Orr Looks Ahead...must listen

If you are a Falcon men's hoops fan, you need to carve out an hour for yourself and take a listen to the following interview with Coach Orr in which he goes, player by player, through his roster, and talks with candor about what is needed for the Falcons to compete for a title next year.  Regardless of you feel about Coach Orr, it is interesting and compelling listening.

The interview is conducted by The Blade's John Wagner and the Sentinel's Jack Carle.  What follows is my summary.

You will notice some themes.

• All our players have to get better.
• Scoring and shooting consistency is mentioned for many players.

Point Guard (only position with a senior lost).

Jordan Crawford

• Needs to continue to get better and be a leader.
• His stats were improved, especially A/T ratio.
• Needs to learn how to run a team.
• A good player who can score and create opportunities.

Jehvon Clarke

• The incoming Fr is expected to get the backup minutes at PG.
• He is a scorer.  His HS team played a havoc style of ball, and he will have to adjust to playing more traditional solid defense.
• Similar to Crawford in terms of transition play and motor.
• Has good vision--finds opportunities.
• Coach expects him to make an impact right away.
• Could also play in the same rotation with Crawford.

Shooting Guard


Dee Brown

• Senior Year.
• Finished strong on both ends of the floor.
• Was more consistent and confident.
• Improved off the dribble.
• Could be the team's best scorer.
• Have to find a way to get him involved and in the flow of the offense.

Luke Kraus

• Will back up at shooting guard.
• Best ball defender on the team.
• Could be a good shooter, needs to make open shots.
• Smart passer.
• Tough enough to be third guard in a 3-guard set

Anthony Henderson

• Redshirt was a plus.
• Gained weight and strength
• A talented scorer
• Coach expects him to be one of the better scorers in the MAC.
• Best transition finisher among BG guards.
• Makes the team better next year.
• Could also get PG minutes

Shooting Forward


Scott Thomas

• His next step is leadership
• Needs to be a more efficient shooter from 3 and FT
• Also, needs to know he is appreciated even when he doesn't score.
• Calhoun took some shots that would have been his before.
• Coach noted the St. Louis game, where Thomas did not score and contributed.
• Needs to be more efficient on defense.
• As a So. benefitted from inside-out created by Polk.  Could he do the same with Calhoun and Black.

James Erger

• Has good size and saavy.
• Not shooting yet.
• Solid defender.
• Good weakside rebounder.

Craig Sealy

• Need to get him on the floor.
• Is learning to play 3...also can play 4
• Great basketball skills
• Great runner.

Power Forward


A'uston Calhoun

• Made huge improvement
• Had spent 2 years off competitive basketball when season started.
• Played first games on talent.
• Had breakout game at UWM and was very consistent after that
• 7 20-point games after UWM game
• FG% going up
• Learning to make plays for others when double teamed--knowing if he passes the ball, he will get it back.

Torian Oglesby

• Human highlight film with dunks
• Needs to be more productive with rebounds
• Needs to run the floor better and shoot better FTs
• Can also improve as a defender--has the skills.

Danny McElroy

• Understands the game.
• Best screener
• Occasionally a good rebounder
• Good mid range shot.
• Needs more consistency.
• (My note:  needs a little softer hands...has a propensity to drop the ball in traffic).

Center


Cam Black

• Stress fracture in leg--severely hampered season.
• Was getting better again at the end of the year.
• At times, showed the rim presence the team needs.
• Still healing now.
• Great basketball IQ.
• Conditioning and strength are key.
• Still healing even now.

Desmond Rorie

• Income freshman teammate of Clarke.
• My note--many fans are alarmed at his lack of stats in HS, especially given his size.
• Coach says that in their havoc style, his role was to play the back of the pressure set and block shots.
• They shot quick on offense...often before Rorie even got up floor.
• High upside.

Coach then turned to look at the whole team.

• He says that your shooting % should not determine your winning %.
• After the first 10 games, he contends we were a better shooting team.
• We won't win without defensive effort in every game.
• Need more offensive efficiency.
• We have a lot of players back, so do other teams, including WMU and Kent.
• It isn't enough to have guys back.  They have to make a progression to a higher level of play.
• Why not us?
• Also, we apparently have no verbals.  He says if we had one, we would know about it.

I think this is a very realistic assessment of what is ahead.  As I wrote after the season, BG has to not just get older, they have to get better.  If Black can play the post and force teams to guard Calhoun with a 4, and Brown shoots and Crawford runs the team, and all the bench guys get better, this team could be very good.