Bowling Green State University Athletics
Defending MAC Champions Start Practice
October 13, 2000 | Men's Basketball
FALCONS HOPE TO BUILD ON 2000 TITLE
Competing night in and night out in a conference which saw a league record five teams post 20-win seasons is a battle that exhausts its combatants both physically and mentally. Last year, the Falcons reeled off victories in its final six regular season games to give Coach Dan Dakich his first outright conference championship as a head coach and BGSU its eighth title as a member of the Mid-American Conference. During their impressive stretch run, the Falcons mental toughness was evident posting narrow road victories at Miami (66-60), Akron (73-72) and Marshall (88-83). This season, if they hope to defend their crown, more of the same characteristics which saw them post a 22-8 overall record and a 14-4 conference ledger will have to be present.
"Our whole season will be determined by how mentally and physically tough we are and along with that, what kind of leadership we get from people," said Dakich, who became the second-fastest BG coach to lead his team to a 20-victory season (Harold Anderson, 2nd season, 22-4, 1943-44).
SOLID NUCLEUS IS BACK
The Falcons return eight players who were with the program last season, including three starters. Senior guard Trent Jackson, junior guard Keith McLeod and junior center Len Matela return after making a combined 65 starts last season.
Jackson will be counted on to improve his all-around game. In addition to his defensive and rebounding abilities, Jackson will be counted on to increase his 8.6 scoring average from a year ago. He also shot 52.7 (96/182) from the field a year ago.
"Trent needs to be able to score, he needs to be able to take charges and he needs to be able to do the things that amount to winning" said Dakich.
McLeod was the top three-point threat in the league a year ago knocking down 47.7 percent of his long distance shots (51/107). He averaged 12.9 points per game last season.
"Keith has outstanding ability and quickness and needs to be as consistent as he can possibly be in his day-to-day work," said Dakich.
Matela was an honorable mention All-MAC choice after averaging 14.4 points and 8.2 rebounds against conference foes. In addition, he shot a team-best 61.9 percent from the field (143/251).
"Lenny has a chance to be an outstanding player," said Dakich. "He needs to play not only as a big guy, but as a big guy who has really good athletic ability."
Five other returnees will be asked to increase their roles during the 2000-2001 season.
Junior guard Brandon Pardon started nine games for the Falcons and averaged 6.5 points and four assists. He will take over as the team's starting point guard.
"Brandon was a huge asset to us in winning the championship last season," said Dakich. "He is going to be somebody who is going to have to step to the forefront each night as our starting point guard."
Senior guard Dubrey Black will get a real opportunity to play this season after averaging 1.8 points and 1.3 rebounds in 19 games.
"I thought that if there ever was a kid who epitomizes what we want here in the program to this point, it's been Dubrey," said Dakich. "He's played a lot, not played a lot, had great games, not played in the next game, but has never complained. He has shown great leadership this offseason."
Junior forward Brent Klassen returns for his third season after averaging 2.4 points and 1.6 rebounds. He started nine games last year.
"Brent is going to get an opportunity to play more this year, and an opportunity to not only play more minutes, but for more time at crucial spots when the game is going to be determined."
Sophomore guard Cory Ryan is a candidate to be the team's most improved player. An outstanding contributor in practice a year ago, Ryan played well on the team's summer trip to Chile. He averaged 1.1 points and 0.9 rebounds.
"He can shoot the basketball and is a tough kid," said Dakich. "This should be a year where Cory contributes far more at least in games."
Redshirt freshman center Kevin Netter made tremendous strides during the past year.
"He's gonna get an opportunity to play this year," said Dakich. "He's long, athletic, can block shots, can run, and has a nice touch."
NEWCOMERS PROVIDE A BRIGHT FUTURE
Two freshmen and two transfers will join the program.
Freshman forward Josh Almanson was an All-State selection at Bowling Green High School and should see significant playing time. "Josh has a chance to be an outstanding player because of his work ethic and intelligence," said Dakich. "He is a kid who is really doing a good job of trying to learn and listen."
Freshman guard Jabari Mattox is a player who comes from an outstanding high school program. He averaged 14 points, five rebounds and five steals as a senior in high school.
"Jabari just needs to come in and learn our system and play as well as he can play," said Dakich. "Once he figures out our system he'll be an outstanding player."
Sophomore Ray Austin is a transfer from Illinois State who was an All-State performer at Youngstown Liberty High School. He will sit out this season and have three years of eligibility.
LEADERSHIP WILL BE TOUGH TO REPLACE
The duo of MAC Player of the Year Anthony Stacey and All-MAC guard Dave Esterkamp played on conference champions as freshmen and as seniors and provided a wealth of experience and leadership to their younger teammates.
