IF (and I repeat IF) we win...

[christo]

...Joe Lunardi's "bracketology" page on espn.com this morning has us matched up with Illinois in a 1-16 (but not the play-in) game. Wouldn't that be interesting.......? Thats the nice thing about being a fan, we can look ahead. Big game tonight though! Go Griz!

Prediction: Us: 65, Weber BBQ's: 56.

 

[BWahlberg]

Yeah before we discuss brakets, lets look at tonights game, Weber has won more in a row than us, and are peaking (just like us) at the right time. Last night both of us won games we were expected to lose.

I see two scenarios (sp?);

1. Griz stay focused, keep up the style of play from last night, but get Kamarr and Kevin to score a few more points. Once again it comes down to the last few min. and we win (or lose) based on how we shoot from the free throw line

2. "Hey, it's not PSU!!" We suffer a letdown and possibly mentally believe that we're supposed to win this game. Then it gets ugly, and I think in that case Weber takes it.

Tonight will be Krysto's biggest coaching challegne to-date. To keep his guys focused on winning this one game against a team that by all means in playing better than them.

 

[Grizbeer]

Yeah before we discuss brakets, lets look at tonights game, Weber has won more in a row than us, and are peaking (just like us) at the right time. Last night both of us won games we were expected to lose.

Weber has won 3 in a row, Montana has won 5. Weber lost to a bad Boise State team in Bracket buster. Weber had won their 3 games prior to that loss, all at home, so they do have a longer conference winning streak. Before that they were swept by the Montana teams.

I'm not sure last night was a huge upset for either team. Weber had previously beaten PSU, and PSU hasn't been great outside their own gym. Throw in the fact that PSU hadn't played in a week and 1/2, while Weber played on Saturday, and Weber has been here before and PSU hasn't and it wasn't hard to see it coming, PSU was ripe for the picking, and Cravens is a good enough coach to take advantage.

Should be a good game, but I would say WSU beating Montana would be a bigger upset than WSU beating PSU last night, all things considered.

 

[BWahlberg]

My bad, maybe it was 6 conference wins in row...I don't know...

 

[Montana Gym Rat]

Yep 6 conference wins in a row. That's right Re/Max.

Let me add a scenario 3 that I've been worried about today.

3) The team abandons our "extra pass" style of play that has allowed us to play so well as of late, due to the fact that they are playing in front of a national audience and want some exposure for themselves.

I hope that we are disciplined enough to want the win more than the spotlight, but I have to say I am a little worried about this. Here are the teams average shot attempts through the season:

Davis: 10.1
Criswell: 8.8
Martin: 7.4
Dlouhy: 7.0
Strait: 5.6
Farr: 4.1
Easley: 3.9
Seyfert: 3.7
Matthews: 2.0

Now there are obviously exceptions to the rule (somebody has a hot night), but for the most part, if somebody's shot attempts are way up...it's not a good sign. I give Virgil a free pass though, because he's been playing so well. :wink:

I really hope he proves me wrong, but Martin seems to let a good night shooting affect how much he shoots in the next game. If he's still shooting well than that's ok, but he's the point guard and he needs to run this offense in the most efficient way tonight. Even if that means he only shoots 3 or 4 times tonight. I think the other guards should have the same mind-set. If KD, Andrew and John are having success inside, than that's where we need to attack. Getting Allred in foul trouble would be big tonight.

 

[BARN BALL]

Anyone of 9 can win this thing or make it tough. The most likely is the three with the most shots that were not scoring last night will score it tonite. Meaning Davis, Criswell and the return of the dlouhy. Kamarr thinks he can score on allred and so I hope he does not come out too hard. His normal is to start slow and score big in the 2nd when the fouls are there. I hope Martin can remain calm after righting the ship last night. Allred averages 12+ shots and makes half.