Northern Arizona built a 56-51 lead with under six minutes to play at Evansville, but they just couldn't finish it out to capture the CIT crown, as the Jacks fell 71-65 after a furious Evansville finish in the last five minutes. There were 14 lead changes in the game. So ends the Big Sky season and the great run by the Jacks in the collegeinsider.com tournament, where they are the runner-up.
It was a night when NAU couldn't hit from the outside, as they shot just 4/15 from downtown, and only took 16 free throws. It can be tough for them to generate things offensively when they aren't excelling in either of those areas.
Kris Yanku (18 points, 6 assists) and Ako Kaluna (11 points, 6 rebounds) were the only Jacks in double figures in this game. Inside, Jordyn Martin had 9 points and 8 rebounds (5 offensive), continuing his string of strong games. Yanku also set a Big Sky single season record with 230 made free throws this season, a pretty outstanding number that showcases his ability to get into the lane.
Northern Arizona ends the year with a record of 23-15, having won 18 games since the start of the new year. While they will be understandably disappointed to lose in the title game, they had a great season - one that could set the stage for the future of the program.
Follow me on Twitter @bigskybball
Showing posts with label collegeinsider.com tournament. Show all posts
Showing posts with label collegeinsider.com tournament. Show all posts
Friday, April 3, 2015
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
Northern Arizona to Face Evansville in CIT Championship
I am a little behind, but by now you likely know that Northern Arizona took down NJIT in the CIT semifinals on Tuesday night, as they won 68-61 in front of a sellout crowd in Flagstaff (which, it's pretty darn great that a sellout crowd showed up to cheer them on!).
The Lumberjacks trailed 33-26 at the half, but came on strong in the second half, outscoring NJIT 42-28 in the last 20 minutes. Amazingly, NAU did that despite shooting just 32% in the half, as they grabbed nine offensive rebounds and shot 24 free throws.
Quinton Upshur paced them with 23 points, though he was 6/18 from the floor. Aaseem Dixon had 19 himself. For the second straight game, both Jordyn Martin and Len Springs were just beasts in the paint, finishing with a combined 32(!!) rebounds. Springs also finished with five blocks. On a day when Kris Yanku struggled badly (1/14 FG), the seniors stepped up in a major way to continue their careers.
On a day when the shots weren't falling, the Jacks still found a way to get the victory, a testament to their defense and rebounding ability.
They now go on the road to take on Evansville in the CIT title game. The game is Thursday, April 2nd at 5pm mountain time, and the game will be on the CBS Sports Network, and can be viewed online.
Two years ago, Weber State made it to the CIT title game before losing on a late shot... Hopefully this time, NAU can bring the championship home for the Big Sky!
Follow me on Twitter @bigskybball
The Lumberjacks trailed 33-26 at the half, but came on strong in the second half, outscoring NJIT 42-28 in the last 20 minutes. Amazingly, NAU did that despite shooting just 32% in the half, as they grabbed nine offensive rebounds and shot 24 free throws.
Quinton Upshur paced them with 23 points, though he was 6/18 from the floor. Aaseem Dixon had 19 himself. For the second straight game, both Jordyn Martin and Len Springs were just beasts in the paint, finishing with a combined 32(!!) rebounds. Springs also finished with five blocks. On a day when Kris Yanku struggled badly (1/14 FG), the seniors stepped up in a major way to continue their careers.
On a day when the shots weren't falling, the Jacks still found a way to get the victory, a testament to their defense and rebounding ability.
They now go on the road to take on Evansville in the CIT title game. The game is Thursday, April 2nd at 5pm mountain time, and the game will be on the CBS Sports Network, and can be viewed online.
Two years ago, Weber State made it to the CIT title game before losing on a late shot... Hopefully this time, NAU can bring the championship home for the Big Sky!
Follow me on Twitter @bigskybball
Saturday, March 28, 2015
Northern Arizona's Season Continues
Northern Arizona is on to the Final Four (of the CIT) after their 74-73 OT victory Friday night victory over Kent State.
