M: @ NAU

[SDHornet]

M: at NAU

NAU is having a tough season and are coming into the BSC opener at 4-8. Two of those wins are against non D-1 opponents, and the other two against Bakersfield (a team that beat the Hornets) and a shocking win against Pac-12 opponent ASU. Their long time coach resigned a couple of weeks ago during the peak of their struggles so it’s hard to gage how this team will cope with that as the season progresses. NAU lost handily on their most recent outing at Sam Houston State. Traditionally NAU has solid talent and is a well balanced team that can hurt opponents both inside and on the perimeter. The Hornet defense will need to key in on NAU point guard and true freshman Douglas. He is the only NAU player who averages double digit scoring (12.5 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 2.5 apg) and shoots the ball well (FG%: 41.9, 3PT%: 40.7). The next top scorers are guards Saldivar (9.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 5.4 apg) and Norman (8.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg).

This game will be played in elevation and on the road; both of with the Hornets typically struggle with. The Hornets need a win here or they will most likely start BSC play 0-2 as they travel to Ogden to face WSU a couple days after this one. The Hornets need to get off on the right foot and win in Flagstaff. This game is winnable if the Hornets can be aggressive on the boards and in the paint for a full 40 minutes.

NAU team stats:

• • 62.2 points/game
  • 32.8 rebounds/game
  • 14.8 assists/game
  • 6.9 steals/game
  • 1.8 blocks/game
  • 14.5 turnovers/game
  • 41.2 FG%
  • 68.0 FT%
  • 34.6 3-PT%

NAU opponent stats:

• • 65.9 points/game
  • 32.4 rebounds/game
  • 16.1 assists/game
  • 6.3 steals/game
  • 5.3 blocks/game
  • 14.8 turnovers/game
  • 48.0 FG%
  • 59.3 FT%
  • 38.8 3-PT%

NAU individual stats:
http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/team/stats/_/id/2464/northern-arizona-lumberjacks

EDIT
Hornetsports Preview:
http://www.hornetsports.com/sports/mbball/release.asp?release_id=10059

Go Hornets!!!

 

[mt jack]

Nice writeup, SDHornet. Much appreciate your efforts here and on other fan forums.

The Hornets just may get their first win in Flagstaff in, how long(?), tomorrow. NAU is painfully young, inexperienced and horribly undersized this season. More so than I can remember in my time as an NAU fan. Add in the turmoil of a coaching change and it may be a long season. If the NAU team that played in Tempe vs. Arizona State shows up then NAU has a shot in any game. Problem is that has been rare this season.

Hope to be back from S. AZ in time to follow on the internet. Best of luck. You guys deserve something positive to happen with Hornets hoops.

 

[SactoHornetAlum]

We haven't won in Flagstaff since the DaShawn Freeman days, want to say last time was in 2005 or 2006.

Mt Jack, noticed that games are now at the Rolle and not Skydome. Why?

 

[mt jack]

Administration and coaches decided that things went well in Rolle Activity Center last season so why mess with success.

NAU just put in new seating in Rolle this week. It's still a sub-par environment for a collegiate game in my opinion but I'd rather have 500-1,000 fans right on the court in a intimate setting than the same number in the spacious Skydome. Small gyms look bush league to some of the snootier contingencies of fans in the Big Sky (not saying names...you guys and PSU hear it from other fanbases as well) but a small noisy gym last year in the opening round playoffs vs. Montana State was a game-changer. I've seen games with a few thousand packed into the Skydome and it had the ambience of a crypt. The Skydome isn't a good basketball environment.

I have dreams of a nice, new, on the smaller side basketball facility on central campus on the north side of the student union. But I don't have a few million to donate and school administration and the "state of Arizona" don't have the funds/wherewithall right now either.

 

[SDHornet]

Welcome to our world. And as unbelievable as it may sound, having been in a packed Nest with it full of screaming fans watching an exciting hoops team generated a very electric atmosphere. :nod:

 

[WILDCAT]

Administration and coaches decided that things went well in Rolle Activity Center last season so why mess with success.

NAU just put in new seating in Rolle this week. It's still a sub-par environment for a collegiate game in my opinion but I'd rather have 500-1,000 fans right on the court in a intimate setting than the same number in the spacious Skydome. Small gyms look bush league to some of the snootier contingencies of fans in the Big Sky (not saying names...you guys and PSU hear it from other fanbases as well) but a small noisy gym last year in the opening round playoffs vs. Montana State was a game-changer. I've seen games with a few thousand packed into the Skydome and it had the ambience of a crypt. The Skydome isn't a good basketball environment.

I have dreams of a nice, new, on the smaller side basketball facility on central campus on the north side of the student union. But I don't have a few million to donate and school administration and the "state of Arizona" don't have the funds/wherewithall right now either.

To me it doesnt matter how big your gym or football stadium is, as long as you have a great homecourt (or homefield) advantage, UNC has a small arena, but look at how good they are there, that is all that matters.

 

[SactoHornetAlum]

Administration and coaches decided that things went well in Rolle Activity Center last season so why mess with success.

NAU just put in new seating in Rolle this week. It's still a sub-par environment for a collegiate game in my opinion but I'd rather have 500-1,000 fans right on the court in a intimate setting than the same number in the spacious Skydome. Small gyms look bush league to some of the snootier contingencies of fans in the Big Sky (not saying names...you guys and PSU hear it from other fanbases as well) but a small noisy gym last year in the opening round playoffs vs. Montana State was a game-changer. I've seen games with a few thousand packed into the Skydome and it had the ambience of a crypt. The Skydome isn't a good basketball environment.

I have dreams of a nice, new, on the smaller side basketball facility on central campus on the north side of the student union. But I don't have a few million to donate and school administration and the "state of Arizona" don't have the funds/wherewithall right now either.

I read the bold part and spit my coffee out :lol: :thumb:

 

[SDHornet]

6-4 NAU with 15:47 left in the 1st. Both teams looking terrible, McCarver has missed a couple of shots from point blank range.

12-10 NAU with 11:58 left. The garbage play continues on both sides. The Hornets look awful on both ends. The refs are calling everything on everyone.

 

[mt jack]

So...any audio on the bigskytv feed for any Hornets fans?

NAU normally does a good job with this. A "Fail", tonight but listening to NAU's radio feed and watching the delayed video feed on bigskytv.

 

[SDHornet]

So...any audio on the bigskytv feed for any Hornets fans?

NAU normally does a good job with this. A "Fail", tonight but listening to NAU's radio feed and watching the delayed video feed on bigskytv.

THere is audio, you have to crank the volume on everything full blast to hear anything though.

19-16 NAU with 8:37 left. The game was picking up for a bit but the refs retook control with their foul calls. Hoffman is getting absolutely abused offf of the dribble.

33-23 NAU with 3:38 left. This could turn into a rout. NAU has continually burned the Hornets from deep with a kickout off of penetration and zero adjustments have been made. The Hornets are getting owned on the boards and are just heaving up shots on the offensive end. The Hornets just don't look as if they want to be out there. hno:

40-27 NAU at the half. This one has turned into a complete embarrassment. Another road no-show under Katz and zero in-game adjustments made to improve the horrid defense. At least the Hornets will open the second half in their comfort zone: playing from a double digit deficit. :thumbdown:

 

[mt jack]

No way NAU continues shooting 3's like this.

This hasn't been the case at all so far this season.

 

[SDHornet]

No way NAU continues shooting 3's like this.

This hasn't been the case at all so far this season.

Katz has a knack for allowing struggling programs to look like world beaters. It's been one of the few consistencies here under his tenure.

42-38 NAU with 14:46 left. The Hornets came out playing incredibly well. They have turned it around and are dominating the boards, getting points inside and playing a little bit better on defense. Why it takes this team 20 minutes to find their stride I have no idea.

 

[mt jack]

Sac State is attacking NAU inside to start the second half. That's a smart approach with NAU's lack of depth and 12 fouls on Lumberjacks "bigs". No lead is safe with a young team. Don't give up, Hornets fans.

 

[SDHornet]

Sac State is attacking NAU inside to start the second half. That's a smart approach with NAU's lack of depth and 12 fouls on Lumberjacks "bigs". No lead is safe with a young team. Don't give up, Hornets fans.

Every game its like this. Every game. Play like crap for a half, then play great for a half.

44 all with 11:34 left. Hornets are back in this. Still need to finish strong if they want to win this one. NAU has cooled down from the floor.

 

[mt jack]

Told ya. This NAU team is inexperienced and looks like a completely different beast in the second half. 0-1 threes in the second half for NAU. Live by the 3...die by the 3.

 

[SDHornet]

NAU already in the bonus, and they are sinking them. Not good.

56-50 NAU with 7:32 left. NAU regained control. The Hornets have gone ice cold from the floor the last couple of minutes.

Hornets cannot get more pathetic from the charity stripe tonight. Absolutely pathetic.

62-51 NAU with 3:36 left. This game is well in hand. The Hornets can make a FT if their life depended on it and they have completely fallen apart down the stretch.

 

[mt jack]

Katz doing an old Weber State coach impersonation there on that horrible call vs. Sac State.

 

[SDHornet]

Katz doing an old Weber State coach impersonation there on that horrible call vs. Sac State.

That was a terrible call...and Katz needed to make a statement and get ejected there. The game is over, so showing you kids you haven't given up on them by throwing a chair or body slamming a ref would have gotten people fired up.

 

[SDHornet]

FINAL 73-64 NAU. The Hornets have yet another road no-show and really only played about 12-15 minutes of respectable ball all night. Another poor and embarrassing first half followed by an inability to make FT's down the stretch derailed any chance to snag a win against the worst NAU team I have ever seen. The Hornets fell flat on their faces and floundered their way to yet another embarrassing loss and now get to head to Ogden and guarantee themselves an 0-2 start in BSC play. 2 games into conference play and they are already in a hole they may not dig themselves out of. WAFJ.

 

[mt jack]

Sacramento State's bigs look promising. I'm calling a Big Sky Conference playoff bid for the Hornets this year. The rest of the conference is down and this Hornets team is improved. Don't give up, Hornets faithful.

That was some atrocious free throw shooting on the Hornets part, though.

Here's Joe Craven's (old WSU coach) exaggerated message to a Big Sky Conference ref in regards to moving screens. Fun stuff.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhIdMyX9zUg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;