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almost 1/2 way through conference action

M

mtgrizrule

Well-known member
I still am confused by this year's GRIZ. Preseason I picked 12-4 for conference record. In hindsight that was over optimistic. After PSU, I thought 9-7. Now, 7 games in, I think we are somewhere between. I seen some signs of improvement and team ball, that has to be built on. Hasquet has yet to materialize. CET is going to earn minutes back. Michael Taylor and Selvig are begining to contribute in many ways off the bench. Qvale is starting to rebound great, block shots, and even showing better post moves.

I would like to say 11-5, but honestly feel we are too inconsistent for that. I feel we will continue to improve inside offensively, rebounding is showing improving too. If we remain healthy, I think 10-6 is a realistic expectation. We get a 4 seed, behind PSU.WSU, and ISU. Come tourney time, Hasquet becomes the Hasquet we have expected. We lose a squeaker to PSU for the BSC championship.

Then again with our defense being better this year, and Qvale showing some promise again, the GRIZ just may surprise us all come years end and represeent the Big Sky. Talent wise we are capable. I honestly though just see PSU being to seasoned and to deep on the perimeter for us.

Thoughts, opinions, predictions, suggestions (no calling for Tinkle's job, take that to one of the other numerous Tinkle threads. )
 
Conference update with scores for 1-22-09. Looks like UNC is competitive. A hard loss for MSU to them.
Sac State and NAU are struggling.

Idaho St. 60
(7-13, 4-2 Big Sky)
N. Arizona 52
(5-13, 2-5 Big Sky)
Final Idaho St. 60, N. Arizona 52

Box Score » Conversation »

Last Play:

1 2 T
IDST Bengals 26 34 60
NAU Lumberjacks 26 26 52

Idaho St. N. Arizona
Pts Morgan 20 Comagic 12
Reb Tatum 7 Johannsen 7
Ast Morgan 5 Wilson 4

null
2 Weber St. 67
(11-8, 5-1 Big Sky)
Sacramento St. 59
(1-19, 0-7 Big Sky)
Final

Conversation »

Last Play:

1 2 T
WEB Wildcats 25 42 67
CSUS Hornets 25 34 59

Weber St. Sacramento St.
Pts
Reb
Ast

null
1 N. Colorado 65
(8-12, 4-3 Big Sky)
Montana St. 55
(9-8, 3-4 Big Sky)
Final N. Colorado 65, Montana St. 55

Conversation »

Last Play:

1 2 T
NCOL Bears 30 35 65
MTST Bobcats 27 28 55

N. Colorado Montana St.
Pts
Reb
Ast

null
 
Predicting where Griz are going to be is pretty tough. The teams the Griz won without AJ going off for 30+ games played terrible. Like to say it was because of Griz defense. Part of it was. But, part of it was because EWU just plain sucked for most of the game. EWU missed so many open shots and so much carelessness that wasn't exactly due to Griz defense. Same with Sac State. Sac State just plain sucked bad. MSU and NAU were half way decent teams, but Griz would not have won if it weren't for AJ going off for 30+ points (and in the case of the MSU game - the opponent missing 17 - 34 freethrows - Griz didn't need to play defense in that game). NAU really isn't that great, but Griz still needed 30 from AJ. But, I would like to think Griz have improved more since beating NAU.

Griz are playing Northern Colorado, Portland State, and EWU at home next.

Northern Colorado just beat MSU on the road today 65 - 55, so looks like NCU is playing well, or maybe MSU just sucks. Geez, a bad day for MSU basketball. The MSU women's team also lost to NCU.

We know PSU does not suck so should be a very tough game there.

I think if Griz beats either PSU or NCU this week, will tell me more than the games against what Griz did against EWU and Sac State. Of course, maybe the tide has turned and every team the Griz will be playing is just going to suck when playing the Griz. I hope so.

For me to think that the Griz will finish better than 9 - 7, they will have to perform like they did against EWU, and Sac State against the better teams and not have to rely on AJ to score 30+ points and/or the the opponent to miss as many freethrows as the Cats did.

this Sunday, and next week will say a lot on how the Griz will finish.
 