It was a wild affair, as NAU led for much of the way, including a 56-47 lead with a little over five minutes to play. An 11-0 run by Kent State then gave them the lead at 58-56 lead with 3:16 left to play. Eventually, a Kris Yanku free throw tied the game at 61, and the game went into overtime after a late Len Springs block.
In overtime, it looked like NAU's season was going to be ending, as the Golden Flashes took a 73-68 lead with just 41 seconds left. Then, Kris Yanku hit a pair of free throws, and Aaseem Dixon hit a layup following a Jordyn Martin steal. With 12 seconds left, it was Quinton Upshur scoring the game-winning layup to send the Jacks into the CIT semifinals.
There were no shortage of impressive performances for the Jacks. Martin had his second straight huge game, finishing with 15 points and 14 rebounds. Len Springs had 10 points, 14 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Dixon had 16 points and 6 rebounds, while Yanku finished with 19 points, 3 assists, and 3 steals.
NAU will take on the winner of the NJIT/Canisius game on Tuesday night. The Jacks are now 22-14 on the year, ending things on a high note! Hopefully the run will continue!
Follow me on Twitter @bigskybball
It was a wild affair, as NAU led for much of the way, including a 56-47 lead with a little over five minutes to play. An 11-0 run by Kent State then gave them the lead at 58-56 lead with 3:16 left to play. Eventually, a Kris Yanku free throw tied the game at 61, and the game went into overtime after a late Len Springs block.
In overtime, it looked like NAU's season was going to be ending, as the Golden Flashes took a 73-68 lead with just 41 seconds left. Then, Kris Yanku hit a pair of free throws, and Aaseem Dixon hit a layup following a Jordyn Martin steal. With 12 seconds left, it was Quinton Upshur scoring the game-winning layup to send the Jacks into the CIT semifinals.
There were no shortage of impressive performances for the Jacks. Martin had his second straight huge game, finishing with 15 points and 14 rebounds. Len Springs had 10 points, 14 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Dixon had 16 points and 6 rebounds, while Yanku finished with 19 points, 3 assists, and 3 steals.
NAU will take on the winner of the NJIT/Canisius game on Tuesday night. The Jacks are now 22-14 on the year, ending things on a high note! Hopefully the run will continue!
Follow me on Twitter @bigskybball
Monday, March 23, 2015
Northern Arizona Will Host Kent State
In the quarterfinals of the CIT, Northern Arizona will host Kent State on Friday, March 27 as they look to extend their season. An early guess after the game was that they might have to head to Eastern Kentucky, but I am glad to report that was incorrect.
A prediction from KenPom's computer models as NAU losing 65-64, so obviously this should be a very evenly matched contest.
Northern Arizona is 21-14 on the year, while Kent State is 23-11. It should be a fine matchup, and hopefully NAU can keep things going!
Follow me on Twitter @bigskybball
A prediction from KenPom's computer models as NAU losing 65-64, so obviously this should be a very evenly matched contest.
Northern Arizona is 21-14 on the year, while Kent State is 23-11. It should be a fine matchup, and hopefully NAU can keep things going!
Follow me on Twitter @bigskybball
Saturday, March 21, 2015
Northern Arizona Beats Sac State in CIT Second Round
Two Big Sky teams season was still going on entering Saturday night, but only one remains. Northern Arizona traveled to take on Sacramento State in the second round of the CIT, and they came away with the road victory for their 21st win of the season.
The final score was 78-73, and now Northern Arizona will advance to take on Eastern Kentucky in the next round, also on the road (according to what I have found, I have not seen this confirmed yet, as the matchups are determined after the previous round of games finishes).
Jordyn Martin was the Big Sky Defensive POY, but on this night, he was also the Jacks offensive star. He was 12/16 FG, finishing with 27 points and 6 rebounds. Quinton Upshur had 22 points himself, hitting three threes and finishing 9/11 from the line. The Jacks were 25/42 on their two-point attempts, scoring 1.20 PPP.
