Bowling Green State University Athletics
KSU at BGSU
March 01, 2007 | Men's Basketball
March 1, 2007
Recap | Final Stats | Notes
BGSU Coach Dan Dakich
"I thought Kent was good, but our defense was not. We didn't handle the inside very well, but I really feel like once again we just made too many mistakes. Whether or not the other team is doing whatever they are doing, if we cut out the mistakes that simply do not belong in basketball then we are going to play this game even or ahead. By that I mean the first play of the game we jump out on a play, eight of their first 11-points came when we had the basketball. Stepping in on free throws, not blocking out or not getting the ball off the free throw. Also, being in the wrong place in terms of a scouting situation, there are enough plays that happen in basketball that get you and you can't add to it, and we add to it at an alarming rate every single night."
"If we quit making these simple, outrageous mistakes then we are going to be difficult to beat. However, we continue to make them and it makes us a very beatable team."
You had a chance to cut it to five, is that one of the mistakes?
"That's one of the things, but we've done it when it's a two point game or a tie game. The kids are trying. I'll give my team credit, they practice hard every day. They try to bring it, but we just make the same mistakes every night."
"I loved Brian Moten in this game. I have a thing where I know when a guy is playing beyond his abilities. Brian is not anywhere near he is in terms of scoring ability, but he's doing things that he never thought he could do as a basketball player. I thought Brian Moten was the difference maker in the second half at giving us a chance to play down the stretch."
"As a coach you look in the mirror instead of out of the window. I look in the mirror and we're doing everything we can and certain kids join the fray like Moten did today. As this team gets older they will get better and more kids will join the fray."
Did you feel there was a challenge without Erik Marschall?
"I felt it was a challenge on the scoring side. It's not Erik being there or not, you just have to play better when you get your chance."
Did you feel that the penetration by Kent helped free up shooters?
"Give their guards real credit. I thought their guards made some very good passes."
BGSU Senior Matt Lefeld
Can you talk about what Kent State did that hurt you defensively?
"We made a lot of the same mistakes we have been making as of late. Whether it's scouting stuff or sitting down in the stance, just careless repetitive mistakes and it's killing us. We have to get guys to correct every small thing and to believe they are making mistakes. We had a great week at practice and it's like we threw it out of the window again."
With the way you came back at Akron, do you feel confident in your play heading into the MAC tournament?
"We have been saying all week that we can play with anybody. We can beat anybody and we can play with anybody. We beat ourselves. I think with the simple mistakes, turning the ball over or throwing the ball away. Not diving or getting into a stance and missing switches, whatever the small stuff is, we kill ourselves."
Kent State Coach Jim Christian
"You knew BG wasn't going to go away. They are too well coached and they play so hard. We have been in situations like this with them before and they are they have come back and beat us. We talked about that at halftime and how we need to stay focused on what we were doing well. We have talked about guarding all year, and defense has to be our ticket. I thought we got some big stops early in the second half that enabled us to get a lead but with them you have to maintain that for the whole 20-minutes."
"I give credit to Bowling Green. They could have quit but they fought back and we were expecting nothing less. They are very well coached; very tough, very disciplined and they are always going to keep coming at you."
"The points in the paint is a relevant stat. Guys were driving in there more than just posting-up. Bowling Green is a very impressive defensive team. They kind of take us out of our stuff. Our guys were forced to play basketball and just drive it or find open spots and they did a good job of that."
