Falcons not panicking after slow start

No, Bowling Green State University men's basketball coach Louis Orr isn't happy about his team's 1-6 record.

But no, Orr isn't ready to panic after his team's slow start.

“We're going to play 31 regular-season games, and we've only played seven,” he said. “We've got 24 more games, and it's a long season.

“Whether you're 1-6 or 6-1, you can't change the past. You can only affect the future. We've got a lot of games still to play.”

Last weekend the Falcons played three games in three days as part of the Legends Classic. While they lost all three contests — including a four-point loss to Niagara and a one-point setback against Albany — Orr saw some good things from his team in that tournament.

“Three-games-in-three-days tournaments reveal a lot of things about your team,” he said. “It gives you a chance to, in game situations, see a lot about your team. It's also an endurance [test].

“Although we went 0-3, we improved, and that's important. That's something that's a theme for us: every day, when we step on a court, we want to get better.”

Junior Scott Thomas had a strong all-around tournament, finishing with 29 points, 19 rebounds, and 14 assists in the three contests. Fellow junior Dee Brown scored 46 points, including 22 against Detroit, and now is tied with Thomas for the team's scoring lead with 10.6 points per game.

“Scott Thomas made a lot of plays for us over the weekend,” Orr said. “I thought he did a good job sharing the ball.

“I thought Dee Brown grew up as a scorer for us over the weekend.”

Another player who stood out for Orr was Torian Oglesby, a junior transfer from Mott Community College who played in his first three games over the weekend. Oglseby averaged 6.7 points and 6.3 rebounds in three games despite averaging just 18.7 minutes per contest.

“He's a new guy, and new guys go through an adjustment period — basketball, academically, everything,” Orr said. “I just wanted to make sure he was moving in the right direction.

“I think he's an energy player, and we're an energy team when we're playing at our best. He's a tremendous athlete who's active on the offensive boards, and he brings toughness. But he's still learning.”

The Falcons' biggest problem remains its struggles to shoot well; as a team BG is shooting just 37 percent from the field.

“When your field-goal percentage is bad, you always look at your shot selection first,” Orr said. “I thought we got very good shots all weekend; the first 10 or 12 minutes against Albany we got excellent shots. If we make those shots that we're capable of making, we could easily been up 15-6 or 18-6.

“Nobody is trying to miss shots. If you're taking good shots, in time I believe they will go in. And when the ball goes in the basket, it does build your confidence.”

Orr continues to shuffle his starting lineup, having used six different quintets in seven games.

“I've been a guy who doesn't change lineups that often,” Orr said. “It's not a comfortable spot, but the reality is our record says we've been inconsistent.

“We're looking for the right combination, rewarding guys who step up and produce. At the end of the day, that tells us we need all of our guys to step up and produce.”

Things don't get any easier for the Falcons as Saturday they travel to Michigan State, which began the season ranked second in the country.

The Spartans are 5-1 entering their matchup with Duke in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge Wednesday, and the Breslin Center can be intimidating for opposing teams.

“Where can we take them [in Bowling Green] to prepare for that?” Orr asked of playing in front of “The Izzone”. “I think our kids will be excited to play.

“You have to simulate their rebounding, because they're a great rebounding team. You have to simulate their fast break, because they're an excellent transition team. You have to simulate their man-to-man [defense], because of how well they guard.”

Contact John Wagner at:

jwagner@theblade.com

or 419-724-6481.