2010-11 Big Sky Basketball

[Mvemjsunpx]

• Men
  
  EWU 75-59 WEB; The Eagles win turnovers 23-11 in stunning the Purple Palace faithful
  PSU 52-79 NAU; NAU seniors Platt, Johannsen, & Olubuyi put up 21 points, 5 blocks, and 6 assists respectively
  ISU 68-84 MSU; MSU three seniors—Bobby Howard, Danny Piepoli, and Erik Rush—each score 20+ points
  SAC 54-84 UNC; Devon Beitzel scores 32 on senior night, though no other Bear was in double figures

[free7694]

If only NAU hadn't gone cold in Greeley the final couple minutes, the Griz would still be hosting even with their loss to EWU.

This is all on the Griz. Their not hosting has more to do with UM losing 63-45 on the road to UNC as opposed to NAU losing on the road to UNC 72-71.

Actually, UNC and UM each lost at NAU and Weber and on the road against each other. UNC went 10-0 against the bottom five teams, and UM went 9-1. That's why the Bears are hosting.

[mtjack]

Northern Colorado's going to be a tough game for anyone in Greeley. Their "embarassment" of a gym (by the way UM and Weber State fans, the bagging on the Bears gym was tired a long time ago) resulted in an undefeated season at home. Their fans have been showing up and have been loud in doing so. Nice to see some new blood competing at the top. Best of luck to the Bears unless/until they meet up with NAU again.

[Mvemjsunpx]

If only NAU hadn't gone cold in Greeley the final couple minutes, the Griz would still be hosting even with their loss to EWU.

This is all on the Griz. Their not hosting has more to do with UM losing 63-45 on the road to UNC as opposed to NAU losing on the road to UNC 72-71.

Well, obviously (though free makes a good point). Still, the Griz were 2 points away from hosting even with their choke on Saturday.

Oh well, UM has still won 4 of the last 9 tournaments despite not hosting any of them.

[Mvemjsunpx]

Northern Colorado's going to be a tough game for anyone in Greeley. Their "embarassment" of a gym (by the way UM and Weber State fans, the bagging on the Bears gym was tired a long time ago) resulted in an undefeated season at home. Their fans have been showing up and have been loud in doing so. Nice to see some new blood competing at the top. Best of luck to the Bears unless/until they meet up with NAU again.

I never ripped on Butler-Hancock, but I'm surprised the conference is allowing that place to host—I thought the attendance requirement was bigger than its capacity.

BH appears to be a way nicer facility than Hornet Gym or the Stott, though.

[Mvemjsunpx]

It isn't really final because there are two non-conference games after the Big Sky Tournament, but close enough.

Portland State's men are shown in gray because they are on a postseason ban.

• • Men
    
    1. Northern Colorado___13-3_____19-10____ W3/W5
    2. Montana _____________12-4_____20-9_____ L1
    3. Weber State__________11-5_____17-11____ L1
    4. Northern Arizona _____9-7_____18-11____ W1
    5. Montana State ________7-9_____13-17____ W1
    6. Eastern Washington___7-9_____10-19____ W2
    7. Portland State_________5-11____13-16____ L1
    8. Idaho State ___________4-12_____9-20____ L4/L3
    9. Sacramento State _____4-12_____7-21____ L3/L4

[Mvemjsunpx]

Funny story here: http://bengals.bigskyfans.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=4352

[Screamin_Eagle174]

You're welcome UNC.

[free7694]

You're welcome UNC.

All we needed EWU to do was beat Montana, the Weber win was just a bonus.

Besides, you owe us for the football game we gift-wrapped for you last year.

[Screamin_Eagle174]

You're welcome UNC.

All we needed EWU to do was beat Montana, the Weber win was just a bonus.

Besides, you owe us for the football game we gift-wrapped for you last year.

Oh come on, like you guys weren't going to try to lose anyway. It's what you do!

[Wedgebuster]

UNC'S BEITZEL MVP!



http://www.bigskyconf.com/news/2011/3/3 ... 10728.aspx

[Mvemjsunpx]

• Women
  
  MSU 62-46 EWU; Rachel Semansky gets 11 boards and 23 points to make up for poor shooting from her teammates
  UMT 47-53 PSU; The Lady Griz are 6-5 when losing the glass, but just 6-9 when winning the glass
  NAU 82-77 SAC; Amy Patton scores 29 points to help the 'Jacks win their final game
  WEB 51-71 ISU; The Bengals win turnovers 23-6 in overcoming other deficiencies

[Mvemjsunpx]

One game left for everyone except NAU, but they're out of the race so that doesn't matter.

• • Women
    
    1. Northern Colorado___12-3_____17-11____ W3___Clinched First-Round Bye
    2. Portland State________11-4_____18-10____ W5___Clinched Tournament Berth
    3. Montana State _______11-4_____17-12____ W1___Clinched Tournament Berth
    4. Montana ______________9-6_____14-14____ L3___Clinched Berth/Elim. from Bye
    5. Idaho State ___________8-7_____17-11____ W1___Clinched Berth/Elim. from Bye
    6. Eastern Washington___8-7_____12-16____ L1___Clinched Berth/Elim. from Bye
    7. Northern Arizona _____6-10____11-18____ W1___Elim. from Tournament Contention
    8. Weber State___________3-12_____7-20____ L1___Elim. from Tournament Contention
    9. Sacramento State _____0-15_____3-25____ L16/L19___Elim. from Tournament Contention

[Mvemjsunpx]

I was going to do this after Monday, but the 4-seed possibilities were a bit too convoluted so I decided to wait until now. Northern Colorado's hosting scenarios are shockingly simple & shockingly pressure-packed. MSU & PSU (who play each other) have identical scenarios.



