Mvemjsunpx wrote:
It seems various media outfits pick the Griz as a possible Cinderella every single time they're in the tourney.
Yes, they do. At least last year's game was mildly competitive.
I don't like UM's chances without Akoh down there to take up space—Michigan has a huge size advantage with him out. Then again, Akoh was pretty useless in last year's meeting.
The Montana men lost to Michigan in the NCAA's for the second-straight year, 74-55. The Griz did score 8 more points than they did in 2018's meeting, but they lost by a slightly bigger margin nonetheless. Sayeed Pridgett led Montana with 17 points, while Ahmaad Rorie had 10 points and 5 assists in his final game.
Idaho's women ensured the Big Sky wouldn't go 0-for-the-postseason by beating Loyola Marymount in L.A. 79-64. The Vandals led by 22 at the half and led by double digits for nearly the entire game past the first quarter. Idaho committed an uncharacteristic 19 turnovers, but they won the boards by 11 and won perimeter shooting 41%-16%. Lizzy Klinker had her best-ever game with a career-high 24 points and a career-high 15 rebounds.
Idaho State had no such luck, losing to Arizona in Tucson 66-56. Whistles ultimately decided this game as the Wildcats won fouls 24-15 and free throws 26-9. The one big positive for the Bengals was that this result was significantly closer than their regular-season loss to UA (71-46). Saylair Grandon had 22 points in her final game, but fellow senior star Grace Kenyon missed the game with an ankle injury.
The college career of Savannah Smith also came to end tonight as Northern Colorado lost to Wyoming 68-60. It didn't really come to an end in style, however, as Smith went a mind-numbing 2/23 from the field and scored just 4 points—her lowest total since scoring 2 in a loss at Air Force in which she got hurt 5 minutes in. Meanwhile, the Cowgirls shot 51% from the field and 90% from the line.
The Portland State WBB season came to a whimpering end as they lost to Oregon in the NCAAs 78-40. The Viks were outshot 60%-30% in the first half. They held the Ducks to 33% in the second half, but their own percentage dropped to 19% in the same frame. Ashley Bolston had a solid final game, scoring 19 points and going 5/9 from the arc. The other Vikings, however, collectively scored 21 points and shot 18% from the field.
The men's Big Sky will last into the second week of the postseason as 16-16 Southern Utah upset 24-9 Drake at home 80-73 in OT. After falling behind by 11 with 7:29 to play, the Thunderbirds finished the game on a 28-10 run. The surprising keys were rebounding & defense, as Suutah won the boards 51-40 and held Drake to 37% shooting. Harrison Butler had a double-double for the T-Birds with 21 points & 11 rebounds. He also scored SUU's final 8 points of regulation.
I, for one, was very disappointed in the showing of both the Portland State women's team and the Montana men's team in the tournament. Going in to the conference tournament, the top four of the women's side were pretty equal, while the Griz men's team looked to be more superior than anyone else in the conference other than PSU, so both sides pretty much got the best team in. I know they both got tough draws in the first round, but if they are the best teams in the conference, the games should have been more competitive. The conference needs to take a look at how to improve across the board to become a better force on the national stage. Those were the best teams we as a conference had to offer, and both were pretty much embarrassed on national television.
JALMOND wrote:I, for one, was very disappointed in the showing of both the Portland State women's team and the Montana men's team in the tournament. Going in to the conference tournament, the top four of the women's side were pretty equal, while the Griz men's team looked to be more superior than anyone else in the conference other than PSU, so both sides pretty much got the best team in. I know they both got tough draws in the first round, but if they are the best teams in the conference, the games should have been more competitive. The conference needs to take a look at how to improve across the board to become a better force on the national stage. Those were the best teams we as a conference had to offer, and both were pretty much embarrassed on national television.
Well, I guess the league being better as whole could help, but the women's Big Sky was already 16th. in the RPI (9th. among mid-major leagues)—it was just flat at the top. It also doesn't figure to be better next year because the top-4 (plus EWU) all lose quite a bit.