SAC STATE GAME THREAD

[mtgrizrule]

Credit to him, he listened and he learned.

Oh, I really doubt he listened to any of the message board dumbasses. I agree with the rest of your post though. :thumb:

Not sure who he listened to, but someone critiqued him that he trusted.

 

[TrueGriz]

NAU 79
MSU 83
Final

So did we clinch?

I don't think so YET, but it sure helps that MSU won. Had MSU lost they would have been swept by NAU making the NAU game a must win for the Griz. Now the bobcats are 9-10 while NAU, SAC, and S Utah are all 8-11. So several ties are still possible with those teams.

Correct, Griz haven't clinched it yet. If Griz lose, then MSU has to win so they stay ahead of NAU in the standings. If Griz lose and MSU lose, then NAU has the tiebreaker over MSU, and then WSU would have the tiebreaker over the Griz.

But, it would be easier for the Griz win this Saturday.

 

[mtgrizrule]

They had better clinch. My ass is driving up there from Denver in good faith they do. Anyone from Denver want to carpool it. I leave Friday night or early Saturday morning.

 

[AllWeatherFan]

Quit talking about tiebreakers. We will not lose to NAU.

 

[GrizWhiz]

NAU 79
MSU 83
Final

So did we clinch?

If I read the tiebreaking rules correctly, no, not yet. If the Griz somehow lose to NAU and the cats lose to Sac, then, I believe Weber would host. I welcome any differing opinions if someone wants to look at the tiebreaking criteria. I don't think I can stand to go through it again. :|

 

[SeaGrizluvr]

So the Griz have increased their FT % from 76.2% to 77.6% with these last 2 excellent games(47-51, 92.1%). The NCAA stats page on this hasn't been updated for games past March 3rd, but if nothing changed we would be barely out of 3rd in the whole nation. Way to go Griz!

http://www.ncaa.com/stats/basketball-men/d1/current/team/150" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[GrizLA]

mtgrizrule, do you think it is more coaching or more recruiting? I understand that you need the players to perform in whatever system the coach runs. It just seems that better shot selection, ball movement, and FT's, defensive support and pickups come from coaching.

It starts with coaching. I remember all the critiques of Tinkle and his staff his 1st few years. He has improved everything he had to improve on, to become a great coach. Most those critiques were of decision making and getting more out of players. Credit to him, he listened and he learned.

I remember when he 1st was hired. He said, he needed time to get his players in system. Which is pretty much coach speak to have patience and understanding. I found that a little surprising because he and Larry have a good friendship and respect each other. As it turns out Wayne did have a lot different philosophy for success than Larry did. Larry was more into the hard work and smart play emphasis than overall emphasis of the game.

Wayne also believes in play hard, smart, and together (from the book "The Carolina Way" which is a good read by the way). What separates Wayne? He believed the GRIZ could find more athleticism and versatility than most coaches, including Larry, have in the past. Wayne is also not "set" to his players playing exactly a few ways. He is very adaptable and adjusts to his personnel with strategy. He has learned it is easier for coaches to adjust than players to do things they are not comfortable with. He coaches to his players' strengths, and is realistic in their expectations. He slowly builds his players, instead of throwing them into fire, by asking too much too soon. The only player he threw into the fire quickly was Qvale, out of necessity. Even then, he backed off the approach well into the season, by going with an undersized Kyle Sharp at Center.

Also the way he nurtured Cherry with Anthony Johnson was a blue print for how to pass the torch from one leader to another. Cherry was AJ's shadow when Cherry was a Freshman. He handled Jamar the same way as well. Gregory, Henderson, Weisner, and Deshields have been brought in gradually too. All of them are Sophomores and so mature already, which is one damn talented class. Ward has grown into a leadership role as well. Next year, our leaders will be Jamar, Deshields, and Gregory, all of which will be prepping Dunn and Bradshaw.

