Bowling Green State University Athletics
11.05.07 - Women's Basketball Returns to Anderson Arena
November 03, 2007 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 3, 2007
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - Last season, the Bowling Green State University women's basketball Falcons surpassed all previously standing program and Mid-American Conference records winning 31 of their 35 games. Along the way, under the direction of head coach Curt Miller, BGSU went on to win fifteen league games en route to winning their third consecutive MAC regular-season title. Bowling Green then finished the season winning five of their next six games before ending the 2006-07 season in the first round of the Greensboro Regional of the NCAA Tournament. To say the least, BGSU experienced a pretty `sweet' season.
This season, the Falcons will not only don new uniforms but the faces of the game will be somewhat different. Seven freshmen will make their debut at Anderson Arena on Nov. 5 when the University of Findlay travels to Bowling Green, Ohio for an exhibition match beginning at 7:00 p.m.
SEVENTH SEASON STRETCH
Miller is only the third coach in BGSU women's basketball history to enter into a seventh season with the Falcons. Current Board of Trustees member Fran Voll (84-91) was the first to accomplish the feat while his predecessor, and former assistant, Jaci Clark (91-98) was the second. In Voll's seven seasons, he was 89-27 in the MAC and posted a 144-60 overall record while Clark was 93-32 in the conference and 135-65 overall.
With his 124 total wins, Miller needs 21 wins to surpass both Clark and Voll to become the winningest coach in program history. If he and the Falcons do post the 21 wins, he will not only become the first BGSU women's head coach to have five 20-plus win seasons but will also do it in consecutive years. With the team's 31 wins last season, he tied Voll and Clark's record of four 20-plus victory seasons. Harold Anderson, a head coach on the men's side from 1942-1963, is the only BGSU basketball coach to have five consecutive seasons of 20-plus wins. Anderson's Falcons of the 44-49 seasons are responsible for the record.
MILLER AND HIS PEERS
Entering 2007-08, Miller is one of seven BGSU coaches to eclipse the century mark in his total win column when looking at both the men's and women's programs. Of those seven, Miller has the least years under his belt (six complete) and the third best winning percentage (.674). In fact, Voll (.706), Clark (.675) and Miller (.674) lead all BGSU head basketball coaches in regards to winning percentages throughout their BGSU careers. Anderson (.655, 367-193) and Jim Larranaga (.541, 170-144, 1986-1997) of men's program round out the top five.
MILLER ON THE NEW SEASON
"There is truly an anticipation buzzing in the hallways of the staff offices; we have a very talented group of young women comprising this season's squad. The staff is cautiously optimistic about the season, but at the same time we are all very energized by the youthful excitement of the program."
ONE FRESHMAN FOR EACH SEASON AS A HEAD COACH?
`Youthful excitement' may be an understatement when characterizing the seventh Falcon squad to be led by Miller. Ten of thirteen eligible players on the Falcon roster will be in their first or second year with BGSU.
"We are going to have more of a slope in our learning curve, but we will counterbalance that slope with a group of veterans who know the expectations of the program. Each of our veterans will bring a championship mentality and will articulate those expectations to the newcomers. This type of attitude will be one of our largest assets off the court this season.
"With the youth, the staff will also need to concentrate their efforts towards keeping the players focused on the long term goal to not only grow every day, but to also guide the team so that they will be playing their best basketball in March."
11.09.07 - THE DAWN OF A NEW ERA?
Before the Falcons can reach their goal of playing their best basketball in March, they must first handle a rigorous schedule that begins Nov. 9 at home in Anderson Arena when the Orange and Brown face
their first test in Valparaiso.
To date, the Falcons are 124-60 under Miller and have won each of their regular-season home openers since 2003 by an average margin of nearly 24 (23.25) points. In 2005, Bowling Green opened the home schedule with a 78-50 win over IPFW on Nov. 18 posting not only the greatest first-day margin of victory (+28) at Anderson Arena during the Miller era, but also the second largest opening day win since Jaci Clark's Falcons beat Youngstown State 76-38 (+38) on Dec. 1, 1994.
PACK YOUR BAGS FOR A BUSY DECEMBER
While December is normally associated with Christmas `Wish Lists', the Falcons will spend most of the holiday season on the road. BG will play seven of eight December games in unfamiliar territory.