It is the final game in the excellent careers of Mikh McKinney and Dylan Garrity, who finished with 18 points each. And thus ends the best season in Hornets history. They finish 21-12, their first winning season since joining DI basketball. They won their first postseason game since 1962. They had an amazing run.
But for the Jacks, the season continues, and they move onto the quarterfinals of the CIT. They continue to lay the groundwork for the future of the program!
Follow me on Twitter @bigskybball
The final score was 78-73, and now Northern Arizona will advance to take on Eastern Kentucky in the next round, also on the road (according to what I have found, I have not seen this confirmed yet, as the matchups are determined after the previous round of games finishes).
Jordyn Martin was the Big Sky Defensive POY, but on this night, he was also the Jacks offensive star. He was 12/16 FG, finishing with 27 points and 6 rebounds. Quinton Upshur had 22 points himself, hitting three threes and finishing 9/11 from the line. The Jacks were 25/42 on their two-point attempts, scoring 1.20 PPP.
It is the final game in the excellent careers of Mikh McKinney and Dylan Garrity, who finished with 18 points each. And thus ends the best season in Hornets history. They finish 21-12, their first winning season since joining DI basketball. They won their first postseason game since 1962. They had an amazing run.
But for the Jacks, the season continues, and they move onto the quarterfinals of the CIT. They continue to lay the groundwork for the future of the program!
Follow me on Twitter @bigskybball
Thursday, March 19, 2015
Northern Arizona and Sacramento State Will Meet in the CIT
And you thought Big Sky play was over!
On Wednesday in the CIT, both Northern Arizona and Sacramento State advanced to the next round... For the next round, NAU will travel to take on Sacramento State, who will host the game at their home gym.
Northern Arizona beat Grand Canyon, shutting down former Lumberjack DeWayne Russell (3 points on 1/10 FG) in the process. Aaseem Dixon had 21 points to lead the way, while Jordyn Martin contributed 10 points and 14 rebounds. The win makes it a 20 win season for the Lumberjacks, their first since 2008.
Meanwhile, Sac State went on the road and beat Portland 73-66, getting their first postseason win since 1962! Dylan Garrity led the way with 17 points, while Mikh McKinney was right behind with 16. That gives the Hornets 21 wins on the season.
On Tuesday night, Montana saw their season end in the NIT, as they were taken down by Texas A&M, 81-64. The Grizzlies rallied in the second half, but they weren't able to sustain their momentum. Their season ends at 20-13. Jordan Gregory had 20 points, seven rebounds, and five assists to wrap up a great Montana career.
Follow me on Twitter @bigskybball
On Wednesday in the CIT, both Northern Arizona and Sacramento State advanced to the next round... For the next round, NAU will travel to take on Sacramento State, who will host the game at their home gym.
Northern Arizona beat Grand Canyon, shutting down former Lumberjack DeWayne Russell (3 points on 1/10 FG) in the process. Aaseem Dixon had 21 points to lead the way, while Jordyn Martin contributed 10 points and 14 rebounds. The win makes it a 20 win season for the Lumberjacks, their first since 2008.
Meanwhile, Sac State went on the road and beat Portland 73-66, getting their first postseason win since 1962! Dylan Garrity led the way with 17 points, while Mikh McKinney was right behind with 16. That gives the Hornets 21 wins on the season.
On Tuesday night, Montana saw their season end in the NIT, as they were taken down by Texas A&M, 81-64. The Grizzlies rallied in the second half, but they weren't able to sustain their momentum. Their season ends at 20-13. Jordan Gregory had 20 points, seven rebounds, and five assists to wrap up a great Montana career.
Follow me on Twitter @bigskybball
Monday, March 17, 2014
Big Sky Teams Postseason Tournaments
We know about Weber State in the NCAA Tournament, but they are not the only team that will be playing postseason basketball.
Big Sky runner-up North Dakota will be playing in the CIT for the fourth straight season. In the opening round Wednesday, they will take on Nebraska-Omaha.
Northern Colorado also got a berth in the CIT, and they will get to host a game to boot. Texas A&M Corpus-Christi will come to Greeley on Wednesday night.
