NAU game

[mt jack]

Hey, Weber fans. I haven't been around much. Dark days abound for Lumberjack hoops fans. Basketball makes me sad but I'm obviously a masochist and I can't look away when I should.

I will be following tonight on your Pluto TV video feed and listening to Mitch Strohman on the NAU radio feed.

Are the Wildcats going to beat the Griz later this season? I drove up for the Jacks-Griz game in Flagstaff at the start of conference and UM is loaded with athleticism. It pains me to say this but they have looked dominant this season.

-MtJack

 

[Clark W Grizwald]

Go Jacks!

;-)

 

[mt jack]

Go Jacks!

;-)

Well, if there's anything positive about this train wreck it's that NAU is going out of their way to not help the Griz out. :wall:

 

[WILDCAT]

Allowing NAU to finish on a 13-5 run doesnt help.

Need to refocus. Get er done Cats.

 

[WILDCAT]

Go Jacks!

;-)

Well, if there's anything positive about this train wreck it's that NAU is going out of their way to not help the Griz out. :wall:

Jack, how many more years does Murphy have on his contract?

 

[WILDCAT]

Weber beat NAU by a combined 72 points this year. Miss the days NAU was challenging for the conference. They are one of our oldest rivals

 

[UtahPirate]

Harding 29 points on 14 shots. Baker looking like he has in the past -- 17 points on only 7 shots, 5 boards, 6 assists, 1 steal and only 1 TO. He just has that look again from 3. I sure wish Chapman would figure things out. I thought he had a break out game, and he doesn't look quite as lost as he did, but still not getting it done.

 

[mt jack]

Weber beat NAU by a combined 72 points this year. Miss the days NAU was challenging for the conference. They are one of our oldest rivals

That seems like eons ago, WILDCAT. Counting this year, the last three years have been some of the worst I can remember for NAU hoops.

Amazingly enough, one of NAU's best seasons ever was a not so long ago 4 seasons with the Jacks run to the CIT tourney championship and 23 wins.

This is what happens when a whole recruiting class (the whole group of players from Florida other than Corey Brown) quits/drops out/are shown the door. They went all in on that group of kids who knew each other and it was an absolute failure.

 

[mt jack]

Jack, how many more years does Murphy have on his contract?

Through 2020.

 

[WILDCAT]

Jack, how many more years does Murphy have on his contract?

Through 2020.

What do Lumberjack fans think about him? I felt like he was a good hire but now i think NAU should start looking for someone better. NAU deserves better.

 

[n.ogdencat]

Harding 29 points on 14 shots. Baker looking like he has in the past -- 17 points on only 7 shots, 5 boards, 6 assists, 1 steal and only 1 TO. He just has that look again from 3. I sure wish Chapman would figure things out. I thought he had a break out game, and he doesn't look quite as lost as he did, but still not getting it done.

I'm glad that you brought these stats up. I said that to my wife last night that the Cats have become really efficient. The ball movement was key last night. One thing that really stands out to me, if Weber plays team ball, it is extremely hard for opposing teams to slow them down. Like most Randy Rahe teams, the Cats are getting better and better the further into the season we get.

As for Murphy, yikes! He still have two more seasons under contract? I wouldn't doubt that the Jacks keep him for one more, due to the contract and the issues with the NAU Athletic Department. He isn't a terrible coach. We know what he is capable of when he gets players that fit his system, but the last couple of seasons he just hasn't had the deepest bench. Also, his players are fairly lazy and would take possessions off on defense. If he is retained, I wouldn't doubt that a new lineup is installed. He has some kids he could build a program off of. If he was rotten like Pope, he could do what UVU has been doing.

 

[oldrunner]

Jack, how many more years does Murphy have on his contract?

Through 2020.

NAU was the most successful when they recruited shooters and ball handlers, while running a tight defense and controlled offense. Since trying to recruit a higher level of athlete, they are missing the elements that made them good in the past.

That was my first time to the Dome. The venue is good, but the crowd was small. The best part of the whole thing was the band. They were great, loved them. :thumb:

 

[Webergrad02]

Harding 29 points on 14 shots. Baker looking like he has in the past -- 17 points on only 7 shots, 5 boards, 6 assists, 1 steal and only 1 TO. He just has that look again from 3. I sure wish Chapman would figure things out. I thought he had a break out game, and he doesn't look quite as lost as he did, but still not getting it done.

