What is happening to the Big Sky Conference

Old Skool Cat · Post by **Old Skool Cat** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 10:29 am

I've said this many times before and it's worth repeating. When it comes to basketball, every game in the Big Sky is a dogfight. It's been that way for years. Traditionally, IMHO, you will see more upsets in college basketball than you will in college football. Even when there is a clear favorite in the BSC, I have always believed that any team has a good chance at winning. Also, don't blindly look at Northern Colorado's record and think they are a bad team. They have lost several very close ball games, including a couple of OT losses on the road to EWU & PSU in the same weekend. This is a talented Bears team that will give many teams fits for years to come. Keep in mind we only beat them by three last time we played. I also mentioned on another thread that it is tough to get road wins in our conference. The game was at Greeley last night. All that said, it only benefits the Cats, as we move one game closer to first place and hosting the BSC tourney in our barn!

Old Skool Cat · Post by **Old Skool Cat** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 10:39 am

MakeStuffUp - that's what you must be doing, because you also mentioned that NAU has dropped two straight to sub-par teams. They lost on Sunday to Idaho State, who I am far from considering a sub-par team. They currently sit at 5-3 in conference play, as do the Cats. Does that mean we are sub-par also? Hell, we lost to Sac State, which is by far a worse loss than NAU losing to NC when you consider RPI. Not trying to slam ya, just trying to figure out your line of thought.

Post by **rtb** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 11:03 am

MSU=MakeStuffUp wrote:I only mentioned UNC and ISU as sub-par because no one would have thought they could be the BSC champ any point during this season. Also, NAU looked so dominate over the first half that yes I would conceder UNC and ISU sub-par compared to NAU.

My second point is since my handle is MSU=MakeStuffUp you must be thinking that I am a Cat hater but I am an alumni so don't get too caught up in fan loyalty just because my handle doesn't say "Cat Fan" or “Cat Booster"

I was just pointing out that NAU should have won both those games and now they have lost two in a row.

I disagree that they should have won both. Teams have had a hard time winning in Greeley this year. Our win down there was no small win and could be the difference in the conference. Both PSU and NAU who are good teams have lost at UNC this year. I think what's happening is that there is some balance in the Big Sky this year. I've never felt one team is dominate or that one team is flat out bad this year. It's well balanced this year.

Post by **rtb** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 11:29 am

MSU=MakeStuffUp wrote:You have your opinion and I have mine

Yep, and that is the main principle of a message board is to discuss your opinion and back it up or see the other side of a discussion. So after seeing that both NAU and PSU have lost in Greeley does that change your mind at all?

Old Skool Cat · Post by **Old Skool Cat** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 11:38 am

MSU=MakeStuffUp wrote:I only mentioned UNC and ISU as sub-par because no one would have thought they could be the BSC champ any point during this season. Also, NAU looked so dominate over the first half that yes I would conceder UNC and ISU sub-par compared to NAU.

My second point is since my handle is MSU=MakeStuffUp you must be thinking that I am a Cat hater but I am an alumni so don't get too caught up in fan loyalty just because my handle doesn't say "Cat Fan" or “Cat Booster"

I was just pointing out that NAU should have won both those games and now they have lost two in a row.

NAU may have been the favorite in both those games, but being a favorite has never guaranteed any team a win. If it did, we wouldn't need to play the games, and we could just hand the trophy over to the Griz since they were the pre-season pick by both the media and the coaches. Anyone who has really followed Big Sky basketball over a number of years will tell you how competitive it is. Sure, there are certain teams that are better than others, but nobody ever really runs away with the conference title. In fact, many times the tourney champion is different from the regular season champion, proving how hard it is to win in the Big Sky, even when you own home court advantage.

Also, I wasn't slamming your handle. From previous posts, it's been apparent you are a Cat fan. However, you titled the thread "What is happening to the Big Sky Conference?" based on the outcome of one or two single games. My response was "Nothing is happening that hasn't happened before." One good team got beat by an up-and-comer. Same thing happens every season in the Sky.

GFCatFan · Post by **GFCatFan** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 12:18 pm

You two shake hands and make up or we're calling in Mr. Hand

Old Skool Cat · Post by **Old Skool Cat** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 12:28 pm

GFCatFan wrote:You two shake hands and make up or we're calling in Mr. Hand

"I just couldn't make it on time. There's like a full crowd scene at the food line."

