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Big Sky Semifinals: ISU vs PSU

Monday, March 9th, 2009 by wiviking in Big Sky, Idaho State, Portland State, basketball



Meeting for the third time after splitting this season’s previous match-ups, the Idaho State Bengals and Portland State Vikings get to take care of some unfinished business. Both teams would really like this win from a standpoint that it would give them bragging rights, but the ultimate prize is the obvious berth in the Big Sky Championship. For the Vikings, a win would give them the chance to prove that they can beat Weber State after playing two close games without a positive result. The neutral court should be interesting. Idaho State is likely to bring more of their own fans, and is also likely to have the support of the Weber State faithful. The solace for the Vikings is that they have led by double figures in both of the previous games. If they can sustain 40 minutes of intensity, they should win.

Match-Ups
Center
ISU: Demetrius Monroe/Deividas Busma/Lucas Steijn/Felix Caspari PSU: Jamie Jones
The player seeing the majority of the minutes at center for the Bengals is anyone’s guess (probably Steijn). Perhaps the lack of a consistent option is the reason, and maybe playing everyone in this group between 10-15 minutes at one of the two big man spots just keeps them all fresh and effective. The main man up front in the most recent match-up was Honorable Mention All Big Sky Lucas Steijn. If Steijn is the answer for Idaho State, he presents major match-up problems for the 6’7” Jones and 6’5” Thomas. The one positive for the Vikings in all of this is that Steijn is primarily a jump shooter with very little power game. Don’t expect him to have his way with the Viking big men the same way Brandon Moore of Eastern Washington did. Jones was a non factor in the February 12 game coming off his foot injury. If he can provide an inside scoring presence, the Vikings are a different team. Look for the coaching staff to call plays that will get him established early as they have in recent games. Ultimately, the majority of both teams’ points will come elsewhere, so the stat to watch for is offensive rebounds, which every team in the Big Sky seems to give up at an astronomical rate.
Advantage: Push

Power Forward
ISU: Chron Tatum PSU: Kyle Coston
Even though he played 25 minutes in the game in Pocatello, Kyle Coston managed just 1 point. Since then, he has averaged 8 points per game, with the only sub-par performance coming at Eastern Washington. Nobody on the Viking coaching staff expects Kyle to match Tatum’s all-around game. However, if he can play tough defense and keep Tatum off the boards by making some 3 pointers, he will make a lot of people happy. Tatum has averaged 13 points and 5 rebounds against the Vikings this season. Expect him to be right on those numbers again. If he’s the one who leads the Bengals in scoring, they have no chance.
Advantage: Bengals

Small Forward
ISU: Amorrow Morgan PSU: Phil Nelson
Morgan is the guy that transforms the Bengals from a mediocre team into the team that was expected to challenge for the Big Sky regular season title this year. Unfortunately, things haven’t turned out quite as expected in Pocatello. Amorrow has averaged 13.6 points per game this season, but gone over 20 just twice during the Big Sky portion of the schedule. That said, this is Idaho State’s chance at redemption. They beat a pesky Northern Colorado squad at home after trailing at halftime and now sit two games from the NCAA tournament. The only problem is that those two games match them up with Portland State, the most physically talented team in the conference, and if they win, Weber State, the best coached and most complete team. Coach Joe O’Brien will need Morgan to have at least 15 points if they hope to move on. He matches up with the frontrunner for next season’s Big Sky player of the year in Phil Nelson. It’s been a bit of an up and down year for Nelson, but the next two games provide him an opportunity to carry the team back towards its goal: a return to the NCAA tournament. However, if he isn’t effective, don’t be surprised to see Andre Murray log heavy minutes at the 3.
Advantage: Push

Shooting Guard
ISU: Donnie Carson PSU: Andre Murray
One never knows what to expect from a match-up like this one. Both Carson and Murray played very strong games the last time these teams met up. What’s different this time around? Well, after scoring 24 points in Pocatello, Andre has averaged just under 8 points per game. Carson has had two big games in his last five, but also had two awful performances. If he expects to play significant minutes in a game of this magnitude, he will need to step up and contribute in the way he has in his better games. After all, he is a far more complete player than Kilpatrick, the other option here.
Advantage: Vikings

Point Guard
ISU: Matt Stucki PSU: Jeremiah Dominguez
Although this should be the most fun match-up to watch, it seems like one of the two stars is always guarding somebody else. When the two teams met in Portland, Stucki shadowed Phil Nelson the entire game. In the second game, he played more off the ball and let Sherrod Baldwin and Amorrow Morgan handle it while he carried the team offensively. Perhaps third time’s the charm? I wouldn’t bet on it. In all likelihood we’ll see one of the first two scenarios relive itself. If Morgan is having a good shooting night, we’re likely to see Stucki shadow Nelson. If he isn’t, look for Stucki to try to match the multifaceted Viking offensive attack with his ability to hit the outside shot and get to the line. Either way, don’t expect him to be one on one with Dominguez the whole game. Last week, Jeremiah was rewarded with another First Team All Big Sky selection for his second great season in a row. He will be sorely missed next season, and the team will have to find somebody new to take and make the big time shots. Both players have put on a great show for Big Sky fans in the past couple years and should have opportunities to play basketball somewhere in Europe next year if they choose to.
Advantage: Push

