Page 9 of 12
Todd Simon Wins Men's COTY
Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2021 5:24 pm
by Mvemjsunpx
His slow, inexorable building of the SUU program pays off.
https://bigskyconf.com/news/2021/3/9/me ... -year.aspx
Re: Big Sky Basketball, 2020-21
Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2021 6:07 pm
by Mvemjsunpx
I'm not gonna do a separate Big Sky postseason thread because only 3 teams for both genders combined are still playing.
NCAAM - Eastern Washington (vs. Kansas)
NCAAW - Idaho St. (vs. Kentucky)
WBI - NAU (vs. FIU)
So… the only non champion still playing is the 7th. place women's team.
Re: Big Sky Basketball, 2020-21
Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2021 6:37 pm
by dbackjon
Mvemjsunpx wrote: ↑Mon Mar 15, 2021 6:07 pm
I'm not gonna do a separate Big Sky postseason thread because only 3 teams for both genders combined are still playing.
NCAAM - Eastern Washington (vs. Kansas)
NCAAW - Idaho St. (vs. Kentucky)
WBI - NAU (vs. FIU)
So… the only non champion still playing is the 7th. place women's team.
Go Jacks!
Re: Big Sky Basketball, 2020-21
Posted: Fri Mar 19, 2021 9:24 pm
by Mvemjsunpx
NAU beat FIU in the first round of the WBI, 82-69. Khiarica Rasheed had 29 points and 14 rebounds, while Regan Schenck flirted with a triple-double (11 points, 10 assists, 8 boards). The 'Jacks will play U Portland in the semifinals tomorrow. The entire tournament is being held in Frankfort, KY.
Re: Big Sky Basketball, 2020-21
Posted: Sat Mar 20, 2021 1:19 pm
by Mvemjsunpx
Eastern Washington led Kansas by double digits at one point, but they just couldn't defend the Jayhawks in the second half and lost 93-84. The Eagles shot 50% for the game, but Kansas shot 48% and won turnovers 12-5. The Groves brothers combined for 58 points (Tanner had 35) on 66% shooting from the field and 56% shooting from outside.
The Big Sky still has only 1 NCAA Tournament win since the turn of the millennium…
Re: Big Sky Basketball, 2020-21
Posted: Sat Mar 20, 2021 1:51 pm
by kalm
Mvemjsunpx wrote: ↑Sat Mar 20, 2021 1:19 pm
Eastern Washington led Kansas by double digits at one point, but they just couldn't defend the Jayhawks in the second half and lost 93-84. The Eagles shot 50% for the game, but Kansas shot 48% and won turnovers 12-5. The Groves brothers combined for 58 points (Tanner had 35) on 66% shooting from the field and 56% shooting from outside.
The Big Sky still has only 1 NCAA Tournament win since the turn of the millennium…
Thanks for your fine work as always, Mvem. It’s appreciated.
Re: Big Sky Basketball, 2020-21
Posted: Sat Mar 20, 2021 3:26 pm
by Mvemjsunpx
kalm wrote: ↑Sat Mar 20, 2021 1:51 pm
Mvemjsunpx wrote: ↑Sat Mar 20, 2021 1:19 pm
Eastern Washington led Kansas by double digits at one point, but they just couldn't defend the Jayhawks in the second half and lost 93-84. The Eagles shot 50% for the game, but Kansas shot 48% and won turnovers 12-5. The Groves brothers combined for 58 points (Tanner had 35) on 66% shooting from the field and 56% shooting from outside.
The Big Sky still has only 1 NCAA Tournament win since the turn of the millennium…
Thanks for your fine work as always, Mvem. It’s appreciated.
No problem.
Final Men's Standings
Posted: Sat Mar 20, 2021 3:30 pm
by Mvemjsunpx
The conference records/streaks include the tournament, but the regular-season finishing order is unaltered.
- Men
1. Southern Utah _______13-3_____20-4_____ L1
2. Eastern Washington__15-3_____16-8_____ W4/L1
3. Weber State__________12-4_____17-6_____ L1
4. Idaho State ___________8-7_____13-11____ L2
5. Montana State _______10-7_____13-10____ L1
6. Montana ______________9-10____15-13____ L1
7. Portland State_________6-9______9-13____ L3
8. Northern Colorado____7-9_____11-11____ L1
9. Sacramento State _____5-10_____8-12____ L1
10.Northern Arizona _____5-11_____6-16____ L1
11.Idaho _________________1-18_____1-21____ L2
Re: Big Sky Basketball, 2020-21
Posted: Sat Mar 20, 2021 6:21 pm
by Mvemjsunpx
NAU fell to Portland in the WBI semis 80-65. The Lumberjacks shot 50% from the field, but they were 1/11 from the arc and minus-7 on the boards. Khiarica Rasheed had another big game with 19 points and 12 rebounds. The Pilots shot 56%, which was the 10th. time NAU allowed their opponent to crack 50% this season.
Re: Big Sky Basketball, 2020-21
Posted: Sun Mar 21, 2021 5:03 pm
by Mvemjsunpx
The Big Sky basketball season completely came to an end earlier today as Idaho State lost to Kentucky in the women's tournament, 71-63. It was a rather swingy game: ISU led 18-8 late in the first quarter, then Kentucky stopped sucking and went up as much as 20 early in the fourth, then ISU closed the game on a 10-2 run to make the final margin single digits. The Bengals shot 53% in the first & fourth quarters, but they shot 20% and only scored a total of 13 points in the middle quarters (the final FG% finished about even between the two teams).
It has now been 26 years since the Big Sky last won in the women's NCAA Tournament. This was the first single-digit defeat since Montana came close to upsetting #2 UCLA in 2011.
Final Women's Standings
Posted: Sun Mar 21, 2021 5:09 pm
by Mvemjsunpx
The conference records/streaks include the tournament, but the regular-season finishing order is unaltered.
- Women
1. Idaho State __________18-2_____22-4_____ W6/L1
2. Idaho ________________16-4_____17-7_____ L1
3. Montana State _______14-4_____17-7_____ L1
4. Northern Colorado___13-8_____14-12____ L1
5. Southern Utah ________6-6_____11-9_____ L2
6. Montana ______________9-9_____12-11____ L4
7. Northern Arizona ____11-11____15-14____ L1/W1
8. Portland State_________8-12____12-13____ L1
9. Eastern Washington___5-13_____6-17____ L8
10.Weber State___________2-17_____2-20____ L3
11.Sacramento State _____3-19_____3-22____ L1
Final Standings - Both Genders Combined
Posted: Sun Mar 21, 2021 5:23 pm
by Mvemjsunpx
- Standings
1. Idaho State _____________26-9_____35-15
2. Montana State __________24-11____30-17
3. Southern Utah __________19-9_____31-13
4. Eastern Washington_____20-16____22-25
5. Northern Colorado______20-17____25-23
6. Montana ________________18-19____27-24
7. Idaho ___________________17-22____18-28
8. Northern Arizona _______16-22____21-30
9. Portland State___________14-21____21-26
10.Weber State_____________14-21____19-26
11.Sacramento State ________8-29____11-34
Re: Big Sky Basketball, 2020-21
Posted: Sun Mar 21, 2021 9:28 pm
by Mvemjsunpx
OK, I forgot the WBI was a guaranteed 3 games this year…
NAU beat Stetson 51-48 to claim 3rd. place in the WBI. Neither team shot well, but NAU won the boards 48-35. Khiarica Rasheed claimed her 3rd. straight double-double of the tournament with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Regan Schenck put up an odd stat line with 15 boards, but only 1 point.
Re: Big Sky Basketball, 2020-21
Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2021 10:37 am
by dbackjon
Mvemjsunpx wrote: ↑Sun Mar 21, 2021 9:28 pm
OK, I forgot the WBI was a guaranteed 3 games this year…
NAU beat Stetson 51-48 to claim 3rd. place in the WBI. Neither team shot well, but NAU won the boards 48-35. Khiarica Rasheed claimed her 3rd. straight double-double of the tournament with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Regan Schenck put up an odd stat line with 15 boards, but only 1 point.
NAU!
NAU!!
NAU!!!
Shantay Legens Gone to U Portland
Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2021 10:58 am
by Mvemjsunpx
https://www.nbcsports.com/northwest/col ... y-portland
I would've thought he could hold out for a better job than the Pilots, but whatever. Getting UP to the NCAAs would be exceedingly difficult: you're not likely to beat out Gonzaga in the WCC Tournament, and making Portland good enough to get an at-large is a steep uphill climb.
Sac State Fires Bunky Harkleroad
Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2021 11:02 am
by Mvemjsunpx
I missed this story from last week, but it was basically guaranteed. The pandemic was literally the only thing that saved his job last year.
https://statehornet.com/2021/03/sac-sta ... arkleroad/
Re: Shantay Legens Gone to U Portland
Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2021 11:25 am
by dbackjon
Mvemjsunpx wrote: ↑Mon Mar 22, 2021 10:58 am
https://www.nbcsports.com/northwest/col ... y-portland
I would've thought he could hold out for a better job than the Pilots, but whatever. Getting UP to the NCAAs would be exceedingly difficult: you're not likely to beat out Gonzaga in the WCC Tournament, and making Portland good enough to get an at-large is a steep uphill climb.
That's really not that much of a step up, and as you noted, will make it harder to jump to a really good job.
Re: Shantay Legens Gone to U Portland
Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2021 12:19 pm
by kalm
dbackjon wrote: ↑Mon Mar 22, 2021 11:25 am
Mvemjsunpx wrote: ↑Mon Mar 22, 2021 10:58 am
https://www.nbcsports.com/northwest/col ... y-portland
I would've thought he could hold out for a better job than the Pilots, but whatever. Getting UP to the NCAAs would be exceedingly difficult: you're not likely to beat out Gonzaga in the WCC Tournament, and making Portland good enough to get an at-large is a steep uphill climb.
That's really not that much of a step up, and as you noted, will make it harder to jump to a really good job.
$’s
Wonder if any players jump with him?
Re: Shantay Legens Gone to U Portland
Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2021 12:40 pm
by Mvemjsunpx
kalm wrote: ↑Mon Mar 22, 2021 12:19 pm
dbackjon wrote: ↑Mon Mar 22, 2021 11:25 am
That's really not that much of a step up, and as you noted, will make it harder to jump to a really good job.
$’s
Wonder if any players jump with him?
Couldn't he have got those $'s with a better basketball situation, though?
Re: Sac State Fires Bunky Harkleroad
Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2021 12:43 pm
by Mvemjsunpx
Adding to this: Sac's 2nd. leading scorer & rebounder, Tiana Johnson (who is from Kalispell), entered the transfer portal a few days before this.
Re: Shantay Legens Gone to U Portland
Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2021 1:02 pm
by kalm
Mvemjsunpx wrote: ↑Mon Mar 22, 2021 12:40 pm
kalm wrote: ↑Mon Mar 22, 2021 12:19 pm
$’s
Wonder if any players jump with him?
Couldn't he have got those $'s with a better basketball situation, though?
Maybe? But good point. I read somewhere that his pay increase is over double. WCC money must be good. Might not be that many Pac-12 or MWC jobs available.
Re: Shantay Legens Gone to U Portland
Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2021 9:36 am
by JALMOND
Mvemjsunpx wrote: ↑Mon Mar 22, 2021 12:40 pm
kalm wrote: ↑Mon Mar 22, 2021 12:19 pm
$’s
Wonder if any players jump with him?
Couldn't he have got those $'s with a better basketball situation, though?
Is the EWU athletic program in such dire straits that the basketball coach takes the first opportunity to get out of town? This is surely a win for UP. If a Blazer legend like Porter struggled there, I can't see how anyone can do a quick turnaround. The chasm between UP and the rest of the WCC is pretty large. Couldn't Legens have found something better had he waited for the tournament to end? What's the rush?
Re: Shantay Legens Gone to U Portland
Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2021 10:04 am
by SDHornet
JALMOND wrote: ↑Tue Mar 23, 2021 9:36 am
Mvemjsunpx wrote: ↑Mon Mar 22, 2021 12:40 pm
Couldn't he have got those $'s with a better basketball situation, though?
Is the EWU athletic program in such dire straits that the basketball coach takes the first opportunity to get out of town? This is surely a win for UP. If a Blazer legend like Porter struggled there, I can't see how anyone can do a quick turnaround. The chasm between UP and the rest of the WCC is pretty large. Couldn't Legens have found something better had he waited for the tournament to end? What's the rush?
Probably. The better question is why did EWU not do everything it could have to sign him to an extension? Or maybe they did and he wanted to leave anyways?
UP is a step up. They play in a good arena and while the WCC is competitive, his team will have a shot at the NCAA if he can finish 2nd and possibly even 3rd. I'd put the WCC behind the P12 on the west coast from a prestige factor.
Re: Sac State Fires Bunky Harkleroad
Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2021 10:05 am
by SDHornet
Mvemjsunpx wrote: ↑Mon Mar 22, 2021 12:43 pm
Adding to this: Sac's 2nd. leading scorer & rebounder, Tiana Johnson (who is from Kalispell), entered the transfer portal a few days before this.
Next coach will have their hands full regardless of who leaves. We'll see if Orr can work his connections to land a decent coach.
Re: Shantay Legens Gone to U Portland
Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2021 11:21 am
by JALMOND
SDHornet wrote: ↑Tue Mar 23, 2021 10:04 am
JALMOND wrote: ↑Tue Mar 23, 2021 9:36 am
Is the EWU athletic program in such dire straits that the basketball coach takes the first opportunity to get out of town? This is surely a win for UP. If a Blazer legend like Porter struggled there, I can't see how anyone can do a quick turnaround. The chasm between UP and the rest of the WCC is pretty large. Couldn't Legens have found something better had he waited for the tournament to end? What's the rush?
Probably. The better question is why did EWU not do everything it could have to sign him to an extension? Or maybe they did and he wanted to leave anyways?
UP is a step up. They play in a good arena and while the WCC is competitive, his team will have a shot at the NCAA if he can finish 2nd and possibly even 3rd. I'd put the WCC behind the P12 on the west coast from a prestige factor.
i still am not buying it. UP men's basketball has a ways to go before they can be competitive with Pepperdine, let alone the rest of the WCC. UP is very fortunate to get a coach the caliber of Legens and they know it. But many more openings would have come available after the tournament is over, many that are much better than the current situation at UP.
UP is more competitive in other sports in the WCC and that is why they are there. It is not because of the men's basketball program. If Porter could not get them to the level of at least St. Mary's or BYU with all the connections he had, I can't see someone else coming in and turning it around overnight, yet that is what the UP boosters seem to imagine. Some jobs are coaching suicide and the UP job is close to that.