GrizinWashington · Post by **GrizinWashington** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 1:26 pm

If I'm here. And you're here. Doesn't that make it our time?

kstack · Post by **kstack** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 1:28 pm

Cat Grad · Post by **Cat Grad** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 3:00 pm

Hate to point out the obvious, or what some suspect is the obvious in that our conference's football and basketball games are not determined by the kids playing the game on the field or on the court (both boys and girls) but rather by a group of middle aged men and women wearing zebra shirts.

Now, go back and enjoy MHSA basketball games and ask whether or not various official pools will not only influence but determine which team winds up with the most points after 32 minutes of play.

Old Skool Cat · Post by **Old Skool Cat** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 3:21 pm

Cat Grad wrote:Hate to point out the obvious, or what some suspect is the obvious in that our conference's football and basketball games are not determined by the kids playing the game on the field or on the court (both boys and girls) but rather by a group of middle aged men and women wearing zebra shirts.

Now, go back and enjoy MHSA basketball games and ask whether or not various official pools will not only influence but determine which team winds up with the most points after 32 minutes of play.

Sorry, but I don't buy that arguement. I honestly believe that BSC officiating is no worse than anywhere else. Are there bad calls from time to time? You bet - it happens anytime the human element is brought into play. You think NBA officiating is stellar? Ask NFL fans how instant reply is treating them. There are still missed calls even with the best technology. It is how you react and respond to those calls that differentiate the winners from the losers. It gets really old listening to whining and complaining about the officials. Want to make a difference - put on an officials jersey and you go out there and put your integrity and judgment on the line.

kstack · Post by **kstack** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 3:43 pm

Old Skool Cat wrote:
Cat Grad wrote:Hate to point out the obvious, or what some suspect is the obvious in that our conference's football and basketball games are not determined by the kids playing the game on the field or on the court (both boys and girls) but rather by a group of middle aged men and women wearing zebra shirts.

Now, go back and enjoy MHSA basketball games and ask whether or not various official pools will not only influence but determine which team winds up with the most points after 32 minutes of play.
Sorry, but I don't buy that arguement. I honestly believe that BSC officiating is no worse than anywhere else. Are there bad calls from time to time? You bet - it happens anytime the human element is brought into play. You think NBA officiating is stellar? Ask NFL fans how instant reply is treating them. There are still missed calls even with the best technology. It is how you react and respond to those calls that differentiate the winners from the losers. It gets really old listening to whining and complaining about the officials. Want to make a difference - put on an officials jersey and you go out there and put your integrity and judgment on the line.

All good points

GrizinWashington · Post by **GrizinWashington** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 3:45 pm

Cat Grad wrote:Hate to point out the obvious, or what some suspect is the obvious in that our conference's football and basketball games are not determined by the kids playing the game on the field or on the court (both boys and girls) but rather by a group of middle aged men and women wearing zebra shirts.

Now, go back and enjoy MHSA basketball games and ask whether or not various official pools will not only influence but determine which team winds up with the most points after 32 minutes of play.

Sorry, but this is a load.

catamaran · Post by **catamaran** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 3:49 pm

Cat Grad wrote:Hate to point out the obvious, or what some suspect is the obvious in that our conference's football and basketball games are not determined by the kids playing the game on the field or on the court (both boys and girls) but rather by a group of middle aged men and women wearing zebra shirts.

Now, go back and enjoy MHSA basketball games and ask whether or not various official pools will not only influence but determine which team winds up with the most points after 32 minutes of play.

If you really think officials care who wins the games then you might be a moron

MTBobcatFan · Post by **MTBobcatFan** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 4:34 pm

I think the Big Sky Conference is a weak conference from top to bottom and that's why you see schools at the bottom of the conference standings beating teams in the upper standings. No one team has stood out in the conference the past few years except Montana a couple of years ago.

brucat5 · Post by **brucat5** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 4:50 pm

MTBobcatFan wrote:I think the Big Sky Conference is a weak conference from top to bottom and that's why you see schools at the bottom of the conference standings beating teams in the upper standings. No one team has stood out in the conference the past few years except Montana a couple of years ago.