Bench
Given that these teams have already played each other twice, we know the story of the bench players. Dominic Waters and Felix Caspari get to see each other again after their fight on the way to the locker room in Portland. Other contributors for the Bengals include Austin Kilpatrick, a shooter, and Sherrod Baldwin. The Vikings rely on Julius Thomas’ energy and Tyrell Mara’s defensive prowess off the bench.
Advantage: Vikings

Prediction: PSU 78 ISU 73

Posted in Big Sky, Idaho State, Portland State, basketball | No Comments »

Portland State @ Weber State

Wednesday, February 11th, 2009 by wiviking in Big Sky, Portland State, Weber State, basketball


Does anybody really need a reason to watch this game? It is the game of the year in the Big Sky Conference, and an absolute must-win for the Vikings if they have any aspiration for hosting the conference tournament. If you do, here are a few.
1) Daviin Davis matching up with Phil Nelson means the two most physically gifted players in the conference. You’re guaranteed at least one highlight reel dunk, if not from one of these two show stoppers, then from Andre Murray.
2) Kellen McCoy takes another shot at proving he deserves to be the Player of the Year in the Big Sky. However, he’ll have to prove that by out-dueling last year’s MVP, Portland State’s Jeremiah Dominguez.
3) This game is the likely preview of the conference title game. For those that think Montana has a shot at getting there, I advise taking into account that Wayne Tinkle is the coach. Unless they host, the Grizzlies aren’t going to the Big Dance.
4) The best two coaches in the Big Sky face off again. Randy Rahe and Ken Bone are still here for now, but are likely to be the head men at big-time programs within the next five years.
If you still don’t plan on watching this game, (it’s free on Big Sky TV) I really hope you’ve got a good party to go to.

Match-Ups
Center
WSU: Steve Panos PSU: Julius Thomas
Here’s a scary thought for Viking fans: the team goes into the toughest environment in the entire conference shorthanded, and two games behind. The shorthanded comment of course refers to the potential absence of Jamie Jones, who frankly appeared to have been physically diminished for about 2 months. Thomas has been better than Jones in recent days, so this isn’t the biggest loss (Jones only had 2 points and 1 rebound in the first game between the two). The problem is the lack of depth and physical presence to match up with Panos. Mara seeing significant time here would be no surprise, especially if Thomas gets into foul trouble. If Jones is healthy enough to go, he’ll probably see time, even though he doesn’t match up well with Panos. As far as advantages, one has physical tools while the other is more polished and bigger. Take your pick if you must.
Advantage: Push

Power Forward
WSU: Kyle Bullinger PSU: Kyle Coston
Kyle Bullinger had the game of his short career (22 points, 8 rebounds) the last time he matched up with the Vikings. It seemed like every shot he took in the second half went in, even from 28 feet away. Before he came to Portland, he scored 17 at home against Northern Colorado on 6 of 10 shooting. Guess what happened on February 5th? Try the exact same outcome. It’s a lucky thing the Wildcats play Eastern Washington first. Ultimately, I don’t think Bullinger is going to score 22 again, or pull down 8 rebounds. However, he should be plenty productive to overmatch Kyle Coston. The last time Kyle scored 11 in a game, he promptly came up empty in the next game. Like the Wildcats, the Vikings have a game before Saturday’s title fight. Nevertheless, there is no indication that Kyle is anywhere near returning to the form that had him in double-figures for 5 straight games earlier in the year. In fact, a very good argument could be made for Mara starting if Bullinger was not such a finesse player.
Advantage: Wildcats

Small Forward
WSU: Daviin Davis PSU: Phil Nelson
Yes, I know Hansen is the guy here on a normal night. However, if anybody wants to argue with Davis’ stats against PSU, they’re stupid. Davis is the most physically gifted bench player in the conference by far, and a Portland State killer. He is the one person that can shut down Phil Nelson on a night his shot is on. I acknowledge that Nelson is a better offensive player, but that is it. Davis has far more energy, rebounding ability, and defensive prowess. If Randy Rahe puts Hansen on the floor at any point, except to spell Davis, he should be fired on the spot.
Advantage: Wildcats

Shooting Guard
WSU: Damian Lillard PSU: Andre Murray
Andre Murray is a better shooter and defender than Lillard with more experience. Lillard’s one advantage is his ball-handling ability. He also displayed an uncanny knack for using the glass in the first match-up between the two teams in Portland. If Bullinger can’t produce the type of scoring effort he did in the first game, look for Lillard to be one of the guys the Wildcats depend on late in the game. I have to give the advantage to Murray here. The Viks will need him to score and defend given the lack of an inside presence. He can handle that assignment. Look for a big night from Andre in the must-win contest.
Advantage: Vikings

Point Guard
WSU: Kellen McCoy PSU: Jeremiah Dominguez
I’m going to take Dominguez. No doubt in my mind about that, even with McCoy as the front-runner for Big Sky MVP. Jeremiah completely outclassed McCoy when they played on January 8. For those of you that ask about the stats, look at the free throw numbers, then the number of fouls on JD and Waters. McCoy did his damage against Waters and at the end of the game when the Viks were forced to foul. Although McCoy is playing the way Dominguez was at this point last year, (25 points, 8 rebounds-he’s 5’6”, 5 assists at Northern Colorado) there’s no question who the “Real McCoy” is when we’re talking about the best point guard in the Big Sky. Dominguez is passing better now than he has at any other point since he arrived at PSU (11 assists to go along with 15 points against Northern Arizona).
Advantage: Vikings

