With the throes of the offseason all around us, I thought it would be fun to take a look at the 20 best players that are departing from the Big Sky, either due to graduating, declaring for the draft, or transferring.
Often it is a slight to say that a 7-footer plays like a guard, so I have to clarify when I say this... I mean this next sentence as a compliment. Derek Selvig of Montana is a guard stuck in a 7-footer's body.
It is not uncommon for a big man to want to take a lot of threes, or dribble too much. Usually though, this is a problem for the offense because that big man is not a good shooter, and does not have good ballhandling skills. That was not the case for Selvig throughout his career. Though it often frustrated Montana fans throughout his career, Selvig was at his best offensively when he was on the perimeter, and it made him a difficult matchup problem for the defense.
Last season, he shot 44% from downtown, and the season before he shot 39%. In comparison, shot 38% from twos last year and 42% the year before... his skillset was simply not meant to play down low, and he was less effective when he tried to. Going along with the perimeter skills, he was a very good ballhandler and one of the best passers in the conference. He posted strong assist rates, especially for a big man. Sometimes people will temper praise by saying things like, "He is a good passer for a big man." In Selvig's case, I stop with, "He is a good passer."
Of course, he did have to pick up some of the slack defensively after the graduation of Brian Qvale, and he did well with that. He upped his rebounding and block numbers last year, which was a huge help for a Montana team that was very thin in the frontcourt.
Derek Selvig's career maybe wasn't what some Montana fans wanted, and he didn't develop a great inside game... but he was very good at what he did. He was a guard trapped in a big man's body, which worked for him because he was such a good ballhandler, shooter, and passer. He will be missed by the Grizzlies.
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Thursday, June 28, 2012
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Top Departing Players #8: James Douglas
It was a rough season for Northern Arizona. Their best player missed a lot of the year due to injury, their head-coach resigned/got fired, and they lost their final 16 games en route to a last place, 5-24 (1-15) finish in the Big Sky. One of the bright spots was true freshman James Douglas, who led the team in scoring with 11.8 points per game. However, following the coaching change, he has decided to transfer from the school.
His efficiency stats do not look good, but I think that was more of a function of the fact that he was the focal point of the offense and main facilitator of the offense, which is a big role for a true freshman. He shot 44% from two-point rang,e and 38% from downtown. He made 74% of his free throws, but he was not great at getting to the line.
He did show nice athleticism going to the hoop, and that combined with a nice outside shot gave you the feeling that he could have had the chance to lead the Big Sky in scoring at some point in his career. His talent level was that good.
He was not a great creator yet, but he could get some open shots for teammates. He had a 17.7 assist rate (2.2 assists per game), but he was certainly a scoring point guard first. He had 35 steals on the season, and that number could have gone up with more seasoning and coaching.
James Douglas was one of the most promising young players in the conference last year, and it was between him and Dylan Garrity for freshman of the year... unfortunately, we will not get to see his career progress in the Big Sky, since he will be moving on.
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Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Top Departing Players #9: Cliff Ederaine
With the throes of the offseason all around us, I thought it would be fun to take a look at the 20 best players that are departing from the Big Sky, either due to graduating, declaring for the draft, or transferring.
Cliff Ederaine for Eastern Washington was (kind of sneakily) one of the more versatile players in the Big Sky this season. He was a forward that was comfortable playing in the post (and hardly ever shot from three-point range), but he also had very solid ballhandling skills and could create shots for himself and others.
Like Mike Proctor, he was one of the best rebounders in the conference, with a 20.2 DR% (for averages, he pulled down 7.3 boards per game). He hit the glass hard for them on both ends. Offensively, he shot 51% from twos, though he made just 61% of his freebies. He could create his own shot, but he was not super efficient there.
The great thing about Ederaine was that he contributed in every facet of the game. He had a 20.3 Assist Rate (3.0 per game), which is robust for a guy that played mostly power forward for them. He could protect the glass a bit, with 1.3 blockes per game (5.1 block %) and 1.3 steals per game (2.5 steals %). Obviously he was nobody's defensive player of the year in the conference, but he helped out on that end.
He had some weaknesses... he fouled too much (like seemingly everyone else for the Eagles last year) and he turned it over too much (sometimes he tried to make too much happen), but he was an important player for EWU in that he did a bit of everything for them. How they replace him will be a key factor in determining the course of their season.
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Cliff Ederaine for Eastern Washington was (kind of sneakily) one of the more versatile players in the Big Sky this season. He was a forward that was comfortable playing in the post (and hardly ever shot from three-point range), but he also had very solid ballhandling skills and could create shots for himself and others.
Like Mike Proctor, he was one of the best rebounders in the conference, with a 20.2 DR% (for averages, he pulled down 7.3 boards per game). He hit the glass hard for them on both ends. Offensively, he shot 51% from twos, though he made just 61% of his freebies. He could create his own shot, but he was not super efficient there.
The great thing about Ederaine was that he contributed in every facet of the game. He had a 20.3 Assist Rate (3.0 per game), which is robust for a guy that played mostly power forward for them. He could protect the glass a bit, with 1.3 blockes per game (5.1 block %) and 1.3 steals per game (2.5 steals %). Obviously he was nobody's defensive player of the year in the conference, but he helped out on that end.
He had some weaknesses... he fouled too much (like seemingly everyone else for the Eagles last year) and he turned it over too much (sometimes he tried to make too much happen), but he was an important player for EWU in that he did a bit of everything for them. How they replace him will be a key factor in determining the course of their season.
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Monday, June 25, 2012
Top Departing Players #10: Mike Proctor
Northern Colorado was the youngest team in the Big Sky last season, and by the end of the season had just one upperclassmen on the roster. That player was Mike Proctor, who seemed to be just as important for the intangible things as he was for the tangible things to the Northern Colorado team.
First, the tangible. He was easily the best rebounder on the team and one of the best in the conference at 6.8 boards per game. He had a stellar 22.9 DR% last season, which was the best mark in the Big Sky. He did the dirty work on the glass that the team needed.
Offensively, he had some struggles from the free throw line this year, but he was still a pretty solid and efficient offensive player. He shot an excellent 62% from the field, and did get to the line frequently. He was a solid passer for a big man, and looked to get guys involved and get them shots. He would surprise at times with his ability to get his own shot.
Of course, the things that Northern Colorado and BJ Hill will miss the most will probably be the things that don't show up in the box scores. Defensively, he was very vocal in making sure that everyone was set, or that someone knew a screen was coming. These are things that young teams and young players struggle with, but he always set the tone in this regard. I am sure this message will be carried through in future years. Proctor was the leader of the team, and you could tell that he always left everything he had on the court. He did not have great athleticism, but he made the most out of what he had, and became a very good college basketball player. Once again, his example of leadership and hard work will set the tone for the program, as they try to take the next step.
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Friday, June 22, 2012
Mike Brown Ends Up at Colorado Christian
According to a post from a family member on a message board, former Weber State guard Mike Brown will be playing basketball at Colorado Christian after transferring from the Wildcats.
And since Colorado Christian is in Lakewood, CO (where I live and work), maybe I'll even have to go catch one of his games!
