Eastern Washington next up.

[ISUguy]

Should be a great game, Vegas has Montana as a 1-point favorite.

 

[NorthEndZoneDan]

DeCuire is proving his chops as a coach and he's going to have the Griz ready for ewoo tonight. I'm with grizzlyjournal, this is going to be an 11 point win.

 

[GoldenEagle]

This should be a great game tonight. Many interesting matchups. Both teams run well and can play good inside/outside games. I think Parker Kelly will keep Jordan Gregory’s scoring low. Tyler Harvey didn’t play the second half of the game against the Vandals after a thigh injury but it sounds like he will be ready to go tonight. The Jois vs. Bruenig matchup will be intense. EAGS will pull away in the second half after a close first half.

Tonight's game will be an interesting matchup and may well provide a hint at how the second half of Big Sky Conference play will evolve. This isn't really a game of conflicting styles, since Golden Eagle correctly noted that "both teams run well."

But statistically the teams are polar opposites in several categories:

Simply put, the Eagles are one of the highest ranked Division 1 teams on offense this year. Today's NCAA Scoring offense stats show the Eagles as 3rd nationally at 83.3 points per game (Behind BYU and Northewstern State). More importantly, the Eagles are among the NCAA leaders in points per possession Offensive Efficiency at 124.5 ppp and 113.6 Adjusted Offense. What's odd to me about the Eagles' offensive prowess is that THREE other Big Sky teams (Sac State, UNC and Idaho) are also powerful and efficient offensive teams. The stat that impress me most about the Eagles though is their Effective Field Goal Efficiency percentage: 58.8%. Yikes.

Montana, on the other hand, is DOMINATING the Big Sky in several defensive categories, allowing opponents a measly 92.9 ppp average (second most efficient in the Big Sky is MSU at 104.6 ppp), compared to Eastern Washington's 116.4 ppp rank... dead last in the Big Sky.

There's more: Montana is ranked FIRST in the Big Sky in
• Scoring Defense (allowing 58.7 ppg)
• Field Goal Percentage (allowing .406)
• 3-Pt Field Goal Percentage (allowing .300), and
• Margin of victory (+ 9.9 compared to second place EWU at +5.8)

The Eagles take care of the ball well and shoot free throws better than any other Big Sky team.

I guess well find out tonight if the old saying can provide proof that a good defense beats a good offense any day. I have certainly been impressed this year with Eastern's ability to stick with its game and "Pull Away" from its opponents in the late going, as Golden Eagle predicts they will do tonight.

If there's any surprise though, it's Montana. The Eagles were picked first in the Big Sky by several publications. Montana, with a new coach and a lot of transition, are a "mild" surprise team. One thing I've noticed about the Eagles over the past four years is that they start each season strong... and then fade as the season progresses and teams learn how to slow them down. I was baffled that the Eagles of last season didn't even make the Big Sky tourney. That should be countered this year by Harvey who is one of the best combo guards in the nation.

Regardless, it should (I hope) be a fun game, whichever team wins. I'm just hoping that the outcome of tonight's game is not impacted, in any way, by officiating.

So, I'll pick the Griz by 11 (no surprise here... I always pick the Griz), in a game where the Eagles are held in the low 70s by a gap-plugging Montana defense.

Good analysis grizzljournal. Two teams winning in different ways. Will there be a good crowd tonight?

 

[coyote]

Driving 9 hours to get there tonight. Almost to Butte.

 

[rainbear14]

like all others I agree this will be a great game, the back court of EW is very ,very, good. Watch Bruenig frustrate the hell out of Jois (if the refs let them play) and Jois has tendency to become hot head. Get him pissed off , please, and in the meantime mostly go inside, go to the bigs, go to the hoop---Gregory & Mario..drive to the basket! Go Griz

 

[grizzlyjournal]

Will there be a good crowd tonight?

It's a Thursday game, so that's a negative, even though there's no reason for that. It's gold and foggy... what better than to attend a basketball game? There has been a slow buzz regarding Griz hoops of late.

Students are back on campus, so that's a plus.

Tried to buy a couple extra tix for friends in a favorite seat, but they were sold. That's a plus.

Coaches have been promoting game attendance tirelessly for the past full month. That's been a huge plus.

Any number over 4000 would be a good sign.

Any number over 4500 means that Griz Basketball is on the way back.

