North Dakota

[oldrunner]

So far, UND has had an up and down season. They have the ability to beat anybody in our league on any given night. They are a lot like Montana and us for that matter. They have some very good guards and some other good athletes to compliment them. Like Montana, I think we match up well with them. I expect them to employ similar tactics as UM and EWU. I would expect them to try to slow the game down and guard Jeremy as best they can. Like the EWU game, it may come down to who else can step up and have a good game. I also expect to see us make a big effort to go inside with our game.

 

[baller]

Runner, talking about Cannon being "in a little slump", Braxton is the guy I would say is in a slump. I think he has so much more than he has shown so far. Hope he pulls his head out soon and starts performing at the level I expected of him. He could add a lot to our inside game and make North Dakota pay for too much focus on Senglin.

 

[Webergrad02]

Before I address Ballers tabloid talk, this game is a HUGE measuring stick for our team. North Dakota is a good team that plays fairly well at home. If we win this game, I see our win streak going for a while longer with @PSU, @EWU and home against Montana as the remaining big tests for this team. We have to make someone other than Hooker beat us. He can make some ridiculously difficult shots.

As for Braxton, you have to realize that practically the entire Big Sky has gone to the small ball style. Most of the time Zach is defending a smaller, quicker and more athletic 4. If we were a zone team he would be less exposed to picking up the early fouls. He looks more confident in his foul shooting and is applying a little more touch. I say we give the kid a break.

 

[Junctioncat]

Weber State will put their 7 game winning streak on the line next Thursday (1/19) nigh at 6 P.M. They will be playing a hard road game against the Fighting Hawks of North Dakota. The best way to view the game is through watch big sky on a laptop with a nice cold beverage.

My prediction is that we win a close game 69-67.

 

[Junctioncat]

Before I address Ballers tabloid talk, this game is a HUGE measuring stick for our team. North Dakota is a good team that plays fairly well at home. If we win this game, I see our win streak going for a while longer with @PSU, @EWU and home against Montana as the remaining big tests for this team. We have to make someone other than Hooker beat us. He can make some ridiculously difficult shots.

As for Braxton, you have to realize that practically the entire Big Sky has gone to the small ball style. Most of the time Zach is defending a smaller, quicker and more athletic 4. If we were a zone team he would be less exposed to picking up the early fouls. He looks more confident in his foul shooting and is applying a little more touch. I say we give the kid a break.

I agree that we cut Braxton some slack. He will have many strong games this year, and he is only a sophomore.

I would also like to commend Hill for becoming a strong post player. He came under a lot of scrutiny his sophomore and junior years, and I am very pleased that he is putting up solid numbers in his senior year.

 

[baller]

WeberGrad, I realize that the Sky is playing small ball with 4 guards and a big; sometime two wings and two guards with a big. In either case that leaves a "big"! A big could be a PF or a C. Zach Braxton is listed by Weber as a F/C. To me that means he should be able to handle the defense on either. I actually think he does a good job at basic defending, but then makes really silly moves that cost him a foul. So many of his fouls are moving screens, that have nothing to do with quickness, just undisciplined moves. As for his offense, the team should be doing a better job of getting him the ball more often in his scoring position. He can score at will over most guys in this league. As I said before, he is the one in a "slump" on this team. I agree that his free throw shooting is improving, but then again, it had a lot of room for improvement with only a 36% connect percentage. I like Braxton as a player and think he is very good with a great future with Weber. Just needs to concentrate more, stop the silly fouls and be a bit more aggressive with the ball in his hands. Get outta the slump...

 

[oldrunner]

Getting back to the subject, I would call the matchup of guards to be fairly even, with our guys slightly ahead due to depth. I think we have a slightly bigger advantage in the paint, but only if our bigs can stay out of foul trouble.

I'm hoping that we pound the ball inside and get their big men in foul trouble early.

As far as how we play against their guards, I think you just have to play them strait up and get a little help if they get too far into the lane. They will make some shots. We just need to make sure that they miss more of them.

 

[WILDCAT]

Game day, Hopefully we can get win # 10 against UND and our 8th in a row on the season.

UND is guard heavy like 90%of the Big Sky, players to watch for of course are Hooker and Crandall. Apparently Geno Crandall has been a big impact player for them this year and can get hot on any given night. Hopefully we can get our inside game going and get our shooters good open looks.

It'll be a tough game, we had a rough go up in GF last year. Lets go in with guns blazing and bring home a W.

GO WILDCATS!

 

[oldrunner]

We lost a tough one up on the frozen tundra of North Dakota. All is still well in the cosmos, Montana lost at PSU as well. ISU pulled off an upset and won at UNCO as well. We are headed there next. Let's get back on track.

 

[Siouxfan5121]

Regardless of outcome, there is not denying that was a fun game to watch. Back and forth, big lead changes, great shots. That was a ton of fun.

I was impressed that UND won, with how bad Avants was playing, but Crandall was a man possessed. Hooker also with a nice night.

Sengelin is absolutely ridiculous, and I'm glad he finally cooled a bit down the stretch, but seriously .... the kid is a stud.

I believe UND makes a trip to Ogden yet this year, and I can certainly see another matchup happening in Reno. Best of luck guys.

 

[UtahPirate]

Regardless of outcome, there is not denying that was a fun game to watch. Back and forth, big lead changes, great shots. That was a ton of fun.