UNC:. (1) - Clinches with a win

• (2) - Clinches with a loss

PSU:. (1) - Clinches with a win over MSU AND a UNC loss

• (2) - Clinches with a win over MSU AND a UNC win
  (3) - Clinches with a loss to MSU

MSU:. (1) - Clinches with a win over PSU AND a UNC loss

• (2) - Clinches with a win over PSU AND a UNC win
  (3) - Clinches with a loss to PSU

UMT:. (4) - Clinches with a win over EWU OR both an ISU win over UNC AND an MSU win over PSU

• (5) - Clinches with a loss to EWU AND an ISU loss
  (6) - Clinches with a loss to EWU AND an ISU win over UNC AND a PSU win over MSU

ISU:. (4) - Clinches with a win over UNC AND an EWU win over UMT AND a PSU win over MSU

• (5) - Clinches with an EWU loss OR both a win over UNC AND an MSU win over PSU
  (6) - Clinches with a loss AND an EWU win

EWU:. (4) - Clinches with a win over UMT AND an ISU loss

• (5) - Clinches with a win over UMT AND an ISU win over UNC AND a PSU win over MSU
  (6) - Clinches with a loss OR both an ISU win over UNC AND an MSU win over PSU

[Mvemjsunpx]

• Women
  
  UMT 66-60 EWU; Eagles win the offensive glass 22-11, but still lose second-chance points 13-11
  MSU 63-65 PSU; Eryn Jones sinks 2 free throws with 4 seconds left to give PSU their first regular-season title
  WEB 54-69 SAC; Hornets avoid becoming the first team to go winless in the Big Sky in 9 years
  UNC 61-69 ISU; Though it was Senior Day, true freshman Lindsey Reed scored 29 points in a Bengal upset

[Mvemjsunpx]

• • Women
    
    1. Portland State________12-4_____19-10____ W6
    2. Northern Colorado___12-4_____17-12____ L1
    3. Montana State _______11-5_____17-13____ L1
    4. Montana _____________10-6_____15-14____ W1
    5. Idaho State ___________9-7_____18-11____ W2
    6. Eastern Washington___8-8_____12-17____ L2
    7. Northern Arizona _____6-10____11-18____ W1
    8. Weber State___________3-13_____7-21____ L2
    9. Sacramento State _____1-15_____4-25____ W1

[Mvemjsunpx]

Eastern Washington fired Kirk Earlywine today. I'm surprised, frankly. I thought he'd only get canned if they missed the Big Sky Tournament again; this was the Eagles' first Big Sky Tournament appearance since Rodney Stuckey was a freshman. They also beat Montana & Weber to close the season, then almost beat Weber on the road again in the quarters so this seems a little odd.

Meanwhile, ISU's Joe O'Brien will likely keep his job because the school doesn't want to buy out his contract. ISU's lack of money seems to be the only thing protecting him at this point.


As for the women's side of things: I doubt anyone will get fired, but you never know…

[Mvemjsunpx]

As for the women's side of things: I doubt anyone will get fired, but you never know…

Whoever it was that never knew got it right for once, as Weber State fired Carla Taylor today after 23 years. She became the head coach of her alma mater just 4 years after finishing her playing career there (just like Robin Selvig) and compiled a mediocre 308-341 record (180-170 in conference) during her tenure (not like Robin Selvig). The Wildcats have now missed 4 straight Big Sky Tournaments after making 12 in a row from 1996-07.

Weber finished 8th. this year after being picked last, so you can't really say they underachieved. Last year was another story, however. Whoever replaces Taylor should inherit a fairly veteran team that only graduated one player.

[Mvemjsunpx]

• Men
  
  PSU 81-71 SEA; Viking seniors Melvin Jones & Phil Nelson each drain 4 treys in their final game

[Mvemjsunpx]

Apparently Weber picked up a home game in CBI. I'm a bit surprised at that one, but it's a good thing for the conference for a team without 20 wins to get an at-large postseason bid.

[Mvemjsunpx]

• Men
  
  WEB 54-77 SMC; Weber forces just 7 turnovers in what turns out to not be their final game

[Mvemjsunpx]

NAU has been selected to the CIT & will play @ Santa Clara in the first round. Link

That makes 4 Big Sky teams that will play in the postseason (though it's not official for Montana yet). I'm guessing that's a record.

[Mvemjsunpx]

After some trepidation about Montana possibly not getting a postseason game at all, it's now apparently confirmed that the Griz will host Duquesne in the CBI Wednesday.

[Mvemjsunpx]

Wow, there are actually enough Big Sky teams in these things to make this type of organization necessary.

• NCAA (M)
  
  (15) Northern Colorado vs. (2) San Diego St. - in Tucson, AZ, Thurs., 2:40 PM MDT on TNT
  
  NIT
  
  (none)
  
  CBI
  
  Duquesne @ Montana - Wed., 7:00 PM MDT on Big Sky TV
  Weber St. @ Oregon - Wed., 7:00 PM PDT on HDNet
  
  CIT
  
  Northern Arizona @ Santa Clara - Tues., 7:00 PM PDT
  
  
  NCAA (W)
  
  (14) Montana vs. (3) UCLA - in Spokane, WA, Sat., 3:40 PM PDT on ESPN2
  
  WNIT
  
  Portland St. @ Wyoming - Wed., 7:00 MDT
  
  WBI
  
  (6) Northern Colorado @ (3) Cal St. Bakersfield - Wed., 7:00 PDT

[dbackjon]

4 Men's teams in the post-season. Yeah, I know there more spots, but that is great to see.