Last, Portland State also got the invite to the CIT, and they will travel to take on San Diego on Tuesday night. The berth is great validation for Tyler Geving and his club, who has such a strong finish to the season.
The focus this time of year is on the NCAA Tournament, but it is a good sign for the Big Sky that three other teams are playing in postseason tournaments. We'll be following along with everyone here!
Follow me on Twitter @bigskybball
Big Sky runner-up North Dakota will be playing in the CIT for the fourth straight season. In the opening round Wednesday, they will take on Nebraska-Omaha.
Northern Colorado also got a berth in the CIT, and they will get to host a game to boot. Texas A&M Corpus-Christi will come to Greeley on Wednesday night.
Last, Portland State also got the invite to the CIT, and they will travel to take on San Diego on Tuesday night. The berth is great validation for Tyler Geving and his club, who has such a strong finish to the season.
The focus this time of year is on the NCAA Tournament, but it is a good sign for the Big Sky that three other teams are playing in postseason tournaments. We'll be following along with everyone here!
Follow me on Twitter @bigskybball
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Weber State Loses CIT Title Game on Buzzer Beater
Weber State got a home game for the CIT Finals, but it wasn't enough for them to bring home the championship. In a wild game, East Carolina got a buzzer beating three pointer from Akeem Richmond to snatch the 77-74 victory.
Weber State trailed by seven at halftime, but they had a lot of chances down the stretch. The Wildcats had a 71-65 with 2:30 left to play, but struggled to put the game away at the line. They finished just 9/19 from the charity stripe, including six free throws in the final three minutes. Davion Berry (76% FT shooter) was 4/6, Kyle Tresnak (72%) was 2/7, and even Scott Bamforth (87%) missed a free throw down the stretch.
Weber State finishes the season 30-7, the most wins in school history. It was a great season for them, and they have a lot to be proud about. They had a nice postseason run, and that should pay dividends for a lot of their young guys.
Seniors Frank Otis and Bamforth ended their careers with outstanding games. Otis was 8/12 for 16 points and 8 rebounds, while Bamforth had 19 points, including four more three-pointers. They had great senior years, and they will be missed next year.
With the end of this game, it means that the offseason is officially upon us for all Big Sky teams.
Follow me on Twitter @bigskybball
Weber State trailed by seven at halftime, but they had a lot of chances down the stretch. The Wildcats had a 71-65 with 2:30 left to play, but struggled to put the game away at the line. They finished just 9/19 from the charity stripe, including six free throws in the final three minutes. Davion Berry (76% FT shooter) was 4/6, Kyle Tresnak (72%) was 2/7, and even Scott Bamforth (87%) missed a free throw down the stretch.
Weber State finishes the season 30-7, the most wins in school history. It was a great season for them, and they have a lot to be proud about. They had a nice postseason run, and that should pay dividends for a lot of their young guys.
Seniors Frank Otis and Bamforth ended their careers with outstanding games. Otis was 8/12 for 16 points and 8 rebounds, while Bamforth had 19 points, including four more three-pointers. They had great senior years, and they will be missed next year.
With the end of this game, it means that the offseason is officially upon us for all Big Sky teams.
Follow me on Twitter @bigskybball
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Weber State Beats Oral Roberts to Advance to CIT Semifinals
For the second time this season, Weber State has beaten Oral Roberts. The first time, it was during Bracket Busters. This time, it was to advance to the semifinals of the CIT. Weber State led the whole way, but it was close throughout, as the Wildcats won it by a final score of 83-74.
Weber State was led by a huge performance from Davion Berry, who finished with 27 points, 10 assists, and 7 rebounds. He had some help also from Kyle Tresnak (19 points, 8 rebounds) and Scott Bamforth (18 points). Those three guys have been playing at a high level lately, and Tresnak is showing more consistency as the excellent big man that his talent suggests he can be.
“I couldn’t be more proud of how our team fought and played together against a really good team,” said WSU head coach Randy Rahe. “The whole team really stepped up and we had lots of guys contribute. We came out with really good energy in the second half.”