It is amazing how much talent he has managed to recruit to Montana. I think that is because he finds kids early, that are versatile players, but lack certain things,he sticks with them, and builds their weaknesses after they get on campus. He has a knack for finding potential with kids carrying a chip on their shoulder, and all of them are solid athletically, but just not athletic freaks. Henderson is the only big time athlete we have. He is just learning the game. Dunn is big time athletically too. Thankfully for us, big schools don't like his height.

So in my opinion, it is a combination of both coaching and players. That is what makes it works, everyone has in. :thumb:

Don't over look Coleman, as well.. a great find.

 

[mtgrizrule]

I had a review/summary of every player, which will have to wait until later. Here is what I have on Coleman so far.

Coleman- I honestly don't know how we got him. He has the size and versatility for true SF/SG combo that bigger schools covet. He will be huge next season. I will not be surprised if his coming out party is the conference tournament.

 

[DoubleNicks]

From the Big Sky Conference website...

http://bigskyconf.com/news/2013/3/8/MBB_0308130936.aspx

Montana will host the Big Sky Championship next week unless it loses on Saturday to Northern Arizona, Montana State loses to Sacramento State, and Weber State beats Eastern Washington.

http://bigskyconf.com/news/2013/3/7/WBB_0307135804.aspx

With the Montana win and Northern Colorado loss the Lady Griz will host the 2013 Big Sky Conference women’s basketball tournament. Four seeds have been set. No. 1 UM, No. 2 NC, No. 3 EWU and No. 6 Montana State.

The Eagles will face the Bobcats in the conference tournament in the 5:30 p.m. game.

Six teams have clinched a spot in the tournament. SUU and Northern Arizona are flighting for the final seed.

http://bigskyconf.com/news/2013/3/6/MBB_0306130608.aspx?path=mbball

League Announces Days, Times for Potential Tournament Sites
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3/6/2013 5:04:07 PM
Big Sky logo big
OGDEN, UTAH - The 2013 Big Sky Conference Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships will begin in just over a week.

The tournaments will be played at the site of the regular-season champions. Entering the final weekend of the regular season, those sites have yet to be determined.

The University of Montana is in position in host both the men’s and women’s tournaments next weeks at Dahlberg Arena in Missoula.

The Montana men hold a one-game lead over Weber State. Montana and Weber State both have two home games remaining. The Montana women hold a one-game lead over Northern Colorado. UM has two road games remaining, while Northern Colorado plays a road game on Thursday to end its regular season.

In the event Montana hosts both tournaments, the women will begin play on Wednesday, March 13 with three first-round games. At 3 p.m. Mountain, the No. 2 seed will play the No. 7 seed, followed by the No. 3 seed vs. the No. 6 seed at 5:30 p.m. Mountain. At 8 p.m. Mountain, the No. 4 seed will play the No. 5 seed.

The men’s tournament will start on Thursday with the women taking the day off. The schedule of games for the first day of the men’s tournament will be 3 p.m., 5:30 p.m., and 8 p.m. in the same order as the women’s tournament.

All four semifinals would be played on Friday, March 15, at Dahlberg Arena, beginning with the first women’s semifinal at 11 a.m., followed by the second at 1 p.m. The first men’s semifinal would begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by the second at 8 p.m.

The women’s championship game would be played Saturday, March 16 at 2 p.m., followed by the men’s at 7 p.m. The men’s championship will be televised live on ESPNU.

All of the games from the women’s championship, and all the games but the championship in the men’s tournament will be available for free on the Internet on Big Sky TV. Fans can enjoy the action on Android and Apple devices, as well as personal computers.

In the event Weber State plays host to the men’s championship at the Dee Events Center, the tournament would be played March 14-16. The same things could happen on the women’s side with Northern Colorado. The Bears would play host at the Butler-Hancock Sports Pavilion. Game times at each site would be identical: 2 p.m., 4:30 p.m., and 7 p.m. on Thursday.

If Montana plays host to just one tournament, it will begin on Thursday, March 14. Game times would be 3 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Tickets will go on sale through the respective host Web sites once the locations are determined.

For the latest tournament information, go to http://www.bigskyconf.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. The Big Sky has created tournament central pages for the men’s and women’s tournaments.

