Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcons Preparing for 2007-08 Season
October 30, 2007 | Men's Basketball
Oct. 30, 2007
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio (BGSUFalcons.com) - BGSU has a new look this season, as Louis Orr takes the reins. Orr and the Falcons will look to restore the roar in Anderson Arena, and make some noise in the MAC.
Fans can get their first glimpse at the Falcons Thursday (Nov. 1), as BGSU takes on Wayne State in an exhibition. The game begins at 7:00 p.m., and admission is free.
The 2007-08 season outlook follows. This outlook also can be found in the 2007-08 MEDIA GUIDE.
WINDS OF CHANGE
It seems the wind is always blowing in Bowling Green, Ohio.
This year, however, the winds of change are swirling around Anderson Arena. A new chapter in the history of Bowling Green State University men's basketball begins in 2007-08, as Louis Orr takes over the helm of the program. The former Syracuse University and NBA standout was named the 15th head coach in program history in April of 2007.
Orr, an Ohio native with a proven record of success, returns nine letterwinners and adds three talented players to the active roster.
Orr, assistant coaches LaMonta Stone, George Jackson and Andy Moore and director of operations Rick Palmer have a mixture of youth and experience on the 2007-08 roster. The Falcons have just one senior on the roster, but all nine returnees have seen time in the starting lineup, with six of the nine having started nine games or more a year ago.
As the season approached and full-scale practices began, Orr liked what he saw from his new team.
"They work very hard, and they are hungry for success," said Orr, who enters his seventh season as a collegiate head coach. "The chemistry has been good, and we have a nice mix, with some experienced guys and some guys who are looking to establish their niche on the team.
"Some are a little unproven at this point, in terms of their potential on our team and in the league. But, I am encouraged by their talent and pleased with their effort."
BUILDING A FOUNDATION
Orr and his staff will look to implement a style of play that maximizes the talents of his roster. There are some things that the coach believes must be there, game in and game out, if the Falcons are to enjoy success in 2007-08 and beyond.
"Our foundation is going to be built on several things," said the coach. "We are going to play tough, hard-nosed defense, we are going to be a very good rebounding team, and we are going to play hard every night.
"Offensively, we want to share the ball, we want to execute - especially under pressure - and we want to get out and get opportunity baskets. Those baskets may come in transition off of our defense, from defensive rebounds or steals, or they may come from our second shots. We want to try to up the tempo as much as we can.
"At the same time, though, we want to be able to execute in our halfcourt offense. We are not a motion team; we will be a team that runs some sets, and also tries to space the court and allow our guys to make plays off the dribble. We want to use that to drive and kick, or drive and dunk; we just want to space the court and get good ball and people movement."
WHO'S GONE?
The Falcons lost the services of three letterwinners from last season. One of those lettermen, Martin Samarco, led the MAC in scoring last winter, and had over 1,100 points in just two seasons in the Brown and Orange. Matt Lefeld completed a solid four-year career, and was a true student-athlete, having been named an Academic All-American and earning the MAC's Bob James Scholarship Award in his senior season.
Brian Guerin, a sophomore on last year's team, also will not return in 2007-08. Guerin averaged 2.2 points per game in 26 contests off the bench last season.
WHO'S BACK?
As mentioned, Orr and Company return a total of nine letterwinners, including six of last season's top-seven scorers and all three starters from the lineup that BGSU used down the stretch. That group combined for 63.0 percent of the team's scoring and 71.3% of the Falcons' rebounding total last winter.
THE SENIOR
Ryne Hamblet is the lone senior on the BGSU squad. Hamblet averaged 10.4 points per game, and proved himself to be a well-rounded player in his initial season on campus. The Chicago native led the Falcons in both assists and steals, and was red-hot down the stretch, averaging 23.3 points and 6.3 assists over the Falcons' final three regular-season games.
"Ryne is one of our best all-around players," said Orr. "He can affect the game in so many ways. Ryne is very good off the dribble and as an open shooter.
"At 6-5, he can get his shot over people, and he has the ability to play at multiple positions and give us different looks. Ryne is one of those guys that can make plays. You feel good when the ball is in his hands."
THE JUNIORS
The Falcons have five juniors on the 2007-08 squad. Darryl Clements, Erik Marschall, Brian Moten and Dusan Radivojevic each enter their third season with the Falcons, while Nate Miller begins his second season - and his first full year of action at BG - after transferring from UNC Wilmington.
