Football Gets JUCO Transfer

Blessed 🙏🏽🦅 pic.twitter.com/ZejykFKMel

— Hassan Belton (@allamerican_5) January 18, 2018

So, these are the words of Hassan Belton, who says he is coming to BG after being committed to UTEP.  He was playing at Butler Community College in Kansas.  He's a 6'0 and 210 lb LB.

It's a bit of a story.  He is from South Carolina, where he was all-state twice.  He was a 2-star recruit on 247, 3-star with Rivals.  He then went to Western Carolina, where he played for one season, making 11 tackles.  Then, for the 2016 season he transferred as a walk-on to South Carolina, where he sat out under NCAA transfer rules.

So, for 2017 he went to Butler Community College, which is in Kansas.  This is a highly ranked program.  Belton had a very productive season.  He made 67 tackles, with 3.5 sacks and 14.5 TFL, 2 forced fumbles, 2 recovered fumbles, a pick and 5 pass break ups.

Clearly, he comes at a position of need, where BG already has one JUCO LB who is a January enrollee.  In his tweet, Belton says he is enrolling in January as well, although the semester started 10 days ago. 

Welcome to the Falcons, Hassan.

Complete Effort puts BG past Miami

Last night in Oxford, BG came up with the kind of win we have been waiting to see for a while.  Yes, I know, it was not against one of the top teams in our league, but I think we needed to see BG just go out and beat somebody in the MAC, anybody, and doing it on the road was huge.  

The game was competitive throughout.  BG was up early, then Miami went up and they led by 2 at the half.  The game was tied in the first minute of the second half, and it was game on.  The next 8 minutes were very tightly contested.  With 12 minutes left, BG was up 50-49.  And from there, the Falcons did what you see winning teams do, which is take control down the stretch, outscoring the RedHawks 31-21 over that period, scoring and getting stops and rebounds, and then making FTs down the stretch to get the win.

The scoring came on two runs.  BG went on a 7-0 to pop the lead to 8 with 9 minutes left and then after Miami cut the lead to 4 the Falcons went on an 11-1 run to put the game away.  At that point, they led by 14 with 4 minutes left.  The Falcons won 81-70.

What this constituted was a game where BG put a complete effort together on both ends of the floor.  BG scored 1.12 points per possession, their best game of the MAC season and they held Miami to .96 points per possession.  It was the first MAC game this year when BG was on the "right" side of 1 point per possession offensively and defensively.

BG excelled most at propelling the ball through the rim.  BG shot 60% overall and 46% from 3FG.  The 67% EFG% is their best this year against D1 competition.  Meanwhile, Miami shot 40% and 29%.  The shooting helped BG overcome a poor game with turnovers and offensive rebounding.  Unlike the first game, BG had a great game at the line.  BG made 21 out of 26 for a +5 FT margin.

Making FTs is vital for BG because of the way we play.  The Falcons are #38 in the country in the rate at which they get to the line.  The idea is to attack the rim and get to the line.  They simply have to make FTs.  BG gets 23.6% of its points at the FT line, which is #16 in the country.  The Falcons currently shoot 73% which is #112 in the country.  The national average is 70% and given the style of play, BG just needs to be there or better to win.

Let me say this.  Demajeo Wiggins is playing really well.  It would be very tough to play much better than he did, in fact.  He scored 22 points on 8 of 9 FG shooting and 6 of 7 at the line, added 15 rebounds and 5 assists when he was double-teamed.  He did play 36 minutes, which helps those bulk numbers, but I don't care what that says, he was a dominant force in that game.  It's not going to get easier--he's going to get more and more attention--and that's where it will be a team game.  When A'uston Calhoun was surrounded in the post, we could never find anyone to make the shots.  Hopefully, we have those guys.  Oh and he ends up at the line, too.

Rod Caldwell had a bounce-back game with his shooting.  He had 12 points on 4 of 6 shooting to go with 4 assists over 1 turnover.  He's solid.  He needs to find that balance between forcing offensive opportunities and disappearing.  This was a good example of that balance, in my view.

Dylan Frye, playing hobbled, had 16 on 5 of 12 shooting and 2 of 5 from deep.  It was also a bit of a bounce-back for him, as he has been struggling with his shot.  Daeqwon Plowden had 10 points in 11 minutes, shooting 4 of 4 from the field and making both his 3s.

CMU comes to town on Saturday.  The next step is for BG to become tough to beat at home.  It would be great to put another strong effort together and move to 4-2 in the MAC.  BG's early schedule is way softer than the later schedule---Buffalo, Ball State and Toledo wait for us--and it's good to rack up some wins.  Saturday would be another great one to get.

MIami Redux Preview

So, BG now moves to Oxford to take on the Miami RedHawks.  We just previewed the game a couple weeks ago, so I doubt if much has changed.  Since the BG game, they beat Kent at home, and lost to WMU in Oxford and at the Buffalo chainsaw.  They are 2-2 in the MAC.

They beat BG in the first game 77-72 at the Stroh.  You can see below what went on.  Basically, there were two key factors in the game.  First, BG made only 11 of 21 FTs, something that it is apparently clear is something we cannot win with.

Second, BG was completely unable to contain Darrian Ringo with dribble penetration.  He's a JUCO player who is making an immediate impact.  He's averaging 8 assists per game in MAC play, which is the MAC leader by more than 2 assists per game.  For the year, he's #2 nationally by assisting on 53% of the baskets his team scored while he was on the floor, behind only a guy named Trae Young.  No one else is over 45%.  He had 7 turnovers in the BG game, but has only had 11 in the next 3 games to go with 25 assists.

The last issue was a young man named Dalonte Brown, a true FR from Bowsher HS who had 16 points and 17 rebounds in the first game.  He hasn't been in double figures in scoring since, so hopefully he'll be back down to earth by the time this game happens.

BG is 2-2, with both losses being games they could have won.  (In fairness, the EMU game went into OT, so that could have gone the other way as well.  With @Miami and CMU this week, BG can stay at it and maybe pick up a couple of wins.  It is certainly possible.

Frustrating Loss to the Zips (MBB)

So, in basketball there are hundreds of individual plays.  This game had 73 possessions, which means a total of 146 times down the floor.  Each of them contributes to the outcome.  But in the Akron game Saturday, one action, one moment was decisive.

Akron had the ball with a tie game and less than a minute to play.  They had to shoot by about :19, so BG can expect to get the ball back.  Even if they score, you can get the ball back.  What BG really needs is a stop, though.  That way, you get the last shot and worse case is you get overtime against a team that had fouled 3 players out. 

BG got 90% of the way there.  Ivey missed a 3 with :22 left.  If BG clears the board, you have exactly what you need.  Except, Akron gets the board and resets and now they are holding for the last shot.  Which they hit, despite forcing the Akron player to go up in a crowd.  That happened with about 3 seconds left.  Akron fouled BG to prevent a 3 getting off and won 80-78.  (It was pretty funny listening to Reghi and his broadcast partner talk about what Akron's defensive strategy might be without once broaching the idea that Akron would foul, which is the obvious call.  That was right after several mentions of true freshman Justin Turner.  Anyway).

Coach was clearly frustrated in the post-game.  Between the lost offensive rebound and missed FTs, BG could and probably should have won this game, despite not having the lead for the last 37 minutes of the game.  BG is on a streak of four out of 5 on the road and picking this one off would have been a great way to start that run.

BG trailed by 14 with 7 minutes left, a point where you'd have to think that winning didn't look very likely at all.  Prior to that, BG just hadn't been able to string any stops together and make a run.  This time they did.  BG scored 12 straight points and had the lead to 2 with 4 minutes left.  With 2 minutes left it was tied.  And with :49 left it was tied, leading into the finish described above.

Akron ended up at 1.09 points per possession and BG ended up at 1.06 points per possession.  It was a 73 possession game, which is a pace BG typically plays at. 

A couple key elements here.  First, BG is shooting awfully.  Their EFG has been under 48% in every MAC game.  BG made 38% of its 2FGs for the second straight game, which is just awful.  What salvaged it was that BG made 44% of its 3FGs, did a great job protecting the ball, an average job on the offensive boards and a ridiculous job getting to the line.

BG's offensive plan is pretty clear.  Attack the rim and get fouled.  It worked.    Akron committed 31 fouls in a game they led almost the whole way.  BG shot 43 FTs.  43!  Are you kidding me?  Unfortunately, BG only made 29 FTs.  That's about 67% and BG usually shoots 72%.  At their normal rate, that would be 31 FTs and probably a win.  Even as it was, BG was +13 on FTs.

Justin Turner had 30 points for BG.  He shot 8 of 15 overall, made all 4 of his 3s and 10 out of his 12 FTs.  Also 5 rebounds and 3 steals.  Wiggins had a good game as well, scoring 18 and grabbing 12 rebounds.  Shooting wasn't great at 4 out of 9, but he made 10 out of 14 FTs.  Dylan Frye had 14 on 5 of 14 and 3 of 7 shooting.  Not to get too far into it, but other guys are really having a hard time right now.

Anyway, with all that, BG should have won this game.  Akron is not what they normally are, but it would have been a good one to get.  BG now goes to Oxford to take on Miami, a team they lost to at home but also could have beaten.  Miami seems to be a little better than expected so the rematch shiould be interesting.

BG travels to Zipland--Updated for Olojakpoke

So, it is back to the JAR for the Falcons, a long and storied den of horrors for our team, that has won only once in recent memory and that was 2009.  It is no secret that Akron absolutely owned the Falcons...until last year when BG finally took down the Zips on the way to splitting the season series.

Things have changed.  Keith Dambrot has moved along to another school and most of this team left in the meantime.  Akron brought in successful MAC Coach John Groce to take his place, and there's every reason to think he will succeed.  For this year, however, there is an adjustment period.

They are 7-8 with one non-D1 win and they have lost 6 out of their last 7 games.  They are an unheard of 0-3 in MAC play...something which makes me feel a little nervous.

They lost @WMU and @UT, and then by 22 to UB in the JAR.  (UB is the clear class of the MAC to date).  I was watching when they led USC at halftime and then went on to lose by 31 points.

So here is the matchup.  Akron is below average on both ends of the floor.  Offensively they are closer to average.  They are ranked #268 overall on defense.  As you can see, BG's offense is right where Akron's is, and actually plays better defense.  (The D-1 average is 1.039 points per possession, so BG is nearing average on defense.)

So, how does that happen?  Well, they're average.  They are decent shooters but not great.  They turn the ball over too much, and OK on the offensive and at giving up FTs.  In the NIU game, BG held an average-ish team to a season-low offensive performance, so that's what we will be watching for here, too.  One thing hasn't changed.  The Zips shoot a lot of 3s (#33) in the country.  And they make a high percentage (#90).

Here is what is interesting.  After being a good shooting team in the early year, BG has really fallen.  Their overall EFG% is 293rd in the nation (out of 351) and dead last in the MAC in MAC play.  Meanwhile, Akron is 300th in EFG%.  So, we have two polar opposites and not in a good way.  Beyond that, things are pretty evenly matched.  The Zips don't cause many turnovers, they do a really good job on the offensive boards and they keep teams off the line.  (This is also a potential key.  BG has been getting consistent advantage at the FT line).

Daniel Utomi is their leading scorer.  He's a sophomore scoring 18 PPG on 46% shooting, to go with 44% on 3FG and 80% at the line.  He also gets 6.6 RPG.  He's 6'6" and one of the best players in the MAC you've never heard of.

Their next scorer is Malcolm Duvivier, a 6'2 G who is a graduate transfer from Oregon State.  He is scoring 14.6 PPG on 41% shooting from 2FG and also from 3FG.  He averages just under 4 assists per game but also 3 turnovers per game.

Jimond Ivey might be the most recognizable name on the team. He's scoring a rough 12.6 on 40% and 33% shooting.  The 6'5" JR also averages 5.6 RPG.

When I watched the USC game, it was just very disorienting.  Akron was just so consistent and you'd get to know these guys like they were own team...and all of a sudden, these other guys are running around.  As usual, they are tough at the JAR, with the Buffalo loss being their first home loss of the season...but also by far the best team they have played at home.

I talk a lot about BG being the 15th youngest team in the country.  Akron is the 27th youngest team.  Should be interesting.  Even as Akron struggles, this would be a huge win for BG to get on the road.  The Zips are on a skid, though, and they'll be very hungry to get a W.

Update:  The Akron starting C had open heart surgery and is expected to miss the remainder of the year.

Pray for a speedy recovery for @EOlojakpoke... #EMANSTRONG pic.twitter.com/1J085F9cjx

— John Groce (@JohnGroce) January 12, 2018

BG Closes Well, Beats NIU

So, running a little late here, but BG put together a winning effort on Tuesday to beat NIU and move to 2-1 in the MAC, holding serve at home.  For much of the game BG played really well.  Obviously, you'd like to blow out to that big lead and hold it the whole way home and win by 10, but I just don't think our guys are there yet.  We'll take a winning effort anytime.

I mean, BG led the game for 34 consecutive minutes.  They led by 14 with 9 minutes left when things began to get a little loose, as NIU scored 13 straight points to chop the lead to 1 with 6 minutes left.  That's a fast way to lose a lead of that size.

Now, to BG's credit--and in contrast to some of our teams from the past--BG stopped the run and made the scores and stops they needed to win the game.  Other BG teams might have just folded up and lacked the ability to respond as needed.  In the possession just after the lead was cut to 1, Matt Fox drained a 3 to put it back up to 4.  When NIU got it to 2, Justin Turner nailed a 3 to put it back to 5.

In all, in the six minutes left after NIU got the lead to 1, BG outscored them 14-6.  That's what you have to do to win conference games.  That's only 2 FGs for NIU in those last six minutes.  Final score, 66-57.

Now here's the thing.  BG has let some very poor offensive teams run wild on them.  In this one, NIU came in averaging 1.05 per possession and BG held them .78 points per possession.  That's the best defensive performance for BG this year against any team not named for a place where you can take the cure.  As you can see below, BG did an excellent job defending the shot, did a fantastic job on the defensive boards against a normally very physical NIU team, and held the Huskies to 14 FT attempts, of which they made 10.

It was no work of art for BG on offense.  BG had .9 points per possession, which is their fifth straight D1 game under 1. BG shot poorly and had a terrible game for turnovers.  They did a great job on the boards, however, and got to the line 20 times, making 16, which is a significant improvement over the Miami game and maybe the biggest difference.

Individually, the big story was Wiggins.  He went 15 and 15 on 5 of 11 shooting and five of 8 at the line, including his last 3 in crunch time.  He did have 5 turnovers, some of which were not directly on him.  NIU was packing it in on him and I think we forced and telegraphed the ball in their a few times.  Justin Turner had a tough 14 on 4 of 14 shooting and 5 rebounds.  Frye had an even rougher 11 on 3 of 8 shooting, including a couple of air balls.  Koch added 7 points and 7 rebounds in 20 minutes.

Antwon Lillard continues to be a contributor since his suspension.  He had 8 points and 6 rebounds in 21 minutes to go with 4 assists and 2 of 4 shooting.  The team just seems more effective when he is the game.  He gives them another ball handler and someone of size who can create opportunities.  Matt Fox had 8 points in 16 minutes on 3 of 6 shooting.

BG played very small again.  As noted, Koch only played 20 minutes and Plowden played 8 and Uju and Gadsen did not play at all.

Next up is Akron at the JAR, a building of many horrors which can possibly be exorcised since Keith Dambrot has departed.

How Football Looks as Classes Begin

So John Wagner has the goods on the football team as Spring classes started back up at BG today.  You should head over and check the story out and then come back here and I will have some comments.

A few things.

First, for all the drama right as the season ended, BG did not end up (at least yet) with a lot of transfers or players leaving the program, even after the 2-10 season.  That's to the credit of our Coaching staff, who have done a good job at recruiting and retaining players.

Second, four players are in early.  Bryce Veasley is notable.  With Morgan and Cunningham leaving the program, there is no clear all-down backup, and you have to guess that by opening day Veasley will be #2 on the depth chart, with a hope they can redshirt him.

There's a kicker in town, which is good because Suder is a Sr.  No idea of Nate Needham is the answer, but he's in early as a JUCO transfer.

Also, the new punter and a JUCO LB are in, both guys who you would think will contribute this year.

Beyond that, if there are any other guys who left, I have not heard about them.