Bull Run: All the talk leading up to this season has been Akron, Kent, and Ohio. Even Ball State has got more love then Buffalo or Bowling Green Which of our two schools will do more damage to the 'favorites' this year?
Falcon Blog: I really like the way Buffalo is playing, and in a MAC where everyone has flaws, there are plenty of chances for someone to emerge and grab a bye. I think Saturday is going to be a very interesting game. Buffalo (in my opinion) has yet to really get a signature win but has no bad losses and BG is playing much better over the last 5 weeks than it did before that. I think this has the potential to be a really competitive game.
Bull Run: Break down how Bowling Green is matching up with your expectations this year?
Falcon Blog: Well, in total, I would say we are far below what I would have expected. We had clearly winnable games against Howard, Niagara and Albany that we did not, in fact, win. The primary issue was below standard defense and absolutely wretched offense, a virtual inability to shoot the ball into the basket. Now, the team we have seen over the last few games is much more in line with what I expected--strong guard play, a number of people able to score and an effective defense. The question is whether this level of play is a true improvement or whether it is an aberration, and of course, that is a game to game thing.
Bull Run: Biggest reason Buffalo will beat you
Falcon Blog: Bowling Green fails to play solid perimeter defense and Filzen gets 145 points while BG's offense shoots poorly and can't keep up on their end. Also--BG is 1-5 on the road this year.
Bull Run: Biggest reason you'll beat buffalo
Falcon Blog: BG's 2-3 continues to confuse the Bulls, and the turnover prone Bull attack falls prey to BG's MAC-leading thievery. On the offense end, someone (Thomas, Brown, Calhoun) consistently scores the ball and others chip in.
Bull Run: Who is the best starter you have and who will do the most damage off the bench?
Falcon Blog: The best starter and player we have is Scott Thomas. He is a rock-solid presence on the floor, where he scores, rebounds, gets steals and assists. He makes a large contribution in every game.
I'm going to take two parts for the bench answer. The player most LIKELY to do damage off the bench is Jordan Crawford, who is our reserve PG. He provides the team with real toughness and energy, and is a great change of pace from Jakubowski, the starter. In a fast-paced game, he'll be a great asset.
The player on the bench who could do the MOST damage is A'uston Calhoun. He is young and inconsistent but has huge skills. He's long and can score very effectively in the pain. He is completely capable of ripping off a 20/10 night.