Falcons Win Bracket Buster
In a game that looked much like out pre-MAC schedule, the Falcons routed a really bad Morehead State team, shooting the lights out in the gym, executing, only committing 21 fouls...you get the idea. Everyone on the team is deservedly relieved and they have earned a win, no doubt. The fact that it is sort of two wins in a row could lead to some optimism. More on that in a minute.
In the meantime, to look quickly at the game. We were up 11 6:30 in, and it never got close again. In fact, it dipped in single digits only once, and we lead by as much as 31 at one point.
Martin had 22 points, shooting well (8/16 and 4/9) as he did throughout the pre-MAC season. Nate had 19 and Marshall had 18 (and they are the future of the program), Ryan Sims gave 24 good minutes, Moten had 7 points in 12 minutes, etc.
But, just as I did in December, I urge fans to temper their expectations from this game. Based on Sagarin, Morehead is the 272nd ranked team in the nation. (BG is 234). They were the worst team, on this measure, playing the MAC in the bracket buster. The only worse teams we played this year were Central Arkansas (who beat us), and Northern Colorado (who we beat).
Now--it was on the road, and we didn't lose and we blew them out--all positives. I'm just saying that we need to be careful of the conclusions we draw.
Coach said post-game that the team is improving. I hope he is right. There is a chance for what they call in the NBA a "message game" this week. We play OU on Wednesday at AA.
OU had a decent pre-MAC season, and is ranked #114 in the country. They also decimated us at the Convo in January. However, lately they are playing more poorly. They are 7-5 in MAC, lost to Ball State and at home to NIU, were destroyed by Akron, etc. If this team is getting better, let us see it in this game--a hard game, but a winnable game. If Marschall is healthy again, let us see him and Nate produce on the inside. You get the idea.
The problem with playing weak teams is that you never really know what you are seeing. But we can send a message with a win on Wednesday.
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