Rolling Along Into 2011

So my goal coming into the 2010-11 men's basketball season was to blog here about the team on a regular basis. That really didn't take place during the first half of the season, but now that we're into the New Year and conference play is about to get started, I'll try to do better. Of course, it's also tough to blog when you are following a team that's 1-8.

But the Falcons have gotten on a roll lately, winning three of four and looking so much better and more exciting. After shooting 35 percent from the field during the slow start, the team is over 50 percent in the last four games and putting the ball in the hoop obviously makes things much easier. It seems like almost every game now we've got a triple-double watch going for Scott Thomas (though he's yet to get one and I'm looking forward to nicknaming him "Trip-Doub" once he does) and the point guard play from Joe Jakubowski and Jordon Crawford has been great. Combined, those two have averaged 20.5 points per game in the last couple of contests, have shot extremely well, and have run a highly efficient offense.

On top of that, Coach Orr picked up his 150th career win in the victory over UTSA and his 50th at BGSU.

Aside from shooting the ball better, one of the big things I'm seeing is increased confidence, and especially in crunch time. The team is still 0-4 in games decided by four points or less but that's only because BGSU absolutely dominated the last seven minutes of a close contest with UTSA and won by more than four. With it tied at 50-50 late, the Falcons outscored the Roadrunners (as an aside, we've had a great string of nicknames for opponents this year with Roadrunners, Jaspers, Great Danes, and today Billikens) 20-9 the rest of the way.

So today will be a good test for the Falcons. Saint Louis plays in a really good conference, the Atlantic 10, and has a great coach in Rick Majerus. I know BG beat Saint Louis a year ago but that was in Anderson Arena. The Falcons are still looking for their first win away from The House That Roars in 2010-11 and I'm interested to see how BG performs if this game is close in the final minutes. It should be a fun one today!