 

[AZGrizFan]

possibly.but, wishful thinking. I hope Sac State doesn't win the conference. It embarrasses every school in the bottom of the NCAA with its "home court". But, in rechecking, the current issue shows Sac St in the play in game with St. Francis, another 16 seed...

So much anger. :lol:

No, not an angry person, but more embarrassed that Sac St will be the first BSC to have to be in a play in game should they win the conference and the gym they play in. It should shame you as much as it does BSC for allowing it. Sad. It would be different if Sac State had academic standing among the rest of the Cal State institutions...Oh, well, it is what it is. Maybe this will be the impetus needed to improve Sacto's facilities.

You are right, not anger but total butt hurt. :lol:
I’m not embarrassed at all and I couldn’t give two fvcks about how the rest of the BSC feels about this situation. As a student in 2004 I voted for the recreation and event center that passed. The rec center (The Well, where the BSCT will probably be held if we hold on to 1st place) was built and the admin dropped the ball on the event center. I did my part. We get a new president next fall so maybe they place an emphasis on campus improvement. We’ll see how it plays out.

But I like your attitude. If the UM players were half as concerned about Sac State as you are then they wouldn’t have sh!t down their leg in the closing minutes and dropped that 8 point lead in The Nest. Then all the threads ranting and raving about our terrible facilities and the laughable idea about UM being invited to the MWC doesn’t even happen…well maybe not so much about the MWC pipedream but the Sac State facilities complaints probably don’t.
:lol: :lol: :lol:

look at the four Suck State fans coming out of the woodwork now that Suck State basketball is on it's Haley's Comet-like frequency of relevancy in the BSC.

 

[grizzlyjournal]

look at the four Suck State fans coming out of the woodwork now that Suck State basketball is on it's Haley's Comet-like frequency of relevancy in the BSC.

I think it's cool that there are posters on egriz hoops from Sac and EWU! Makes for some lively debate, and they've all had some pretty insightful comments... well most of em' anyway.

What I think is really funny is that we haven't seen any comments from any of those Grape Purple Wildcats of late... but I also like reading their view on things as well.

 

[sacstateman]

look at the four Suck State fans coming out of the woodwork now that Suck State basketball is on it's Haley's Comet-like frequency of relevancy in the BSC.

I think it's cool that there are posters on egriz hoops from Sac and EWU! Makes for some lively debate, and they've all had some pretty insightful comments... well most of em' anyway.

What I think is really funny is that we haven't seen any comments from any of those Grape Purple Wildcats of late... but I also like reading their view on things as well.

You can't find Weber fans posting on Weber's board let alone here. Eerily quiet in Ogden.

 

[GrizLA]

So much anger. :lol:

No, not an angry person, but more embarrassed that Sac St will be the first BSC to have to be in a play in game should they win the conference and the gym they play in. It should shame you as much as it does BSC for allowing it. Sad. It would be different if Sac State had academic standing among the rest of the Cal State institutions...Oh, well, it is what it is. Maybe this will be the impetus needed to improve Sacto's facilities.

You are right, not anger but total butt hurt. :lol:
I’m not embarrassed at all and I couldn’t give two fvcks about how the rest of the BSC feels about this situation. As a student in 2004 I voted for the recreation and event center that passed. The rec center (The Well, where the BSCT will probably be held if we hold on to 1st place) was built and the admin dropped the ball on the event center. I did my part. We get a new president next fall so maybe they place an emphasis on campus improvement. We’ll see how it plays out.

But I like your attitude. If the UM players were half as concerned about Sac State as you are then they wouldn’t have sh!t down their leg in the closing minutes and dropped that 8 point lead in The Nest. Then all the threads ranting and raving about our terrible facilities and the laughable idea about UM being invited to the MWC doesn’t even happen…well maybe not so much about the MWC pipedream but the Sac State facilities complaints probably don’t.
:lol: :lol: :lol:

look at the four Suck State fans coming out of the woodwork now that Suck State basketball is on it's Haley's Comet-like frequency of relevancy in the BSC.

Sac state is very fortunate this year in scheduling...they do not have to play UM in Missoula.

 

[grizonbob]

possibly.but, wishful thinking. I hope Sac State doesn't win the conference. It embarrasses every school in the bottom of the NCAA with its "home court". But, in rechecking, the current issue shows Sac St in the play in game with St. Francis, another 16 seed...

