Is it safe to do a preview about 24 hours before the game tips? BG is 0-2 in the MAC, losing in Muncie by 1, coughing up a 5 point lead with 30 seconds left thanks to a missed free throw, fouling a 3 point shooter, giving up an offensive rebound on a missed free throw, then turning it over on the ensuing possession. They followed that up by losing at Buffalo by 11, a game that saw the Bulls, without Mballa, shoot 33/35 from the foul line. BG is 5-6 against Division 1, their best win being a 1 point home win vs. Oakland, who’s playing well.
Coach Huger’s team plays a similar style to what they’ve played under his tenure. They play fast with multiple weapons on offense while playing below average defense. Daeqwon Plowden is arguably their best all-around offensive player. He can take you off the dribble, post you up, score in the lane, and hit the 3, though his shooting numbers are down modestly. Trey Diggs is still primarily a gunner. 68 of his 89 attempts are from 3. You have to look for the quick pick and roll in transition in which Plowden or Diggs jack one from deep. Samari Curtis, former Ohio Mr. Basketball, is at BG via Nebraska and Evansville. He has a nice all-around game as well, including a solid mid-range pull-up. Joe Reece gives them a post option. He’s wiry strong and athletic with a nice shooting touch. Off the bench, Josiah Fulcher is a very good shooter. Chandler Turner can score from anywhere on the floor. Gabe O’Neal is a load underneath. Myron Gordon gives them more of a scoring punch from the point than starter Kaden Metheny. Metheny wastes a lot of dribbles and can be forced into mistakes because of poor decision-making. But overall, BG takes care of the ball and they are a really good offensive rebounding team.
However as good as they are offensively rebounding the ball, they’re equally as bad on their defensive backboard. BG is below average defensively because you can take almost any of their players off the dribble and they give up a lot of 2nd chances, even when they have numbers under the basket. You would think that a team that plays 10-12 guys would give more of a defensive effort, but they don’t. I think this is why we’ve had success against BG. If our guards are patient, work the ball, then attack off the dribble and don’t settle for jumpers, we’ll get any shot that we want. Just like Buffalo, 1-on-1 defense will be the key against BG’s offensive playmakers.
