Orr: "You can talk about it, you gotta be about it."

One of the things about Coach Orr is that he always maintains a pretty calm exterior.  He isn't a yeller--especially at a school where he took Dan Dakich's place.  I'm not saying he doesn't care, I know he is very competitive.  He just doesn't show it the same way as other coaches do.

During last night's presser after the defeat at Kent, I thought he sounded genuinely frustrated.  It was a crazy game where BG started out strong, then played about as poorly as they are capable of playing for a long period.  Then, they manage to score 60 points in the second half, the most in a long while, and make them game close before losing.

I recommend you take ten minutes to listen to the presser.

Here are some things he said:

"In this league, especially on the road, you have to bring a certain level of toughness."

"The first half...you look at our stats...we didn't bring that."

"We put ourselves in a hole in the first half, and that was the difference in the game."


"There was a point in the first half where they stepped it up physically and we didn't respond."


"The second half was a whole different level of energy and competitiveness.  But you can't put yourself in a hole here."

"We cut it to 6 with 7 minutes to go, so it was anyone's game."

"Craig Sealey, I thought he was very good.  I have to find a way to get him onto the floor."

"He made a great play.  He chased down a block, he blocked the shot.  And it was in the crucials.  He makes the energy play but we get out worked for the ball.  Two or three of our guys, I don't even know if they crossed half court."

"But this is how competitive you have to play."

"Hopefully this is a lesson we learn, but, you know, you only get so many opportunities."

(Asked if the glass if half full).  "Always.  You build on that.  But you know what?  We gotta carry forward.  You will be able to see how half full it is the next game. You can talk about it, you gotta be about it....you can't be inconsistent with that....especially on the road."

(On Kent missing 2 FTs late and getting the board)  "Free throw box out.  We talk about it, it is part of our pre-game talk.  Its huge.  Torian Oglesby--I'm saying this because it happened on his watch but it  could have been any of our front court guys--we have to do a better job on those types of plays in the crucials...you can't give teams an opportunity like that."

"When you see that you're capable and then you play a half like we played and you play the two games and a half that we played, we're more than capable.  I'm mean, we're right there.  The next step is you have to bring consistent effort and compete at a high level.  (He is slapping his hands here).  This is a competitive game, man.  Basketball in the MAC is competitive....physically, emotionally, you gotta bring the fire for 40 or more.  You gotta bring it."

This week I posted some video of John Groce after the BG game.  With a different demeanor, I think Coach Orr is in the exact same place.  He's clearly frustrated, as I'm sure everyone is in our program.  From a fan's perspective, I think his comments are very illuminating.  We have some players, but we can't compete day in and day out, especially on the road.  I mean, when a player misses a box out and the coach says "it could have been any of our front court players?"  That's tough.

I honestly think we are better than this...or we should be...but right now, this is who we are.

There's always another chance to show it...you can always change it.  But right now, I think he made a pretty fair and accurate assessment of our body of work.

More on the actual game later.