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I just wanted to post an update for those of you who have wondered where Michael would end up playing. He was fortunate enough to have had quite a few options, but has finally settled on Colorado Christian.Brown was a freshmen last year, but did not see a lot of game action. Still, a lot of people were excited about his potential. From all accounts he is a great kid, and we wish him luck at his next stop (and beyond).
It was a difficult decision for Michael to leave Weber State, because he loved his teammates, and really enjoyed his time there, but he realized that he needed to be at a school where he could pursue an education that was more in line with his future goals--working in some form of ministry. I know he is very thankful for the experiences he had, the friendships he made, and the opportunity to be a Wildcat. I also want to thank all of you for being such loyal and supportive fans of the team. Being part of a D1 basketball team was Michael's dream for a very long time, and it's a memory that he will always cherish, in part because the fans made it such an incredible experience. This transfer just moves him closer to another dream that has become his lifelong plan--being able to help people.
I also offer my thanks to those who have been so supportive to Michael at school, in basketball, and on these boards. I'll be there supporting Weber State as much as I can next season (at least as long as they don't schedule any games against CCU)!
And since Colorado Christian is in Lakewood, CO (where I live and work), maybe I'll even have to go catch one of his games!
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Thursday, June 21, 2012
Top Departing Players Recap: #11-20
With the throes of the offseason all around us, I thought it would be fun to take a look at the 20 best players that are departing from the Big Sky, either due to graduating, declaring for the draft, or transferring.
Before we take a look at the top ten, just in case you missed any, here are links to 11-20.
11. Art Steward (Montana)
Art Steward was the very definition of a glue guy. He was the least heralded guy in the Montana starting lineup, but he did everything that Wayne Tinkle could have asked from him.
12. Laron Griffin (Eastern Washington)
One of the more underappreciated players in the Big Sky this season was big man Laron Griffin of Eastern Washington. He got overshadowed by some other guys on that team, but he was a steady, reliable player in the frontcourt for them.
13. Kenny McGowen (Idaho State)
During Idaho State's magical run in the middle of the season, it was Kenny McGowen that seemed to hit clutch shot after clutch shot. He hit game-winning shots in multiple games, and had a game of 37 points this year (and a couple games with 30+ points).
14. Mohamed Fall (Montana State)
Much has been made this offseason about the reason that Fall won't be available this year, but not as much has been made about the impact that his loss will have. He was one of the best defensive big men in the conference (if not the best), and was a guy that could at least contribute a bit offensively as well. For a guy that was just coming into his own, it's a shame that we won't get to watch him develop for one more season.
15. Patrick Mitchell (North Dakota)
North Dakota has been one of the youngest teams in the country for the past two seasons, but there has been one major upperclassmen contributor - Patrick Mitchell. He is not a guy that would wow you with his athleticism, or with any one skill, but a guy that did a little bit of everything well.
16. Ray Jones (Southern Utah)
Like Rod Singleton, Jones was a senior leader at the point guard spot, which is always very valuable. With his departure, it will make new coach Nick Robinson's job just a little bit harder. Jones contributed a little bit of everything for the Thunderbirds last season.
17. Rod Singleton (Montana State)
In college basketball, one of the most important things for any roster to have is a veteran leader at the point guard position. Obviously you can with young point guards (just look at Kentucky), but having a guy that knows that ropes and has been through it all before is invaluable. That is what Rod Singleton was for Montana State this year. In a season filled with guys losing their eligibility, or getting injured in off-court issues, Singleton was the steady hand at the PG spot.
18. Durrell Norman (Northern Arizona)
There were very few bright spots for Northern Arizona last season, but Durrell Norman was one of them. By trade, he is a 6'4''' combo wing man, but that is not the role he played for the Lumberjacks. Because they were so desperately short on big men, he was often the guy asked to play the 4 or 5 spot for NAU last year, and he did the dirty work thanklessly.
19. Darin Mahoney (Weber State)
Darin Mahoney is a guy that will be missed by Weber State, because he did all of the little things that a team needs to win. His stat line is not impressive... four points and about six rebounds per game, but that doesn't really signify what he did for the team.
20. Shawn Reid (Montana State)
Last year, Shawn Reid was placed in a difficult situation. He started the year as the first wing man off the bench, but after Jamie Stewart became inelgible, and Xavier Blount got injured in an off-court incident, Reid became the man in the Montana State offense. Suddenly, the offense ran through him, and in games he struggled, the Bobcats generally didn't have much of a chance.
Just Missed: Tremayne Johnson (Eastern Washington), Abner Moreira (Idaho State), Nate Lozeau (Portland State), Matt Massey (Southern Utah)
Thoughts on the list so far?
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Before we take a look at the top ten, just in case you missed any, here are links to 11-20.
11. Art Steward (Montana)
Art Steward was the very definition of a glue guy. He was the least heralded guy in the Montana starting lineup, but he did everything that Wayne Tinkle could have asked from him.
12. Laron Griffin (Eastern Washington)
One of the more underappreciated players in the Big Sky this season was big man Laron Griffin of Eastern Washington. He got overshadowed by some other guys on that team, but he was a steady, reliable player in the frontcourt for them.
13. Kenny McGowen (Idaho State)
During Idaho State's magical run in the middle of the season, it was Kenny McGowen that seemed to hit clutch shot after clutch shot. He hit game-winning shots in multiple games, and had a game of 37 points this year (and a couple games with 30+ points).
14. Mohamed Fall (Montana State)
Much has been made this offseason about the reason that Fall won't be available this year, but not as much has been made about the impact that his loss will have. He was one of the best defensive big men in the conference (if not the best), and was a guy that could at least contribute a bit offensively as well. For a guy that was just coming into his own, it's a shame that we won't get to watch him develop for one more season.
15. Patrick Mitchell (North Dakota)
North Dakota has been one of the youngest teams in the country for the past two seasons, but there has been one major upperclassmen contributor - Patrick Mitchell. He is not a guy that would wow you with his athleticism, or with any one skill, but a guy that did a little bit of everything well.
16. Ray Jones (Southern Utah)
Like Rod Singleton, Jones was a senior leader at the point guard spot, which is always very valuable. With his departure, it will make new coach Nick Robinson's job just a little bit harder. Jones contributed a little bit of everything for the Thunderbirds last season.
17. Rod Singleton (Montana State)
In college basketball, one of the most important things for any roster to have is a veteran leader at the point guard position. Obviously you can with young point guards (just look at Kentucky), but having a guy that knows that ropes and has been through it all before is invaluable. That is what Rod Singleton was for Montana State this year. In a season filled with guys losing their eligibility, or getting injured in off-court issues, Singleton was the steady hand at the PG spot.
18. Durrell Norman (Northern Arizona)
There were very few bright spots for Northern Arizona last season, but Durrell Norman was one of them. By trade, he is a 6'4''' combo wing man, but that is not the role he played for the Lumberjacks. Because they were so desperately short on big men, he was often the guy asked to play the 4 or 5 spot for NAU last year, and he did the dirty work thanklessly.
19. Darin Mahoney (Weber State)
Darin Mahoney is a guy that will be missed by Weber State, because he did all of the little things that a team needs to win. His stat line is not impressive... four points and about six rebounds per game, but that doesn't really signify what he did for the team.