"Generally, mentally tough teams are a product of leaders," said Dakich. "Last year, Esterkamp and Stacey were tremendous leaders, which made our team mentally tough. This year, we need somebody or some body's to fill the role left by these two kids."
That leadership and toughness was never more evident than at the end of close games. The Falcons were 10-1 in games decided by six points or less, including 7-0 on the road.
FALCON FACTS
The Falcons have posted a 40-18 record, the best BGSU two-year record since Hall of Famer Nate Thurmond led the Falcons to a 40-12 mark from 1961-63.
The Falcons have posted a league-best 26 regular season MAC victories since 1999.
MAC WINS SINCE 1999
Bowling Green (East) 26
Kent (East) 26
Akron (East) 23
Ohio (East) 23
Miami (East) 23
Marshall (East) 22
Toledo (West) 22
Ball State (West) 21
Eastern Michigan (West) 14
Western Michigan (West) 12
Northern Illinois (West) 9
Central Michigan (West) 9
Buffalo (East) 4
The Falcons captured their eighth MAC Championship with a 14-4 record. They also won titles in 1997, 1983, 1981, 1968, 1963, 1962, and 1959.
Coach Dan Dakich and his staff became the second fastest Falcon leaders to post a 20-win season. Harold Anderson was 22-4 during the 1943-44 season, his second of guiding the Falcons. Anderson's teams posted 20-win seasons seven times. John Weinert posted a 20-10 mark in his fourth year (1979-80) and a 21-9 record in 1982-83, while Jim Larranaga notched a 22-10 record in his 11th year.
THE HOUSE THAT ROARS
The Falcons have a 16-game winning streak in the "The House That Roars", Anderson Arena. That marks 10th longest active home winning streak in Division I. With a 12-0 record at home last season, BGSU recorded its 14th consecutive winning season at home. During the last two seasons, BGSU is 24-2 at home, including a 17-1 mark in the MAC.
Last year marked just the fourth time and first since the 1967-68 season (10-0) that the Falcons posted an unblemished ledger at home. BGSU also finished undefeated home campaigns in 1963-64 (12-0) and in 1961-62 (11-0).
"The support of the students, faculty and staff and community that we received last year makes it a great place," said Dakich. "We go a lot of places where there aren't a lot of people at the ball games or a lot of enthusiasm. At our place it's an incredibly enthusiastic and difficult place to play."
SPANNING THE GLOBE
In the past year, the Falcons have taken flight visiting Hawaii and Chile.
The Falcons championship in the Nextell Challenge in Honolulu last season, was BGSU's first in-season tournament crown since winning the Blade-Glass City Classic in 1978. BGSU defeated Jackson State, 60-43, in the first round and host Hawaii, 53-49, in the championship game.
The Falcons also embarked on a six-game trip to Chile, in August.
BG won the opening game of the road trip, 86-67, at Club Sokol Antofagasta on August 11. The Falcons had six players in double figures led by Keith McLeod with 22. Len Matela added 14 points. The second game was also played in Antofagasta on August 12. BGSU rallied in the final minutes against Universidad Catolica only to see Brandon Pardon's three-point attempt rim out at the buzzer in an 82-79 setback. The Falcons then traveled to Santiago for an August 15 contest against Osorno, the Chile Professional League champions. The Falcons suffered a 90-81 defeat despite 29 points from Brandon Pardon and 23 by Trent Jackson.
BG began tournament play on August 18 with a loss against the Brazil National College All-Stars. Keith McLeod had 19 points to lead BG, while Len Matela added 12 points and 10 rebounds. On August 19, BG again faced Universidad Catolica and fell in overtime 99-93. Dubrey Black made a 35-foot shot at the end of regulation to put the game into overtime. Keith McLeod led the Falcons in scoring with 29 points, while Brent Klassen added 15 points. In the final game of the tournament, BGSU fell 84-68 to Osorno. Keith McLeod had 29 points while being named to the all-tournament team after leading the tournament in scoring.
FALCONS IN THE POSTSEASON
The Falcons made their 11th appearance in the National Invitation Tournament, where they fell in the first round at BYU. BGSU has made five NCAA Tournament appearances, with the most recent coming in 1968.
ZEIGLER JOINS COACHING STAFF
Detroit native Ernie Zeigler joined BGSU in time for their trip to Chile.
"We are very excited to have Ernie as part of our staff," said Dakich. "He brings a wealth of experience and knowledge that will enhance our basketball program."