So much anger. :lol:

No, not an angry person, but more embarrassed that Sac St will be the first BSC to have to be in a play in game should they win the conference and the gym they play in. It should shame you as much as it does BSC for allowing it. Sad. It would be different if Sac State had academic standing among the rest of the Cal State institutions...Oh, well, it is what it is. Maybe this will be the impetus needed to improve Sacto's facilities.

You are right, not anger but total butt hurt. :lol:
I’m not embarrassed at all and I couldn’t give two fvcks about how the rest of the BSC feels about this situation. As a student in 2004 I voted for the recreation and event center that passed. The rec center (The Well, where the BSCT will probably be held if we hold on to 1st place) was built and the admin dropped the ball on the event center. I did my part. We get a new president next fall so maybe they place an emphasis on campus improvement. We’ll see how it plays out.

But I like your attitude. If the UM players were half as concerned about Sac State as you are then they wouldn’t have sh!t down their leg in the closing minutes and dropped that 8 point lead in The Nest. Then all the threads ranting and raving about our terrible facilities and the laughable idea about UM being invited to the MWC doesn’t even happen…well maybe not so much about the MWC pipedream but the Sac State facilities complaints probably don’t.
:lol: :lol: :lol:

I was thinking more about this and wondering why Sac State has the gym it has in light of the California university system's reputation for profligate spending. I've seen some of the reports on the salaries and pensions that administrators in the Cal U system get, and it is eye-opening. A lot more than the folks in MT command.

Of course, that spending might be focused on personnel rather than buildings. It might be focused on flagships like Berkeley and USC rather than places like Sac State. And it might be that sports is a lot lower on the priority list than academics. Or it could just have to do with the fact that Sac State athletic programs have had difficulty drawing fans (due to heavy competition from other teams in the region) and so they have had a hard time selling things like new gyms.

Anyway, was just curious why Sac State was hurting when the rest of the Cal U system seems to be rolling in dough -- or maybe I'm just misinformed about that.

 

[sacstateman]

And Weber is lucky they don't have to play at Sac...we can go on forever....good luck tonite, I hope you win (selfishly, we have tie breakers over the griz)

 

[sacstateman]

I can't speak to all the reasons the UC system is ****ed up. Sac is in the Cal State system. BTW USC is a private school, no public money spent there. When you see CSU___ it is referring to the same system with Sac St. When you see UC _____ it is a different system with different trustees and pool of money.

 

[grizonbob]

I can't speak to all the reasons the UC system is ****ed up. Sac is in the Cal State system. BTW USC is a private school, no public money spent there. When you see CSU___ it is referring to the same system with Sac St. When you see UC _____ it is a different system with different trustees and pool of money.

I didn't realize there were two systems. I've read about the spending on places like Cal and UCLA, I guess, and it sounded like they had money to burn....(and I meant UCLA, not USC)

 

[GrizLA]

So much anger. :lol:

No, not an angry person, but more embarrassed that Sac St will be the first BSC to have to be in a play in game should they win the conference and the gym they play in. It should shame you as much as it does BSC for allowing it. Sad. It would be different if Sac State had academic standing among the rest of the Cal State institutions...Oh, well, it is what it is. Maybe this will be the impetus needed to improve Sacto's facilities.

You are right, not anger but total butt hurt. :lol:
I’m not embarrassed at all and I couldn’t give two fvcks about how the rest of the BSC feels about this situation. As a student in 2004 I voted for the recreation and event center that passed. The rec center (The Well, where the BSCT will probably be held if we hold on to 1st place) was built and the admin dropped the ball on the event center. I did my part. We get a new president next fall so maybe they place an emphasis on campus improvement. We’ll see how it plays out.

But I like your attitude. If the UM players were half as concerned about Sac State as you are then they wouldn’t have sh!t down their leg in the closing minutes and dropped that 8 point lead in The Nest. Then all the threads ranting and raving about our terrible facilities and the laughable idea about UM being invited to the MWC doesn’t even happen…well maybe not so much about the MWC pipedream but the Sac State facilities complaints probably don’t.
:lol: :lol: :lol:

I was thinking more about this and wondering why Sac State has the gym it has in light of the California university system's reputation for profligate spending. I've seen some of the reports on the salaries and pensions that administrators in the Cal U system get, and it is eye-opening. A lot more than the folks in MT command.

Of course, that spending might be focused on personnel rather than buildings. It might be focused on flagships like Berkeley and USC rather than places like Sac State. And it might be that sports is a lot lower on the priority list than academics. Or it could just have to do with the fact that Sac State athletic programs have had difficulty drawing fans (due to heavy competition from other teams in the region) and so they have had a hard time selling things like new gyms.

