While we are just starting the second half of the MAC schedule, it would not be an understatement to say that these next two games on the road Saturday at reeling BG and next Tuesday at home against streaking Akron are pivotal. Losers of three in a row and 4 out of 5, the Falcons are taking on water and desperate to right the ship Saturday against their rivals. With a mostly empty Stroh’s Center, their normal home court advantage has been taken away and this has resulted in two double digit home league loses already against Ball St. and Akron. Being a rivalry game, you know BG will come out with their emotions high which has been an issue for them on many occasions this season. If Toledo can match their intensity level, especially early in the game, we are playing well enough to come out with a victory and pretty much put away any chance of the Falcons winning the regular season championship. Then its home to Savage on Tuesday for a rematch against the Zips after that tough overtime loss a couple of weeks ago. To me this game is more crucial than the BG game as if we loss to Akron again, they will hold the head to head tie breaker in case both teams finish tied at the end of the season. That is especially important if the MAC decides to cancel the post season tournament and instead send the regular season champion to the NCAA Tournament. First things first, these are two evenly matched teams as the game in Akron showed. It will most likely come down to the last couple of minutes so Toledo will need to hit their free throws and lock in defensively which they did not do at the end of regulation and overtime in the first game. If they can clean that up, they will have a great chance of winning that game with the type of offense that they bring to the court every game!

good points. i like how we match up with BG. even last year we matched up well with our inconsistent chemistry and fewer weapons. last game BG played a true post player for 20 minutes total and mostly went with guards and swingmen. the key to me is containing plowden. he's been able to find his groove against us too often and he's really good when he gets going. turner will get his 20 or so but we need to contain their 2nd and 3rd options. akron will be fun too. their tiny jackson hasn't always had his best game against us and we need to contain him and make their role players beat us again. their size bothers me a bit, but i think we are a little more skilled. need a good offensive flow and better d down the stretch. in terms of the league, jones is right. akron is the bigger threat. bg will not win the mac. buffalo is talented but mixed up and inconsistent. ohio lost too much ground early. it's between us, kent and akron and we've beaten kent twice already. we really need the win against the zips.

(01-29-2021 02:01 AM)pono Wrote:  good points. i like how we match up with BG. even last year we matched up well with our inconsistent chemistry and fewer weapons. last game BG played a true post player for 20 minutes total and mostly went with guards and swingmen. the key to me is containing plowden. he's been able to find his groove against us too often and he's really good when he gets going. turner will get his 20 or so but we need to contain their 2nd and 3rd options. akron will be fun too. their tiny jackson hasn't always had his best game against us and we need to contain him and make their role players beat us again. their size bothers me a bit, but i think we are a little more skilled. need a good offensive flow and better d down the stretch. in terms of the league, jones is right. akron is the bigger threat. bg will not win the mac. buffalo is talented but mixed up and inconsistent. ohio lost too much ground early. it's between us, kent and akron and we've beaten kent twice already. we really need the win against the zips.

BG went with a smaller lineup against Kent St with Plowden playing in the post as they benched their 6-10 starter Swingle who hasn't done much up until that game. With BG scoring 91 points against Kent St and with our current lineup as it is, I would expect them to come out with a similar smaller line up to match up with us. I agree that Plowden is the key as he has hurt us in the past. I would think it will be up to Milner to defend him which will be a major challenge for him. Should be an interesting chess match between the two coaches!

Watching OU - Buffs. OU made a shot off the shot clock. Didn't count. Seems unfair, should count double. Preston, everything he does seems effortless. They're a different team with him.

1. Toledo vs. All

2. Kent (played us hard 2 times to one possession games)
3. Akron (hit two buzzer beaters vs. us and unlikely to do that again)

4. UB size
5. BG leadership

6. Ohio (imPrestonVe)
7. BSU
8. Miami teamwork

No one else has a shot. This is my best take at the season so far with Toledo in mind as the opposition.