Bench
Although Davis may come off the bench for the Wildcats, Hansen is going to fill the bench-type minutes, so I’ll factor him in here. Trevor Morris was effective in limited minutes, and has been pretty consistent with 4 or more points per game. This is about it for Weber. I understand the possible argument that Waters is like a starter for PSU as Davis is for Weber. However, this simply isn’t the case. He is the third guard on a team that plays two. This makes him the best bench player in the conference. Tyrell Mara has been solid for PSU in recent games, and they will need him to be solid inside if they have any chance in this one. I give PSU the advantage given the minutes breakdown, which considers Davis a starter.
Advantage: Push

So who gets the nod? I give it to Weber at home, because I feel that Nelson is essential to Viking success without an inside presence. He hasn’t proven that he can score against better defenders. The only PSU might win is if they can reverse the free throw trend and shoot about 10 more than Weber.
Prediction: PSU 70 WSU 71

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Posted in Big Sky, Portland State, Weber State, basketball | 2 Comments »

PSU @ UM

Wednesday, January 28th, 2009 by wiviking in Big Sky, Montana, Portland State, basketball

Given the relative ease with which the Vikings dispatched the Grizzlies in December, I’d love to believe that their Thursday night game will be identical. Unfortunately, that isn’t likely to be the case. The Grizzlies are 9-1 at home, the only loss coming early in the season at the hands of Santa Clara. Sitting third in the Big Sky, the Griz are hoping a bad weekend in Montana for the Vikings will translate into their getting right back in the race for home court during the Big Sky Tournament. However, that may be a tough task given that their opponent has won its last three games by an average of 21 points.

Match-Ups
Center
UM: Brian Qvale PSU: Jamie Jones
Sophomore Brian Qvale hasn’t developed into much of an offensive presence yet for the Grizzlies. Given the relative lack of production from the Viking big men in recent games, one might not expect that to be a problem. However, in the earlier match-up Julius Thomas had a double-double to go along with starter Jamie Jones’ 7 points. If nothing changes between Qvale and his freshman backup Derek Selvig, don’t be surprised to see another large gap in production.
Advantage: Vikings

Power Forward
UM: Jordan Hasquet PSU: Kyle Coston
Doesn’t it seem like Hasquet has been playing forever? The 4-year starter has seen a drop in production with the emergence of guard Anthony Johnson, but continues to play an important role in the Grizzly offensive schemes. Although he didn’t have his best game in the December match-up with the Vikings, he still produced plenty to eclipse the offensive output of Coston and Mara. Wayne Tinkle & Company better hope for one of Hasquet’s better games if they’re going to keep it closer than the 27 point spread seen in December. Tyrell Mara has reemerged on the offensive end and may warrant some more playing time. He’s averaging 10 points over his last three contests including a 12 point, 5 rebound, 4 assist effort in Saturday night’s win over Eastern Washington.
Advantage: Grizzlies

Small Forward
UM: Jack McGillis PSU: Phil Nelson
The 10 points that Jack McGillis scored in the December game may be a bit misleading given that 8 of those points came at the free throw line. One can only imagine what the point spread would have looked like if the Griz weren’t hitting their free throws… I have to say I’ll never get tired of looking at that box score given the difficulty the Vikings have had against the Grizzlies on the football field. Phil Nelson has scored 20 or more points in two of three and looked really solid in the second half against Eastern Washington. When he’s playing like that the Vikings don’t need much other offense.
Advantage: Vikings

Shooting Guard
UM: Ryan Staudacher PSU: Andre Murray
Don’t expect Staudacher to be held scoreless this time around. The only other team to hold him scoreless this season was Duke. His 3 point stroke has been much better at home, so I’d expect 5-15 points. However, he produces very little in other categories. He matches up with a man who fills up the stat sheet and has the potential to score in bunches. A more interesting match-up will likely take place when one of the Taylors comes into the game.
Advantage: Vikings

Point Guard
UM: Anthony Johnson PSU: Jeremiah Dominguez
Johnson, whose wife Shaunte transferred with him from Yakima Valley CC to play at Montana, is exactly what the Grizzlies have needed. The veteran floor general has led the Griz into third place in the Big Sky with big offensive numbers and the sort of leadership they weren’t getting in the past two years. His height advantage over Dominguez should allow him to shoot whenever he wants. The question is if he can make up for his teammates’ lack of offense. It seems like a tired refrain to say Jeremiah Dominguez does what the team needs him to do. However, it bears repeating whenever he has a low-scoring night because people seem surprised when he doesn’t score 15 or more points. JD knows that he’s the one the team counts on to hit shots late if the game is close. Given that knowledge, he doesn’t feel obligated to take a majority of the shots early on unless he’s open. That’s why Jones and Nelson often get involved early. If the Viks need him to make shots down the stretch in this one, he’ll be there.
Advantage: Push

Bench
Recent returnee Ceylon Elgin-Taylor should provide the Griz a boost off the bench. Prior to Sunday’s game with Northern Colorado, he hadn’t played since December 6. The other major contributor off the bench is senior forward Kyle Sharp, who provides 5 points and 4 rebounds per game. As noted above, Tyrell Mara has been the bright spot off the bench recently for the Viks. Julius Thomas will be out to prove that his 14 point 10 rebound effort from the first game between the two wasn’t a fluke.
Advantage: Push

Overall, I think the Viks just have too much offense for the Griz to compete with– even without an inside scorer. Although they have been good at home, they seem to lack the intangible quality that allows a team to win the tough games. Without that, I don’t see them competing for the Big Sky title. That said, I think PSU will have to be ready for a dogfight. The Grizzlies aren’t demoralized yet, and will be ready to defend the home floor.
Prediction: PSU 71 UM 66

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Posted in Big Sky, Montana, Portland State, basketball | No Comments »

EWU @ PSU

Wednesday, January 21st, 2009 by wiviking in Big Sky, Eastern Washington, Portland State, basketball


Prior to Sunday afternoon’s game in Greeley, I would have been hard pressed to think of a PSU game I had witnessed that I would think of as boring. No longer. The defensive struggle with Northern Colorado was enough to make me pound another Mac’s thankful that the awful display of basketball had come to an end. The one bright spot for the Vikings was another solid game from Andre Murray. That is, if you believe that the bad shooting was just that and not great Viking defense. All that said, the Vikings came back to Portland with a 14 point victory. While it doesn’t instill confidence in the fans, it gets the job done from the standpoint of the coaching staff.

Eastern Washington has been hard to predict this season. They began 6-2, including a win at the Chiles Center. However, a 23 point loss at Northern Arizona seems to have brought them back down to earth. A Wednesday night home match-up with the Griz gives them an opportunity to get back on the good side of .500 before they walk in to the Stott Center as heavy underdogs on Saturday night.

Match-Ups
Center
EWU: Brandon Moore PSU: Jamie Jones
Moore has served the role for the Eagles that the Vikings wish Donatas Visockis had for them. He has provided them with interior offense and strong rebounding, which have been very important to a team trying to hang on for contention in the Big Sky. His size and strength give the Eagles a decided advantage inside. Jamie Jones has become less effective as the season has gone on, averaging under 8 points per game during Big Sky play. If the Vikings expect to have any chance at winning a post season game, they’re going to need him to reverse his downward spiral. Given the paucity of shots he takes each game, it’s going to be tough.
Advantage: Eagles

Power Forward
EWU: Mark Dunn PSU: Kyle Coston
A little cautious in his return from a bout with the Stott Center floor, Coston was ineffective at UNC. If he can find his stroke before Saturday’s game, it would pay big dividends for the rebounding efforts of the Vikings. Coston’s defender is big-bodied Mark Dunn, primarily a danger when he’s close to the basket. However, if Coston can’t find his stroke, don’t be surprised if EWU dominates this position from a statistical standpoint.
Advantage: Eagles

Small Forward
EWU: Andy Genao PSU: Phil Nelson
Andy Genao’s cousin is Major League shortstop Julio Lugo. That’s about the only interesting information about Genao aside from his size (6’3” 205). He’s a strong rebounder for his size. Think Andre Murray. Genao will try one of the true small forwards in the Big Sky on Saturday. Phil’s problem all season has been a lack of consistency. However, his ability to keep his confidence after a tough run has allowed him to recover after a bad stretch. If Nelson is assertive in this game, he should have no trouble scoring 20+ points in his return to the Stott Center.
Advantage: Vikings

Shooting Guard
EWU: Milan Stanojevic PSU: Andre Murray
Stanojevic, the senior gunner from Serbia, has the potential to put up big numbers in this contest. Then again, he’s matching up with Andre Murray who has been sensational on the defensive end in the last two games. He complimented that defensive performance with 15 much-needed points in Sunday’s win at Northern Colorado. Viking success in the near future (trip to Montana next week) may depend on him continuing his recent play.
Advantage: Vikings

Point Guard
EWU: Benny Valentine PSU: Jeremiah Dominguez
Saturday night should be another fun one for Viking fans as another of the top point guards in the Big Sky Conference stops by the Stott Center. Although neither one dominated, it’s fair to say Dominguez out-dueled Kellen McCoy. Fans were robbed of the next match-up when Matt Stucki ended up playing point forward. However, given the size discrepancy, it made some sense. This time, fans should get a good show. Two diminutive point guards blessed with unmatched quickness and knack to score will take the floor (as long as Dominguez doesn’t break any more rules). Texas Tech transfer Benny Valentine has been the Eagles’ most consistent performer this year, scoring in double figures in all but two games. He has already dropped 30 points twice in Big Sky play, making him one of, if not the frontrunner for Big Sky Player of the Year. One of the few players worthy of disputing that claim is the incumbent, Jeremiah Dominguez. Although JD’s production has dipped of late, he has proven time and again that he can pick it up if the team needs him. Based on the respective teams’ records and point guard production, I expect Valentine to out-produce Dominguez in a Viking victory.
Advantage: Eagles

Bench
Coming off the bench, the Eagles have Adris “2 Hard 2 Guard” DeLeon, a player who has the potential to be just as dangerous as Dominic Waters (42 points against UNC last season). Other Eagle contributors off the bench include Chris Busch and Trey Gross. The Viking bench is a known commodity with the potential for Dominic Waters to go off on any given night. However, the Viks got a nice effort out of Tyrell Mara on Sunday.
Advantage: Push