Good teams have good point guards. ANYONE who thinks the Griz were/are not affected by CET's absence simply doesn't know much about the game of hoops. The PG is as essential in BB as a QB is in FB. Cut off the head and the body dies. CET was leading the league in assist-to-turnover ratio, by far the most important stat for the position. AJ has filled in capably, but the Griz turned the ball over about 7 times more per game. That translates into 7 less scoring opps for the Griz and 7 more for the opponent. Do that consistently and is anyone surprised the Griz have lost 3-4 more games than maybe they should have. Can't blame FT shooting, the Griz are near the top of the BSC at over 70%. Time for guys like Jordo to step up and play physical ball, rather than roaming the perimeter. Time for Jack to not make 2-3 bonehead fouls each game. Aggressive play is great, but you have to know when to be aggressive. Jumping on someone's back trying to get a board when the guy has the defensive postion is just stupid. Sure, it can happen now and then, but Jack does it a couple times EVERY game. Play hard Jack, but play smart. Qvale needs to attack the basket like he did against EWU. We all know EWU has a weak post game, but at least Qvale did what he should be doing every game...attack. Sharp just keep doing what you are, making plays and being a team guy. Stocks gets better every game, still not ready to be the man. MT keep it up. Stads your offense will take care of itself, work harder on D. Selvig gets better every game, but is still going to make some Freshman mistakes. Vassy, ever play FB? I am starting to wonder if maybe he is in the wrong uni. I hope he proves me wrong. Tinks, keep improving, you will look a lot smarter as a coach when Mathias and the new recruits crack the lineup in the next year or so. This season is still manageable, but energy needs to be there 40 minutes. They say the coach has to get them ready, I say bullshit. Players who can't mentally prepare for a game, well, they wouldn't get much pt for me. Go Griz!
 
Hmm...

I think the top notches are PSU's and WSU's for the taking, however the Griz would appear to have a decent shot at finishing in the top 4, IMO.

Remaining schedule with 3 at home, 3 away, 2 more at home, finish with 1 on the road should work in favor of the Griz actually

- 3 at home vs UNC / PSU / EWU - should beat EWU, UNC is a toss-up, PSU will be a huge challenge. If they go 2-1 over these three games they're doing well.

- 3 on the road vs Sac / MSU / NAU - currently these three are all in the bottom four teams in the conference standings (EWU is the 4th). This will be a good stretch to see if these Grizzlies can prove they belong in the upper ranks of the conference, I'd love to see a 3-0 road stretch, but in hostile territory like MSU and NAU I see them dropping at least one game, if they lose 2 of 3 then they could be in a bit of a bind.

- 2 at home vs ISU / WSU - here's where we'll want the Griz firing on all cylinders, ISU and WSU beat us in their courts, it would be great to get revenge. A 1-1 split would be good, 2-0 would be friggin lights out.

- 1 on the road vs UNC - A tough road game, it could determine if the Griz host or travel for their 1st round game in the conference. I think this is winnable but probably a toss-up for the time being, but I haven't seen UNC yet so I might change my thoughts after this upcoming game.

So, I see 6-3 down the stretch a good possibility, putting the Griz at 10-6 in conference play. Best case is probably 7-2 or 8-1 however that means we'll have to beat PSU or Weber probably, a tall order. Worst case... well, anything can happen. They key for this team I think is going to be playing solid on the road, so far they've been great at home in the conference.
 
Here’s the way it works:

The Griz win and Tinkle’s Coach of the Year. Then we lose one and he’s a bum.

You got it? Come on, get with the program!
 
mtgrizrule said:
EWU/PSU game is close, both teams getting good shots, 18-16 EWU at the 11:30 mark.
Click to expand...

What an odd conference this is, Suc St. up big over ISU at the half, 42-27.

Heh, but now 46-40 with 15 Min left.
 
How can any player that played 533 minutes (28.7 avg per game) shoot only 2 free throws during all those many minutes played? I don't think I have ever seen any player shoot so few free throws as this player has, and it is almost the end of the year. This player shot 12 - 13 last year in 950 minutes played. At the pace he is shooting free throws this year, he won't even come close to shooting half the number he shot last year.

The player I am talking about is Ryan Staudacher. Absurd. At least he made both free throws. Our best shooter never ventures inside. Considering he rarely shoots when anybody is near, it looks like he may not be shooting very many free throws, or likely not going to reach last years numbers. Unfortunate, because he is a good free throw shooter.
 
Our best shooter never ventures inside.
Click to expand...
Our best shooter???? He is shooting 32% from the field and 29% from the 3's in the conference. My question is how can Tinkle give him all the minutes he has gotten in the last two years with the stat line he has???? There must be more to this story than we know and it is not defense or assists.
 
RimRocker said:
Our best shooter never ventures inside.
Click to expand...
Our best shooter???? He is shooting 32% from the field and 29% from the 3's in the conference. My question is how can Tinkle give him all the minutes he has gotten in the last two years with the stat line he has???? There must be more to this story than we know and it is not defense or assists.
Click to expand...

All good shooters go through a slump. Even the best shooters do. I will take his 48% overall shooting and 50% from 3 point line any day. But your taking the slump he had as his normal shooting which is not correct. Good shooters will eventually get over the slump. It appears he may be getting out of his slump by the game against EWU. Plus, last year he shot 45% from the field which certainly earned him as one of the best shooters last year.
 
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