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Portland State, sleeper team?

BWahlberg

BWahlberg

Well-known member
DONOR
As the tourney is about to get underway I got to wondering if anyone other than UM/Weber could win the tourney, and of course the answer is yes, but realistically - could another team beat UM and/or Weber and win the conference championship.

While I like EWU's athletic players, MSU's stingy defense, and ISU's "single moment" of beating Weebz - I don't see them as teams that have enough to win 3 games in a row and have to beat at least UM or Weber (or beat them both) in the span of 2 days, in Missoula.

However when I look at PSU, they've got a little bit going for them.

- Winners of 6 of their last 7
- 2nd best scoring offense in the conf, 2nd best free throw %, best shooting % (although 2nd worst scoring D)
- 2nd best rebounding (both O and D), also 2nd best rebounding margin
- Odum (2nd) and Tapscott (8th) in scoring combine for more points per game (33ppg) than Cherry & Jamar (29.5ppg)

Additionally I went and looked at PSU losses to UM and WSU. Against the Griz they lost on the road by 11 and lost at home by 2. Their losses to Weber on the road were by 13 and at home was by 7. Their road losses at UM were one of the closer wins the Griz have had at home in terms of point margin (MSU by 10 and EWU by 8).

PSU's defense will probably be what undoes them, but if there was any other team out there to rise up out of nowhere... my money would be on PSU. (Although OBVIOUSLY I'm still thinking it's the Griz).
 
When I saw the final seedings for the tourney I decided I was glad that we won't have to see Portland State before the championship, if both of us get there, of course. For some reason beyond me, they match up pretty well against the Griz.
 
They do match up better against the Griz than Weebz, I see them beating ISU but if Weber gets mojo back from beyond the arc it'll probably be a long game for the Vikings in the semi finals.
 
EWU is the team that scares me of the other teams. They have athleticism, and good 3 pt shooters, and better defense than PSU, in my opinion. I don't see either Montana or Weebs overlooking anyone though.
 
When looking at the eber State/Montana game before it happened, I thought one of the big keys was that the winner would avoid a potential semifinal matchup with PSU.

They are obviously hot, having won six straight conference games. Offensively, they are really good... Odum can get into the lane against almost anyone, and Tapscott is the best and most complete frontcourt player in the conference. I think, on a neutral court, they will definitely give Weber State an interesting game.
 
mtgrizrule said:
EWU is the team that scares me of the other teams. They have athleticism, and good 3 pt shooters, and better defense than PSU, in my opinion. I don't see either Montana or Weebs overlooking anyone though.
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Agree..Eastern was the most athletic team I saw this year in Missoula. They are stout as hell.
 
Beating Weber was huge. The home court advantage will be a big deal for this Griz team. I don't see anyone beating them, including Weber
 
putter said:
Beating Weber was huge. The home court advantage will be a big deal for this Griz team. I don't see anyone beating them, including Weber
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Hope you're right. I still remember the last time the Griz hosted and how it turned out. Makes me nervous. Of course this is a completely different coach and team and I think Wayne won't let that happen at all.
 
mtgrizrule said:
EWU is the team that scares me of the other teams. They have athleticism, and good 3 pt shooters, and better defense than PSU, in my opinion. I don't see either Montana or Weebs overlooking anyone though.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't go that far. Our defense (or lack thereof) is aggressive, athletic, but not smart. We're good at creating turnovers, but as far as contesting shots... we either foul or let them shoot it, hardly any inbetween. We give up over 40% every game it seems, a lot of times over 50%.
 
BWahlberg said:
As the tourney is about to get underway I got to wondering if anyone other than UM/Weber could win the tourney, and of course the answer is yes, but realistically - could another team beat UM and/or Weber and win the conference championship.

While I like EWU's athletic players, MSU's stingy defense, and ISU's "single moment" of beating Weebz - I don't see them as teams that have enough to win 3 games in a row and have to beat at least UM or Weber (or beat them both) in the span of 2 days, in Missoula.

However when I look at PSU, they've got a little bit going for them.

- Winners of 6 of their last 7
- 2nd best scoring offense in the conf, 2nd best free throw %, best shooting % (although 2nd worst scoring D)
- 2nd best rebounding (both O and D), also 2nd best rebounding margin
- Odum (2nd) and Tapscott (8th) in scoring combine for more points per game (33ppg) than Cherry & Jamar (29.5ppg)

Additionally I went and looked at PSU losses to UM and WSU. Against the Griz they lost on the road by 11 and lost at home by 2. Their losses to Weber on the road were by 13 and at home was by 7. Their road losses at UM were one of the closer wins the Griz have had at home in terms of point margin (MSU by 10 and EWU by 8).

PSU's defense will probably be what undoes them, but if there was any other team out there to rise up out of nowhere... my money would be on PSU. (Although OBVIOUSLY I'm still thinking it's the Griz).
Click to expand...

in a bizzaro world scenario, EWU and PSU play for chipper in a near empty Dahlberg.....a lot of things would have to happen for that to happen, but do agree that the teams coming in to play the big dogs are both worth opponents. Neither UM nor Weber can or likely would overlook them.
 
EverettGriz said:
in a bizzaro world scenario, EWU and PSU play for chipper
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There's a guy on bcn predicting that very thing.




But then, that IS bizzaro world so it stands to reason..... :lol:
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It happened last time the Griz hosted. NAU vs. Northridge. Bleh.
 
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