Don’t expect things to turn around overnight for the Eagles. Though they have some nice pieces like Valentine, Moore, Stanojevic and DeLeon, they are all veterans. If some of the younger guys can start producing Eagle fans will have a lot more to look forward to than they do right now. Saturday night shouldn’t be too tough for the Viks if they aren’t looking ahead to the Montana trip.
Prediction: PSU 73 EWU 62

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Posted in Big Sky, Eastern Washington, Portland State, basketball | No Comments »

PSU @ UNC

Friday, January 16th, 2009 by wiviking in Big Sky, Northern Colorado, Portland State, basketball

Portland State may wish it hadn’t had such a long break in between games. Although it has probably helped them adjust to their new classes, they may have lost any momentum created by the thrashing they gave Idaho State. This could be important heading into one of the biggest conference road games they’ll play all season, on Sunday at Northern Colorado. If the Viks can win, it will allow them to create some space between themselves and one of the other title contenders. However, if they lose, they will be even in the standings.

The Bears have been tough at home this season, especially as of late. With a chance to feature in the game of the week, that should really be the case. The Vikings would be wise not to take them lightly.

Match-Ups
Center
UNC: Jabril Banks PSU: Jamie Jones
Banks poses an interesting match-up for Jones. They seem like perfect marks for one another, but the level of competition may be determined by whether or not Jones is fully recovered from a right wrist injury which has hampered him in recent weeks. As has been mentioned often in recent weeks, the Vikings really need Jones to score inside to keep their offense from becoming one-dimensional. The other reason they will need Jones is to counterbalance Banks, who is one of the top big men in the Big Sky Conference. Banks is coming off a big double-double last night in which he scored 23 points and brought down 10 boards.
Advantage: Push

Power Forward
UNC: Mike Proctor PSU: Kyle Coston
Although Coston has had a tough run shooting in recent games, he was able to score 11 with the help of a 5 for 5 night at the free throw line against Idaho State. As long as he stays in the lineup, he should excel against the true freshman Proctor who hasn’t really produced much. Other options for the Bears include Kingman and Taylor Montgomery.
Advantage: Vikings

Small Forward
UNC: Neal Kingman PSU: Phil Nelson
Against Idaho State, Phil Nelson looked like he was ready to become the player we all hoped he could be coming into the season. He also looked like Rip Hamilton. I don’t know if it was the mask that helped him become fearless inside, but if so, he should keep it on. He combined one of his best offensive games with a solid effort against one of the top wings in the Big Sky. Neal Kingman is likely to get the unenviable task of guarding Nelson to begin the game. As is the trend these days for forwards, Kingman can step outside and knock down the 3 ball. He had a great game against Portland in which he went 5 of 6 from long range and scored 18 points. However, given the way talent is distributed among the Bears, don’t be surprised to see them go with a 3 guard lineup. If this is the case, Nelson will probably get another chance at proving his mettle at the 4, something he had trouble with late in the Weber State game.
Advantage: Vikings

Shooting Guard
UNC: Devon Beitzel PSU: Andre Murray
Beitzel can be an incredibly dangerous player at times, (as referenced by dropping 32 points on NAU) and nonexistent at others (Just 2 points against EWU). However, with 3 talented guards, UNC has had no problem picking up for him whether with Figures or John Pena. Even if he’s feeling good, Beitzel will have to modify his game to deal with Andre Murray’s ability to block shots. It’s not often that guards have to deal with that sort of hindrance, but ignoring it won’t make it go away. Just ask Josh Akognon. If Ken Bone and the other Viking coaches looked at the stats, they might tell the team to get Murray the ball a lot more. He is shooting at over 49% and has improved his outside shot considerably in the past season. The only possible down side to this strategy would be the lost rebounding ability from the 2 spot. Given his success, I think he needs to take more shots regardless of what may happen.
Advantage: Push

Point Guard
UNC: Will Figures PSU: Jeremiah Dominguez
Figures is a very solid point guard who should match-up very well with Dominguez. He has scored at least 20 points in 4 of his last 5, so he won’t be taken lightly. Given his production, (12.4 ppg, 2.5 apg) he has to be considered a possibility for all-conference. However, his biggest asset may be his quickness which makes this Sunday a bit of a question mark. Jeremiah Dominguez’ quickness may be rivaled only by Kellen McCoy. However, Dominguez was able to shut down McCoy on the offensive end (limited to just one field goal). If the Vikings need him to score, Dominguez has been able to do that too, as in the Portland game when he put the entire team on his back and carried them to victory. There is no reason to doubt that Dominguez will continue to be just what the Vikings need because that is what he has done since the first time he suited up.
Advantage: Vikings

Bench
John Pena is a really solid player, but he isn’t quite on par with Dominic Waters. That said, UNC definitely has superior depth which would have given them the advantage prior to the loss of Jefferson Mason, who the Bears relied on for balance. Other contributors off the bench include Chris Kaba and Taylor Montgomery. Given the current makeups of the teams’ benches, I think production should be fairly even.
Advantage: Push

