Hoops Awards

Well, the Falcons hoops team gave out its awards recently. In a slow off-season, this starts to make news, actually. So, here's a look at the team release, with the occasional smart ass comment tossed in. (see Orange comments).

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio (BGSUFalcons.com) - The Bowling Green State University men's basketball program capped the 2007-08 season by holding the team banquet Sunday night (March 30). The event was held at Olscamp Hall on the BGSU campus.

Banquet emcee Larry Whatley, along with Falcon head coach Louis Orr and his staff -- assistant coaches LaMonta Stone, George Jackson and Andy Moore and director of operations Rick Palmer -- reflected upon the 2007-08 campaign and handed out various awards before a crowd of several hundred Falcon fans. (Sadly, this is unlikely since that was generally our attendance at the games).

Redshirt freshman Chris Knight picked up the team's rebounding award, while junior Darryl Clements earned the Falcons' free-throw percentage award. Knight led the team in boards, with 7.3 per game, while Clements made 87 percent of his free-throw tries, going 40-for-46 from the line.

This is like fourth-grade soccer. Everyone gets an award!

Sophomore Otis Polk and junior Brian Moten received shooting awards as well. Polk was recognized for leading the team in field-goal percentage, making 54.1 percent of his shots from the field on the year. (Wow, having seen some games, this is hard to believe. Otis must have had some really good games, because he certainly dragged down his percentage with some 1-7s too. He always looks to me like he's trying to thread a needle when he shoots, so I was relieved to see this). Moten led the team with 41 three-point field goals made, and shot a team-leading 42.7% from beyond the arc.

Freshman Joe Jakubowski garnered the team's assists award, after pacing the team in that category with 3.0 per game. (Ponder that for a moment....3! Of course, we don't make very many baskets) Junior Nate Miller earned the Falcons' Play Maker award. Miller led the Falcons in scoring (13.2 ppg) and steals (1.5 spg), and was second in both rebounding (6.5 rpg) and assists (2.7 apg). (I guess we don't believe in giving an MVP award).

Sophomore Marc Larson picked up the Mr. Hustle award. Larson started all 30 games for the Falcons, averaging 4.9 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game. Additionatlly, according to his coach, Larson led the team in charges taken. (He probably took something in the neighborhood of 3).

Scholar Athlete awards were bestowed for each class. Jakubowski picked up the award for the freshman class, while Larson was the sophomore award winner. Clements and Moten shared the honor for the junior class.

In addition to the aforementioned awards, four first-year letterwinners -- Jakubowski, Knight, freshman Cameron Madlock and sophomore Matt Karaffa -- were given their letterwinner jackets Sunday night.

The Falcons finished 13-17 overall in the 2007-08 season. The Brown and Orange, picked to finish last in the East Division, posted a 7-9 conference record, more than doubling the program's league win total from the previous year. Orr and the Falcons had no seniors on the roster that ended the '07-08 season. (And this is a good thing. Smart alecking aside, let's keep building the program. I think that these awards highlight what we are...a team with hard working players who played as a team, but who lack high-production individually and collectively.)