So, the next installment of the BG-UT rivalry comes forward at the new Savage Hall. Based on today's MAC teleconference, Coach Orr is trying to tamp down the excitement for the game, just, in fact, as Coach Dakich used to do. The reason is simple. It is a long season, and you gotta be able to get up for the next one, win or lose. Still, it is always a charged atmosphere, but for the fans and, I think, for the players.
The Gene Cross era has brought the intensity down, as the Rockets program slumped to historic lows, but I don't expect that to last. This time, I think the Rockets made a good hire with Tod Kowalczyk, and he will turn the program around. He ran off the players Cross had, and he has a bunch of guys sitting out their transfer year. I expect the Rockets to be better starting next season.
This year, they are still struggling. They are 4-15 with 1 win in the MAC. Only 3 of those are D1 wins, and one is over Florida Gold Coast, a low-ranked D1. On the other hand, they showed up with a huge win over a very good Valparaiso and beat an OK WMU team.
They are capable. They are the 3rd most inexperienced team in D1, however, and the year has been a struggle. They have not lost a MAC game within 10 points and lost to EMU by 23. They are better at home, where all 4 of their wins have occurred.
Statistically, it is much like last year. They're a last place team with last place stats. They rank in the bottom half of the MAC in most of everything. The one thing they do well is...well NOT foul. And get fouled. In the one game they won against WMU, they had a +15 advantage from the free throw line.
Their leading scorer is 6'4" Malcolm Griffin at 12 points per game. He is their only double-digit scorer and leads with 3.6 assists...and with everything they struggle at, they are 336th in D1 in scoring. Reese Holiday and Hayden Humes are the leading rebounders on the team, in the 6 range.
The basic dynamic boils down to this. The Falcons, like all teams in the East, are looking to get some wins when they play the West. UT, on the other hand, is playing at home, has nothing to lose, and has a chance to reward themselves for a long season with a win over their arch-rival. UT has trouble scoring, so BG has the opportunity to shut them down on defense....and they're young, so you'd like to think we can turn hem over. If the Falcons can hit some shots like they have been in the last few weeks, you'd like to think that BG can get the win.
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