Week 18 preview (Mar. 7-13)

[UCFKnights]

UCF wins their opening game in the AAC tourney 69-54 over Tulsa. Tulsa gave fight until midway through the 3rd quarter before UCF opened it up. A staggering stat is UCF outrebounded Tulsa 50-20.

 

[nwhoopfan]

South Dakota over South Dakota St. 56-45 for the auto bid.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Big Sky regular season champ Idaho St. bowed out in the quarterfinals. Who wants to go Dancing?

BYU and Gonzaga is on ESPNU, in Q2.

 

[azfan]

Big Sky regular season champ Idaho St. bowed out in the quarterfinals. Who wants to go Dancing?

BYU and Gonzaga is on ESPNU, in Q2.

NAU Jacks!

They bring the league's number one offense into their quarterfinal match against the league's number 1 defense as they face off against the Lady Grizz.

 

[azfan]

Jacks on to Big Sky semis against Northern Colorado tomorrow at 4:30!

NAU shreds Lady Grizz D 75-57.

Jack's split the series with Northern Colorado, tomorrow's rubber match should be a battle.

 

[nwhoopfan]

From what I watched BYU couldn't buy a 3, they live by it and they died by it today. I don't know if Gonzaga would've been safely in as an at-large, but they made it a moot point today. 71-59 final.

Both teams made 5 triples, but GU only attempted 12 and BYU attempted 23.

 

[Plebe]

From what I watched BYU couldn't buy a 3, they live by it and they died by it today. I don't know if Gonzaga would've been safely in as an at-large, but they made it a moot point today. 71-59 final.

Both teams made 5 triples, but GU only attempted 12 and BYU attempted 23.

Yes, BYU was cold for most of the day. Finished 5-23 from 3, and only 32% FG overall. Credit to Gonzaga for their good defense, but BYU also missed quite a few shots they normally make.

Gonzaga would've been maybe among the last 4 in as an at-large, but they removed all doubt. Congrats to the Zags.

 

[Bigboote]

South Dakota over South Dakota St. 56-45 for the auto bid.

I'm familiar with most of the players on both rosters, but this is the first time I've seen USD freshman guard Grace Larkins. She's a blast to watch, and made a couple of plays like I've never seen before. I hope Sjerven is drafted into the W. She'd be an undersized stretch 4, but she's strong and takes up a lot of space.

I wouldn't want to be the team playing them in the first couple of rounds.

 

[jchusky]

does Byu hc still want South Carolina? asking for a friend

 

[Lorcan]

I'm familiar with most of the players on both rosters, but this is the first time I've seen USD freshman guard Grace Larkins. She's a blast to watch, and made a couple of plays like I've never seen before. I hope Sjerven is drafted into the W. She'd be an undersized stretch 4, but she's strong and takes up a lot of space.

I wouldn't want to be the team playing them in the first couple of rounds.

I have it on good authority that Sjerven plans to hang up her shoes after this season, get married, and get into coaching.

I would’ve loved to see her in the W.

 

[jchusky]

Cavinder twins and Fresno st became totally irrelevant this season. Are they there for basketball or just for social media fame?

 

[triaddukefan]

does Byu hc still want South Carolina? asking for a friend

Maybe Coastal Carolina

 

[LwrcasefaN]

Cavinder twins and Fresno st became totally irrelevant this season. Are they there for basketball or just for social media fame?

Trick question? I never heard of them before NIL.

 

[azfan]

Cavinder twins and Fresno st became totally irrelevant this season. Are they there for basketball or just for social media fame?

As the season unfolded I wondered the same thing.

It should be pointed out however that your observation and my suspicion relate to the basketball court. The twins are highly relevant in revenue generation for themselves and marketing their brand.

It appears they're scoring averages, assists per game and minutes player comparable to previous years but the team really didn't do well. I would suspect our friend @ochoopsfan might have insight.

The twins from Gilbert, Az averaged 3 points less per game and 2 rebounds more per game this season over last. The team defense however was noticeably off from last year.

 

[azfan]

NAU faces off against Northern Colorado at 5:30 Mountain Standard Time this evening in the first semi-final game in the Big Sky.

Last night after a very slow first quarter the Jacks offense really clicked against the number one defensive team in the big sky. NAU scored five over their season average while the Last Grizz scored three under theirs.

Northern Colorado in a jaw dropping upset pounded the number one seed in the postseason tourney Idaho State.

During the regular season Northern Colorado outscored NAU from beyond the three-point line. Both games were decided by rebounding in the first game of the series back in January at NAU Northern Colorado pounded in NAU on the boards.

In the rematch at Northern Colorado in February NAU returned the favor and destroyed Northern Colorado on the boards particularly offensively with a 13-3 advantage.

I'm sure Coach Payne will have the team prepared and whoever controls the commanding heights moves on to the finals with an opportunity to dance. Trying to keep my expectations in check as the winner of this game will most likely have to get by Montana State.

Last night's game was radio broadcast by the voice of NAU Lumberjack Athletics Mitch Strohman. Mitch is in his 18th year at NAU and is a very vocal enthusiastic announcer with a deep knowledge of Big Sky Athletics. Clearly he has less experience with the women's team but called a really good game. In some ways he reminds me of the guy who calls the Nebraska women's basketball games.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Cavinder twins and Fresno st became totally irrelevant this season. Are they there for basketball or just for social media fame?

Seems like bizarre question. They've been very good basketball players at Fresno St. for 3 years. Haley nearly averaged 20/10 this year (19.8/9.4). For a 5-6 guard that rebounding is absolutely ridiculous. Also nearly 6 assists per game. Was there something else she was supposed to do for the Bulldogs? She should hit 2000 pts. next year. Probably won't quite get to 1000 reb,...but did I mention she 's 5-6?

There are other bball players w/ large social media presence, I'm sure larger than the Cavinder's. Is anyone questioning the motives of those players?

Fresno St. didn't have a very good season, no doubt about it. I don't think you can blame that on Haley and Hanna. I see 4 Seniors on the 20-21 roster who aren't on the roster this year. Maybe that had something to do with their decline? 2 weren't big statistical contributors but one averaged 12 pts/8 reb and another 9.8 pts.

 

[Plebe]

For people with ESPN+, you can catch Zaay Green (remember her?) playing for Arkansas Pine Bluff against SWAC #1 seed Jackson State right now.

 

[UCFKnights]

UCF Downs SMU 61-28 in the AAC semi-final this evening and awaits the winner of Houston and usf. That's the fourth team the Knights have held under 35 points this season.

 

[triaddukefan]

For people with ESPN+, you can catch Zaay Green (remember her?) playing for Arkansas Pine Bluff against SWAC #1 seed Jackson State right now.

I didn't realize until today that the SWAC doesn't have all of the teams at the tournament.. just the top 8.

 

[Plebe]

I didn't realize until today that the SWAC doesn't have all of the teams at the tournament.. just the top 8.

It's been that way for a while at least. One of a handful of conferences who don't invite all teams to their tournament.

 

[UCFKnights]

usf beats Houston to move to AAC final against UCF. The bubble teams out there collectively sigh with relief over that I assume.

 

[triaddukefan]

It's been that way for a while at least. One of a handful of conferences who don't invite all teams to their tournament.

Yeah show's how much I pay attention to the SWAC.... always preferred the MEAC for obvious reasons. I guess its hard to invite everyone when they do the men's and women's tournament at the same time.

 

[azfan]

Jack's advance to Big Sky title game for the first time since 2007. Lead by double double by point guard Regan Schenck. And Miki'ala Maio clutch free throws and game sealing steal!!!

Bears did win the boards, but NSU hit 50 per cent from the field, 6 for 14 from threeland. Schenck dropped 10 dimes, 13 points and 4 boards before fouling out.

One win ( probably Montana State) away from the dance!

 

[Plebe]

usf beats Houston to move to AAC final against UCF. The bubble teams out there collectively sigh with relief over that I assume.

You beat me to this comment. Definitely no bid steals in the AAC this year.

Disappointing year for my Coogs. For a squad that was the first team out of the NCAAs last year and brought a lot of players back, going 16-15 and 7-9 in conference is a huge letdown. They'll get a WNIT invite, I'm sure, but barely made it above .500.

FGCU got a scare from Stetson, who upset them earlier in the season, but pulled away in the 4th quarter for the win. Kierstan Bell is back, although she doesn't look fully fit to me yet. In the other ASUN semifinal, #2 seed Liberty lost on a last-second shot on the home court of the #3 Gamecocks of Jacksonville State.

 

[triaddukefan]

Jacksonville State... the real Game Chickens.