Just back from the Convo Center. Eastern let a winnable game get away from them tonight. Detroit looked very average and definitely beatable.

Concerns after tonight's game:

1. Freer - right now he's an offensive liability. His shots are lucky to hit the rim, let alone go in. I hope he finds his range because this team needs offense. Even 6 to 8 points per game would be a big contribution.

2. Knaub - 3 points and 5 rebounds, not bad but what sticks in my memory are the 2 rebounds he had that were taken away by UDM players. He was just out-musceled. 2 more possessions could have won this game.

3. Smith - plays like the talented freshman he is, alternating between brilliant and dumb. Time and experience should solve these problems.

4. Medlock - freshman mistakes mar an otherwise good performance. He's beginning to look like a bona fide point guard. Plays out of control sometimes (i.e. no-look pass to Cashen with less than 2 minutes to play that went nowhere near Craig. See comment about Smith, same is true.

The upside:

1. McElhinny - went 4-7 from the arc tonight. He's an important part of an inefficent offense. If he got a few screens he could chip in 20+ per game.

2. Cashen - a complete game tonight. He played his usually agressive defense, drew a charge, fought for rebounds, and chipped in 11 points.

3. Bowler - still a warrior inside. 18 points/9 rbs.

4. Noise - it was actually noisy a couple of times during the game. 1,600+ attended which is good. There were quite a few UDM fans at the Convo tonight.

5. Eastern never gave up and was never out of the game. This is an important fact considering the 20+ point loss to NDSU on Saturday.

Final impression:

Eastern is a young team that plays young. Too many turnovers, silly fouls, missed free throws. The offense hasn't jelled as yet and they struggle to score. Defense appears to be decent and well ahead of the offense. It will be a tough night on Saturday against the Hoosiers. I'm looking forward to next Wednesday (12/7) and the next home game against Youngstown State, another Horizon League foe.

Hope to see you there.

this could be a long season as a tough schedule takes its grind and losses start to pile up. It doesn't help to travel to Bloomington to play the IU Hoosiers Saturday.

Shame but we're rebuilding like after Dial, Boykins, etc. left (03/98); then again when Boone came and now again with Rams.

and next November, we'll be in Year II of Rams rebuilding but Bowler will be graduated so it will be hard to improve the W/L record.

This could be a 3-year process.