Well, what can I say. NAU got smoked on Wednesday. PSU as a team were superb athletes and played with great intensity. NAU had series of events that equated into the perfect storm: 22 turnovers, ice-cold night shooting for the team as a whole, decent hustle/effort on part by the Jacks but few bounces going their way and a buzzsaw of a PSU team hitting on all cylinders. Hats off to them. PSU deserved the bid and played well. We got our butts kicked and I give the Vikings team and staff credit where it is due.
It was nice to visit with the NAU alumni and supporters that did show up. Props to you all for travelling from points afar and supporting the Jacks. Given the points production that was lost from the previous season (Boykin, Sir, etc.), I'd have to say a final record of 21-11 after being picked mid-pack by coaches and media is quite the accomplishment. Adras and his staff consistently have the team competitive and the recent Jacks teams I remember have all put forth maximum effort. It hurts to lose in the conference championship game this often but it is better to be there and lose than the other option of not being there at all. I'm a dirt poor alumni with absolutely no pull or say-so but I appreciate and support Adras and his staff.
NAU has a nice little thing going with basketball (womens team's been in it til the end 2 of last 3 years as well). It would be nice if community and student support improved but how's the old saying go about "wishing in one hand and sh***ing in the other" go?
As I was walking out of the Rose Garden on Tuesday night, I heard an interesting exchange between PSU students.
Student # 1: Who did we beat tonight?
Student # 2: Idaho State.
Student # 1: Where is that?
Student # 2: I don't know.
MTJack interjects: It's in Pocatello, Idaho which is close to Salt Lake City.
Student # 1: Are they in our conference?
MTJack stifling snickers at this point....
Student # 2: Yeah, I think so. Are you going to the championship game tomorrow night?
Student # 1: No, I think I'm just going to hang out instead.
I shook my head and walked away at this point. The game was free. FREE! Free as in no cost for the ticket with a student id and free transportation on the MAX train from campus to the Rose Garden. I'm not that old that I can't remember from my days as an (ahem) scholar student that 3 hours on a random Wednesday night among the many was not going to make or break a collegiate academic career. For being the largest university in the Oregon state system the support that PSU received was poor.
Students have lots of options and college athletic programs essentially have to compete for student/community dollars anymore. Maybe this explains lack of support in Flagstaff as well?
A minor gripe about Big Sky Conference officiating that I posted on PSU's boards is below and closes out this stream of rambling consciousness.
Congratulations on an enjoyable season Lumberjacks coaches, team, staff and fans. Looking forward to next season already.
MTJack
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Re: Big Sky Conference officiating:
An MSU fan/poster over at Bobcatnation said it best...... "Eric Curry makes me sad."
Big Sky bball referees are pretty bad.
I find it both odd and a bit disconcerting that two of the three refs in the championship game were just suspended a few weeks back for a horrible blown call that cost ISU a chance of a win. What does the Big Sky Conference do in return....reward these two with the opportunity to call the championship game. Eric Curry, in particular, seems to be very whistle-happy to me and controls the flow of the game.
It was nice to visit with the NAU alumni and supporters that did show up. Props to you all for travelling from points afar and supporting the Jacks. Given the points production that was lost from the previous season (Boykin, Sir, etc.), I'd have to say a final record of 21-11 after being picked mid-pack by coaches and media is quite the accomplishment. Adras and his staff consistently have the team competitive and the recent Jacks teams I remember have all put forth maximum effort. It hurts to lose in the conference championship game this often but it is better to be there and lose than the other option of not being there at all. I'm a dirt poor alumni with absolutely no pull or say-so but I appreciate and support Adras and his staff.
NAU has a nice little thing going with basketball (womens team's been in it til the end 2 of last 3 years as well). It would be nice if community and student support improved but how's the old saying go about "wishing in one hand and sh***ing in the other" go?
As I was walking out of the Rose Garden on Tuesday night, I heard an interesting exchange between PSU students.
Student # 1: Who did we beat tonight?
Student # 2: Idaho State.
Student # 1: Where is that?
Student # 2: I don't know.
MTJack interjects: It's in Pocatello, Idaho which is close to Salt Lake City.
Student # 1: Are they in our conference?
MTJack stifling snickers at this point....
Student # 2: Yeah, I think so. Are you going to the championship game tomorrow night?
Student # 1: No, I think I'm just going to hang out instead.
I shook my head and walked away at this point. The game was free. FREE! Free as in no cost for the ticket with a student id and free transportation on the MAX train from campus to the Rose Garden. I'm not that old that I can't remember from my days as an (ahem) scholar student that 3 hours on a random Wednesday night among the many was not going to make or break a collegiate academic career. For being the largest university in the Oregon state system the support that PSU received was poor.
Students have lots of options and college athletic programs essentially have to compete for student/community dollars anymore. Maybe this explains lack of support in Flagstaff as well?
A minor gripe about Big Sky Conference officiating that I posted on PSU's boards is below and closes out this stream of rambling consciousness.
Congratulations on an enjoyable season Lumberjacks coaches, team, staff and fans. Looking forward to next season already.
MTJack
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Re: Big Sky Conference officiating:
An MSU fan/poster over at Bobcatnation said it best...... "Eric Curry makes me sad."
Big Sky bball referees are pretty bad.
I find it both odd and a bit disconcerting that two of the three refs in the championship game were just suspended a few weeks back for a horrible blown call that cost ISU a chance of a win. What does the Big Sky Conference do in return....reward these two with the opportunity to call the championship game. Eric Curry, in particular, seems to be very whistle-happy to me and controls the flow of the game.