20. Shawn Reid (Montana State)
Last year, Shawn Reid was placed in a difficult situation. He started the year as the first wing man off the bench, but after Jamie Stewart became inelgible, and Xavier Blount got injured in an off-court incident, Reid became the man in the Montana State offense. Suddenly, the offense ran through him, and in games he struggled, the Bobcats generally didn't have much of a chance.
Just Missed: Tremayne Johnson (Eastern Washington), Abner Moreira (Idaho State), Nate Lozeau (Portland State), Matt Massey (Southern Utah)
Thoughts on the list so far?
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Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Top Departing Players #11: Art Steward
With the throes of the offseason all around us, I thought it would be fun to take a look at the 20 best players that are departing from the Big Sky, either due to graduating, declaring for the draft, or transferring.
Art Steward was the very definition of a glue guy. He was the least heralded guy in the Montana starting lineup, but he did everything that Wayne Tinkle could have asked from him.
For one, he was a very defender from the three spot. This is almost an implied characteristic of any guy that plays for Montana, but it was true for Steward. He added toughness to the team, and brought his best every night.
Offensively, he was not a guy that would create his own shot, but would complement others. He didn't shoot many threes, but he could knock them down, which was just enough to make sure that his guy couldn't help a lot. He could go inside and get some buckets, and didn't force things. He shot 54% from two-point range on the year.
He helped out on the glass though he was not a great rebounder. It is tough to describe all of Steward's impact because so much of what made him a big contributor (and one of my favorite players to watch) were the intangible things he added. Getting a big bucket when needed, a big stop when needed, or just having his toughness rub off. Montana returns more talent than anyone in the conference, but it won't be so easy to replace all of the things that Steward brought to the team.
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Art Steward was the very definition of a glue guy. He was the least heralded guy in the Montana starting lineup, but he did everything that Wayne Tinkle could have asked from him.
For one, he was a very defender from the three spot. This is almost an implied characteristic of any guy that plays for Montana, but it was true for Steward. He added toughness to the team, and brought his best every night.
Offensively, he was not a guy that would create his own shot, but would complement others. He didn't shoot many threes, but he could knock them down, which was just enough to make sure that his guy couldn't help a lot. He could go inside and get some buckets, and didn't force things. He shot 54% from two-point range on the year.
He helped out on the glass though he was not a great rebounder. It is tough to describe all of Steward's impact because so much of what made him a big contributor (and one of my favorite players to watch) were the intangible things he added. Getting a big bucket when needed, a big stop when needed, or just having his toughness rub off. Montana returns more talent than anyone in the conference, but it won't be so easy to replace all of the things that Steward brought to the team.
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Monday, June 18, 2012
Damian Lillard Up To 6th in Chad Ford's Mock Draft
A popular landing spot for Damian Lillard over the past month has been the Portland Trailblazers at pick 11. In Chad Ford's latest mock draft, he still has Lillard going to Portland... but this time at pick 6.
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Analysis: If Drummond falls here, I think they take him. But if he doesn't, I'm hearing Lillard could be the man. He wowed at the draft combine and measured very similar in size and athletic ability to Derrick Rose. While Lillard isn't nearly the same prospect as Rose, the Blazers need a point guard and Lillard has the potential to be very, very good. Taking him at No. 6 is no longer a reach. Harrison Barnes and Jeremy Lamb would also be in the mix here.He shot up boards at the NBA combine, and it is no real surprise why. He is a great kid and has a great skillset. He should make whatever team that drafts him very happy.
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Top Departing Players #12: Laron Griffin
With the throes of the offseason all around us, I thought it would be fun to take a look at the 20 best players that are departing from the Big Sky, either due to graduating, declaring for the draft, or transferring.
One of the more underappreciated players in the Big Sky this season was big man Laron Griffin of Eastern Washington. He got overshadowed by some other guys on that team, but he was a steady, reliable player in the frontcourt for them.
He was never the focal point for the offense, but he just played a smart game. He shot 62% from the field, didn't force any shots, and didn't take anything out of his range. It shows a guy that knows his role on the offense.
Griffin did all of the little things and dirty work needed for successful teams. He was one of the best rebounders in the conference, with a 13.6 OR% (top 50 in the country) and a 20.0 DR%. He was willing do the dirty work on the glass. He was also a strong inside defender, though (like the rest of the Eagles) he fouled too much.
Griffin was the consummate role player. He did not command the ball on offense or take good shots, but simply was efficient with what was there. He was a banger that guarded the other team's best post player and took pride in his rebounding. Those types of guys are needed on all successful teams.
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One of the more underappreciated players in the Big Sky this season was big man Laron Griffin of Eastern Washington. He got overshadowed by some other guys on that team, but he was a steady, reliable player in the frontcourt for them.
He was never the focal point for the offense, but he just played a smart game. He shot 62% from the field, didn't force any shots, and didn't take anything out of his range. It shows a guy that knows his role on the offense.
Griffin did all of the little things and dirty work needed for successful teams. He was one of the best rebounders in the conference, with a 13.6 OR% (top 50 in the country) and a 20.0 DR%. He was willing do the dirty work on the glass. He was also a strong inside defender, though (like the rest of the Eagles) he fouled too much.
Griffin was the consummate role player. He did not command the ball on offense or take good shots, but simply was efficient with what was there. He was a banger that guarded the other team's best post player and took pride in his rebounding. Those types of guys are needed on all successful teams.
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Friday, June 15, 2012
Top Departing Players #13: Kenny McGowen
During Idaho State's magical run in the middle of the season, it was Kenny McGowen that seemed to hit clutch shot after clutch shot. He hit game-winning shots in multiple games, and had a game of 37 points this year (and a couple games with 30+ points).
So why isn't he higher on this list? Well, when he was hot, he was as dangerous almost as anyone in the conference. When he wasn't shooting well, he appeared to be a bit more of a reckless gunner. He shot 32.5% from downtown, but took nearly seven of them per game. He was not too bad at getting to the line, and shot a nice percentage from there. But his game was clearly predicated on shooting threes (and interim coach Deane Martin gave him the green light), but sometimes that meant he was not effective if the shots weren't falling.
He didn't impact the game in a big way getting others involved, was not a great defensive player, and he did not help on the glass. That was not what he was asked to do. I try to look at a guy irrespective of what team they're on, and in that light I think McGowen doesn't stand out quite as much as some others. On ISU, a team without a ton of scorers, he got the green light whenever he wanted, and at times this made him look like a star. But other times, he simply didn't impact the game quite enough.
A team will always miss a guy with the ability to heat up like McGowen, and someone that was never afraid of the moment. With his game-winner to beat Weber State, he had a hand in perhaps the most dramatic moment of the Big Sky season.
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Thursday, June 14, 2012
Top Departing Players #14: Mohamed Fall
With the throes of the offseason all around us, I thought it would be fun to take a look at the 20 best players that are departing from the Big Sky, either due to graduating, declaring for the draft, or transferring.
The injustice around Mohamed Fall has been well documented, both by myself and by others around the blogosphere. The bottom line is that he should be playing this year, but he won't because of a dumb decision by the NCAA. We have covered that. However, now it is time to look at his on-court impact, and how he will be missed by Montana State this year.