Additionally, Miller and Co. will see the likes of Notre Dame, Indiana, Delaware and Iowa State in the span of 23 days ... maybe it would just be nicer to give the Falcons a lump of coal in their Christmas stockings. As if facing three of last years NCAA Tournament participants was not intimidating enough, BG will challenge Indiana, Delaware, and Iowa State on their own courts.
In fact, Notre Dame's Dec. 5 visit to the Black Swamp area will be the only game in Anderson Arena before Chicago State pays a visit to the Falcons on Jan. 5 of the new year.
"Since my first day at Bowling Green I have made it known that our schedule will be a reflection of the growth we have seen in the program, said Miller. "I understand the importance of playing quality teams to prepare us for the conference.
"The stretch in December is truly as hard as any schedule in Bowling Green women's basketball history. We anticipate playing in front of 8-12,000 people when we play Iowa State. Not only will it be a great environment for women's college basketball, but what a great learning experience to play before a crowd of that magnitude and volume."
NEW SEASON, NEW TEAM, NEW ROLE IN THE MAC?
Moving out of the non-conference portion of the schedule and into conference play, Miller believes the MAC has more parity than ever.
"I feel each of the 12 teams in the conference has a legitimate shot of winning it all and it will be interesting to see the wide open race unfold."
Miller also believes his own team will have an oxymoronic role in the conference as the defending champion/underdogs.
"We are going to embrace every part of the season this year. While we are well aware most teams will play their best games of the seasons against us [because of our past success in the conference] ... we have always enjoyed being the underdog. I expect us to play loose and to not lose sight of our ultimate goal [to be in contention for a MAC championship] regardless of the highs and lows the season could bring."
To reference a target looming on the Falcons may be the sign of a humble coach, but is also more than likely not all that far fetched of a global sentiment around the MAC. With Miller, the Falcons have won 44 of their last 45 conference games and have not lost in the MAC tournament since Eastern Michigan defeated BG, 65-56, in the tournament championship game on March 13, 2004.
According to the MAC News Media Association preseason poll the Falcons are predicted to finish second in the MAC East behind Ohio. The poll was released in mid-October in conjunction with the league's Media Day kick-off of the newest season.
ONE TIP-OFF AT A TIME
As of late, it seems as if everyone has their own reality show. When she graduates from BGSU current Falcon Lindsey Goldsberry will not only be a BG alum but can also add reality show alum to her list of titles - Goldsberry's AAU team, the Dayton Lady Hoopstars was featured on a Disney Channel series, Totally Hoops, a few years back. This season, the Falcons may want to hire a crew to chronicle their latest season of competition and create their own show called One Tip-Off At A Time.
Miller shares his thoughts on the season and the importance of keeping the team focused.
"Our team lives by three words: Preparation. Attitude. Effort. Through the years we have done a nice job taking the season one game at a time and never allowing ourselves to focus our success or trials and tribulations around just one victory or one defeat. This season, like every season, we will need to center our thoughts on the current challenge; we cannot dwell on past games or look ahead to the next opponent.
"Our team will face challenges on the court as a result of our scheduling and will face them off the court as we mature and bond together.
"I am tremendously excited to have the opportunity to instill the values and beliefs of our system in the newcomers. At the same time, I am also looking forward to watching the veterans take over the leadership reigns and maintain our championship attitude and effort."
LINE-UP CHANGES
One point of consistency for the Falcons in the past has been their line-up. Last season the Falcons saw the same five players at tip-off in all 35 games. Four of those five players have graduated, but surprisingly, Miller embraces the competition such openings will bring to his team. Everyone is going to be fighting for playing time in those coveted positions.
"The practice atmosphere will be even more intense because no one will be pigeon-holed into a position nor will they assume the same five players will be on the floor at the start of the game. I think this situation brings the best out in young teams.
"Game-by-game our line-up is going to undergo an evolving process. Players are going to be rewarded with playing time for hard work, efficiency and how well each are doing night in and night out at practice."
When the Falcons take the floor on Nov. 9, it will mark the first time in 126 games that neither Liz Honegger nor Ali Mann will be present for the opening tip.
MILLER ON THE FALCONS
"Our number one team goal at all times is to put ourselves in a position to win the MAC. Everything else on top of that, national rankings, post-season play such as the NCAA tournament and the NIT are all icing on the cake."
Full game notes will be available later in the week as the Falcons prepare for their home opener on Friday, November 9.
##BGSU WOMEN'S BASKETBALL##
