Huge road game on Thursday. This is one that the Cats should have had circled on their calendars since the season started. Huge game for both teams. Their gym should be packed. In past years I would have a really good feel for what to expect, but honestly my passion has somewhat waned over the past year. Lets just say that the Cats have a great chance of winning the game.
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Northern Colorado @ the Hancock Pavilion
- Thread starter n.ogdencat
- Start date
oldrunner
Active member
We do have one matchup problem with UNCo. They have a 6'8'' wing who can do it all, Hume. He is a threat to shoot from the outside, drive to the rim, pass off, or pull up. Given our propensity for switching on ball screens, the Bears will try to get him matched up with one of our smaller guards. How we deal with that may well determine the outcome of the game.
I watched their game at UI. UI had a boatload of matchup problems with UNCo, but did fairly well with M2M defense. It was a zone D that UI deployed that was a complete disaster. The Bears scored at will against that zone. Of course, UI is one of the worst defensive teams this year.
I think we matchup with them much better. Like I said, what we do with Hume is the key.
I watched their game at UI. UI had a boatload of matchup problems with UNCo, but did fairly well with M2M defense. It was a zone D that UI deployed that was a complete disaster. The Bears scored at will against that zone. Of course, UI is one of the worst defensive teams this year.
I think we matchup with them much better. Like I said, what we do with Hume is the key.
The UNC announcer kept bragging about the high-level defense played by UNC in the first half. As I watched that half I kept thinking we are getting good, and sometimes great, shots. They just were not falling and it had little to do with the defense. And in the second half we continued to get good shots, dominated defensively to stop their insane 3 point shooting, and made our shots at a high level. That was the difference in the game and I really don't think that UNC had enough talent to play with us for a full 40 minutes. Weber has the highest talent level in the league and that athleticism can dominate defensively. And when the shots are falling we are in a league by ourselves in the Big Sky. And tonight they took it to them inside as well as outside in the second half. Good job cats at playing a full 40 at a high defensive level. Now, lets don't have a letdown against lesser competition in the next game. Prior to SUU I was hoping for a split of these two games. To win both of them is awesome and especially if they can keep their focus and continue to play at a high level.
oldrunner
Active member
I wasn't able to watch the game live. When I got home and saw the win, I went in and watched the replay, knowing that we had already won. UNCo was shooting the lights out in that first half. We tightened down the D in the second half and put them away, winning the second half by 19. It looked a little bit like UNCo was playing on pure adrenalin in that first half and had little in the tank for the rest of the game.
I don't know what the technical was about, but there were a lot of really shakey calls in that game and many of them were against us. Not enough to change the outcome of the game, but enough to get players from both teams a bit chippy. I wish refs wouldn't blow their whistles until something actually happens. They were calling stuff that they thought might happen, or must have happened. They need to call what they actually see and stop trying to make guesses.
This puts us clearly in the drivers seat from here on out. We just need to take care of business.
I don't know what the technical was about, but there were a lot of really shakey calls in that game and many of them were against us. Not enough to change the outcome of the game, but enough to get players from both teams a bit chippy. I wish refs wouldn't blow their whistles until something actually happens. They were calling stuff that they thought might happen, or must have happened. They need to call what they actually see and stop trying to make guesses.
This puts us clearly in the drivers seat from here on out. We just need to take care of business.
Didn't get to watch the first half, but really glad I got the chance to watch the second. What a half by the Cats. Getting the W on the road was huge and helps them on their path to winning the conference crown.
Granted, lets all be honest, winning the regular season really means nothing. The team has to travel and play on a court that nobody is familiar with. Part of winning the regular season should guarantee the best team has the best chance of advancing to the Dance by playing on their home floor; if there has to be a tournament. Personally, I think it is time to get rid of the conference tournament. Not having a tournament puts soooo much more emphasis on each conference game. If there is a tournament restore what was once a great system. Give the regular season conference champion the right to host (if Sac can't improve their facility...tell them now, they can't host) and only take the top 6-8 teams. Make the conference tournament something to play for.
THE BIG SKY is a 1 seed conference. DO everything in its power to protect its top seed. If that is Weber and Montana every other year, that is fine. The other schools need to figure their crap out.
Granted, lets all be honest, winning the regular season really means nothing. The team has to travel and play on a court that nobody is familiar with. Part of winning the regular season should guarantee the best team has the best chance of advancing to the Dance by playing on their home floor; if there has to be a tournament. Personally, I think it is time to get rid of the conference tournament. Not having a tournament puts soooo much more emphasis on each conference game. If there is a tournament restore what was once a great system. Give the regular season conference champion the right to host (if Sac can't improve their facility...tell them now, they can't host) and only take the top 6-8 teams. Make the conference tournament something to play for.
THE BIG SKY is a 1 seed conference. DO everything in its power to protect its top seed. If that is Weber and Montana every other year, that is fine. The other schools need to figure their crap out.
oldrunner
Active member
The tale of the two halves is this: When we play with and extreme edge on the defensive end, we play at a higher level on the offensive end. I think the guys are accepting of that fact now.
In looking at the replay of the technical foul called at the end of the game, it looked like someone's mouth was running unchecked. We have a player who has a propensity for that. I don't mind a little of that, but when it hurts your team, you've gone too far.
I totally agree with dropping the BSC post season tournament. It's a waste of time and money. :thumb: :thumb:
In looking at the replay of the technical foul called at the end of the game, it looked like someone's mouth was running unchecked. We have a player who has a propensity for that. I don't mind a little of that, but when it hurts your team, you've gone too far.
I totally agree with dropping the BSC post season tournament. It's a waste of time and money. :thumb: :thumb:
