Morehead State Preview

So tomorrow the BG Falcons men's basketball team will take the floor against the Morehead State Eagles down in Morehead, KY.

We got all the laughing about the name of the school out of our system last year.  If you didn't, here is the post.

This is the end of the second bracket buster pairing between BG and Morehead.  There was one around 2007 and then last February the teams played in BG, a game the Falcons won by 13.

BG has won the last 3 meetings between the teams, including a 90-72 win @Morehead in 2007.

The Eagles are coached by Sean Woods.  He played for Big Blue and scored the basket right before the Laettner basket.  He was coaching at Mississippi Valley State, where he had a couple of good seasons, one trip to the Big Dance and then moved to Morehead to take over for Donnie Tyndall, the unctuous looking former coach who had traveled on to Southern Mississippi.  Wood was 15-18/8-8 last year and was suspended one game for making contact with a player...not a recruiting contact...CONTACT.

He has brought an upbeat style to Morehead, modeled after the one taught to him by his college coach, Rick Pitino.  They lost four guys to transfer last year, I would assume because they were recruited to play a different style.

Anyway.  The Eagles were picked to finish 3rd in the East Division of the OVC.  They are off to a 7-4 start, with a 6-4 record in D1.  They have a nice win @Nevada and their four losses include UCLA, Southern Mississippi and Xavier (no shame there) and a neutral floor loss to Gardner-Webb, which they can't be happy about.

They are 3-0 at home this year and 10-5 last year.

In common opponent land, they played @Xavier and lost by 23.

They are scoring 77 points a game, which is a lot, but they play more uptempo at 73 possessions (when BG last played Morehead they averaged 58 per game), so that is about 1.05 points per possession, average in today's game.  BG is at about 1 point per possession.  At .98 points per possession, they are pretty even with BG.

Statistically, two things stand out.  They are very similar to BG and slightly worse than BG in terms of turnovers.  They are, however, very strong on the offensive boards, getting 42% of the available offensive rebounds...and they get to the line a lot.

Yeah, fouls.  Fouls stand out.  They average 23.5 fouls per game...and their opponents average 25.  EESh.  They are just slightly better than BG at shooting FTs, which all nets out to about 2 points a game on the plus side for them at the line.

College Basketball Stats

Morehead does force 23% turnovers on the defensive end, so BG is going to have to improve that element of the game after a turnover-plagued effort against North Dakota.  We can't count on shooting that well against this team to cover up the lost possessions.

They have four players in double figures.  Angelo Warner (6'2" JR G) leads the team with 17 points on 48% shooting.  Chad Posthumous, (6'11" Sr C) is a beast, getting 11.5 PPG on 55% shooting and 12.7 RPG, over 5 of them on the offensive glass.  Brent Arrington (6'3" SO G) is getting 11.5 PPG and is their best 3FG shooting threat.  Bakari Turner is also scoring about 10 points and has had some big games, but missed their last game on crutches.  I have no idea if he will play Sunday.

JUCO Transfer Kareem Storey averages 5.7 assists at the point.

They have a significant amount of size on the bench, including Billy Reader and DeAndre Leatherwood, both of whom are 6'10" and JUCO transfers.

I am finding this an interesting season, as we pick through the results to see exactly what we have.  As I have said, the team is better than I anticipated.  They have yet to win on the road, and this would be a nice one to get.  BG won only once on the road last season, and it would be nice to get one under the belt to get some confidence.  Once you hit conference play, if you can't win on the road, .500 is your ceiling.

A couple football notes....three little birds...

So, a couple notes from the football team...

First, Adam Scheier is one thing for sure...the funniest head coach (I suspect) we have ever had.  I mean intentionally funny, not Doyt Perry "scatter out in bunches" funny.

Anyway, here is how he described Day 2 on the job.

Day 2 on the job, thx 4 the support. Tackling this challenge head on (not targeting). Related perk, my wife now picks up my dry cleaning.
— Adam Scheier (@CoachScheier) December 12, 2013

See?  I was reminded of one other thing, which is that I have been saying that teams win bowl games under these circumstances every year without remembering that San Jose State, in fact, beat BG last year under these exact circumstances...coaching staff on the way out, head coach gone, those guys played hard and won the game.