I was impressed that UND won, with how bad Avants was playing, but Crandall was a man possessed. Hooker also with a nice night.

Sengelin is absolutely ridiculous, and I'm glad he finally cooled a bit down the stretch, but seriously .... the kid is a stud.

I believe UND makes a trip to Ogden yet this year, and I can certainly see another matchup happening in Reno. Best of luck guys.

The last few games against you guys have been fun to watch and have all been close. Last night was no exception. I thought we played well enough to win down the stretch, but Crandall just went off. I sure didn't lose any sleep over that game. Well played by both teams.

Goodness, where did Braxton go? Five fouls and zero rebounds. We've got to get his confidence up tomorrow!

 

[baller]

Fouls continue to restrict Braxton's minutes. If he had had more minutes last night I think he would have had a good night against the bigs of UND. Don't think they could have stopped him...

It seems to me that Weber's two main players (Hill & Senglin) got tired about 5 minutes into the second half and didn't contribute much after that. Unless you count 4 turnovers by Senglin in the last 15 minutes a contribution. I guess it is a contribution, for the other side. I think both of these guys need a bit more rest in the first half.

Cannon continues to be a guy who is just a step slow to compete. Always a step behind on defense causing him to foul, and still seems timid with the ball in his hands. Needs to regain confidence and take the ball to the hoop to score first and dish second. If he is going to be a keeper he will have to get better or he will probably lose PT to incoming freshmen point guards next year.

I will say it again... Harding needs to be given more playing time. He is a scorer at such a prolific rate that it overcomes his lack of size to defend larger guys. In almost every game I have watched him he is the quickest player on the floor. And, unlike Cannon, he isn't afraid of anything. More PT for Harding please Mr. Rahe...

 

[SWeberCat02]

Harding needs to be given more playing time.

:+1:

 

[SWWeatherCat]

Harding needs to be given more playing time. He is a scorer at such a prolific rate that it overcomes his lack of size to defend larger guys.

:+1:

I, too, agree but think Braxton & Hill being able to stay on the floor and control the paint would be effective in offsetting Harding's size defensively. Sure, he could still be shot over but I'd play the averages if they didn't give up easy shots in the paint. Braxton must become an impacting player to help turn Harding into a special player. Throw Chapman into that mix and there is so much potential offensively!

 

[oldrunner]

Harding needs to be given more playing time. He is a scorer at such a prolific rate that it overcomes his lack of size to defend larger guys.

:+1:

I, too, agree but think Braxton & Hill being able to stay on the floor and control the paint would be effective in offsetting Harding's size defensively. Sure, he could still be shot over but I'd play the averages if they didn't give up easy shots in the paint. Braxton must become an impacting player to help turn Harding into a special player. Throw Chapman into that mix and there is so much potential offensively!

Agree. Many of the fouls Zack picks up are totally avoidable. This might sound counterintuitive, but I think he needs to be more aggressive on both ends of the floor. He gets the charge call when he slows down and tries to back his man down before making a move. He gets a lot of reach in and hand check fouls as well. Just body up and let them charge into you. If you are going to get whistled, make it an aggressive foul.

 

[UtahPirate]

Harding needs to be given more playing time. He is a scorer at such a prolific rate that it overcomes his lack of size to defend larger guys. In almost every game I have watched him he is the quickest player on the floor. And, unlike Cannon, he isn't afraid of anything. More PT for Harding please Mr. Rahe...

Smiled when I read that. The kid is so fun to watch! I think it was telling that he was in during the last stretch of the game last night. He'll keep getting more and more minutes.

 

[n.ogdencat]

I just hope whatever has happened to Cannon doesn't happen to Harding. Sophomore slumps are tough. Hopefully, Cannon can break out and get back on track. He was pretty awesome last year. Just seems like his mind isn't on basketball. He doesn't look connected. But, I will say, last night he played better than he has other than shooting. He is a far better PG than JS.

Last nights game was rough to watch. I'm sorry...Senglin is not a PG. Whenever he plays that position it is hard to watch. Rahe runs a system, Senglin has proven that he can't manage that system as the PG. He is terrific playing the 2 or 3, but is a disaster at the 1.

Final thought...anyway that UND can change their names from the Fighting Hawks the the Fidgety Flops? Hell, I couldn't believe how often UND players were on the floor. It was getting really ridiculous.

 

[SWWeatherCat]

...
Final thought...anyway that UND can change their names from the Fighting Hawks the the Fidgety Flops? Hell, I couldn't believe how often UND players were on the floor. It was getting really ridiculous.

Saw and felt the same. Braxton was called on at least one of those Fidgety Flops.

 

[oldrunner]

...
Final thought...anyway that UND can change their names from the Fighting Hawks the the Fidgety Flops? Hell, I couldn't believe how often UND players were on the floor. It was getting really ridiculous.

Saw and felt the same. Braxton was called on at least one of those Fidgety Flops.

You can't blame UND for flopping. Whether it is a foul or not, that is the only way you can get a ref to make that call. Many times it is not a foul, but gets called anyway. I've said it before, refs like to make that call. It's a macho sort of motion, unlike the blocking call, where you have to put your hands on your waist and act like a little ballerina. The frustrating part is, by the time we reach the NCAAs that all becomes a no call. So, do you adjust now or adjust then? My personal opinion is that we stop the backing down action and just go strait into a quicker move to the basket. IMO, it would give us a better chance to score and/or get fouled. All positive things.