M: vs PSU & @ ISU

[SDHornet]

The final weekend of Hornet hoops is here, and it arrived with the big thud that pretty much everyone expected it to. With the Hornets virtually out of post-season contention, they’ll mainly be playing for pride but also a chance to reach double digit wins for the first time under Katz. Both PSU and ISU are locks for the BSC Tournament as they both have 7 BSC wins and both will be looking to lock down a home court game in the first round of the post-season.

PSU dominated the Hornets a week ago and will look to do it again in The Nest. The Hornets had no answer for PF Tapscott and if the Hornets want to have a chance in this one, they will need to find a way to slow him down. Given what is at stake for PSU, unfortunately I feel that the Hornets will close out the season on a disappointing note...I hope I’m wrong.

PSU Individual Stats:
http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/team/stats/_/id/2502/portland-state-vikings

Hornetsports Preview:
http://www.hornetsports.com/sports/mbball/release.asp?release_id=10190

 

[SDHornet]

16-12 PSU lead with 11:25 to go in the 1st. The Hornets got Tapscott into foul trouble early on and Dickson went to work as he has 10 of the Hornets 12 points. PSU has no answer for him with Tapscott on the bench. Unfortunately the Hornets aren’t playing that good defensively and they are also committing a lot of turnovers from poor pass attempts. The Nest looks like it’s filled to capacity.

Hornets pulled to a tie at 18 but PSU has since gone a 7-1 run to lead it 26-19 with 7:18 in the 1st. The Hornets are still committing a ton of turnovers and not getting good shots. PSU has struggled from beyond the arc.

34-31 PSU with 3:16 left in the 1st. The Hornets have battled back from being down by 10 in scrappy fashion.

38-37 PSU @ the half. The Hornets finished strong but Katz came out with the volleyball set on the final shot of the half (27 seconds left in the half to be exact) and of course it ends up with an off balance desperation shot at the buzzer that had no chance of going in the second it left the shooters hand. Good call. :dunce: Hopefully the Hornets show up for the 2nd half, if they do this will be a close one.

50-49 Hornets with 15:29 left. The Hornets continue their scrappy ways in the 2nd half and are playing a tough game. PSU has gotten a lot of cheap fouls on drive to the basket. It's been a great team effort so far. Carbajal has been "Johnny on the spot" and Dickson is still playing well. This has been an entertaining game. Pretty quiet for a packed Nest though. :thumbdown:

60-58 PSU with 11:56 left. Both McCarver and Veteto are in foul trouble. This will be an issue as the Hornets will give up some size inside. Hornets are still hanging tough.

Tapscott follows up an offensive push off called foul with a foul on the defensive side to pick up his 4th foul.

Veteto fouled out with 7:23 left. 70-69 PSU lead. PSU is 1 foul away from the double bonus. This one is going to be a grind.

80-72 PSU with 3:42 left. This one is over, the Hornets had no luck scoring down the stretch.

94-88 PSU win. Ultimately early turnovers and a soft (or nonexistent) defense was the difference in this one. The Hornets battled tough but come up on the short end of the stick in yet another close battle. Just in case anyone other than me noticed, PSU was on NCAA sanctions for the past 2 years and have surpassed the Hornets effortlessly when it comes to program quality and performance (even though they have comparable facilities with the Hornets and are headed for post season play with this win). Kind of puts things in perspective with the direction of this Hornet program under Katz. Food for thought.

 

[SDHornet]

The Hornets did everything right except play defense. They had solid numbers from the floor.

Box Score:
http://www.hornetsports.com/assets/sports/mbball/SACPSU2.HTM

Hornetsports Recap:
http://www.hornetsports.com/sports/mbball/release.asp?release_id=10198

SSS Recap:
http://sacstatesports.com/2012/02/23/portland-state-ends-hornets-mens-playoff-hopes/

 

[Kadeezy]

The Hornets did everything right except play defense. They had solid numbers from the floor.

Box Score:
http://www.hornetsports.com/assets/sports/mbball/SACPSU2.HTM

Hornetsports Recap:
http://www.hornetsports.com/sports/mbball/release.asp?release_id=10198

SSS Recap:
http://sacstatesports.com/2012/02/23/portland-state-ends-hornets-mens-playoff-hopes/

I'm done with Katz, really. But I believe the admin will give him one more year to see what happens with Dickson, Garrity, Eberhard, Veteto, Carbajal, Estrada, all returning. No more excuses...

2012-13 Starting 5 should be set....

Garrity
Carbajal
Dickson
Eberhard
Veteto


P.S. What happened to RAKOCEVIC? Another casualty, I honestly lost interest during the losing streak.

 

[The Green Hornet]

I was at the game and I started looking for Rakocevic after our two bigs were getting into foul trouble, but he wasn't on the bench. I'm pretty sure he was on the bench when we hosted San Jose St five days prior, but he hasn't played in a long time. Unless he can get quicker somehow, he's a little too slow now for D-1 ball.

 

[mattman_121]

I didn't see Pete on the bench at either of the last two games, so who knows.

 

[SDHornet]

70-67 Hornets knock off ISU. The Hornets battled back late in the game and won on a 3 pointer from Eberhard at the end. It's good to see the Hornets finish the season with a win. Katz and the Hornets finally got to double digit wins with 10 and also the most BSC wins under his tenure at 5. The Hornets did allow another opposing guard to put up god-like numbers as ISU's McGowen put up 30 points. Hoffman had a solid night in his last Hornet game and put up 15 points and 9 boards. Eberhard led the Hornets in scoring with 16 points and 5 boards.

Box Score:
http://www.hornetsports.com/assets/sports/mbball/SACISU2.HTM

Hornetsports Recap:
http://www.hornetsports.com/sports/mbball/release.asp?release_id=10208

SSS Recap:
http://sacstatesports.com/2012/02/25/hornets-season-ends-with-buzzer-beater/