim every time for a high-quality shot or a kick-out is a walking dagger.

Sam Towns has been slumping as far as scoring goes, but he scored 16 points. That's 1-2 and 4-6 shooting. Also 2-2 at the line, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks, 1 stea,l and 1 TO.

Shackelford had 16. It wasn't the most efficient... he was 2-for-11 from 2FG but 3-for-5 from 3FG, with 7 rebounds and 2 assists.  As Coach Gallagher said in the post-game, Josiah shot 45% from 3FG in DII, and if they can get him ramped up, it's a huge addition. 

And Aidan Goins.  Fifty pounds lighter than when he arrived, he is a difference maker in the post.  He's super hard to guard in the post.  Almost impossible with one guy.  And when you double, the fun can start.  He ended up with 10 on 3 of 7 and 0 of 2, 5 of at the line, and 4 rebounds in 10 minutes.  He was also >40% from 3FG in JUCO.  It's interesting to see.

Glover had 5 points, 7 rebounds, 3 blocks and 1-2 at the line in 22 minutes.

Marquee week coming up.  It's Kent Tuesday and Miami Friday.  Played Kent tough in the opener...and what a dream it would be to wreck Miami's season, after all that has happened over the year...shutting those preppy frat boys up.

Hated Rockets. Part 2

So, after playing an instant classic at Savage earlier this year, BG and UT are now heading to game 2, the first time BG has played a team for the second time.

BG should have won the first game.  They shot the ball well, had a good game on the boards, and were slightly better at the line. Defense was solid. Unfortunately, BG turned the ball over twice as often...and at the worst time. 

With 4:42 to go, BG was up 7 with the ball. They turned the ball over four times in the last 4 minutes, had a shot that missed everything, created a huge shot clock violation, and then a UT player who had been elbowed in the eye by his own teammate canned a clutch jumper, and UT stole the game.

It was a heartbreaker...and BG lost the next 2 games after that.

MAC only stats.

As always, UT is a strong offensive team, #3 in the MAC.  BG is now #2 in defensive efficiency.  As noted, BG had the better of it in Savage, holding UT to 1.08 points per possession. They are very selective in shooting 3FGs, but are #2 when they do shoot.  They take excellent care of the ball, rebound well, and are #6 at getting to the line and #4 at making FTs.  They play solid offense across the board, and BG's defense is solid across the board.

And BG is #8 in offense, and UT is #8 in defense.  Their only weakness is on their defensive boards.  BG is the #5 shooting team in the MAC, and UT is #9 defending the shot.

Their leading scorer is the likely MAC FR of the Year, Leroy Blyden Jr. He scores 17.1 PPG at high efficiency, shooting 51%/40%/85%.  And one heartbreaking, one-eyed jumper.  He had 19 the first time around.

Sonny Wilson is scoring 16.9 PPG on 49%/38%/67% shooting.  He is #1 in the MAC in minutes and #2 in A/TO.  In general, his numbers are influenced by his high amount of PT.  BG held him to 7 points on 2 of 8 and 1 of 4 shooting.

Austin Parks scored 12.1 PPG on 65% 2FG shooting, #9 in the MAC. He is also #3 in blocked shots. He had 14 the first time.

And Sean Craig scores 11.6 PPG, shooting 56%/34%/73% and leads UT with 8 RPG. He had 13 in the first one and 7 rebounds.

BG had one-dimensional scoring in the first game, with Campbell getting 29 of the 72 points.  He was an absolute machine.

BG is a 1.5-point favorite

BG MBB blows past NIU. What happens next?

The MBB team got itself a win that it really needed last night in DeKalb, cruising past the Huskies 68-52 in a game that actually wasn't even that close.  The last MAC bus ride home from NIU was a pleasant one.

NIU led for :17.  The Falcons had an early 12-0 run to go up 12-2.  In the first 10 minutes, BG got stops on seven straight possessions two times.  And then capped the half off on a 13-2 run to lead 38-19.  In the second half, the lead never got closer than 14 and was as high as 25.

NIU is a bad team, but beating them this easily represented an effective outcome.  BG now needs to be more consistent and get a few of these in a row.

Defense was the difference.  BG held NIU to .75 points per possession, a winning number.  BG has not lost at that defensive level in the KenPom era (1997).  It was BG's 3rd-best D1 performance this year and best in MAC play.

Their EFG was 36%, best in BG's MAC play. That was 44% and 19%. They only got to the line 15 times...and BG did a great job on the defensive boards, holding them to 17%...they came in #3 in the MAC. NIU took decent care of the ball.

Remembering they are the worst offensive team in the MAC. But we did what you should do to a bad offensive team...made them even worse.

BG went the whole way in the MESH zone that seems to work for them.  Last year we did the same thing...went from throwing a zone out there once in a while to using it all or almost all the time.  It certainly had NIU flummoxed.

BG had only .98 points per possession, their worst winning number this year.  BG shot decently at 54.6%, making 58% (good) and 31% (not good) on a heavily 2FG shot mix. But, BG had 22% turnovers, their 3rd straight game over 20%. They were poor on the offensive boards and only took 11FTs, making 9.

Mayar Wol might be breaking out of a terrible shooting slump.  He led the team with 15 points on 3 of 5 and 3 of 4 shooting with 4 rebounds in 25 minutes off the bench.

Javonte Campbell had 13, shooting 5 of 8 and 1 of 2, 2-2 at the line, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, and 3 turnovers.

Justin Thomas had 10...his first double-digit scoring D1 game since William and Mary. He shot 4 of 6 from 2FG, made 2-2 at the line, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals with no turnovers.  He has been injured and doesn't need to score to help the team.  He just has a stabilizing effect.  He was +24 in 27 minutes.

Troy Glover had 5 first-half blocks...he struggled to score but was +23 in 17 minutes.  Towns had 8 points and 9 rebounds. Goins had 8 points with 3 of 6 2FG shooting in 15 minutes, though it remains tough to watch.

So, the tests are coming up.  UT at home...a chance to right that wrong. Kent and @MU follow.  We have shown ourselves to be capable on competing against both...but it needs to happen.

Football Shuffles Coaching Staff

 Some shuffling on the football staff at BG, one of which was a pretty big surprise.

Brandon Fisher, BG's DC, has left for "other coaching opportunities," which, if they exist, have not been revealed yet.  That means that one year in, Coach George is no longer working with either of the coordinators he brought with him to BG.  I don't think that is very common for coaches who move up like that.  We know he fired Partridge and it just kind of sounds like he did the same to Fisher.

Fisher, of course, is the son of Jeff Fisher, a coach in Nashville, which is where George got introduced to coaching.  In fact, Fisher got George "ready to run through a wall" about coaching.

And, BG was #6 in the MAC in scoring defense, which isn't bad for a team that rebuilt its defense before that season.

Which makes it all a little odd, but perhaps we will hear something new.

The new DC was already on staff...Joe Bowden. He was our LB coach and has been with George since the beginning at T-State.  That includes coaching Gideon Lampron and Sanders Ellis, the incoming transfer LB.  (I'm assuming he will also coach LBs).  He played 9 years in the NFL and is pledging to play blue-collar FB.

Richard McNutt remains DB coach and will coordinate the pass game.

Alex Bayer left for Syracuse, so we needed a new special teams coach.  In the worst-kept secret of the off-season, BG has hired Greg Froelich, who has worked on special teams at Washington, Illinois, Charlotte (BIFF!), and Michigan.  He has never served as the special teams coordinator; he has worked as QC or as an analyst. He played FB at Michigan.

Other news is that Baron May has stayed with the program and is an offensive analyst.  He was a reserve QB, got pressed into action due to injuries, and seemed to be holding his own before a non-contract injury ended his career as soon as it started.

Former Falcon Levi Gazarek, who was formerly listed on the staff, is no longer listed.

NIU Preview for MBB

There's a long bus ride, and it's the last one for BG MBB to DeKalb--at least in MAC play.  Can you imagine driving out there for a non-conference game?

Or, maybe NIU will be back.  It's happened before.

NIU has not made the NCAA Tournament since 1996, and its last two appearances were out of other conferences.  They won an early MAC title in 1982 but have not won the MAC since.

In the 28 seasons since they returned to the MAC, they have had a winning season in MAC play three times. Their current coach is Rashon Burno, who is a Hurley guy. He's 39-85 in DeKalb.

This year, they are overachieving.  They were picked last by Blue Ribbon and the MAC pre-season poll.  They are tied for 9th and in the tournament hunt.  In the MAC, they beat CMU, WMU, and UMass, all at home.

The series with BG has been no contest.  The Falcons have won 9 out of 10, the last 3 overall and the last 5 in DeKalb.

MAC Games only.

The Huskies are interesting.  They are the number 2 team in the MAC in defensive efficiency.  They are #4 in defending the shot, #5 in forcing turnovers, and #5 in defensive rebounding.  They are #3 defending the 3FG and #8 defending the 2FG.  Their major weakness on defense is that they are #11 in allowing free throws.  

That's not great news for a Falcon team coming off one of the worst offensive games in recent memory. For the year, BG is #6 in the MAC in offensive efficiency, but they are also wildly inconsistent.  An average D completely flummoxed them in Jonesboro, and we are going to have to battle for a night-and-day recovery, or the last ride home from DeKalb could feel like forever.

NIU is good enough on defense to compete.  If only they could score.  They are last in the MAC in offensive efficiency. They score 0.98 points per possession, and the next-worst team is BSU at 1.02. 

They try the most 3FGs in the MAC.  They are last in making them.  They are #9 in 2FG.

They are #12 overall in shooting and #13 in turnovers.  That's a toxic combo.  It isn't all a disaster; they are #3 in offensive rebounds and #5 at getting to the line, though they make only 68%.

BG has been playing decent defense since the Buffalo debacle. But they were smoked on the defensive boards by A-State, which really makes it tough to get the speed game going.  BG is #2 on the defensive boards for the year and needs to get back to it. (A-State was really tall, and NIU is #314 in average height). 

BG has fallen to #7 in forcing turnovers, so they might not take as much advantage there as they'd like. 

Their leading scorer is Makhai Valentine with 14.6, shooting 48% and 35%.  He makes 83% from the line, #5 in the MAC. He's 6'3" from Missouri State.

Dylan Ducommun is their 2nd leading scorer.  He's a FR from Switzerland, and he's 6'4."  Scoring 13.3 PPG, making a rough 43% and 32%.

Taj Walters is the 3rd leading scorer at 11.6 PPG.  He's a 6'5" FR from the Bronx. He's highly efficient at 56% and 42% shooting and is #15 in the MAC in EFG. He also leads the team with 7.2 RPG. 

Gianni Cobb leads the team with 3.8 APG. 

They run a very tight 7-man rotation. They play most FR and SO, and they are the 15th youngest team in D1 ball.  In the old days, you'd think they might be on the upswing, but most of those guys won't play in a MWC game, if history is a guide.

BG needs a win here.  They are 4.5-point favorites.  We will see if they are ready to rebound or ready to pack it in.