First and foremost, he was one of the best defensive big men in the conference last year, and would have likely gotten even better this season, since he is still relatively new to basketball and still learning how to play. He was a very athletic big man, and used that leaping ability to his benefit, as he had a 6.1% block percentage. That number easily led the Big Sky. He could change what offenses could do, because he was an eraser in the paint.
He was also one of the top two rebounders on the team, with 9.7 OR% and a 16.9 DR%. That level of glass cleanup will be missed by the Bobcats. Offensively, he didn't bring a ton to the table, but he didn't take things off either. He was very efficient, shooting 52% from the floor (and showing a pretty nice midrange jumper), and shooting over 80% from the line, which is obviously great for a big man.
Much has been made this offseason about the reason that Fall won't be available this year, but not as much has been made about the impact that his loss will have. He was one of the best defensive big men in the conference (if not the best), and was a guy that could at least contribute a bit offensively as well. For a guy that was just coming into his own, it's a shame that we won't get to watch him develop for one more season.
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The injustice around Mohamed Fall has been well documented, both by myself and by others around the blogosphere. The bottom line is that he should be playing this year, but he won't because of a dumb decision by the NCAA. We have covered that. However, now it is time to look at his on-court impact, and how he will be missed by Montana State this year.
First and foremost, he was one of the best defensive big men in the conference last year, and would have likely gotten even better this season, since he is still relatively new to basketball and still learning how to play. He was a very athletic big man, and used that leaping ability to his benefit, as he had a 6.1% block percentage. That number easily led the Big Sky. He could change what offenses could do, because he was an eraser in the paint.
He was also one of the top two rebounders on the team, with 9.7 OR% and a 16.9 DR%. That level of glass cleanup will be missed by the Bobcats. Offensively, he didn't bring a ton to the table, but he didn't take things off either. He was very efficient, shooting 52% from the floor (and showing a pretty nice midrange jumper), and shooting over 80% from the line, which is obviously great for a big man.
Much has been made this offseason about the reason that Fall won't be available this year, but not as much has been made about the impact that his loss will have. He was one of the best defensive big men in the conference (if not the best), and was a guy that could at least contribute a bit offensively as well. For a guy that was just coming into his own, it's a shame that we won't get to watch him develop for one more season.
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Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Top Departing Players #15: Patrick Mitchell
With the throes of the offseason all around us, I thought it would be fun to take a look at the 20 best players that are departing from the Big Sky, either due to graduating, declaring for the draft, or transferring.
North Dakota has been one of the youngest teams in the country for the past two seasons, but there has been one major upperclassmen contributor - Patrick Mitchell. He is not a guy that would wow you with his athleticism, or with any one skill, but a guy that did a little bit of everything well.
Offensively he could score in a variety of ways. He is 6'8'' but was more of a perimeter player than post player. He shot 37% threes on 168 attempts, which was huge for a team that only had a few shooters. He was also pretty solid inside the arc. He had an effective FG% of 52.7%. He took good care of the basketball and had a low turnover rate. Offensively, he was a nice complementary piece.
He was OK on the glass, averaging 4.6 per game with a solid defensive rebounding rate. Again, not a guy that will lead the team, but a solid piece there. He was a good weakside defender, and had a block rate of 5.8%, which would have ranked second in the Big Sky. He was a guy that would allow other defenders to play tighter on their man, because he had good timing blocking shots.
North Dakota played tons of sophomores last season (after playing tons of freshmen the season before), and Mitchell was one of the few guys with experience. He was valuable because he could play around the talents of the guys around him. He didn't need the ball to succeed, and he would help out in a multitude of ways. Those guys are always important to any team.
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North Dakota has been one of the youngest teams in the country for the past two seasons, but there has been one major upperclassmen contributor - Patrick Mitchell. He is not a guy that would wow you with his athleticism, or with any one skill, but a guy that did a little bit of everything well.
Offensively he could score in a variety of ways. He is 6'8'' but was more of a perimeter player than post player. He shot 37% threes on 168 attempts, which was huge for a team that only had a few shooters. He was also pretty solid inside the arc. He had an effective FG% of 52.7%. He took good care of the basketball and had a low turnover rate. Offensively, he was a nice complementary piece.
He was OK on the glass, averaging 4.6 per game with a solid defensive rebounding rate. Again, not a guy that will lead the team, but a solid piece there. He was a good weakside defender, and had a block rate of 5.8%, which would have ranked second in the Big Sky. He was a guy that would allow other defenders to play tighter on their man, because he had good timing blocking shots.
North Dakota played tons of sophomores last season (after playing tons of freshmen the season before), and Mitchell was one of the few guys with experience. He was valuable because he could play around the talents of the guys around him. He didn't need the ball to succeed, and he would help out in a multitude of ways. Those guys are always important to any team.
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Tuesday, June 12, 2012
North Dakota Votes to Retire the Fighting Sioux Nickname
Hopefully now this will finally put the matter to bed for good.
North Dakota had a vote (Measure 4) on whether to retire the Fighting Sioux nickname. Overwhelmingly, they think it's time.
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North Dakota had a vote (Measure 4) on whether to retire the Fighting Sioux nickname. Overwhelmingly, they think it's time.
With 84 percent of precincts reporting, the “Yes” vote on Measure 4 was leading the “No” vote by 67.64 percent to 32.36 percent. The “Yes” votes totaled 90,216, the “No” votes 43,151.As I have said before on here, I agree 100% that it should be retired. As an alum, I love the nickname (like most people do), but I think it is time for it to go. Simply put, it is in the best interests of the University and the athletic department. I'm glad to hear that North Dakotans agree.
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Top Departing Players #16: Ray Jones
With the throes of the offseason all around us, I thought it would be fun to take a look at the 20 best players that are departing from the Big Sky, either due to graduating, declaring for the draft, or transferring.
I will be honest... there is a good chance that Ray Jones would have been higher on this list if I have seen him play as often this year as I did the other players in the Big Sky. He played a big role for Southern Utah this year, logging the most minutes on the team (a robust 32.8 per game).
Jones was efficient from the floor, shooting over 58% from two-point range and 35% from downtown. Those are really good numbers, as he showed a lot of improvement from his junior to his senior seasons. He was also pretty solid at getting to the line, and made a good percentage there.
He looked to get others involved first, as he averaged 4.5 assists per game with a nice assist rate of 27.6. He turned it over a little more than you would like, but he did cut down a bit from his previous season. He helped out on the glass, with decent rebound rates for a guard, pulling down 4.0 boards per game. Defensively, he made enough steals that he made you be careful.
Like Rod Singleton, Jones was a senior leader at the point guard spot, which is always very valuable. With his departure, it will make new coach Nick Robinson's job just a little bit harder. Jones contributed a little bit of everything for the Thunderbirds last season.
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I will be honest... there is a good chance that Ray Jones would have been higher on this list if I have seen him play as often this year as I did the other players in the Big Sky. He played a big role for Southern Utah this year, logging the most minutes on the team (a robust 32.8 per game).
Jones was efficient from the floor, shooting over 58% from two-point range and 35% from downtown. Those are really good numbers, as he showed a lot of improvement from his junior to his senior seasons. He was also pretty solid at getting to the line, and made a good percentage there.
He looked to get others involved first, as he averaged 4.5 assists per game with a nice assist rate of 27.6. He turned it over a little more than you would like, but he did cut down a bit from his previous season. He helped out on the glass, with decent rebound rates for a guard, pulling down 4.0 boards per game. Defensively, he made enough steals that he made you be careful.
Like Rod Singleton, Jones was a senior leader at the point guard spot, which is always very valuable. With his departure, it will make new coach Nick Robinson's job just a little bit harder. Jones contributed a little bit of everything for the Thunderbirds last season.
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Monday, June 11, 2012
Gelaun Wheelwright Had Surgery On His Foot
This story came out last week, but for some reason I forgot to write about it. According to the Standard Examiner, Weber State guard Gelaun Wheelwright had surgery last week on his foot, after a summer workout injury.
Assuming the recovery goes smoothly, Wheelwright appears to be the strong favorite to replace Damian Lillard in the starting lineup at the point guard spot. He is one of the fastest players in the Big Sky, and will become a major weapon for the Wildcats if he can develop his outside shot.
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“Our hope is (for Wheelwright to return to playing) by the start of fall camp; the end of August, start of September,” Rahe said. “It’s unfortunate for Gelaun because he was looking forward to a great summer.”As the article mentioned, the good news was that the injury occurred in early summer, meaning that all of the time he misses (ideally) will not run into practice time or linger into the start of the season. The injury is similar (though less severe) to the one suffered by Damian Lillard a couple of seasons ago, but that one happened in the middle of the season.
Wheelwright said the injury took place two and a half weeks ago when he was working out at home in California, but he was still able to walk and didn’t know it was broken for sure until he returned to Ogden for X-rays a week later.
Assuming the recovery goes smoothly, Wheelwright appears to be the strong favorite to replace Damian Lillard in the starting lineup at the point guard spot. He is one of the fastest players in the Big Sky, and will become a major weapon for the Wildcats if he can develop his outside shot.
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Top Departing Players #17: Rod Singleton
With the throes of the offseason all around us, I thought it would be fun to take a look at the 20 best players that are departing from the Big Sky, either due to graduating, declaring for the draft, or transferring.
In college basketball, one of the most important things for any roster to have is a veteran leader at the point guard position. Obviously you can with young point guards (just look at Kentucky), but having a guy that knows that ropes and has been through it all before is invaluable. That is what Rod Singleton was for Montana State this year. In a season filled with guys losing their eligibility, or getting injured in off-court issues, Singleton was the steady hand at the PG spot.
He averaged 7.3 points and 3.6 assists per game, which are not gaudy numbers. His numbers are a bit low because he struggled a bit all year with his shot. He shot 45% from two point land, and just 31.6% from downtown. Though he shot well from the stripe, he didn't get there all that often, which means his offensive efficiency numbers were low.
He did have a solid 25.7 assist rate, but his turnover rate was a little higher, at 27.4 (he averaged 2.4 giveaways per game). He had the ball in his hands a lot, but he did not always make the best decisions. As mentioned, it was a season with some instability for the Bobcats, so it was nice that they could always count on Singleton to give them minutes. He was just barely second on the team in minutes played, as he averaged 27 minutes per game. He was never afraid to take big shots at the end of games.
Overall, his numbers probably were a little lower than he liked, but I am sure Coach Huse will miss having a senior leader out there. He had a good two seasons for Montana State, and checks in at 17 on this list.
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In college basketball, one of the most important things for any roster to have is a veteran leader at the point guard position. Obviously you can with young point guards (just look at Kentucky), but having a guy that knows that ropes and has been through it all before is invaluable. That is what Rod Singleton was for Montana State this year. In a season filled with guys losing their eligibility, or getting injured in off-court issues, Singleton was the steady hand at the PG spot.
He averaged 7.3 points and 3.6 assists per game, which are not gaudy numbers. His numbers are a bit low because he struggled a bit all year with his shot. He shot 45% from two point land, and just 31.6% from downtown. Though he shot well from the stripe, he didn't get there all that often, which means his offensive efficiency numbers were low.
He did have a solid 25.7 assist rate, but his turnover rate was a little higher, at 27.4 (he averaged 2.4 giveaways per game). He had the ball in his hands a lot, but he did not always make the best decisions. As mentioned, it was a season with some instability for the Bobcats, so it was nice that they could always count on Singleton to give them minutes. He was just barely second on the team in minutes played, as he averaged 27 minutes per game. He was never afraid to take big shots at the end of games.
Overall, his numbers probably were a little lower than he liked, but I am sure Coach Huse will miss having a senior leader out there. He had a good two seasons for Montana State, and checks in at 17 on this list.
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Sunday, June 10, 2012
Montana State Will Be Off to Canada
From Gidal Kaiser at the Bozeman Daily Chronicle:
Also key is that Jamie Stewart and Xavier Blount are on the team roster, according to Gidal. If those three can all make it to start of the season on the team, MSU could be a major darkhorse in the Big Sky.
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Antonio Biglow’s Bobcat debut will happen on foreign soil.Gidal hit on it right away... but it is huge that Antonio Biglow will be with the team. He was supposed to be the best newcomer in the conference last season, but did not make it because of some academic hiccups at his junior college. Now, he is with the team, and will be a junior this year. If he is as good as advertised, this season could end more pleasantly for the Bobcats than the past few seasons, and it could save Brad Huse's job.
The soon-to-be-junior, as well as the entire recruiting class of 2012, will head to Calgary, Alberta, Canada from August 7-12 to participate in the “Battle of the Border,” an international tournament.
The tournament is acceptable under NCAA rules, which allows a member institution to participate in a foreign tournament once every four years. Montana State and the University of Wyoming are the two NCAA schools in the five-team tournament; each will play three games. The University of Alberta, University of Mount Royal and host University of Calgary will also participate.
Also key is that Jamie Stewart and Xavier Blount are on the team roster, according to Gidal. If those three can all make it to start of the season on the team, MSU could be a major darkhorse in the Big Sky.
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Saturday, June 9, 2012
The Best and Worst Coaching Jobs in the Big Sky
ESPN had an article the other day ranking the best and worst coaching jobs in all of the conference, and here is what they had to say about the Big Sky:
Weber State and Montana seem to clearly be above the rest of the conference right now, which obviously helps this distinction. Both have great fan bases (with the top two attendance figures in the conference) and excellent stability.
On the flipside, Sacramento State seems like the best choice for the worst job right now. While there are definitely fans passionate about the program (I have interacted with many such people), interest as a whole is not nearly as much as other schools, and they can sometimes be an afterthought in the city of Sacramento. Their facilities are not great either, and their attendance is pitiful. This year could be their best year in quite some time, so it will be interesting to see if perceptions change.
Another Big Sky school got a mention later in the article:
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Big SkyIt's hard to argue with the results.
Best: Weber State/Montana -- Only fitting since these two easily have been the best programs in the Big Sky in recent history.