I'm glad that you brought these stats up. I said that to my wife last night that the Cats have become really efficient. The ball movement was key last night. One thing that really stands out to me, if Weber plays team ball, it is extremely hard for opposing teams to slow them down. Like most Randy Rahe teams, the Cats are getting better and better the further into the season we get.

As for Murphy, yikes! He still have two more seasons under contract? I wouldn't doubt that the Jacks keep him for one more, due to the contract and the issues with the NAU Athletic Department. He isn't a terrible coach. We know what he is capable of when he gets players that fit his system, but the last couple of seasons he just hasn't had the deepest bench. Also, his players are fairly lazy and would take possessions off on defense. If he is retained, I wouldn't doubt that a new lineup is installed. He has some kids he could build a program off of. If he was rotten like Pope, he could do what UVU has been doing.

How is Pope rotten? Is this a reference to him picking up other teams castaways and troubled locker room guys. NAU is a bad disjointed team I don't see how they can toil in misery for two more seasons. I remember the few years when NAU was the team I feared the most coming into the Dee Events Center.

 

[Webergrad02]

One more note. NAU has a great campus, with good programs and a decent campus lifestyle. You would think that it would be one of the more attractive places in the Big Sky to recruit to. I thought Yanku and Kaluna were good players for NAU. It is just sad to see how bad they have gotten. One of kids mentioned when they showed Murphy's record that their coach has lost two games for every one that he won. A few seasons ago I was of the thinking that Katz and Murphy were going to be the new coaching powers in the Big Sky. I would be surprised if either on makes it more than a few more years.

 

[SWeberCat02]

The best part of the whole thing was the band. They were great, loved them. :thumb:

You mean a college band actually makes a college basketball game more enjoyable? Someone please tell the Weber Admin, they seem to have forgotten.

 

[WILDCAT]

The best part of the whole thing was the band. They were great, loved them. :thumb:

You mean a college band actually makes a college basketball game more enjoyable? Someone please tell the Weber Admin, they seem to have forgotten.

I get your point, but the band was at the last Weber home game. I do agree though that they need to be at ALL games.

 

[oldrunner]

The best part of the whole thing was the band. They were great, loved them. :thumb:

You mean a college band actually makes a college basketball game more enjoyable? Someone please tell the Weber Admin, they seem to have forgotten.

I get your point, but the band was at the last Weber home game. I do agree though that they need to be at ALL games.

To me, it is not just that you have the band there, but where you put them and how involved they are with the game. They can be a big part of a game experience, a small part, or no part at all. It is up to the AD and the band.

 

[mt jack]

That was my first time to the Dome. The venue is good, but the crowd was small. The best part of the whole thing was the band. They were great, loved them. :thumb:

Sorry I didn't make it to this game. I would've enjoyed chatting with you, oldrunner. Living 2+ hours away from Flagstaff makes it tough to catch many games. I've only made it to two this year.

My friend attended last week's game vs. Idaho State had the following observations:
1. The best part of the game was NAU's band giving ISU hell.
2. NAU can't hit a mid range jump shot if their lives depended on it. Their approach reminded him of five Rajon Rando's running around the court.

I think NAU's key to finding success again will be returning to their "recruit to shoot" ethos. I know that many players want to run and play a fast paced, above the rim game. But that only works when you have the athletes to play like that. NAU doesn't right now.

In the meantime, I will continue watching and hoping for some positive signs.

Good luck the rest of the season, Weber fans.

 

[oldrunner]

That was my first time to the Dome. The venue is good, but the crowd was small. The best part of the whole thing was the band. They were great, loved them. :thumb:

I think NAU's key to finding success again will be returning to their "recruit to shoot" ethos. I know that many players want to run and play a fast paced, above the rim game. But that only works when you have the athletes to play like that. NAU doesn't right now.

I totally agree with you on that issue. You want good athletes who are also skilled basketball players. If you have that, coaching is easy. If you bring in good athletes who don't have good skill, then you better be prepared to spend a lot of time teaching fundamentals, and hope that your guys are teachable. If you can't teach them the fundamentals, you end up with a program in shambles. The players who have it all usually end up at a high major unless they have other baggage. Recruiting and player development is the name of the game at the mid to low major level.