WAC realignment... Yikes!

[mtgrizrule]

Great discussion!!

(I'm bashfully attempting to returning to posting on this site after my unflattering remarks about Mario Dunn. Disclaimer: I know basketball a little too well and I believe my remarks about Bradshaw being the best newb for the Grizz tarnished Dunn a bit, which wasn't my aim. He is a solid player and a hell of a great recruit for the Grizz. I just think Bradshaw is better prepared to play immediately and contribute this season whereas it might take a full year for Dunn to make the full transition. He will be a nice addition for the Grizz though.)


The Sky has really struggled the past decade to being a relevant DI basketball conference. Personally, adding team that have paltry facilities doesn't really help the conference. Sac St and PSU have been the epitome of dismal. Great to hear that PSU is going to remodel and expand the Stott Center. That is not only great news for the Vikings, but also, for the entire Sky. That means we only have one absolutely awful facility left in the Sky (Hornet's Nest) and a handful of below par facilities highlighted by the Butt-cock Pavilion in Greeley. But facilities only improves a conference so much. Teams do the rest.

Even with a crummy gym, PSU has won two championships and represented the Sky in the NCAA's twice since 2000. Good coaching, athletic players, and most importantly winning OOC games, especially on our home courts and as many neutral/in season tournaments as possible. The Sky can't afford our third place teams losing to Nebraska Omaha in the Bracket Buster (I'm gonna miss these games). Each year, I hope the Sky will get better, but...case in point, SUU has an amazing stadium, but hasn't been able to do much with it. Proof that facilities only do so much (Weber football has awesome facilities and look at our recent record...got my fingers crossed things improve this year...not looking promising only having 10 OL on our roster. :roll: )

IS THERE HOPE?!?

I think so. UND should be one of the best teams in the conference next year. I think NAU, EWU, MSU, and UNCO will be better as well. After replacing the entire team, ISU, under Evans (HUGE REASON WHY THE GRIZZ became so good defensively under his tutelage), will be better. Finally, Sac isn't the doormat of the conference any longer, which is a good thing as long as they continue to upset a few teams every year. UTAH at the Huntsman Center last year. What am I getting after? The Sky has better coaches, improving facilities, and getting more talent. Three years ago only Weber and Montana were getting good recruits. Now 5-6 teams are. Things are looking up.

This is why I like Weber State basketball and their fans. :thumb: I wish the football fans could get along like the basketball fans do. Feel free to add more posts. We need some action on the basketball forums. Any updates on how the Weber State's players are doing in the off season?

 

[wsucatfan]

This is why I like Weber State basketball and their fans. :thumb: I wish the football fans could get along like the basketball fans do. Feel free to add more posts. We need some action on the basketball forums. Any updates on how the Weber State's players are doing in the off season?

I was at Classic Water Park today in Riverdale. It was my first time ever there. Interesting place. ha ha. Anyway, I was sitting there eating a slice of pizza and in walks Kellen McCoy. He was with is family. I pretty much got up, walked over and gave him a bear hug. We talked for a few minutes about the team. Kellen is about the nicest dude I have ever met. I bet the players really like him as a coach and can really relate to him. I hope he stays with us for a long time, but Im sure he will have lots of bigger opportunities someday. We started talking about team and boy he is ecstatic about the players and was so happy he could come back to Weber State. He said the talent level now to what it was when he was on the team is so much better, and we had some good players when he played. He said Tres is an absolute beast and looks even better than he did last year. He said Joel and Gelean have really stepped up. He was raving about our 2 new freshman Gittens and Senglin. I asked if both will play this year and he said one might redshirt. I asked him how we compared to the Oklahoma Sooner team he just left and he said it was close, but Weber has better depth. Oklahoma was good last year too. He said we would beat lots of high major teams. I know all coaches think their team is the bomb, but I could tell he was very excited about our team. Hell, we can tell as fans that Weber hoops is legit. Its nice when an assistant coach is beaming. He said Zach Braxton was a big get for us and that Marquette and Northwestern were about to offer him when he committed to us. I wanted to so bad to talk to him more, but his little girl wanted to jump in the water and I didn't want to bug him anymore. ha ha. Anyway it made my day. Really nice guy to talk to. Is it November yet? :rockon:

http://www.bigskyfans.com/wildcats/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4091

 

[mtgrizrule]

This is why I like Weber State basketball and their fans. :thumb: I wish the football fans could get along like the basketball fans do. Feel free to add more posts. We need some action on the basketball forums. Any updates on how the Weber State's players are doing in the off season?