Worst: Sacramento State -- The Hornets have a coach named Katz, but even that wasn't enough to impress the ESPN.com voters.
Weber State and Montana seem to clearly be above the rest of the conference right now, which obviously helps this distinction. Both have great fan bases (with the top two attendance figures in the conference) and excellent stability.
On the flipside, Sacramento State seems like the best choice for the worst job right now. While there are definitely fans passionate about the program (I have interacted with many such people), interest as a whole is not nearly as much as other schools, and they can sometimes be an afterthought in the city of Sacramento. Their facilities are not great either, and their attendance is pitiful. This year could be their best year in quite some time, so it will be interesting to see if perceptions change.
Another Big Sky school got a mention later in the article:
SummitWhen the article first posted, Southern Utah was listed as the worst job in the Summit... but thankfully, the fact checkers did earn their salaries.
Best: Oakland -- No more Oral Roberts, so the we'll-play-anyone Golden Grizzlies were the easy pick here. But are they long for the Summit League? They've made no secret of wanting to be Butler's replacement in the Horizon.
Worst: Missouri-Kansas City -- This honor probably would've gone to Southern Utah, but it's off to the Big Sky. So UMKC it is.
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Friday, June 8, 2012
Top Departing Players #18: Durrell Norman
With the throes of the offseason all around us, I thought it would be fun to take a look at the 20 best players that are departing from the Big Sky, either due to graduating, declaring for the draft, or transferring.
There were very few bright spots for Northern Arizona last season, but Durrell Norman was one of them. By trade, he is a 6'4''' combo wing man, but that is not the role he played for the Lumberjacks. Because they were so desperately short on big men, he was often the guy asked to play the 4 or 5 spot for NAU last year, and he did the dirty work thanklessly.
He posted the best rebounds rates on the team, finishing with 5.8 boards per game. He also averaged almost in double figures, shooting over 50% from inside the arc (and 72% from the stripe). He was very good at drawing fouls, and took 114 free throws on the season.
But, of course, it was not his numbers that made him one of my favorite players to watch in the conference last year, it was that he was willing to do whatever the team needed him to do to give them the best chance to win. If it was to guard the opposition's best post player, he would do that. He got better as the year went on, scoring double figures in his last eight games (not counting a game against PSU where he played two minutes). He was a pleasure to watch.
Jack Murphy would have had a big rebuilding job whether Norman had more eligibility or not, but NAU will certainly miss his toughness.
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There were very few bright spots for Northern Arizona last season, but Durrell Norman was one of them. By trade, he is a 6'4''' combo wing man, but that is not the role he played for the Lumberjacks. Because they were so desperately short on big men, he was often the guy asked to play the 4 or 5 spot for NAU last year, and he did the dirty work thanklessly.
He posted the best rebounds rates on the team, finishing with 5.8 boards per game. He also averaged almost in double figures, shooting over 50% from inside the arc (and 72% from the stripe). He was very good at drawing fouls, and took 114 free throws on the season.
But, of course, it was not his numbers that made him one of my favorite players to watch in the conference last year, it was that he was willing to do whatever the team needed him to do to give them the best chance to win. If it was to guard the opposition's best post player, he would do that. He got better as the year went on, scoring double figures in his last eight games (not counting a game against PSU where he played two minutes). He was a pleasure to watch.
Jack Murphy would have had a big rebuilding job whether Norman had more eligibility or not, but NAU will certainly miss his toughness.
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Thursday, June 7, 2012
Damian Lillard Creating Lots of Buzz at Scouting Combine
The NBA Combine has been going on this week, and one of the guys that has stood out the most is Damian Lillard, the Big Sky Player of the Year. Don't believe me? Here is DraftExpress:
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Other guys getting good reviews from NBA people at the Combine today: Damian Lillard (big time), Royce White, Jeff Taylor, Terrence Ross.Sam Amick from SI.com wrote a nice article on Lillard also, saying that he is making the leap from being a mid-major player to a top 10 pick.
The point guard from little-known Weber State is being sized up from every angle by executives who are still learning about him, still just starting to see this enticing mixture of substance and style from the player who is bridging the enormous gap from mid-major school to possible top-10 pick. This is a fun experience for the 6-foot-3, 195-pound Lillard, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that he's trying to enjoy as he attempts to join the likes of Jason Kidd, Gary Payton and Brian Shaw as the next player from Oakland, Calif., to do big things.Andy Katz of ESPN also wrote an article this week about Lillard and Weber State, as Randy Rahe tries to build the program in part due to the large level of attention brought to it from Lillard.
Rahe is convinced his 6-foot-3 star has left his mark with the program, as a trail of recruits will follow his lead.Lillard will be a great pro, because he possesses all of the tangible and intangible things that you need to succeed as an NBA point guard. He is looking more and more like he will be a top 10 pick come the NBA draft. It will be fun to watch where he lands and fun to watch him develop at the next level.
Rahe isn't naive enough to think he'll find another hidden gem like Lillard, a lock for the NBA lottery and quite likely the first lead guard selected in the June 28 draft. But he is convinced that the dynamics of Weber State's recruiting has changed.
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Idaho State Observations & Conjectures
The NCAA investigating Idaho State (apparently triggered by a letter from former interim head coach Deane Martin), has been a hot topic on this blog and around the web on Idaho State sites and message boards. Everyone seems to have an opinion or thought on the topic, and that is what makes Idaho State's fan base one of the best certainly in the Big Sky.
Here are some of my thoughts, observations, and conjectures on the whole situation. Not I am not saying any of this is fact, only things that I think to be true about the whole situation based on what I have been told, what I have read, and what I can logically assume.
- Deane Martin knew about any violations relating to the booster well before his letter to ISU AD Jeff Tingey and to the NCAA. This booster activity was also going on while Joe O'Brien was the coach. In fact, it was pretty well known within the athletic department that this particular booster was friendly with the players, practicing with players at times, and doing other things which (at the very least) toed the line. However, nobody told him to stop, possibly because they liked the benefits that he brought, or they feared retaliation.
- If Martin had become the head coach rather than being passed over for it, it seems likely that he would never have sent the letter opening this can of worms. To be honest, it is pretty tough to conclude otherwise. You would have to think that this will hamper Martin's ability to get another job soon.
- The alleged booster and AD Jeff Tingey are friends, which may further be complicating (or maybe, did complicate) the investigation by Tingey into the matter.
- Tingey did not handle the initial letter from Martin very well, accusing him of making "potentially slanderous statements." Safe to say, this didn't go over too well with Martin, and he then sent the letter to the NCAA with the information.
- There are big concerns within the ISU fanbase on whether or not Tingey is the right guy to lead the athletic department. It seems like almost a given among people that family ties played a big role in him getting the position. While he has done some nice things, he seems to be in a bit over his head. If these allegations turn out to be true, many feel that should be a call for his job.
- Most of all, terrible luck for new head coach Bill Evans. He walked into what looked like a rebuilding situation, but also a situation that looked like he would have a fresh start with new staff, a lot of new players, etc. Instead, he is left to deal with this mess. Certainly this will have a big impact on his ability to do the job well.
Anything I missed or any assumption or conclusion you think I am coming to erroneously? Would love to hear thoughts and feedback.
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Here are some of my thoughts, observations, and conjectures on the whole situation. Not I am not saying any of this is fact, only things that I think to be true about the whole situation based on what I have been told, what I have read, and what I can logically assume.
- Deane Martin knew about any violations relating to the booster well before his letter to ISU AD Jeff Tingey and to the NCAA. This booster activity was also going on while Joe O'Brien was the coach. In fact, it was pretty well known within the athletic department that this particular booster was friendly with the players, practicing with players at times, and doing other things which (at the very least) toed the line. However, nobody told him to stop, possibly because they liked the benefits that he brought, or they feared retaliation.
- If Martin had become the head coach rather than being passed over for it, it seems likely that he would never have sent the letter opening this can of worms. To be honest, it is pretty tough to conclude otherwise. You would have to think that this will hamper Martin's ability to get another job soon.
- The alleged booster and AD Jeff Tingey are friends, which may further be complicating (or maybe, did complicate) the investigation by Tingey into the matter.
- Tingey did not handle the initial letter from Martin very well, accusing him of making "potentially slanderous statements." Safe to say, this didn't go over too well with Martin, and he then sent the letter to the NCAA with the information.
- There are big concerns within the ISU fanbase on whether or not Tingey is the right guy to lead the athletic department. It seems like almost a given among people that family ties played a big role in him getting the position. While he has done some nice things, he seems to be in a bit over his head. If these allegations turn out to be true, many feel that should be a call for his job.
- Most of all, terrible luck for new head coach Bill Evans. He walked into what looked like a rebuilding situation, but also a situation that looked like he would have a fresh start with new staff, a lot of new players, etc. Instead, he is left to deal with this mess. Certainly this will have a big impact on his ability to do the job well.
Anything I missed or any assumption or conclusion you think I am coming to erroneously? Would love to hear thoughts and feedback.
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Top Departing Players #19: Darin Mahoney
With the throes of the offseason all around us, I thought it would be fun to take a look at the 20 best players that are departing from the Big Sky, either due to graduating, declaring for the draft, or transferring.
Darin Mahoney is a guy that will be missed by Weber State, because he did all of the little things that a team needs to win. His stat line is not impressive... four points and about six rebounds per game, but that doesn't really signify what he did for the team.
He did not shoot all that often, or ever really look for his own shot, but when he did, he was at least efficient. He shot 53% from the field, and 76% from the free throw line. He knew his game, and knew that looking for his own shot was not part of it, so he took what was given. This is the sign of a smart player.
He was a guy that was a solid rebounder and defender. He had an 11.7 OR% and 18.6 DR%, both solid rates. He had a 4.0 block %, which equated to about one per game. He was willing to do the dirty work, and this made him a perfect fit for a team with scorers like Damian Lillard and Scott Bamforth.
He also complemented Kyle Tresnak well in the post. Tresnak is a guy that is a very good offensive weapon, but is not a great rebounder. Mahoney helped to hide that weakness. Mahoney was a guy that would never fill the stat sheet, but I have a feeling Randy Rahe is sure going to miss him.
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Darin Mahoney is a guy that will be missed by Weber State, because he did all of the little things that a team needs to win. His stat line is not impressive... four points and about six rebounds per game, but that doesn't really signify what he did for the team.
He did not shoot all that often, or ever really look for his own shot, but when he did, he was at least efficient. He shot 53% from the field, and 76% from the free throw line. He knew his game, and knew that looking for his own shot was not part of it, so he took what was given. This is the sign of a smart player.
He was a guy that was a solid rebounder and defender. He had an 11.7 OR% and 18.6 DR%, both solid rates. He had a 4.0 block %, which equated to about one per game. He was willing to do the dirty work, and this made him a perfect fit for a team with scorers like Damian Lillard and Scott Bamforth.
He also complemented Kyle Tresnak well in the post. Tresnak is a guy that is a very good offensive weapon, but is not a great rebounder. Mahoney helped to hide that weakness. Mahoney was a guy that would never fill the stat sheet, but I have a feeling Randy Rahe is sure going to miss him.
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Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Billy Reader Transfers to College of Southern Idaho
Word has come out that sophomore forward Billy Reader will be transferring from Montana to JUCO College of Southern Idaho. The first source I saw was David Bashore on Twitter.
Reader was a redshirt freshman this season, but he was declared ineligible for the second semester. The academic troubles continued, and eventually he decided to move on (likely with Coach Tinkle's blessing) and resume his career at CSI.
Reader didn't get a ton of time, but he flashed some nice talent. He was perhaps the Grizzlies best true post scorer, and he would have gotten better with time. However, he struggled with defensive assignments, and that is a good way to not get consistent minutes until Tinkle.
With post Derek Selvig graduating, the frontcourt rotation after incumbent Mathias Ward is a bit up for grabs. Returnee Eric Hutchison could get a look (as could true freshman Andy Martin), but my money at this point is on Marko Kavacevic to eventually earn the starter minutes. It will be an interesting battle to watch on the team that will be projected to win the conference for the second straight season.
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Reader was a redshirt freshman this season, but he was declared ineligible for the second semester. The academic troubles continued, and eventually he decided to move on (likely with Coach Tinkle's blessing) and resume his career at CSI.
Reader didn't get a ton of time, but he flashed some nice talent. He was perhaps the Grizzlies best true post scorer, and he would have gotten better with time. However, he struggled with defensive assignments, and that is a good way to not get consistent minutes until Tinkle.
With post Derek Selvig graduating, the frontcourt rotation after incumbent Mathias Ward is a bit up for grabs. Returnee Eric Hutchison could get a look (as could true freshman Andy Martin), but my money at this point is on Marko Kavacevic to eventually earn the starter minutes. It will be an interesting battle to watch on the team that will be projected to win the conference for the second straight season.
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Top Departing Players #20: Shawn Reid
With the throes of the offseason all around us, I thought it would be fun to take a look at the 20 best players that are departing from the Big Sky, either due to graduating, declaring for the draft, or transferring.
Last year, Shawn Reid was placed in a difficult situation. He started the year as the first wing man off the bench, but after Jamie Stewart became inelgible, and Xavier Blount got injured in an off-court incident, Reid became the man in the Montana State offense. Suddenly, the offense ran through him, and in games he struggled, the Bobcats generally didn't have much of a chance.
It was a role he was not ready for but was growing into, which has to make it tough for Brad Huse to see him transferring away. On offense, he was mostly a jump shooter. He shot 45% from 2s, and 33% from downtown. He had a nice stepjack jumper that he was clearly getting more and more comfortable using with success. Not many MSU players could create their own shot by the end of the year, but Reid was capable of doing that.
He didn't add a ton of productivity everywhere else... he was not a great rebounder, distributor, or defender. But for a program that has experienced a ton of turnover and problems, he was a guy you could count on to stay out of trouble and stay on the court. Now, he will be moving on.
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Last year, Shawn Reid was placed in a difficult situation. He started the year as the first wing man off the bench, but after Jamie Stewart became inelgible, and Xavier Blount got injured in an off-court incident, Reid became the man in the Montana State offense. Suddenly, the offense ran through him, and in games he struggled, the Bobcats generally didn't have much of a chance.