Weber State moves to 29-6 on the year, which is pretty remarkable! They will try to reach the 30 win mark on Friday, as they head to take on Northern Iowa on the road in the CIT semifinals. If they win, they would play the winner of East Carolina and Evansville.
Follow me on Twitter @bigskybball
Weber State was led by a huge performance from Davion Berry, who finished with 27 points, 10 assists, and 7 rebounds. He had some help also from Kyle Tresnak (19 points, 8 rebounds) and Scott Bamforth (18 points). Those three guys have been playing at a high level lately, and Tresnak is showing more consistency as the excellent big man that his talent suggests he can be.
“I couldn’t be more proud of how our team fought and played together against a really good team,” said WSU head coach Randy Rahe. “The whole team really stepped up and we had lots of guys contribute. We came out with really good energy in the second half.”
Weber State moves to 29-6 on the year, which is pretty remarkable! They will try to reach the 30 win mark on Friday, as they head to take on Northern Iowa on the road in the CIT semifinals. If they win, they would play the winner of East Carolina and Evansville.
Follow me on Twitter @bigskybball
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Weber State Advances in the CIT
Weber State got another home game on Saturday night, as Air Force came into Ogden. Air Force was playing without Michael Lyons, its leading scorer at 17.7 points per game. Weber State took advantage, never trailing in the game. They led by 6 at the break before jumping out to an 11-2 run to kick off the second half, eventually winning 78-57 to advance in the CIT. They will play in Ogden again, facing the winner of the UC Irvine and Oral Roberts game on Wednesday night.
A couple of records were broken in this game as well:
Kyle Tresnak also had 21 points (on 9/10 shooting) and finished with five rebounds.
No matter who they take on Saturday, it will be a rematch for Weber State. They beat UC Irvine 65-51 earlier this year (in Ogden) and beat Oral Roberts 70-66 in Bracket Busters as well (that was in Tulsa).
Follow me on Twitter @bigskybball
A couple of records were broken in this game as well:
The win breaks the WSU school record of 27 wins set by Phil Johnson’s squad in 1968-69 and is also a new Big Sky Conference record for wins in a season.Scott Bamforth finished the day with 21 points, and kudos to him for breaking that record (which Lillard held for one year). Bamforth came into the conference as just a great shooter, and he will leave it as an all-around great Big Sky player.
“Reaching that record is terrific for our program and I’m really happy for our players,” Rahe added. “I think it really speaks volumes for our players and how tough they have worked. It’s a great accomplishment and it’s something they will never forget.”
WSU also had another school record broken Saturday night. WSU senior Scott Bamforth knocked down five three-pointers and became the Weber State career leader with 247 three-pointers, breaking Damian Lillard’s previous record of 246. Bamforth is now tied for fifth in Big Sky history in career three-pointers.
Kyle Tresnak also had 21 points (on 9/10 shooting) and finished with five rebounds.
No matter who they take on Saturday, it will be a rematch for Weber State. They beat UC Irvine 65-51 earlier this year (in Ogden) and beat Oral Roberts 70-66 in Bracket Busters as well (that was in Tulsa).
Follow me on Twitter @bigskybball
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
First Round CIT Action - Weber State Cruises
Two Big Sky teams qualified for the collegeinsider.com tournament, and both had their opening round matches on Wednesday night.
In one tilt, Weber State absolutely obliterated Cal Poly, despite some concern that they might not play their hardest due to being relegated to the CIT. The Wildcats jumped out to a 45-18 halftime lead en route to a 85-43 victory. Among Weber's dominance... they shot 60% from the floor (compared to 30% for the Mustangs), were 10/22 from behind the arc, and held Cal Poly to 3/14 from downtown.
There were many stars for Weber. Scott Bamforth was a ridiculous 7/9 from downtown, finishing with 23 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists. Kyle Tresnak was 10/11 from the field, finishing with a cool 20 points and 5 rebounds in 22 minutes. Off the bench, Joel Bolomboy had 10 points and 8 rebounds in 17 minutes. Iit was an overwhelming performance from Weber State.
It's not like Cal Poly is a pushover either. They were 18/13, finished 12-6 in the Big West, and lost a close game to Pacific in the conference tournament (Pacific is in the NCAA tournament now). Weber State just crushed them from the get go. I am not sure who Weber State will play in the tournament, but the second round game will be between March 22-24. If I had to guess, my thinking is they will play the winner of the Air Force vs Hawaii tilt.
-----
In the other game, North Dakota's season came to an end against Northern Iowa, as they fell to the Panthers for the second time this season. They trailed by 13 at halftime before losing 77-66.
In the final game of the year, Troy Huff was again stellar, finishing with an efficient 22 points and 4 steals. He will enter next season as one of the conference player of the year favorites. Jamal Webb also had a solid game, scoring 11 points (all in the second half) while getting 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals.
UND simply couldn't stop UNI in this game, as the Panthers shot 51% from the floor, made nine threes, and got to the stripe 25 times.
North Dakota finishes the year with a record of 16-17. Though they couldn't reach the .500 mark for the year, there was a lot of good things for them to build on for next season.
Follow me on Twitter @bigskybball
In one tilt, Weber State absolutely obliterated Cal Poly, despite some concern that they might not play their hardest due to being relegated to the CIT. The Wildcats jumped out to a 45-18 halftime lead en route to a 85-43 victory. Among Weber's dominance... they shot 60% from the floor (compared to 30% for the Mustangs), were 10/22 from behind the arc, and held Cal Poly to 3/14 from downtown.
There were many stars for Weber. Scott Bamforth was a ridiculous 7/9 from downtown, finishing with 23 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists. Kyle Tresnak was 10/11 from the field, finishing with a cool 20 points and 5 rebounds in 22 minutes. Off the bench, Joel Bolomboy had 10 points and 8 rebounds in 17 minutes. Iit was an overwhelming performance from Weber State.
It's not like Cal Poly is a pushover either. They were 18/13, finished 12-6 in the Big West, and lost a close game to Pacific in the conference tournament (Pacific is in the NCAA tournament now). Weber State just crushed them from the get go. I am not sure who Weber State will play in the tournament, but the second round game will be between March 22-24. If I had to guess, my thinking is they will play the winner of the Air Force vs Hawaii tilt.
-----
In the other game, North Dakota's season came to an end against Northern Iowa, as they fell to the Panthers for the second time this season. They trailed by 13 at halftime before losing 77-66.
In the final game of the year, Troy Huff was again stellar, finishing with an efficient 22 points and 4 steals. He will enter next season as one of the conference player of the year favorites. Jamal Webb also had a solid game, scoring 11 points (all in the second half) while getting 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals.
UND simply couldn't stop UNI in this game, as the Panthers shot 51% from the floor, made nine threes, and got to the stripe 25 times.
North Dakota finishes the year with a record of 16-17. Though they couldn't reach the .500 mark for the year, there was a lot of good things for them to build on for next season.
Follow me on Twitter @bigskybball
Sunday, March 17, 2013
North Dakota Earns Third Straight CIT Berth
The last two years, North Dakota earned a spot in the collegeinsider.com tournament based on their winning The Great West. This year, there was no guarantee, but they will be heading to the CIT once again. They will travel to take on Northern Iowa, in a game scheduled for Thursday night.
Follow me on Twitter @bigskybball
This will be UND's second trip to play in the McLeod Center this season as the Panthers (18-14, 11-7 Missouri Valley) knocked off the Green and White 72-47 on Nov. 17. That was the second of an eight-game stretch that UND (16-16) played without leading scorer Troy Huff, who returned to health to lead the Big Sky in scoring with a 19.2 ppg average.UND head coach Brian Jones is a Northern Iowa grad, while Northern Iowa head coach Ben Jacobson is a North Dakota graduate. The connection between these programs runs deep, so it is fitting that they will meet for the second time this year!