Miller made his BGSU debut in late December of 2006, and made an impact immediately. An All-MAC Honorable-Mention selection, he is the Falcons' top returning scorer (14.1 ppg last year). His five double-doubles included the only triple- double in the MAC last season, as he had 20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists at Buffalo in February.
"Nate, along with Ryne, is a guy that could be an all-league player this year," said Orr. "Nate is probably one of the toughest covers in the MAC. He is just so strong, so explosive.
"Nate is an inside-outside guy. He is shooting the ball very well in the preseason, he can get the ball to the basket, and he is a load to stop in the open court. And, he can get to the free-throw line. I think he has a chance to be one of the better scorers in the league."
Clements made 10 starts a year ago, averaging nearly three points per game and finishing fourth on the team in assists. His new coach feels that, as a junior, he is ready to increase his role on the team.
"Darryl has shown good ability at getting into the lane with the basketball," said Orr. "He has excellent size, and he is a very good athlete, particularly in the open court.
"We need Darryl to do a good job of handling the basketball, and continuing to improve his assist-to-turnover ratio. But, he is very good off the pick and roll, and he has the potential to be a solid defender for us as well. He is a junior now, and that is often the time when players step their game up a level. He knows it's his time."
Marschall returns, looking to build upon the flashes of greatness he showed before seeing his season come to a premature end due to injury. In the 20 games in which he saw action in 2006-07, Marschall averaged 9.1 points per game and had 10 double-figure scoring outings. That total includes a career-high 19 points in the Western Michigan contest, in which he tied a school record by going a perfect 8-for-8 from the field.
"Erik is probably our most skilled and offensively gifted big guy," said Orr. "He has good inside post moves, he can put the ball on the floor, and he can shoot it. He can make the 15-footer, all the way out to the three-point line.
"As our most experienced frontcourt player, Erik has a chance to be our go-to guy in the post; the guy that we look to inside."
Moten averaged nearly five points per game a year ago, and showed glimpses of his shooting ability. He was named to the all-tournament team during the Falcons' trip to Green Bay, Wis., after going a combined 13-for-17 from the field in back-to-back games, and he ended his sophomore season by making a career-high four three-point field goals in the MAC Tournament game vs. Ohio.
"Brian is one of our best athletes," said the coach. "He has the potential to be a great shooter for us, and he's getting better at handling the ball and attacking the basket.
"Brian is very good at filling the lanes in transition; he can really get out and run. We need his role to expand, and we need him to step up and become one of our feature guys. I think he has that potential."
Radivojevic joins Moten as one of just two returnees to have played in all 31 games last winter. A native of Serbia & Montenegro, he averaged 3.6 points per game a year ago, and ranked third on the team in three-pointers made.
"Dusan is a guy that I'm encouraging to stretch the defense," said Orr. "He is one of our best open shooters, so we need to look for him, and he needs to be shot-ready.
"He has good size, is a very good passer, and is a smart player. He knows how to play without the basketball. He is working on his rebounding and physical play, and he can be a solid defender for us as well."
THE SOPHOMORES
Marc Larson, Otis Polk and Ryan Sims all return with a year of collegiate experience under their collective belts. Each of the three played at least 25 games last year, and each found himself in the starting lineup on multiple occasions.
Larson earned four starting assignments in his initial season, and the agile left-hander looks to increase his court time this winter. He averaged 7.6 minutes per game a year ago.
"Marc is very tough in the post," said Orr. "He knows how to play, and always seems to be in the right place.
"Marc is very mobile, and he has nice touch for a big man. He can play facing the basket, 15 feet from the basket, and knock down the shot. Marc is just a solid player, and will give us good size and physicality in the post."
The latter statement can be said about Polk as well. Polk averaged 1.5 points and 2.0 rebounds per game as a freshman, and blocked a team-high 30 shots in just under nine minutes per game. He ranked among the league's top-10 shot blockers.
"Otis is an athletic big guy who is getting in better and better shape each day," said the coach. "He really knows how to play in the low post, both offensively and defensively.
"Otis is a banger in the lane, with good footwork, good shot-blocking instincts and a nice touch. He is another guy who will continue to get better as the year goes on."
