Game-Blogging: It Could Be Worse

UB trails Ohio 33-25 at the half but it could be a lot worse. The Bulls have displayed a unique ability to miss shot after shot after shot when offense. It’s no wonder they lead the MAC in offensive rebounds. When you blow two, three putbacks in a row, the boards are going to add it up.

After watching this half of hoops, one thing seems pretty clear: the gulf in talent between Buffalo and the rest of the MAC East, and perhaps even Western Michigan, is vast. Unlike the past two seasons where a lack of effort and then inexperience did the Bulls in come MAC play, the 2007-08 edition of the Bulls plays as hard as any team I’ve seen this season and there some guys who’ve logged significant minutes last season on hand so that’s not really the problem. The problem is that they aren’t talented enough to win games at this level.

To compete in the MAC East and win games, a team needs at least a couple backcourt players who can consistently knock down shots and breakdown defenses off the dribble. A team also needs athletic and long wing players, as well as Bigs who can rebound, defend, and score when needed. Coach ‘Spoon’s squad is lacking in all three areas and has been since the Turner Battle-led 2004-05 squad came within an unlucky roll of the rock from getting into the Big Dance.

For the record, the Bulls made just 9-of-29 shots in the first half. It’s no wonder they shot a miserable 31% given sequences like this:

00:09 UB STEAL by ROBINSON, Andy
00:07 UB MISSED LAYUP by ROBINSON, Andy
REBOUND (OFF) by ALSTON, Jawaan
00:03 UB MISSED LAYUP by ALSTON, Jawaan
REBOUND (OFF) by ALSTON, Jawaan
00:01 UB MISSED LAYUP by ALSTON, Jawaan

And this:

03:46 UB MISSED JUMPER by MULKEY, Byron
REBOUND (OFF) by ATMAN, Andrew
03:41 UB MISSED 3 PTR by ROBINSON, Andy
REBOUND (OFF) by BETTS, Calvin
03:35 UB MISSED LAYUP by BETTS, Calvin
REBOUND (OFF) by BOYER, John
03:32 UB TURNOVR by BOYER, John

Unless the Bulls starting making some shots, they’re going to fall into a whole so deep that not even Professor Lidenbrock would be able to get them out.

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