 

[Proud Griz Man]

Tinkle and Sac State coach Brian Katz were very complimentary of each other’s teams following the game.

“You have to give Montana credit,” Katz said, acknowledging the injuries to Cherry and Ward. “With all the injuries they have , for them to hang together and scrap and fight … they’ve done a great job as a staff and their players are hanging tough. We have a lot of respect for them. We’re battling for our lives and so are they in a sense because they want to host the tournament. These games are supremely competitive. Everybody has injuries, but theirs hit at a bad time. There’s a reason they have a great program: They have great coaches and they have great players.”

The Griz couldn’t shake the Hornets until the final two minutes or so.

“Give them credit,” Tinkle said. “Coach Katz, I have so much respect for him. He gets everything out of his guys. He’s really turned around the culture there over the last few years. They battled their butts off and gave us a helluva game.”

I agree with the earlier commentary about how Coach Tinkle has grown as a Leader. He has done a good job recruiting, and developing their talents. He gets the kids to compete hard. Pertaining to the discussion about teaching the young players, and getting seniors to mentor young players; remember that Wayne had one of the toughest situations when he followed Larry Krystkowiak twice. It is challenging to follow up after a legend has completed his playing career, and that happened when Wayne joined the team as a player. Similar story with the coaching succession.

 

[haZyskies]

JG is playing great right now. Players stepping up with guys out. Gotta love the way Tinks handles any situation.

 

[griz71]

mtgrizrule, do you think it is more coaching or more recruiting? I understand that you need the players to perform in whatever system the coach runs. It just seems that better shot selection, ball movement, and FT's, defensive support and pickups come from coaching.

It starts with coaching. I remember all the critiques of Tinkle and his staff his 1st few years. He has improved everything he had to improve on, to become a great coach. Most those critiques were of decision making and getting more out of players. Credit to him, he listened and he learned.

I remember when he 1st was hired. He said, he needed time to get his players in system. Which is pretty much coach speak to have patience and understanding. I found that a little surprising because he and Larry have a good friendship and respect each other. As it turns out Wayne did have a lot different philosophy for success than Larry did. Larry was more into the hard work and smart play emphasis than overall emphasis of the game.

Wayne also believes in play hard, smart, and together (from the book "The Carolina Way" which is a good read by the way). What separates Wayne? He believed the GRIZ could find more athleticism and versatility than most coaches, including Larry, have in the past. Wayne is also not "set" to his players playing exactly a few ways. He is very adaptable and adjusts to his personnel with strategy. He has learned it is easier for coaches to adjust than players to do things they are not comfortable with. He coaches to his players' strengths, and is realistic in their expectations. He slowly builds his players, instead of throwing them into fire, by asking too much too soon. The only player he threw into the fire quickly was Qvale, out of necessity. Even then, he backed off the approach well into the season, by going with an undersized Kyle Sharp at Center.

Also the way he nurtured Cherry with Anthony Johnson was a blue print for how to pass the torch from one leader to another. Cherry was AJ's shadow when Cherry was a Freshman. He handled Jamar the same way as well. Gregory, Henderson, Weisner, and Deshields have been brought in gradually too. All of them are Sophomores and so mature already, which is one damn talented class. Ward has grown into a leadership role as well. Next year, our leaders will be Jamar, Deshields, and Gregory, all of which will be prepping Dunn and Bradshaw.

It is amazing how much talent he has managed to recruit to Montana. I think that is because he finds kids early, that are versatile players, but lack certain things,he sticks with them, and builds their weaknesses after they get on campus. He has a knack for finding potential with kids carrying a chip on their shoulder, and all of them are solid athletically, but just not athletic freaks. Henderson is the only big time athlete we have. He is just learning the game. Dunn is big time athletically too. Thankfully for us, big schools don't like his height.

So in my opinion, it is a combination of both coaching and players. That is what makes it works, everyone has bought in. :thumb:

AWESOME summary Rule! :clap: :thumb: