Evil Genius 2012

Sources I would prefer not to disclose have provided me with this photo.  This is the evil genius, Charlie Coles, during his playing days (late in the William Howard Taft administration) in what has now become his Treacherous Lair:  Oxford, Ohio.

It is a human tragedy.  Something happened to turn this hopeful and happy young man into this man...

...the man who is the evil genius.  I don't know if it was exposure to radiation, a very bad plate of clams, or some horrific trauma, and, my friends, it doesn't matter.  He is who he is.

This year, he has employed a giant, basketball playing zombie, a remorseless player who attacks without conscience...we shall know him as Mavunga.  And he leads the MAC in scoring and rebounding.

His RedHawks are 5-10 this year, but as usual, that is nothing but a clever ruse designed to lull the innocent hikers into his cave for the night.  They have played the 40th toughest schedule in D1.  They beat a very good Dayton team and a good Belmont team, and while I am sure he was not happy to lose to Troy and Evansville (that one at home), their 10 losses include defeats at Xavier (by 6), UC, Ohio State and Vanderbilt.

Inside the MAC, they have lost to Akron in Oxford and @Kent, though both games were winnable right up to the end.  Then, they battled from behind to beat Buffalo in Oxford, 52-51, in a game they had to have.

And got.  See what I mean?

There was some trouble off season, as JR G Orlando Williams was convicted of theft charges and excised from the kingdom.  Then Jr. Guard Allen Roberts, who played 24 minutes a game last season was lost with an injury for the year.

All eyes turned to Oxford.  What was next for the evil genius, left now with the Zombie Mavunga and a team consisting of mostly neophytes?  (By a statsheet.com analysis, they are the third youngest team in the MAC.)

First, Mavunga transformed from good to great.  Then, freshman Brian Sullivan stepped into the guard's role and became the team's second leading scorer. Sophomore Josh Sewell, who played 10 minutes a game last year became their third leading scorer.  Transfer Bill Edwards became their second leading rebounder.

And the beat goes on.  Next Zombie Up.

His tactics do not change.  They play the a stupefyingly slow pace, 60 possessions a game in conference play and then they defend the field goal, not the turnover.  To the evil genius, a turnover is rebounding a missed shot.

They can't be happy with the success so far.  Tempo-free stats are important here, given their place.  In terms of points per possession, they are 8th in the MAC and they are 9th in the MAC allowing 49.7% effective field goal percentage.

On the other hand, that Buffalo game, where they won with 52 points.  That must have been music in the dark soul of the evil genius.

Offensively, they are scoring only .98 points per possession and are 6th in effective field goal percentage.  They don't really care about offensive rebounding and it shows...they are 11th in the conference.  They are near the bottom in getting to the line....they do take care of the ball well, but don't shoot the 3 especially well, which leaves us with a pretty typical Coles team...very deliberate, a lot of passing, and a desire for higher percentage shot.

There are no easy road games in this conference.  But, compared to winning @Kent or @Akron, and this year in particular, this is one where the Falcons would need to pick one up if they are going to pick one up.  At this point, winning out at home would require one road win just to be .500.  It won't be easy.  The Evil Genius always has his legions prepared for battle, and they are difficult to beat.  BG has shown no ability to play effectively on the road.

The question, ultimately, is whether the team hit a tipping point at Kent.  Coach Orr was clearly frustrated...are they ready to play as well as they are capable, or are they going to continue to provide only tantalizing glimpses?

We get a chance to answer that question tonight.