If tonight’s game between the Bowling Green men’s basketball team and the University of Michigan were any more different than last year’s 65-59 Bowling Green win at Anderson Arena, it might be a bit scary.
Bowling Green will only have four players dressed that were active in last year’s win over the Wolverines — Jabari Mattox, Cory Ryan, Cory Eyink and Kevin Netter. Keith McLeod, Len Matela, Brandon Pardon and Brent Klassen graduated, Josh Almanson and Germain Fitch are injured and will not see action and Erik Crawford and Kris Wilson have left the team.
For BG Coach Dan Dakich, that presents an interesting scenario for tonight’s game, being played at Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor.
“The whole makeup of the two teams is different and evolving,” Dakich said. “Now, the guys who got beat here last year, for them, it won’t just be another MAC school. There’s some desperation there after an 0-6 start. I think that plays into this year’s game more than anything else.”
Michigan fields a young team much like Bowling Green, but the upperclassmen they do have are good ones. LaVell Blanchard leads the team in scoring, averaging 14.7 points per, while Daniel Horton (13.3) and Bernard Robinson (11.0) also score in double figures.
The Wolverines enter the game at 0-6, most recently losing to No. 3 Duke in Durham on Saturday. UM is allowing opponents to shoot over 47 percent from the field, while shooting just 37 percent themselves, a statistic that likely leads to Michigan’s winless record thus far.
“They look a lot better now than they did earlier in the season,” Dakich said. “They just looked uncomfortable playing four freshmen. Whenever you do that, no matter what the level, kids don’t understand the pace. It looked to me like their young guys just didn’t understand how hard this was.
“Now, as I watch them, it looks like they have a better understanding of it,” Dakich continued. “Between Abram, Blanchard and Robinson, they have three 6-6 or taller athletic guys on the team.”
As far as BG goes, the Falcons will be looking for another strong performance from Netter, who is averaging 28 points per game in the last two games. Transfer John Reimold has provided the outside threat for the Falcons as he averages 16.5 a game on the young season.
Dakich has also added two football players to the roster, Cole Magner and Will Myles, to help with practice duties. He said, though, that he doesn’t rule out the possibility of these two guys seeing game action.
“What they did, which was realty interesting, they were really comfortable,” Dakich said. “They both pick up things very well. I can see, down the road, that they will get a chance to play. You just didn’t have to tell them twice. I was really impressed with them.” Dakich said, though, that this is likely the last addition he will make, barring any further injuries.
Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Crisler Arena.
