*biased* Predictions:
Quarterfinals -
Weber State in a big way over MSU....MSU seems to have lay down and died over the past few games, Cats are lacking anything remotely resembling defense and are a shadow of the team that I saw nearly beat ASU in Tempe last December
Idaho State over Montana in a squeaker.....U of M has more pure talent but haven't seem to put it all together this season, their Sesame Street word of the day is "dysfunctional", ISU has much less to work with but should have the motivation in place after getting jobbed by the refs a few weeks back against the Griz in Pocatello
Semifinals -
NAU in a tight game over WSU...how about 72-67....can the Lumberjacks beat a passionate, talented WSU team three times in one season?....it's not easy for any team to beat another three times in a row......this game will actually be my biggest fear come true as Weber has knocked us out of the Big Sky Conference tournament (often championship game) so many times I can't count (or I've suppressed with booze).....I expect a resurgence of a variety of nervous tics, a worn out voice and a steady torrent of obscenities during this game
Portland State runs away from Idaho State.....The Vikings have been lights out in conference the last month and have more depth and talent than the Bengals.....Bengals play hard but don't have the horses to win
Conference Finals -
NAU vs. PSU ....hope to be in attendance for this and the semifinals but won't find out until tomorrow... PSU stuck it to the Jacks at the beginning of the season (only in conference blow out) but the rematch was close.....PSU are somewhat of a mystery to me as I never once saw live highlights this season and seemed to have missed them when they played on Altitude Network....one of the better groups of athletes in conference from what I've read.....will PSU have any kind of home court advantage as, like NAU, consistent student/community support doesn't seem to be the norm?.....will PSU play up to the hype and pressure?....will NAU get the "three of the last four years losing in the conference finals" monkey off their back?.....all answers I'm unable to predict....but I will predict an 79-75 victory because I'm the eternal optimist
Etc. -
Any team can get hot at the right time and stun teams that "should have" won. It happens every year in college basketball. I would not be surprised to see PSU, WSU or NAU hoisting a trophy eight days from now. Moderately surprised if ISU pulls off the upset. Stupefied and dumbfounded if U of M or MSU win it. I'd love to see what the reaction would be over at egriz if the Griz had a major late season turn around. No longer calling for Tinkle's head on a platter anymore would be my guess. I will eagerly root for whomever represents the Big Sky and dream of repeats of BSC NCAA upsets or near upsets of past.
Quarterfinals -
Weber State in a big way over MSU....MSU seems to have lay down and died over the past few games, Cats are lacking anything remotely resembling defense and are a shadow of the team that I saw nearly beat ASU in Tempe last December
Idaho State over Montana in a squeaker.....U of M has more pure talent but haven't seem to put it all together this season, their Sesame Street word of the day is "dysfunctional", ISU has much less to work with but should have the motivation in place after getting jobbed by the refs a few weeks back against the Griz in Pocatello
Semifinals -
NAU in a tight game over WSU...how about 72-67....can the Lumberjacks beat a passionate, talented WSU team three times in one season?....it's not easy for any team to beat another three times in a row......this game will actually be my biggest fear come true as Weber has knocked us out of the Big Sky Conference tournament (often championship game) so many times I can't count (or I've suppressed with booze).....I expect a resurgence of a variety of nervous tics, a worn out voice and a steady torrent of obscenities during this game
Portland State runs away from Idaho State.....The Vikings have been lights out in conference the last month and have more depth and talent than the Bengals.....Bengals play hard but don't have the horses to win
Conference Finals -
NAU vs. PSU ....hope to be in attendance for this and the semifinals but won't find out until tomorrow... PSU stuck it to the Jacks at the beginning of the season (only in conference blow out) but the rematch was close.....PSU are somewhat of a mystery to me as I never once saw live highlights this season and seemed to have missed them when they played on Altitude Network....one of the better groups of athletes in conference from what I've read.....will PSU have any kind of home court advantage as, like NAU, consistent student/community support doesn't seem to be the norm?.....will PSU play up to the hype and pressure?....will NAU get the "three of the last four years losing in the conference finals" monkey off their back?.....all answers I'm unable to predict....but I will predict an 79-75 victory because I'm the eternal optimist
Etc. -
Any team can get hot at the right time and stun teams that "should have" won. It happens every year in college basketball. I would not be surprised to see PSU, WSU or NAU hoisting a trophy eight days from now. Moderately surprised if ISU pulls off the upset. Stupefied and dumbfounded if U of M or MSU win it. I'd love to see what the reaction would be over at egriz if the Griz had a major late season turn around. No longer calling for Tinkle's head on a platter anymore would be my guess. I will eagerly root for whomever represents the Big Sky and dream of repeats of BSC NCAA upsets or near upsets of past.