Anyway, was just curious why Sac State was hurting when the rest of the Cal U system seems to be rolling in dough -- or maybe I'm just misinformed about that.

No, the Cal State University system is totally different from UC...But, in the case of all, it is the administrators of each that decides those questions with student participant,even if somewhat limited. For example, Long Beach State dropped football and built a very nice pyramid style gym and has supported basketball, while San Diego State has actively pursued athletic success. Cal State Northridge, dropped football so they could acquire the land for a highly successful bio research and development plus other programs and has decided to maintain the status quo of a gym little better than SacState's..Many of the state colleges are highly commuter centered schools and athletics is simply not part of their expectations. There is no huge flush of funds in any of the state institutions. In fact, quite the opposite but for UCLA or Cal, most of the universities are apathetic at best regarding big time sports. At Davis, soccer is king. At Riverside, they are still trying to figure it out. Santa Cruz..gimme pot! San Diego and Irvine..once again soccer and now and then bball...it is up to the administration to make and lead the choices...all the colleges and universities in Calif excel in their chosen paths...a great system for all.

 

[grizonbob]

No, not an angry person, but more embarrassed that Sac St will be the first BSC to have to be in a play in game should they win the conference and the gym they play in. It should shame you as much as it does BSC for allowing it. Sad. It would be different if Sac State had academic standing among the rest of the Cal State institutions...Oh, well, it is what it is. Maybe this will be the impetus needed to improve Sacto's facilities.

You are right, not anger but total butt hurt. :lol:
I’m not embarrassed at all and I couldn’t give two fvcks about how the rest of the BSC feels about this situation. As a student in 2004 I voted for the recreation and event center that passed. The rec center (The Well, where the BSCT will probably be held if we hold on to 1st place) was built and the admin dropped the ball on the event center. I did my part. We get a new president next fall so maybe they place an emphasis on campus improvement. We’ll see how it plays out.

But I like your attitude. If the UM players were half as concerned about Sac State as you are then they wouldn’t have sh!t down their leg in the closing minutes and dropped that 8 point lead in The Nest. Then all the threads ranting and raving about our terrible facilities and the laughable idea about UM being invited to the MWC doesn’t even happen…well maybe not so much about the MWC pipedream but the Sac State facilities complaints probably don’t.
:lol: :lol: :lol:

I was thinking more about this and wondering why Sac State has the gym it has in light of the California university system's reputation for profligate spending. I've seen some of the reports on the salaries and pensions that administrators in the Cal U system get, and it is eye-opening. A lot more than the folks in MT command.

Of course, that spending might be focused on personnel rather than buildings. It might be focused on flagships like Berkeley and USC rather than places like Sac State. And it might be that sports is a lot lower on the priority list than academics. Or it could just have to do with the fact that Sac State athletic programs have had difficulty drawing fans (due to heavy competition from other teams in the region) and so they have had a hard time selling things like new gyms.

Anyway, was just curious why Sac State was hurting when the rest of the Cal U system seems to be rolling in dough -- or maybe I'm just misinformed about that.

No, the Cal State University system is totally different from UC...But, in the case of all, it is the administrators of each that decides those questions with student participant,even if somewhat limited. For example, Long Beach State dropped football and built a very nice pyramid style gym and has supported basketball, while San Diego State has actively pursued athletic success. Cal State Northridge, dropped football so they could acquire the land for a highly successful bio research and development plus other programs and has decided to maintain the status quo of a gym little better than SacState's..Many of the state colleges are highly commuter centered schools and athletics is simply not part of their expectations. There is no huge flush of funds in any of the state institutions. In fact, quite the opposite but for UCLA or Cal, most of the universities are apathetic at best regarding big time sports. At Davis, soccer is king. At Riverside, they are still trying to figure it out. Santa Cruz..gimme pot! San Diego and Irvine..once again soccer and now and then bball...it is up to the administration to make and lead the choices...all the colleges and universities in Calif excel in their chosen paths...a great system for all.

So if Sac State doesn't put a big priority on sports, where do they put their money/emphasis?

 

[grizindabox]

No Tyler Harvey for EWU

 

[AZGrizFan]

No Tyler Harvey for EWU

Ouch for them. Good for us.

 

[AZGrizFan]

When does the game start?

 

[grizindabox]

EWU up 9-3