I was at Classic Water Park today in Riverdale. It was my first time ever there. Interesting place. ha ha. Anyway, I was sitting there eating a slice of pizza and in walks Kellen McCoy. He was with is family. I pretty much got up, walked over and gave him a bear hug. We talked for a few minutes about the team. Kellen is about the nicest dude I have ever met. I bet the players really like him as a coach and can really relate to him. I hope he stays with us for a long time, but Im sure he will have lots of bigger opportunities someday. We started talking about team and boy he is ecstatic about the players and was so happy he could come back to Weber State. He said the talent level now to what it was when he was on the team is so much better, and we had some good players when he played. He said Tres is an absolute beast and looks even better than he did last year. He said Joel and Gelean have really stepped up. He was raving about our 2 new freshman Gittens and Senglin. I asked if both will play this year and he said one might redshirt. I asked him how we compared to the Oklahoma Sooner team he just left and he said it was close, but Weber has better depth. Oklahoma was good last year too. He said we would beat lots of high major teams. I know all coaches think their team is the bomb, but I could tell he was very excited about our team. Hell, we can tell as fans that Weber hoops is legit. Its nice when an assistant coach is beaming. He said Zach Braxton was a big get for us and that Marquette and Northwestern were about to offer him when he committed to us. I wanted to so bad to talk to him more, but his little girl wanted to jump in the water and I didn't want to bug him anymore. ha ha. Anyway it made my day. Really nice guy to talk to. Is it November yet? :rockon:

http://www.bigskyfans.com/wildcats/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4091

Thanks for sharing man. Montana and Weber State each have very good talent. I definitely think you guys have us in the paint by a lot, going into this season. I have a feeling we will have some transitional pains losing Cherry,Ward, Henderson, and Coleman. This team will likely be inconsistent before conference play starts. As always, Wayne will have them ready come conference play. I believe we were not planning to lose both Henderson and Coleman.

Our rebounding will be better this year though. I hear Kemp is a huge rebounding upgrade. Defensively, we will miss the personnel we lost. Weisner and Wiley have to really love how much more opportunity they will have now. I am sure Wiley busted ass in the offseason. I hope we see about 15 plus pounds on Weisner, that will be a good sign. I am sure Martin has put on some muscle,and Hutchison has worked on his game in the off season, and should be ready to have a solid SR year.

Our biggest obstacle is to find 2 perimeter shutdown defenders to make up for the loss of Cherry and Henderson. I think Deshields, Gregory, and Dunn can all do the job. However, doubt if any of them will wreck havoc like he did. His defensive instincts were as good as good gets at this level. A coach cannot coach what Cherry did naturally defensively.

 

[AZGrizFan]

2009-2010: 18
2010-2011: 24
2011-2012: 25
2012-2013: 28

Only 2 years being in the top 20 out of 32. That's pathetic and should be considered unacceptable. Will the Big Sky improve significantly next year? I hope so. I'd love to see the Big Sky be somewhat respectable next year and at least finish above 20 again... I seriously doubt it'll happen though, and if I had to guess I'd guess we finish very close to the WAC next year (somewhere around 25).

Had a boss once that said something to the effect of "once is a dot, twice is a line, three times is a trend." That's a four year skid from 18th to 28th....not the direction we were looking for. :twisted: :twisted: :|

 

[bengalfan]

I can see the Big Sky taking a step up over the next couple of years, with Montana and Weber State becoming consistently good, and Portland State having a chance to be good every year once they get their new facility in place. Hopefully Idaho will bring the league up a notch, rather than the league dragging the Vandals down to its level.

But you know, nobody's built a new arena in the Big Sky for 35 years, and that should tell you everything you need to know about league priorities.

 

[EverettGriz]

PSU is building a new arena?


Huh.

 

[Ursa Major]

PSU is building a new arena?


Huh.

Will it be smaller so they can comfortably and economically accommodate their 350 fans?

 

[bengalfan]

PSU is building a new arena?


Huh.

http://www.oregonlive.com/vikings/index.ssf/2012/05/portland_state_unveils_plans_f.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[UNDfan]

But you know, nobody's built a new arena in the Big Sky for 35 years, and that should tell you everything you need to know about league priorities.

UND's Betty was built in 2004, the Ralph and Alerus were built in 2001, Wellness Center in 2005, Tennis Center in 2011, and an indoor practice center is being built as we write, so UND's major facilities were all built recently (except IPF and tennis Center built in DII days).