I don't know what will happen.  I don't know what will happen next year or the year after.  I'm sure of this.  BG will bring a strong game on the 26th.  Might win, might lose, but we'll be fine on the field.

A lot of people want to talk about the Denny Stolz thing.  That was my senior year.  I remember it well.  There is a difference.  First, Stolz took the job the week of the game, when game prep was going on.  His attention was clearly divided.  In this case, the guy leading our game prep is focused on it.  Also, such a thing was rare in those days and less so now.  You see it all the time, it doesn't give the team the shock value.

We will be fine on the 26th.

Some of you are worried about recruits.  Here is what Scheier says:

Thx 2 our Class of 14 commits who R still Rock Solid w/BG & 4 keeping this group 2gether. "Tough times don't last, tough people DO" #BGTough
— Adam Scheier (@CoachScheier) December 12, 2013

This is my message to you...

Men's Basketball Gets Short-Handed Home win...

So, BG beat North Dakota last night.  I don't suspect North Dakota is very good...on the other hand they are picked to win their conference and could end up in the NCAA tourney.  Even having said that, it was a nice win for the Falcons and they did beat us last year.

BG was playing very short-handed, essentially with 6 players.  That would be difficult enough normally, but only becomes more difficult when the refs are in their foul-calling mode.  BG simply had to avoid foul trouble.

In fact, I'm feeling pretty good about my four keys to the game.

1. Score (Check, 79 points, 1.1 per possession)
2. Make free throws (Shot 74%)
3. Stay out of foul trouble. (Only 14 fouls for the game)
4. Control the tempo. (Not so much, 72 possessions)

Anyway, BG continues to be better than I would have expected at full strength and a click better than that given the injuries.

There are two keys to that.

The first is Richaun Holmes.  We thought he had the ability to be really good last year and he was here and there.  He is here now.  He has been a beast for the last 3 games.  Last night, he had 21 very efficient points (7 of 10 shooting and 7 of 8 at the line) to go with 14 rebounds, 4 assists and 7 blocks (ties school record).  Yeah, I know.  He was dominant in the paint...you could see a guy come to take him on and he just hung back and waited, confident that the ball was not getting past time.  He only had 2 fouls.  Monster, monster game for Holmes.

The second is his classmate Spencer Parker.  He had 19 points on 5 of 9 shooting and 9 of 10 at the line (again, very efficient) to go with 8 rebounds.  Parker is BG's breakout player right now.  He does something we have not seen in a long time from a Falcon....he attacks the basket.  And with his size and length, it presents a match up issue.  (When Parker brings his turnovers down--he had 5--he will become even more effective, but we don't want to compromise his attacking psychology).

Those guys came in together last year.  So, when you want to trash the current coach, keep the big picture in mind...he brought those guys in.

The successful inside play has made Cam Black better, too.  He had 13 points on 6-6 shooting, 7 rebounds and 4 blocks of his own.  Other times, a guy would be driving to the hoop, Black would step out and you'd hear "beep beep beep" as the guy backed up again.

Guard play has been a little more of a struggle.  Jehvon Clarke was 4 of 7 shooting, which is good based on both accuracy and a lower frequency.  Henderson was 3 of 10 shooting with 4 turnovers.

JD Tisdale is not necessarily generating any numbers, but I think he has improved even since the year started.  He's playing more than they anticipated, I am sure, but he was pretty steady last night against pressure.  I look forward to seeing him continue to build his game.

As a team, we had noted that UND was porous on defense.  BG needed to take advantage of that and they did.  BG had a bad night with turnovers with 21.  That's a lot, even considering the game was up tempo.  However, UND had 18 and BG outshot the no-names by a lot.  BG shot 55% from the field with a solid edge in effective FG%, but had an incredible night on the boards, getting 49% of the available offensive rebounds.  That's the best since the Toledo and Kent games in 11-12.

Finally, BG had a great night at the line.  BG shot 31 free throws and made 23.  Meanwhile, UND was 6 of 10.  You start at +17 at the line and I suspect you are not going to lose very many games.

Odd note.  BG scored 49 points in the second half without making a 3.

College Basketball Stats

I know it was at home and we play well at home, even in our darker days.  I was pretty pessimistic heading into the season, and there is still a long way to go, but the team is better than I expected and has a shot to be competitive in MAC play.  BG goes on the road Sunday to play a 7-4 Morehead State team that lost to Xavier by 23 and Gardner-Webb.  On the road is tough, but this is one you'd like to pick up.

The Scheier Skinny--A little of 'dis, a little of 'dat

So, it is possible you don't know that much about Interim Head Coach Adam Scheier.  Don't feel bad.  I suspect you are not alone.

He came here with Coach Clawson and has coached TEs and special teams.  If you recall, BG's previous coach didn't think he needed a special teams coach and it showed.  The special teams steadily improved over the 5 Clawson years.  And, TE ended up being one of our strongest positions after not making much use of a TE during the previous regime.

He is a graduate of Dartmouth with a degree in psychology.  He played Safety and won four letters.

From there he went to Columbia, Princeton and then Lehigh, where he coached special teams for seven years.  Some of the time he coached RBs and WRs as well.

From Lehigh he came to Bowling Green.

His bio says he graduated from college in 1995, which makes him 40 or 41.

Here, he gives the pre-game speech to a group of kids at a BGSU Football Camp.  I suspect the pre-game speech at Ford Field will be similar.




You can't help but like that.

More Coach News...

So Coach Clawson held his presser in Winston-Salem.  I didn't see it, but reports are that he was very emotional when he talked about Bowling Green and the difficulty of leaving his players.  He said Wake Forest is his dream job...etc.

Back here in the flatlands, I think the immediate concern is the bowl game.  As you know by now, Adam Scheier is going to be the Interim Coach.  I found that to be a surprise, just because you'd expect that coordinators to do that.  Apparently some people were critical of the choice, because some of the players were pushing back earlier today on Twitter.

We'll have more on Scheier tomorrow, but for now a prominent coaching rumors site is reporting that he is a candidate for the job.

Clawson says he'd like to bring 3 coordinators but notes that one is a candidate at BG. Had heard from separate source Scheier is candidate
— FootballScoop Staff (@footballscoop) December 10, 2013

Now, the other issue is whether the assistants will be in Detroit for the game.  The Strength Coach is already heading to Winston-Salem, which at this point is not such a big deal.  There is a little conflicting information from today.

As you can see, Jordan Strack of Channel 11 talked to Scheier said he expected to have all the assistants for the game, which would be fantastic and a class move by the staff to the benefit of players who deserve it.

Scheier did say he anticipates having the entire staff (minus Dave Clawson) around for the BGSU Bowl Game.
— Jordan Strack (@JordanStrack) December 10, 2013

Then, Coach in his presser said the following.  I guess it depends on what you mean by "soon."  I would guess that it means before December 26 but maybe I'm wrong.

Clawson: I'd like to bring the offensive and defensive coordinator from BG. Says he hopes to have them down soon.
— Jordan Strack (@JordanStrack) December 10, 2013

Anyway, that will all sort itself out and I am sure we will be getting updates soon.  As I mentioned this morning, teams will bowl games all the time under these conditions, so there's no reason to despair.

For whatever it might be worth, the names mentioned early were DJ Durkin, the Florida DC who has a BG background and Luke Fickell of OSU (the defensive coordinator).  One of the other sites mentioned Mike Bajakian, the Tennessee OC.

Just a caution...lots of times it ends being someone that went un-mentioned, and that could happen here.  Usually, the first names given do not end up with the job.

And a personal note, I don't really care if the guy has a BG connection or not.  Let me give you some names of guys without BG connections:  Doyt Perry, Urban Meyer, Dave Clawson.  Get a good coach...we don't have to be so provincial. (As a commenter below correctly points out, Doyt Perry graduated from BGSU.  FalconBlog regrets the error).

Men's Basketball Preview: Go Go NoDak

The North Dakota No-Names come to BG tomorrow to take on the Falcons...UND is continuing until 2015 to play without a nickname until 2015, due to some good 'ol American nutball stuff, which I wrote about last year.

North Dakota plays in the Big Sky Conference now.  Last year they were in the Great West.  They are picked #2 or #3 (coaches or media) in the pre-season poll.

They are 2-5 this year, but against a very difficult schedule.  They beat Minnesota-Morris (not difficult) along with a very good North Dakota State team.  They have losses to Wisconsin, Oregon, Pacific and Butler, all top 50 teams.  Now...none of the games have been close...their closest loss has been 15 points and they lost to not-great Cal-Poly by 27 on a neutral floor.

In other words, I think it is safe to say that we don't really know what we have with these guys yet.

They did beat BG last year, 56-53 in Grand Forks.  UND dominated BG on the boards and the Falcons made only 53% of its FGs in the loss. (ahem).

NCAA Basketball Stats

This year's game is pretty evenly matched.  In fact, while UND has played a tough schedule (#3 RPI schedule in the country to date), BG has played a tough one too (#33).

When you picture UND basketball, or North Dakota in general, you don't picture up-tempo ball.  Yet, that is what they provide.  They are going at 74 possessions per game, which is about 5-6 possessions more than BG.  They are averaging 78 and giving up 83 PPG.

Inside all that, they are about average in efficiency on offense, scoring 1.05 points per possession (NCAA median 1.06).  On defense, they allow 1.12 points per possession, which is 305th in the country.

When you look at the four factors, you can see that BG and UND are actually pretty close across the board based on what the team itself produces.

NCAA Basketball Stats

The real story is on defense.  UND allows 51% FG shooting and 36% from 3.  That 56% EFG% is among the 20 worst in D1.  They are average on the defensive boards and they foul a lot...3 more fouls per game than BG and a high proportion of FT shots created.

And that's where BG is going to need to exploit the UNDers.  It is going to be an interesting game of contrasting styles, but BG has the chance to score big in this one and they will need to...in addition to attempting to control the tempo, which is certainly not easy to do.

Individually, they feature a bona fide stud in Troy Huff, who is averaging 22.7 points per game in 29 minutes.  (Like a lot of up tempo teams, they play a deep rotation).  That is 11th in the nation in shooting.  He's pretty effiicient...48% FG shooting and gets to the line pretty effectively.  He's not a great threat from 3, although he can do it.  He's having his most efficient season as a senior.  He also averages 7.5 RPG.

Their 2nd leading scorer is Aaron Anderson, who is 5'10".  He is scoring 13 points in 29 minutes and incredibly accurate from 3 at 52%.  Jaron Nash is also scoring in double figures at 11 points in 24 minutes.  He is 6'8" and also gets 4.9 rebounds.  He shoots 49% which is also pretty good.  Looking at this, you have to wonder why they aren't a better shooting team overall, but when you look down the list, they have some poorer shooters deeper on the bench.

I have not heard about BG's injury situation, particularly with Sealey.  Depth is an issue in an up-tempo game with him and it is worth without him.

At home, they way the Falcons are playing, this is a very winnable game, but far from an easy win.  BG is going to need to:

1. Score.
2. Make free throws
3. Stay out of foul trouble.
4. Control the tempo.

And then the sun came up...Updated

Actual photo of the sun taken this morning

So, Coach Clawson will be leaving Bowling Green.  He has addressed the team and explained why he did it and the players are reported to understand.  It seems that the presser in Winston-Salem will be held at 4:30 this afternoon.

And look.  The sun did come up today.

