BG Returns Home (MBB) for the Chips on Date Night

 So, it's round two with the CMU Chips.  BG picked up a 22-point victory on the road.  In fact, that's the last game BG won, going 0-5 since then.  Meanwhile, the Chips are 2-3, with wins over WMU and @MU and losses @KS, @UT and BS.

Interestingly, they could also very easily be 0-5 as well.  Against WMU they were down 67-58 with 3 minutes left and a 2.3% chance of victory, and against MU they were down 46-34 with 13 minutes left and a 3.4% chance of winning.  They won both games.  In fact, in terms of minimum win prob those are the biggest comeback wins in the MAC this year, #53 and #86 in the country.

Just a note I found when looking at this...WMU is 0-8 since hanging 108 on BG.

So, just to recap, CMU is the worst offensive team in the MAC. They are last in shooting and in turnover %.  They are last in 2FG and 11th in 3FG.  Appropriately, BG held them .9 points per possession in the first game.  CMU is good on the boards, but BG won that battle.  They are #7 in defense and BG blew that up, with their 2nd best shooting game of the year and 1.21 points per possession.  BG struggled with turnovers but was really good on the boards (Chips are not good at defensive rebounding).  CMU fouls a lot, but BG did not take advantage, making 10-19.  (BG is 7th in the MAC in FT shooting).

Jesse Zarvuela was their only double figure scorer, with 24 on 6 of 11 and 3 of 6 shooting. He was DTD for that game and in fact has missed their last 3 games. 

The Chips have used 15 starting lineups this year.  Note that Kevin Miller, their pre-season 2nd team All-MAC player, has not played since November 23.

Although he didn't score much in the first BG game, Brian Taylor is scoring 15 PPG on 43% and 33% shooting.  He leads the MAC in % of minutes played, which impacts that PPG.  He's also their leading rebounder and #6 in the MAC.

Reggie Bass leads them in assists and is #7 in the MAC.

I'm not sure how much upside is left in our schedule.  This and the home game against EMU are our best chances for wins.  We also play @MU.  Even with those 3, we wrap up at 7-11.  If you are into it, BG is tied with CMU for 8th and this would lock down that particular tie breaker.