Follow me on Twitter @bigskybball
Weber State Will Host Cal Poly in the CIT
Weber State has found out where they land in the postseason shuffle, and unlike last year, they will be hosting a first round game in the Collegeinsider.com tournament.
Follow me on Twitter @bigskybball
Weber State's season will continue. The Wildcat men's basketball team has accepted an invitation to play in the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament for the second-straight season. Weber State host Cal Poly on Wednesday, March 20 at 7:00 p.m. at the Dee Events Center.Cal Poly is 18-13 overall and finished 12-6 in the Big West.
Follow me on Twitter @bigskybball
Friday, March 16, 2012
Weber State Gets Raw Deal in CIT
Weber State won their opener in the collegeinsider.com tournament on Tuesday night, and it was assumed that they would get another home game.
After all, they won 25 games, have the best player in the tournament, have the best RPI of any team in the tournament (I believe), and had the best opening round attendance. However, they will be going on the road on Sunday to play Loyola Marymount.
Weber State drew 2,334 fans to their opener, while LMU drew 1,161 fans. For the year, Weber State consistently drew fans much better than LMU. Once again, they have the better record, better RPI, and better star player. There is no reason that they should be going on the road for a game like this.
End of rant.
Follow me on Twitter @bigskybball
After all, they won 25 games, have the best player in the tournament, have the best RPI of any team in the tournament (I believe), and had the best opening round attendance. However, they will be going on the road on Sunday to play Loyola Marymount.
Weber State drew 2,334 fans to their opener, while LMU drew 1,161 fans. For the year, Weber State consistently drew fans much better than LMU. Once again, they have the better record, better RPI, and better star player. There is no reason that they should be going on the road for a game like this.
End of rant.
Follow me on Twitter @bigskybball
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Weber State Will Play in the CIT
Somehow, Weber State has missed the NIT. I would have thought they would get a bid over teams like Illinois State, Minnesota, or Iowa, but they have been left out of the field with a 24-6 overall record.
Instead, they will play Utah Vallay on Tuesday night at the Dee Events Center. UVU finished 200-12 on the year and 9-2 in the Great West, but lost in the semifinals to NJIT (who then lost to UND).
It is certainly a disappointment for Weber State to miss the NIT (just ask Damian Lillard), but hopefully they will be able to take out that frustration and turn it into a successful CIT run.
Follow me on Twitter @bigskybball
Instead, they will play Utah Vallay on Tuesday night at the Dee Events Center. UVU finished 200-12 on the year and 9-2 in the Great West, but lost in the semifinals to NJIT (who then lost to UND).
It is certainly a disappointment for Weber State to miss the NIT (just ask Damian Lillard), but hopefully they will be able to take out that frustration and turn it into a successful CIT run.
Follow me on Twitter @bigskybball
North Dakota Wins The Great West
For the second straight season, North Dakota has won the Great West Tournament and will head to the collegeinsider.com tournament. This year was a little less dramatic, as they took care of NJIT with a 75-60 victory.
UND trailed by two at the break, but came out storming with a strong second half to capture the title. Balance was the key for UND, as they had five players in double figures, with four of them being sophomores. That type of youth is why the future could be bright for UND, if they are able to take the next step this offseason.
According to the team's twitter feed, they will be traveling to take on Drake in the first round on either Tuesday or Wednesday. A berth in the CIT is not like a berth in the NCAA Tournament or NIT, but making it two straight years is a step in the right direction for a team that becomes Tournament eligible next season.
Follow me on Twitter @bigskybball
UND trailed by two at the break, but came out storming with a strong second half to capture the title. Balance was the key for UND, as they had five players in double figures, with four of them being sophomores. That type of youth is why the future could be bright for UND, if they are able to take the next step this offseason.
According to the team's twitter feed, they will be traveling to take on Drake in the first round on either Tuesday or Wednesday. A berth in the CIT is not like a berth in the NCAA Tournament or NIT, but making it two straight years is a step in the right direction for a team that becomes Tournament eligible next season.
Follow me on Twitter @bigskybball
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)