MBB OU Loss Makes 4-game Losing Streak
So, the Falcons are having the worst part of their season at the worst time. After playing Buffalo above expectations a couple weeks ago, the next three winnable games have all slipped through their fingers. The first two were agonizingly close. The last one was not and was very disappointing.
OU went up 10 about halfway through the first half and the lead was never inside 10 again for the last 30 minutes of the game. BG pushed it to 10 a couple times but never made any serious run or comeback. When BG did get it that close, OU just pushed a run back and kept the game out of reach. OU is tough to beat at home but that's a game you'd like to at least compete in, as they are having a difficult year.
Coach pinned the loss on the defense, which is only part of the problem. By the numbers, BG actually defended reasonably well, holding OU to 1 point per possession. The defense on 2 FGs was pretty good (44%), but the defense on 3s was poor at 44%. BG didn't force any turnovers, but was good on the defensive boards and kept OU off the line.
The idea is that BG is not good in a half-court set and needs transition baskets to compete. However that comes out of the mix, BG had a dreadful offensive game. In fact, at .79 points per possession, it was BG's worst game in the MAC season and second only to ODU for the whole season. BG shot 51% on 2FGs, but an awful 15% on 3s and they tried 20. BG also turned the ball over too much, didn't do squat on the offensive boards and didn't get to the line very much.
Wiggins led the team with 18 points on 7 of 11 shooting and added 15 rebounds. Justin Turner had a rough 14, shooting 6 of 17 and 1 of 7 to go with 15 rebounds. You can look at the box score, no other player had more than 6 for BG.
So here is the way it sets up. BG can still get a home berth--though the way they are playing now, it hardly matters where the game is, a point Coach made after the game.
BG can play at home with a win against Buffalo or a loss by CMU. They win the tiebreaker over OU due to that win over WMU. In the BG loses scenarios, the question appears to be where BG plays Central...the opponent seems like it will be Central. If BG ties with Miami (requiring a BG win), the Falcons would finish 7th due to the wins over EMU. At that point, you would expect to play OU.
As for Friday's prognosis, it's not great, Bob. Look, Buffalo has nothing to play for. They have a bye, they won the regular season title and they aren't getting an at-large bid if they lose the tourney. Having said that, if BG doesn't play better than they did last night, they aren't going to be even the most uninspired team.
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4 comments :
....and there is a conflicting home playoff hockey game, so you can write-off a crowd that cares.
The men and women's teams have appeared like programs who don't control their own destiny. At least the men's team has gutted out wins, had some great moments.
I'm curious how they will shape-up for next year. This wasn't supposed to be a good year as far as I remember people speaking of it during the summer and fall.
You are correct, they were not supposed to be very good. Like the football team, it is frustrating to see them as a young team playing worse as the season goes along.
I think it is a function of a young team playing above expectations for much of the year and simply reaching saturation. And based on what you've said among others, over-achieving is not inaccurate way to describe things. I think when they've all had an off season to absorb what has happened, the redshirts time to integrate, and another recruiting class comes to the program, things will improve even more.
Without question there is an air of change and progression I haven't felt in a long time.
NWLB, I agree. Things are moving in the right direction. Only Matt Fox is expected to leave through graduation so some additional maturity and player retention and we can be competitive again.
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