Men's Basketball Is Back

I had no idea how routine-based my sports-fandom was.  It's completely disorienting to be opening the door right now for men's basketball--which could be the YEAR WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR.

Unless last year was.

More on that.

First, I continue to be very uncomfortable with collegiate athletics in this health environment. I thought that with football and given the spread of the disease I think it just as much now.  It's really hampering the start of D1 basketball all over the country...

As college basketball implodes, the sport needs to pivot to save season — 'It's going to be a disaster' https://t.co/vrB6o2MZFD #TudorTuesday pic.twitter.com/ITLoYuD9QV

— Dan Tudor (@dantudor) November 24, 2020

 So, we start with full knowledge that we have no idea where this is headed.  We might or might not finish this season and we might or might not make it to the New Year.  Or next week.

One day at a time, I suppose.  And hoping no one gets seriously ill.

When last we left the Falcons, the men were in Cleveland preparing to play a few hours later against the Rockets.  BG was heading to Cleveland on a 3-game losing streak, including 10+ losses to Miami and Kent.  Having said that, the 2019 team went to Cleveland on a cold streak and made the final.

Of course, that game never happened and the whole thing stopped suddenly.  No MAC Tournament no Big Dance.

Most disappointingly, the 3-game losing streak came after BG beat Akron by 18 at the Stroh and seemingly set the stage for a run to the Big Dance.  Alas, we will never know.

BG did finish second in the regular season for the second straight year, something we would have been thrilled with anytime since WVU or even longer.

BG finished 21-10, the first back-to-back 20 win seasons since 1947-1949.  Less ambitiously, it represents the first back-to-back WINNING seasons since 2002.  That's true for overall and MAC games.

Simply put, we are competing at a level that we have not seen in 20 or 60 years, depending on how you look at it.

And given the success we had, graduation was fairly kind....Dylan Frye (all-time 3-point shooting leader), Marlon Sierra and Michael Laster.  Mattos and Gadsen transferred. Only Frye and Mattos were starters...Sierra and Laster were both useful role players as was Mattos in spots.  

Of course, there was one other guy who celebrated senior night last year and that was Justin Turner.  You all know the story.  He entered the portal and then walked back into this dimension, staying at BG.  

That was huge.

BG returns everyone else, hopefully a year better.  You have a starting lineup that features Turner (all-MAC 1st year), Plowden (all-MAC 2nd team), Caleb Fields and Davin Zeigler.

This is significant.  I'm not sure when BG has put four more athletic players on the court at the same time.

You start with Justin Turner--don't know how much you can say about this guy, except he's one of our best players ever and will likely leave as the all-time leading scorer.  He's well-loved and a clutch player--we are lucky to have him and we should enjoy the gift of seeing him play.

Daeqwon Plowden was 2nd-team all MAC and is one of those guys that you get the pleasure of seeing develop.  He has gotten better and better and late in 2019 seemed to blossom into a top-tier player.

Caleb Fields will also be back...he's not a huge scorer but he is a strong defender and a solid ball handler and passer.  

And then the newest of the four is Davin Zeigler.  Forced into action when Frye had his temporary departure, he is a terrific athlete and comes from a basketball family and presents a lot of issues at the point for MAC defenses.  And, has had a year working with our PG Coach.

For the 5th guy, BG has a couple options that I think make the team strong.  Huger has shown a propensity to start a more traditional 5 and then not play the guy that much after that.  See Mattos, who started every game but averaged 15 minutes played.

If he goes that way, BG has Dylan Swingle in the post. He's a big body and I believe has the skills to be a strong player in our conference, but we'll have to see if that plays out as things move forward.  If BG chooses to go with a more modern positon-less model, Matiss Kulackovskis is available as well.

Behind those guys, BG has a really athletic bench.

It starts with Trey Diggs and Chandler Turner.  Diggs was BG's leading 3-point shooter last year and at 6'6" presents matchup challenges on the offensive end of the court.  Turner played only 6 minutes a game but from what I hear is a talented player just stuck behind players who were more developed than him.

Then, we have some new guys.  Time will tell, but I think this group of freshmen will show themselves to be significantly better than the guys they replaced who left last year.  Coach Huger is continuing to bring talented players to BG...I've noted so many times, you need a critical mass of good players and then some luck to win the MAC.  Hope we are moving in that direction.

Josiah Fulcher of Lima was TRAC player of the year twice and the #7 recruit in Ohio, based on 247. First-team All-Ohio, District Player of the Year.  He's a combo guard that shows great promise.

Kaden Metheny is also coming in at PG.  He was West Virginia POY and all-state 3 times.  Had 17 D1 offers.  Another player with great promise.

And then Cam Young.  He's 6'7", twice second-team all-state, 15 offers, including Penn State.  Again, great promise.

BG does have one JUCO player...Jacob Washington, who I would suspect will take the Sierra role on the team.  He's 6'8" and 220 pounds and was all-conference in JUCO.

Lastly, Isaac Elsasser is back as a walk-on, as well as Jackson Watson, son of former Falcon Steve Watson.

One change that shouldn't be forgotten.  Anthony Stacey, BG's lead assistant, left to go to Whitmer where he is now the Head Coach.  I'm not around the team, but I suspect he had a big role on the team.  Also, Mike Summey left to go to his alma mater, NC State.

Kevin Noon is back.  BG added Brandon Watkins (from NIU) and Steven Wright, a former BG player who is on his first D1 coaching gig.  BG needs to be able to develop chemistry with these new coaches.

Look, BG is picked to win the MAC, as they were last year.  We have an excellent shot and I'm looking forward to seeing how it all turns out.  This could really be THE YEAR.