Sadness Accrues. Rockets Win.

Well, there is much sadness.

Not surprise.  But sadness.  When I looked at the game, and the two teams this year, I had a fear that BG might struggle to match up with the Rockets.  And that was at full strength.  Down Metheny, Reece, Fulcher and Reece, the odds get even longer.

At full strength, you might get the rivalry game effect, home crowd and produce a surprising result.  In a way, it might have been a surprising result in that it was as competitive for as long as it was. 

In the end, though, UT was clearly better on this day and I think is clearly better this year.

BG started as they often do, pitching to an 8-0 deficit right out of the gate.  Six minutes in the lead was 11 and 11 minutes in the lead was 12.  What happened next was an unforgettable interlude.  BG's Trey Diggs his 7 straight 3FGs, in just an incredible streak of shooting that carried BG through to the break.  The Falcons led briefly in the last minute and trailed by 1 at the half.

After the game, Coach said that as a coach you have be ready to find something else when a player is on a streak like that, because you know he can't keep doing it.  He didn't.  In fact, Diggs did not score again.  And BG didn't really have anyone else.

UT game out on an 8-1 run for the first 2 minutes, blowing the lead up to 8.  It was never a one-possession game again.  In fact, it was up to 10 with about 16 left and never inside 10 for the remaining 14 minutes of the game.  It got as high as 21.  BG closed on a 10-2 garbage time run to make the deficit 13 points.  Looked closer than it actually was.

Simply put, BG could not stop the Rockets.  UT had 1.25 points per possession.  Sadly, it is only BG's second worst defensive game of the year, Buffalo was worse.  It's been exceeded only 4 times in the last 4 seasons.  

UT shot the ball unbelievably well.  They made 61% of their 2FGs and 44% of their 3FGs.  You will rarely win a game when your opponent shoots like that.  BG is 2-15 in D1 games when their opponents shoot at this level over 5 seasons.

BG won the turnover battle and UT complimented almost never missing by being good on the offensive boards.  Overall, no one shot many FTs, but UT made all 11 of theirs and BG was 8-11.

BG didn't have a terrible offensive night at 1.07 points per possession.  They made 53% of their 2FGS and 32% of their 3FGS.  Outside the Diggs 7-7 streak, BG was 3-24 from 3FG.  

Individually, Diggs led the way.  He scored 21 points, shooting 7 of 12 in the end from 3FG.  Plowden had a rough 14, on 5 of 11 and 0 of 3, plus 7 rebounds and 5 blocked shots. Myron Gordon had 14 on 6 of 10 and 0 of 4 shooting. He also led the team with 4 assists.  Chandler Turner had his usual highly-efficient night, scoring 11 on 2 of 4 shooting from 2FG and 3FG.  

Man, JT Shumate had essentially a perfect night.  He made 8 of 10 from 2FG, 4 of 4 on 3FG, plus 9 rebounds.

Last couple notes.  First, BG actually played a zone in the second half.  We very rarely play a  zone, despite sometimes struggling badly in man.  It was funny looking (the zone was).  Todd Walker asked Huger if it was a 3-2 and Huger said he wasn't going to say what it was.  It looked a little like a matchup zone to me, but we'll see what comes out of it.

Last thing.  This season is in a little trouble.  BG was 1-4 in MAC play.  Assuming that everyone ends up playing 20 times, BG probably needs 9 wins to get to Cleveland.  They need to go 8 and 7 from here on in.  They are hitting an easier part of their schedule.  Their next 7 games are:

1. @NIU
2. UA
3. @WMU
4. EMU
5. KSU
6. @CMU
7. NIU

BG has got to make a run in this part of the schedule.  Each of these games is winnable.  Even so, for example, the NIU, WMU and CMU games against the weaker teams are all on the road.  And it will start in DeKalb Tuesday, and we don't know who will have.

This is the time for BG to turn this around and be in a position to make it to Cleveland.  Right now, things are not looking great.  The Ball State loss, in particular, really stings.