Given the importance and venue as well as each team’s offensive schemes I expect a close, exciting game. Ultimately, PSU should win. However, they will need to establish some sort of inside game with Jones and/or Thomas as well as a solid effort from Phil Nelson.
Prediction: PSU 76 UNC 73

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Posted in Big Sky, Northern Colorado, Portland State, basketball | No Comments »

Idaho State @ Portland State

Tuesday, January 6th, 2009 by wiviking in Big Sky, Idaho State, Portland State, basketball


The Idaho State Bengals will enter the Peter W. Stott Center on Saturday night with a tough assignment: Trying to beat a team that has won 17 Big Sky games in a row and 15 in a row at home. They will also be only one rest day removed from a tough conference road game at Eastern Washington. The good news for the Bengals is that their tough non-conference schedule is finally over. After being picked to finish near the top of the Big Sky by almost everybody, the Bengals had 3 straight overtime losses to begin the season to go along with the bagel in the win column for road games. One bright spot is the continued development of junior small forward Amorrow Morgan, who has stepped up his production to become the team’s star.

For the Vikings, the story is quite different. Saturday night should be another chance to extend their great conference and home streaks while continuing a dream season. The Viks won all 3 match-ups between the two teams last season, including a 72-61 result that propelled PSU to the Big Sky Championship game. Stucki was the main point of damage, scoring 20 or more points in two of the three contests, so look for the Viks to really focus their defensive attention around him.

Match-Ups
Center
ISU: Demetrius Monroe/Deividas Busma PSU: Jamie Jones
Demetrius Monroe has had an up and down season for the Bengals, going for a double-double in his first four games and then seeing a vast drop-off in production since mid-December (averaging under 3 points per game in his last 6). Given his lack of success, 7’0” center Deividas Busma has seen more time as of late. His size could give Jamie Jones a lot of problems on the inside, but his inability to keep up with Jones may force Joe O’Brien to leave Monroe on the floor. It’s hard to envision a situation in which Jones would have any sort of advantage here unless Busma is on the court and it becomes a track meet. Look for the Bengals to exploit this mismatch and see where it takes them.
Advantage: Bengals

Power Forward
ISU: Chron Tatum PSU: Kyle Coston
After not seeing much time at the beginning of the season, Chron Tatum has recently worked his way into the rotation as an important body in the front line. His preference for inside play will likely make Kyle Coston uncomfortable, as he prefers to hover around the three point line. The winner of this match-up will depend on who gets the ball more often in places where he can be successful, as neither is much of a creator on his own. Given that Tatum’s preference is for easier shots, look for him to produce more than Coston.
Advantage: Bengals

Small Forward
ISU: Amorrow Morgan PSU: Phil Nelson
The junior from Memphis has become the go-to guy for the Bengals this season, at one point scoring 31 points (versus Boise State). Fortunately for the Bengals, he has the opportunity to be guarded by a player who could be called a project defensively. Nelson is making strides and can make amazing plays on either end, but is also one to take plays off and let his marks score easily. Nelson will get a chance to prove all of the doubters wrong here, and perhaps put the Big Sky on notice. One game after the exciting show down between two of the premier point guards in the Big Sky, Viking fans will get to see the first iteration of a dandy of a small forward match-up in person. I’m hesitant to pick either one, as they are two of the conference’s brightest stars, and should be exciting for the rest of this season and next at least.
Advantage: Push

Shooting Guard
ISU: Kal Bay PSU: Andre Murray
Kal Bay is a bit of an unknown to the Viks, but he will definitely be one to keep an eye on. After playing his freshman season at the University of Colorado, Bay transferred to the College of Eastern Utah where he had a solid year. He is the least of the Vikings worries from an offensive standpoint, but they will make sure to get a hand in his face when he is shooting the 3 ball because he can fill it up if given the chance. Andre Murray will get a chance to prove his mettle in this match-up. This is one of the games when the Vikings will need a big scoring night from both Murray and Dominic Waters if they are going to have any chance at winning. They both have the potential to score 20 or more points and I have no doubt that they will both do that in this game.
Advantage: Vikings

Point Guard
ISU: Matt Stucki PSU: Jeremiah Dominguez
This should be another of the intriguing point guard match-ups to watch this season. It is also unique because Stucki stands a full foot taller than Dominguez. While one player has the size and power advantage, the other has the quickness and hand speed advantage. No matter who is more productive, these two all-conference performers should put on a show. Stucki and Dominguez matched up 3 times last season, with Stucki getting the better of Dominguez in two of the three. The good thing for Viking fans is that Dominguez outperformed Stucki at the Stott Center. The Vikings will need him to do that again if they are going to win this one.
Advantage: Vikings

Bench
Depending on who starts for the Bengals, they could have two seven-footers available to come off the bench. Although neither is a huge scoring threat, they should be able to affect the way PSU chooses to defend the rest of the team. The Bengals also have Donnie Carson and Austin Kilpatrick on the bench, two players who have the potential to make a difference if they get enough shots. The Viking bench will again include Dominic Waters, Tyrell Mara, and Wendell Wright, with the potential for Mickey Polis to make an appearance. Ken Bone and Viking fans will have to hope that Waters can continue to impact games as he has so far this season. Mara may also have an important role in this game if Coston has trouble being physical with Tatum down low.
Advantage: Vikings