Obviously, I'm disappointed to lose Coach Clawson, who I think was a great fit for this program.  I wish him nothing but the best.  He made a huge contribution to this university.  He took a football program that was rotting...APR issues, arrests, poor results on the field...and he built it back in a way that is sustainable.  He got good players, good coaches, instilled discipline, found ways for those players to succeed.  Restored the APR.  And he did win a championship, putting him one title ahead of Urban Meyer and Gregg Brandon.

He did everything we asked him to do and did it well.  He knows what he is doing and he wants to ply his craft at a place where he will make more money and compete on a bigger stage.  Godspeed.

The University has announced that Adam Scheier will coach the team in the bowl game.  This is a little bit of a surprise.  He is the special teams and TE coach.  I don't want to read the tea leaves, but I suspect that indicates that the staff is going to go with Clawson and the hire will be from the outside.  Chris Kingston announced that he would begin a national search.  No word on how many assistants will stay to help with bowl game prep.  (Note: teams win bowl games every year under these circumstances, so do not despair).

There has been some opinion in the Nation that the Wake Forest job is not a big enough step up to warrant making the move.  A couple things there...he's going to make a lot more money and coach in a major conference.  Also, this is a perfect situation.  Clawson is a long-term builder.  If he ended up somewhere where they wanted to win tomorrow, it might not work out.  But Wake Forest does not have those expectations.  He will have the time to build what he needs and he will make it work.  I think it is an excellent situation.

There is also some opinion that the team is now destined to return to mediocrity.  This does not happen to be true.  I point you to NIU...which has gone through Novak, Kill, Doeren and Carey and maintained the program.  It isn't easy, but it is what you have to do to win in the MAC over time.

Richard Russell is a Presidential historian.  He once said that Presidents earn their money by getting two vital decisions right a year.  And this is true of Athletic Directors.

It is Chris Kingston's job to bring in a coach who will take what is good and sustain it.  It isn't easy, but you want to sit in the corner office, this is the kind of thing you are expected to succeed at.  There is no try.  You either do or do not.

I think he will do it.  I get a great sense of his ability.  He's ambitious and clear-headed and I think he will find the right guy.  The job will be attractive, because it isn't a rebuilding job anymore.  A coach can come in here and succeed relatively quickly.  It doesn't have a big paycheck, but it could be viewed as a path to a good paycheck.

So, I have confidence that Kingston will find the guy we need.  My only concern is that it not be a guy who wants to blow the whole thing up to fit some bizarre style that only he can coach.  We need a guy who will use what is here.  We worked hard to get here and we need to sustain not gut.

And so we begin to look into the future.  In the near future, there are four parts of this little ritual.  First, obviously, we will be watching for rumors on the identity of the new coach.  The second part is listening to fans who will start screaming tomorrow about why a new coach has not been hired yet.  The third is watching our committed recruits, who are right now getting texts from opposing coaches.  The fourth is watching to see if any players transfer, in particular to Wake Forest.

One last point.  People have been drawing the contrast between how people (especially the players) reacted to Tim Beckman leaving and to Dave Clawson.  I would point you, also, to the reaction when Urban Meyer left.  The difference today is that Clawson has done this with class.  He didn't lie about it.  And he didn't leave without meeting with his team, which I view as unconscionable.  If I was an  AD and I hired a new coach and he said he didn't need to meet with his old team before he left, I would un-hire him.  I would have expected Coach to act with class and dignity and he has.

Updated:

The Sentinel has an update based on talks with people today.  Coach had an emotional meeting with the team, but seems to have been direct and honest.

If you are gaming who Kingston might pick, parse this out.

‘‘When you are hiring somebody, specially a head coach, the best predictor of future success is past success,’’ Kingston said. ‘‘What I look for is someone who is already doing what you want to do. I want a winner. I want someone who had proven themselves. I want someone who can interact with the university, the community, and has the emotional intelligence to reach these players to get the best potential that you can out of them.

‘‘Being a head coach, you either are or you aren’t, and so there is something to be said for that. Is that the end all and be all? No, but it’s a power characterize if it’s someone who is leading the organization the right way,’’ Kingston continued. ‘‘We’re going to track a lot of qualified individuals, and I’m excited about that.’’