Sims made 12 starts a year ago, and displayed a three-point shooting knack, going 18-for-40 (45.0 percent) from beyond the arc. That long-range marksmanship included a perfect 3-for-3 three-point shooting game against Kent State.
"I want Ryan to be our energizer, a guy who gives us juice," said Orr. "He has the ability to be one of the best shooters on the team, and he is very good off of screens, both with and without the ball.
"Ryan is improving his ballhandling, and he can be a real pest on defense. He is one of our best athletes, and has worked as hard as anybody. I appreciate the way he has attacked the opportunities he has had."
THE NEWCOMERS
Orr and his staff welcome three newcomers to the court this season. Chris Knight will suit up after sitting out the 2006-07 season, while Joe Jakubowski and Cameron Madlock are Orr's first two recruits at BGSU.
Knight, a Cincinnati native, attended the same high school (Withrow) as two of his coaches, Orr and Jackson. A two-time all-state selection, Knight brings athleticism and versatility to the BGSU roster.
"Chris can do a lot of things for us," said Orr. "He is a tough cover because he is so athletic. He can run, he can put it on the floor, he's got an excellent mid-range game, he can make plays off the dribble, and he can rebound.
"Chris is a big X-factor guy for us, because he has a lot of talent, but he sat out for an entire year. We have to give him time to develop and get comfortable, but he has a chance to be a scorer for us."
Jakubowski hails from nearby Rossford, Ohio, and was a standout performer at Toledo St. John's. He was instrumental in the Titans' postseason run to a district title last season.
"Joe is a tremendously hard worker," said Orr. "He leads by example, and he has gotten better every day. Joe can really push the ball in transition, get the ball up and down the court and make things happen.
"Joe can play on and off the ball, and has a lot of ability. He is another player who is very good in the open court. I expect Joe's role to grow as his experience grows."
Madlock, from Whitefish Bay, Wis., averaged 14 points and eight boards per game last year, helping his team to 21 wins and a trip to the sectional finals. Like Jakubowski, Orr expects Madlock to get better and better as the year progresses.
"Cameron is probably our most athletic big guy," said the head coach. "He gets off his feet quick, and can really run the floor.
"Cam has a chance to be an excellent defender for us. He is a shot-blocker, a good face-up shooter and a strong offensive rebounder. I feel he will only improve as he gets stronger and gains experience."
THE SEASON APPROACHES
While every player and coach wants to win every time out, Orr has some additional goals for his first BGSU team as the '07-08 season approaches.
"I think every day, when you step on the court, you want to get better. Every time out, you want to `Win the day.' Whatever our potential is, I want us to play at that potential or close to it every day.
"There are certain things that we have to do every day. We have to play hard. We have to defend and rebound. We have to share the basketball, and we have to execute.
"Of course, we want to win every game. The best way to breed success is to win. But, you can work hard, play well and build on that as well. So, I think it's important for us to lay the foundation. We will strive to get better and better every day, in practices, in the weight room and in games.
"And with that, if we do the things that we are emphasizing, the winning will take care of itself."
ORR ON...
The Falcons' depth:
"We have the potential to have some good depth. A lot of guys have been here and have gone through a collegiate season before, and we have a big junior class. Junior year is often the time when players step up their games and take on more of a leadership role.
"We also have a versatile team. A number of guys can play two or more positions."
Team defense:
"I think, defensively, we have the chance to be a very solid man-to-man team, but we will also play some zone and stretch our defense a little bit - fullcourt, three-quarter court.
"We will mix it up a little, but basically, we will be a man-to-man team. I have been encouraged by what I have seen so far."
The schedule:
"We have a tough non-conference schedule; very competitive. Every game could go either way. Every team we play is capable of winning, and in every game we play, I feel that we are capable of winning as well. We have to be ready to play every single game, and that's the way it should be."
What would you want a fan, after seeing your team play for the first time, to think?
"I would want them to see that we played extremely hard, that we were unselfish, that we defended and rebounded and played tough, physical basketball, and that we executed under pressure."
Anderson Arena:
"We want to establish a great homecourt advantage. We want to play well at home - we want to play well on the road, too - but we want to have a loud and raucous arena. We want Anderson Arena to be rocking, we want a strong homecourt, and we want our guys to play with confidence and compete at a high level."