I’m not sure why, but I think the Bengals match up really well with the Vikings this season. If any team has the athletes at the right positions to knock off the Vikings at home, it’s either the Weber State Wildcats or these Bengals. On this night I think the Vikings will prevail. Perhaps a game later in the season would allow a different outcome, but given the current records and production I’m going with the Vikings at home.
Prediction: PSU 76 ISU 71

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Posted in Big Sky, Idaho State, Portland State, basketball | No Comments »

WSU @ PSU

Monday, January 5th, 2009 by wiviking in Big Sky, Portland State, Weber State, basketball


Sorry to all the fans expecting previews for recent games. I was enjoying the holidays with my family and had very little time at the computer. However, I’ll be back on board for the rest of the season. After flipping the calendar over into the new year, the Vikings are sitting pretty with a game over all the other teams in the Big Sky, as well as the confidence that comes with winning the tough games. That said, 3 of the wins have come against teams that the Vikings should have blown out, and were only able to grind out. Although the 2008-09 Wildcat squad may not be the toughest squad that has ever stepped out onto the court, there is no doubt that they will play tough and force the Vikings to beat them. They have had some sub par performances like the thrashings they took at the hands of BYU and Utah State, they will have the seasoning that comes from playing the big teams which should benefit them long term.

Match-Ups
Center
WSU: Steve Panos PSU: Jamie Jones
Although Panos saw most of his time playing a hybrid big man with Valeika in the lineup, he has flourished as the full-time center, averaging 11 points per game. Although his production has dipped a bit in recent weeks, there is no reason to believe that he won’t be able to right the ship. On the other side, Jamie Jones will be happy to return to the comfort of playing at home against a similarly-sized opponent. Jamie has had a tough time when forced to match-up with larger opponents, and has scored 4 or fewer points on four occasions. Ultimately, Jones should be the more productive of the two if he can stay out of foul trouble and avoid being too physical with Panos.
Advantage: Vikings

Power Forward
WSU: Kyle Bullinger PSU: Kyle Coston
Bullinger and Coston both play the role of the “other guy” on the court. The hope is that they don’t screw it up for the other players on the team. However, each is capable of having a big night if their outside jumper is on. For Bullinger, that happened in the Wildcats last game (scored 17 in the win over Northern Colorado). Randy Rahe and Wildcat fans will have to hope he can reproduce that effort in order to fill the likely gap at small forward left by Hansen. If not, Davis will get the call. After starting the season strong, what has happened to Kyle Coston. The Horde’s favorite player has disappeared on the offensive end after a stretch early in the season when he scored in double-figures in 5 straight contests. Whatever has happened, perhaps some home cooking will help Kyle rebound, as the Viks will need him during the Big Sky schedule.
Advantage: Push

Small Forward
WSU: Nick Hansen PSU: Phil Nelson
Hansen will be a new face to the Vikings who presents an interesting match-up. He has seen a major drop off in production in recent games, but has at times shown the potential to contribute offensively. He may have trouble shooting over the 6’7” Nelson, who has shown defensive improvement over the course of the season. Nelson has also become much more consistent offensively in recent games (8 games in a row with 10 or more points), even when his outside shot hasn’t been falling. Perhaps this is the beginning of his evolution into the star that Viking fans expect him to become. Nelson should definitely handle Hansen, the question is what will happen when Davis is inserted into the lineup.
Advantage: Vikings

Shooting Guard
WSU: Damian Lillard PSU: Andre Murray
Although listed at shooting guard for match-up purposes, I’m sure Lillard considers himself a point guard. He has that in common with Dominic Waters. Ball handling duties will likely be shared between Lillard and McCoy. For the PSU fans not familiar with Lillard, he was referred to as “the steal of the year” by Scouts Inc. when he committed to Weber State despite many other offers. Based on Ken Bone’s comments after the win at Northern Arizona, it will be interesting to see if he inserts Dominic Waters into the starting lineup or sticks with “Draeno.” Either way, the Viks will have a guy coming off the bench capable of scoring 20 or more points, which is a great luxury they didn’t have last year. Although Lillard is very talented, he lacks the experience that either candidate for the Vikings possesses, and thus they will get the nod.
Advantage: Vikings

Point Guard
WSU: Kellen McCoy PSU: Jeremiah Dominguez
This should be one of the most fun match-ups to watch this season. These two gritty point men led their respective teams in the most recent contest between the two, and there is no reason to believe this one should be any different. Although listed at 5’6” they find ways to score both inside and outside while providing intensity on the defensive end. Even though he’s one of the top players in the Big Sky, McCoy gets the short end of the stick here as I’m picking Dominguez. Watch out though. If he has a good shooting night, he has the potential to give Jeremiah a run for his money.
Advantage: Vikings

Bench
Morris, Mahoney, and Davis are definitely a solid group coming off the bench. The question is how they are going to compare with the Dom Waters & Company. Davis was insanely good against the Vikings last year (averaged over 21 points per game), and the Wildcats have to hope he’ll be able to duplicate that kind of effort if they have any chance of keeping up with Waters on Thursday. Although Waters has been great, and Julius Thomas has continued his development, Ken Bone is searching for something more from the rest of the bench. Tyrell Mara and Wendell Wright have both produced very little, even in extended minutes. Both teams have the guy capable of starting, then the rest. We’ll have to watch on Thursday night to see who excels in their opportunities.
Advantage: Push

Prediction: PSU 76 WSU 69

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Posted in Big Sky, Portland State, Weber State, basketball | No Comments »

Griz beat JMU, headed to Chattanooga!