I don't know if its that the conference is weak, or that we just lack a really dominant team like the Griz under Coach Krys. It seems to me that it could be that we're all just good teams...and not a great one in the bunch. Hopefully it turns out the we're the hottest team down the stretch and we can make a run at it.

BelgradeBobcat · Post by **BelgradeBobcat** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 4:57 pm

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/columns/story?id=1706275

The above link is a very interesting piece about winning on the road in college basketball. I suggest reading the whole thing, but the following quote mentions the Big Sky's unique travel issues:

Destinations can also make some road trips harder than others. Take, for example, the Big Sky Conference. This conference is a travel agent's worst nightmare. Like the Pac-10, the conference pairs its teams with travel partners, allowing teams to play two games per road trip. Still, the travel is brutal.

In the case of a team like Montana, Pat Kennedy's squad will play at Sacramento State on Thursday night and 48 hours later, play at Northern Arizona in Flagstaff. Montana State, the Grizzlies' travel partner, just reverses the order. Needless to say, it is difficult to get from Missoula, Mont., to Sacramento and then to Flagstaff ... before returning to Missoula.

To put this trip in perspective, it's like visiting the Golden Gate Bridge, being at the rim of the Grand Canyon two days later, and then returning home to Glacier National Park.

It was written in 2004 so it doesn't include the extra wrinkle of having Northern Colorado in the league.

MTBobcatFan · Post by **MTBobcatFan** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 5:13 pm

brucat5 wrote:
MTBobcatFan wrote:I think the Big Sky Conference is a weak conference from top to bottom and that's why you see schools at the bottom of the conference standings beating teams in the upper standings. No one team has stood out in the conference the past few years except Montana a couple of years ago.
I don't know if its that the conference is weak, or that we just lack a really dominant team like the Griz under Coach Krys. It seems to me that it could be that we're all just good teams...and not a great one in the bunch. Hopefully it turns out the we're the hottest team down the stretch and we can make a run at it.

I always want the BSC to be strong. I just think it's one of the weaker conferences in the country again this year because all teams are mediocre. The best team in our conference has 8 losses oeverall (MSU, PUSS, NAU). If we had 2 or 3 dominant teams year after year, I would think otherwise.

grizzh8r · Post by **grizzh8r** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 7:33 pm

MTBobcatFan wrote:
brucat5 wrote:
MTBobcatFan wrote:I think the Big Sky Conference is a weak conference from top to bottom and that's why you see schools at the bottom of the conference standings beating teams in the upper standings. No one team has stood out in the conference the past few years except Montana a couple of years ago.
I don't know if its that the conference is weak, or that we just lack a really dominant team like the Griz under Coach Krys. It seems to me that it could be that we're all just good teams...and not a great one in the bunch. Hopefully it turns out the we're the hottest team down the stretch and we can make a run at it.
I always want the BSC to be strong. I just think it's one of the weaker conferences in the country again this year because all teams are mediocre. The best team in our conference has 8 losses oeverall (MSU, PUSS, NAU). If we had 2 or 3 dominant teams year after year, I would think otherwise.

We are halfway through the conference season. I will reserve judgement until the season is over. I think one or two teams will separate themselves from the pack.

Then promptly lose in the conference tourney.

It has happened so many times over the past decade, why should we expect anything less. See here for a list of Tourney winners. Since 2000, only 50% of the hosts have won the tourney.

Edit: bad link

CoryChen · Post by **CoryChen** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 10:48 pm

brucat5 wrote:
MTBobcatFan wrote:I think the Big Sky Conference is a weak conference from top to bottom and that's why you see schools at the bottom of the conference standings beating teams in the upper standings. No one team has stood out in the conference the past few years except Montana a couple of years ago.
I don't know if its that the conference is weak, or that we just lack a really dominant team like the Griz under Coach Krys. It seems to me that it could be that we're all just good teams...and not a great one in the bunch. Hopefully it turns out the we're the hottest team down the stretch and we can make a run at it.

I wouldn't call Coach Krys's tenure at Montana dominant at all. His team fared well in the BSC tourney, but they didn't dominate the league...in fact, I don't remember the last time UM won the regular season title and hosted the conference tourney.