GETTING INSIDE
Bowling Green has three tough games remaining before finally starting defense of its Mid-American Conference regular-season championship at Akron on Jan. 9.
The Falcons are on the road against Temple (Dec. 28) and Towson (Dec. 30) before returning home to face St. Louis (Jan. 2).
Bowling Green’s defense has been better of late, although Detroit shot 46.4 percent from the field and scored 73 points in a four-point win over the Falcons on Dec. 19.
The Falcons’ defense against the 3-point shot has improved. In three early season defeats, opponents made at least 11 3-pointers per game and shot just over 46 percent from long range. In the last five games, BG has limited opponents to just 5.4 3-pointers per game and 28.1 percent shooting from beyond the arc.
Bench scoring has also played an important role for the Falcons. In the team’s five wins, the bench has out-scored the opponent’s bench 86-54 but in the four losses, BG has been out-scored 124-73.
Over the past six games, Bowling Green has been to the line an average of 23.5 times (141 total), 16 more than opponents.
The Falcons have been hurt by inconsistent play at all positions. While freshmen and sophomores are expected to struggle at times, the Falcons need consistent play from junior Joe Jakubowski, in his third season as BG’s starting point-guard, and seniors Otis Polk, Marc Larson and Erik Marschall inside to be successful.
NOTES, QUOTES
• Bowling Green’s senior inside trio have been proficient at blocking shots. Otis Polk, BG’s career leader with 130 blocks, Marc Larson (70) and Erik Marschall (51) have combined for 251 blocked shots.
• Freshman Jordan Crawford stands only 5-feet-6, but can make things happen with his quickness. Crawford played a key role in Bowling Green’s comeback effort in the loss to Detroit on Dec. 19, finishing with a career-high 15 points while adding four rebounds. Crawford is 13-for-23 (56.5 percent) shooting in the past five games, making 5-of-10 3-pointers.
January At A Glance: Bowling Green opens the Mid-American Conference season on the road against Akron, one of the early favorites in the MAC East with the addition of 7-foot freshman Zeke Marshall. Look for the Zips, who won the MAC tournament championship last season, to be a tough early test for the Falcons.
The Falcons play all five MAC East foes in January, with three games on the road, as well of two of their six games against the MAC West.
After a slow start last season on the road, the Falcons improved and at one point won six straight MAC games away from home.
If BG is to defend its regular-season MAC title that same kind of road success is essential this season.
Quote To Note: “We have to take that second half and build on it. We have won four of our last five and we have made strides.”—Bowling Green head coach Louis Orr after a 73-69 loss at Detroit on Dec. 19. BG out-scored Detroit 47-36 in the second half, but could never take the lead.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
Season Recap: BG head coach Louis Orr seems to have settled on his starting five and the first two players off the bench. The rest of the rotation is in flux.
As of Dec. 27 the veteran trio of seniors Otis Polk, Marc Larson and Erik Marshall have combined to average 24.5 points and 17.3 rebounds per game along with a total of 20 blocked shots.
Sophomore starters Dee Brown and Scott Thomas have been up-and-down, but both are averaging in double figures as of Dec. 27, 10.0 ppg for Brown and 10.2 ppg for Thomas. Polk leads the team in scoring at 10.3 points per game.
Player Rotation: Usual starters—F Marc Larson, F Scott Thomas, C Otis Polk, G Dee Brown, G Joe Jakubowski. Key subs—F Erik Marshall; F Danny McElroy; G Jordon Crawford.
Games Review:
Bowling Green 67, Fordham 46
Bowling Green 58, Canisius 54
Detroit 73, Bowling Green 69
Game Preview:
at Temple, Monday, Dec. 28
at Towson, Wednesday, Dec. 30
vs. St. Louis, Saturday, Jan. 2
at Akron, Saturday, Jan. 9
vs. Buffalo, Jan. 14
In Focus: Bowling Green faces three more tough tests before starting conference play on Jan. 9 at Akron. BG head coach Louis Orr is looking for more consistency out of his team.
Roster Report:
• Junior point guard Joe Jakubowski is 15th in the nation in assist-turnover ratio at 3.09 (34 assists to 11 turnovers) as of Dec. 27.
• Senior post player Marc Larson is averaging a career-best 6.8 points per game and has reached double figures in scoring twice. He is also 13-of-15 from the free-throw line and averaging a career-best 4.9 rebounds per game.