Zeigler comes to BGSU from Kansas State University where he coached one season with the Wildcats. Prior to joining the Big 12 school, Zeigler was a head basketball coach overseas with the Al-Hilal Sports Club in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from 1997-99 and for the Henan Wildcats in 1996-97. He was named Chinese National Basketball Alliance International Coach of the Year in 1997. A graduate of Frank Cody High School in Detroit, Zeigler played two seasons of basketball at Schoolcraft College and one year apiece at Armstrong State and at Northwood. He is a 1994 graduate of Cleary College where he holds a degree in business management.
DAKICH ON THE MAC
"I think the conference has good players. Any time you have good players and good coaches, you're gonna have a good league. It's in a basketball area. Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, West Virginia and New York are good basketball places. The league is getting tremendous players, particularly on the perimeter. We did a study, I think there's 11 kids from the MAC on NBA rosters, nine of whom are perimeter players, and that's a lot out of one league in the NBA."
SCHEDULE POSES A CHALLENGE
Evansville from the Missouri Valley Conference (Nov. 21) and Duquesne (Dec. 2) from the Atlantic 10 are scheduled to visit Anderson Arena, this year.
On the road, the Falcons will play defending national champion Michigan State at the Palace of Auburn Hills (Dec. 27). That game is part of a doubleheader which also features Wright State and Oakland. In addition, BG will travel to Michigan (Dec. 13) and has difficult non-conference road tests at North Carolina-Wilmington (Nov. 27), Illinois State (December 6), and Marist (Dec. 16).
Michigan is scheduled to visit Anderson Arena in the 2001-2002 season, as is a yet-to-be determined Big East opponent.
RETURNEES ( *Letters Earned)
10 Trent Jackson ** G 6-4 205 Sr. 30 G, 21 Starts, 8.6 ppg., 3.3 Reb, 52.7 FG %
14 Len Matela ** C 6-9 240 Jr. HM All-MAC, 30 G, 22 Starts, 12.5 ppg., 7.7 Reb, 61.9 FG%
20 Keith McLeod ** G 6-2 185 Jr. 30 G, 22 Starts, 12.9 ppg., 47.7 3FG%
32 Brandon Pardon* G 6-1 200 Jr. 21 G, 9 Starts, 6.5 ppg., 4 Assists per game
50 Dubrey Black *** G 6-3 205 Sr. 19 G, 1.8 ppg, 1.3 Reb
24 Cory Ryan* G 6-5 205 So. 14 G, 1.1 ppg., 0.9 Reb
52 Brent Klassen ** F 6-8 235 Jr. 29 G, 9 Starts, 2.4 ppg., 1.6 Reb
REDSHIRTS
45 Kevin Netter C 6-10 205 Fr. 17 points, 8 Reb as a prep
NEWCOMERS
2 Josh Almanson F 6-8 220 Fr. 1st Team All-State Selection
4 Ray Austin+ F 6-7 240 So. Has three years of eligibility/will sit out this season
5 Jabari Mattox G 6-0 170 Fr. 14 ppg, 5 Reb, 5 Assists per game as a senior
15 Kris Gerken G, 6-3, 190 Walk-on transfer from Wittenburg
KEY LOSSES
Anthony Stacey MAC Player of the Year, 16.8 ppg., 6 Reb, BGSU All-Time leading scorer with 1,938 points
Dave Esterkamp HM All-MAC, 13.2 ppg., 4.7 Reb., 1,080 career points)
2000 NCAA Statistics
Team Field Goal Percentage 4th, 49.2
Team Free Throw Percentage 17th, 74.3
Individual 3FG Percentage 7th,
2000 MAC Statistics
Team
Offense 4th, 75.1
Defense 7th, 70.0
Scoring Margin 4th, 5.2
FT Percentage 2nd, 74.3
FG Percentage 1st, 49.2
FG Percentage Defense 10th, 44.8
3FG Percentage 5th, 36.5
3FG Percentage Defense 9th, 34.8
Rebounding Offense 12th, 32.1
Rebounding Defense 1st, 32.4
Rebounding Margin 7th, -0.3
Blocked Shots 11th, 1.87
Assists 4th, 15.5
Steals 10th, 6.7
Assist/Turnover Ratio 5th, 1.07
Individual (Returnees Only)
Scoring McLeod, 21st, 12.9
Matela, 23rd, 12.5
Rebounding Matela, 5th, 7.7
Free Throw Percentage Matela, 5th, 77.2
McLeod, 14th, 72.9
3-Field Goal Percentage McLeod, 1st, 47.7
3-Field Goals Made McLeod, 13th, 1.70
Offensive Rebounds Matela, 13th, 2.27
Defensive Rebounds Matela, 4th, 5.40