Saturday, December 13th, 2008 by chris in Big Sky, Montana

The Montana Grizzlies defeated James Madison 35-27 tonight and are headed to the National Championship game in Chattanooga, TN on Friday December 19th, 2008.  The Griz will be playing the winner of the Saturday matchup between Richmond and Northern Iowa Richmond as they defeated Northern Iowa in a very exciting game Saturday night..

Great win for the Grizzlies. You made Griz Nation proud as well as representing the Big Sky Conference.  Please vote in the new poll to the right!

Anyone making the trip this week?

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Posted in Big Sky, Montana | No Comments »

New Poll added

Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008 by chris in Big Sky

Please vote in the poll in the sidebar “Will a Big Sky team make it to the championship?”

Thanks for voting!

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Week 12 Big Sky Picks!

Friday, November 21st, 2008 by BWahlberg in Big Sky, football

Last week of the regular season! Looks like NAU is off, what a rough way for the Lumberjacks to finish the season. I presume since they seem happy with Sauers putting together seasons like this, there won’t be any shake-ups there.

CSUS @ ISU – Sac is looking to finish the season on a 4-game winning streak and a respectable 7-5 record, meanwhile ISU is looking to get just 1 win this season, and not finish 0-12 on the year. Sac’s been grinding out wins, until last week when they hung 45 points on UNC, led by QB Jason Smith who tossed 4 TDs. Meanwhile ISU’s woes on offense continue, just 10 points last week. In the last 6 games they’ve only scored 30+ once, and that was simply 30 points. I think this game could be a little interesting with CSUS having a bit of a suspect passing defense, ISU might be able to open it up a little, and should play a little better at home. In a closer than it should be game, Sac wins the game with Hilliard’s power attack, 34-28.

UNC @ PSU – In a battle for 2nd to last place these two foes face off in a game very few care about. PSU is probably watching UM game film for next year already! UNC hangs around a bit, but loses in Portland, 31-21.

EWU @ Weber State – EWU is coming into this game winning 3 of their last 4, putting up an average of 31 points in those wins. Meanwhile WSU is coming in winning 6 in a row, and rested off a late bye-week. Weber State’s pass defense is one of the best in the conference, allowing under 220 ypg, meanwhile EWU’s been winning recently with a bit more of a balanced attack, getting close to 100 rushing ypg. EWU’s playing for something here, a winning record, right now they’re at 5-5, and the season for the most part has been very disappointing. On the other side Weber is riding high, winning at least a share of the conference, and the autobid. Win tomorrow and they might even be looking at a #4 seed in the playoffs. I think a lot of Griz fans, including myself will be cheering for an EWU win, however I see that EWU is still giving up almost 340 ypg passing on defense, and I think Cameron Higgins will shred them. In a game that starts slow for Weber, EWU will jump out, but fall apart. The Wildcats finish undefeated in conference play winning 36-27.

MSU @ UM – The DA Davidson Dodge Red Zone Nike Fall Classic brought to you by Montana’s News Station and KnowHerpesFacts.com game, this is the 108th meeting of these two teams in a game that most just call the Brawl of the Wild. MSU comes in just as hot as UM, winning 4 in a row and eyeing an outside chance for an at-large berth into the playoffs. Last week Demetrius Crawford sliced and diced PSU in addition to new starter at QB Mark Desin showing some great scrambling skills. Meanwhile the Griz looked a little sluggish on offense, beating a hapless ISU by just 19 points. Both teams are dealing with injuries, MSU has lost a ton of playmakers for the season, but has a few (Verlanic & Kolone to name a few) that are possibles for tomorrow. Meanwhile UM is dealing wih injuries on defense as well, losing both of their starting cornerbacks in last weeks game. Both teams have kept their injury reports shrouded in mystery, and I’ll bet we don’t know who’s actually playing until kickoff tomorrow. The Bobcats bring in a powerful rushing attack, while Montana has looked a little suspect against the run at times, this could be the key matchup right here. MSU will want to keep Montana’s dangerous offense off the field, while Montana will want to force MSU to scrap the run and rely on soph Mark Desin in his 2nd start. Meanwhile Montana has the hottest RB in the conference right now, Chase Reynolds, he’ll be facing a huge task going against the best LB corps in the Big Sky. Montana has faced good run defenses before in Cal Poly & NAU and had success, can they keep it up against the Cats? This game will be physical, and both teams are playing for bragging rights, recruiting advantages, possible post-season positioning, and to finish with strong records. Montana holds a few advantages, their OL should play better than the Cats horribly depleted DL, they have an advantage at WR, QB, OL, and SS/FS – possibly even CB depending on who plays. The Cats have a great power rushing game but will be hard pressed to expect Desin to win this game, they’ll need Crawford and company to do that. One big advantage for the Cats is their kicking game, with a frosh kicker that has been money this year, meanwhile UM has seen its ups and downs in the kicking game with a frosh as well who hasn’t seen nearly as much success. In a tight battle that goes down to the wire, I say the Griz win this, 24-20.

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