MBB Non-conference Opponent preview

Non-conference opponent preview.  One overall note.  There are a bunch of games on here that could be competitive, including all 3 games at the Campbell event.  Here's the thing.  That's not a good thing for us.  Those teams from those conferences should not be competitive games for us.  If they don't turn out to be, good.  But the goal of the program should be to play USC-Upstate (for example) and have it be a certain win.

@Drexel

The Dragons are in the CAA where they are picked to finish 9th.  They were 9-23 last year, but appear to be in the process of rebuilding.  They have four starters back from that team and add two transfers, including one from Missouri, who are both going to be eligible this year.  They ended with a Kenpom of 250 and expect to be at 195 this year.  The CAA is the #11 conference and the MAC is the #16.

South Dakota

The Coyotes beat BG 78-72 in SD last year. SD won the Summit regular season, won 22 games and played in the NIT.  They return 3 starters from that team and are picked as #2 in the Summit.  Last year's team had 10 newcomers (hope for BG in 17-18) so they are more seasoned now.  They will present an excellent early season test for the Falcons at the Stroh.

Florida Gulf Coast

Same thing could be said here.  This is a marquee mid-major program that played in the NCAA Tourney last year and is expected to go back.  They offer Brandon Goodwin, the projected A-SUN POTY who scored over 18 points per game last year.  Two years ago BG beat them 82-77 in Florida in Huger's first year.

Lake Erie College

This is supposed to be guaranteed win day.  But, hey, you know.  So they are in the Great Midwest for the first time this year after leaving the GLIAC, which is DII.  That is the conference that Findlay is in and they beat UT.  Lake Erie is predicted to finish #10 in the conference.

USC - Upstate (Neutral)

They are also in the Atlantic Sun, where they are picked to finish #4.  They won 17 games last year and made the CIT.  Four starters are back from that team, but the one who isn't was their 7'0" C. Even the always upbeat Blue Ribbon refers to a couple of their players as defensively challenged.  This game will be played on a deadly silent neutral floor, which is always something difficult to deal with.    Kenpom expects a competitive game with BG a slight favorite.

@Campbell

Campbell is the host for the menage a four basketball festival.  They are picked to finish #5 in the Big South.  They feature Chris Clemons, who was the #2 scorer in the country last year.  They were 19-18 last year, made the CIT Quarterfinals and have four players back from that team.  As a road game, BG would be a slight underdog now but this is a very competitive matchup for us.

Abilene Christian

They are picked to finish 9th in the Southland.  They have everyone back from a team that went 13-16 last year, including Jalone Friday, who was a Chris Jans commit to BG.  They were 13-16 last year and return everybody from that team.  Their projected kenpom is 250 and BG is 238.  This is their first year as a full-fledged D1 program.

San Jose State

BG lost to the Spartans in San Jose last year in a very close game. Since then, SJSU has gotten a new coach after family issues caused their previous coach to resign. The program is on the upswing, moving from a 2-28 record in 2015 to a 14-16 record last year and returning four starters from that team. The one loss is huge...all-conference Brandon Clarke who went 24/14 on BG last year, making 9 of his 12 shots.  They have a highly recruited redshirt FR who will play as well as a 6'11" transfer from Depaul/JUCO.

@Norfolk State

Norfolk State was 3-10 when they came to BG last year and gave the Falcons a tough game before BG finally prevailed.  They won 12 of their last 16, played in the CIT and are picked to win the MEAC this year, which is a play-in conference, but still.  They have 3 starters back from that team.  This is another example of a game that should not be competitive but might be.  Also, it is the first time BG has played two teams nicknamed the Spartans back-to-back, a fact I completely made up.

Evansville

This is a good game for BG to play at home. This is a mid-major program but a well-known and classic one.  BG played the Purple Aces very tough on the road last year, losing by 3 in a game they probably should have won.  They lost 3 starters from their 16-17 team last year.  One of those lost is Jaylon Brown, who hung 29 on BG last year as their only double-figure scorer.  They are picked to finish #8 in the MVC.  This is a really interesting game at The Stroh.

@Old Dominion

This is a new opponent for BG and will be a tough one.  They are a traditionally strong program that used to play in the CAA and has now moved into the C-USA, where they are picked to finish #4 this year.  They were 19-12 last year and return 3 starters.  Their second-leading scorer was dismissed over the off-season.  They play a very tough defensive style coupled with a balanced offensive attack.

@Green Bay

This is also a good program.  They beat BG by 16 last year at the Stroh.  They finished 18-14 and made the CBI, but return only one starter from that team and are picked to finish 5th in the Horizon.  It's actually worse than that.  They lost six seniors and then Trevor Anderson, who had 18 points and 7 rebounds left to WALK ON at Wisconsin.  They lost another double-figure scorer as a graduate transfer to Xavier and dismissed a redshirt FR.  They added some JUCO guys and have a transfer from Marquette who will play his first game against BG.  Anyway, this is a traditionally strong program and actually is a great last non-conference test to see how the team is developing.

Lourdes

Come on, man.  NAIA 7-22 last year.