It was a role he was not ready for but was growing into, which has to make it tough for Brad Huse to see him transferring away. On offense, he was mostly a jump shooter. He shot 45% from 2s, and 33% from downtown. He had a nice stepjack jumper that he was clearly getting more and more comfortable using with success. Not many MSU players could create their own shot by the end of the year, but Reid was capable of doing that.
He didn't add a ton of productivity everywhere else... he was not a great rebounder, distributor, or defender. But for a program that has experienced a ton of turnover and problems, he was a guy you could count on to stay out of trouble and stay on the court. Now, he will be moving on.
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Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Top Departing Players: Just Missed the Top 20
With the throes of the offseason all around us, I thought it would be fun to take a look at the 20 best players that are departing from the Big Sky, either due to graduating, declaring for the draft, or transferring. First, let’s look at a few guys that just barely missed the cut.
Tremayne Johnson (Eastern Washington) – Before the season, I thought he was poised to have a breakout year, but things just didn’t work out that way under Jim Hayford. His scoring and rebounding dropped from 10.0 and 5.1 per game (respectively) in 2010-11 down to 6.4 and 3.9 per game last season. His shooting percentages plummeted as well, down to 35% for the season. He never could get consistent minutes every night with Cliff Ederaine and Laron Griffin starting (more on them later in this list), and Jordan Hickert also battling for minutes. Things just didn’t really work out in his senior year.
Abner Moreira (Idaho State) – He was in a tough spot, because he was called on to play a ton of minutes (almost 34 minutes per game) simply because the Bengals didn’t really have any other big men that were reliable. Of the guys that missed the cut, he is the one that I have the most doubts about (meaning, he could have easily made the top 20). He was a dependable rebounder and defender, averaging 7.2 boards per game. He didn’t provide a ton offensively. He had a big impact for ISU and will be missed, but I think that was partially due to his talent, and partially due to the lack of other impact frontcourt players on ISU’s roster last season.
Nate Lozeau (Portland State) – During the non-conference portion of the year, it seemed like Lozeau had the chance to be an all-conference player. He scored double digits in points in nine of the first eleven games of the year. Unfortunately, he only did that three more times the rest of the season. He was an efficient player when he was on the court, but he simply had little impact on the Vikings during the most important times of the year, which is why he was not able to make the top 20.
Matt Massey (Southern Utah) – Massey obviously wasn’t part of the Big Sky last year, but he graduated from SUU, who will be joining the Big Sky. In 27 minutes per game, he averaged 8.7 PPG and 4.0 RPG, and was a solid frontcourt rotation player. He didn't shoot a ton, but was an efficient 53% inside the arc (and 78% from the stripe) when he did. He was an average rebounder, however, with just a 13.6 DR%, not that good for a big man. He was solid for three years, and will be missed by the T-Birds.
What are your thoughts on these guys?
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Tremayne Johnson (Eastern Washington) – Before the season, I thought he was poised to have a breakout year, but things just didn’t work out that way under Jim Hayford. His scoring and rebounding dropped from 10.0 and 5.1 per game (respectively) in 2010-11 down to 6.4 and 3.9 per game last season. His shooting percentages plummeted as well, down to 35% for the season. He never could get consistent minutes every night with Cliff Ederaine and Laron Griffin starting (more on them later in this list), and Jordan Hickert also battling for minutes. Things just didn’t really work out in his senior year.
Nate Lozeau (Portland State) – During the non-conference portion of the year, it seemed like Lozeau had the chance to be an all-conference player. He scored double digits in points in nine of the first eleven games of the year. Unfortunately, he only did that three more times the rest of the season. He was an efficient player when he was on the court, but he simply had little impact on the Vikings during the most important times of the year, which is why he was not able to make the top 20.
Matt Massey (Southern Utah) – Massey obviously wasn’t part of the Big Sky last year, but he graduated from SUU, who will be joining the Big Sky. In 27 minutes per game, he averaged 8.7 PPG and 4.0 RPG, and was a solid frontcourt rotation player. He didn't shoot a ton, but was an efficient 53% inside the arc (and 78% from the stripe) when he did. He was an average rebounder, however, with just a 13.6 DR%, not that good for a big man. He was solid for three years, and will be missed by the T-Birds.
What are your thoughts on these guys?
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Monday, June 4, 2012
Deane Martin's letter key in ISU investigations
Last week I passed a report on that Idaho State athletics were under investigations, including the men's basketball team. New details emerged over the weekend, and it probably won't make a lot of Idaho State fans very happy.
The key to triggering these investigations was a letter from former interim head coach Deane Martin sent to AD Jeff Tingey and the NCAA, according to the Idaho State Journal.
Of course, that doesn't mean that Idaho State handled it well. It appears that AD Jeff Tingey didn't exactly try to work with Martin to figure out if there was a problem or not. He responded (again, this is all based on reports) by saying Martin was making "potentially slanderous statements." At best, his response, or what we know of it, seems a bit arrogant. It apparently led to Martin sending the letter to the NCAA, and the rest is history.
Bottom line, nobody comes out of this looking good. I think it is too early to presume that violations did occur, but even the fact that ISU will have to go through this does not look good on them. They wanted a clean break from the past coaching staff, but it appears it will be a while before that break can fully happen.
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The key to triggering these investigations was a letter from former interim head coach Deane Martin sent to AD Jeff Tingey and the NCAA, according to the Idaho State Journal.
The former interim coach, Deane Martin, sent the letter to ISU Athletic Director Jeff Tingey the day after being passed over for the permanent men’s basketball coaching position.Obviously many ISU fans are crying sour grapes, and really, it's not hard to blame them. For one, Martin did not contact the AD when first contacted by the booster, but reportedly the day after he was passed over for the permanent head coaching job, which was given to Bill Evans. If he was concerned about the NCAA violation, why didn't he contact the athletic director immediately when the [alleged] violation occurred? Why wait until after he was not hired? Maybe he was just doing this to cover himself, but the timing is odd at best, nefarious at worst.
After Tingey responded by saying Martin was making “potentially slanderous statements” in the letter, Martin provided the document to the NCAA. The Journal has been told that NCAA investigators are currently on the ISU campus trying to figure out if sports teams at the university have committed violations of NCAA rules. Typically, NCAA investigations take several months before any findings are released.
Martin’s letter, dated March 6, alleges that a booster told him “in the presence of another witness, that he wanted to insure that ISU got the best recruit we could, and he offered his support. Specifically (the booster) indicated that if it took a ‘money handshake’ from him to a coach or a recruit, to seal the deal, he was happy to do that.”
Of course, that doesn't mean that Idaho State handled it well. It appears that AD Jeff Tingey didn't exactly try to work with Martin to figure out if there was a problem or not. He responded (again, this is all based on reports) by saying Martin was making "potentially slanderous statements." At best, his response, or what we know of it, seems a bit arrogant. It apparently led to Martin sending the letter to the NCAA, and the rest is history.
Bottom line, nobody comes out of this looking good. I think it is too early to presume that violations did occur, but even the fact that ISU will have to go through this does not look good on them. They wanted a clean break from the past coaching staff, but it appears it will be a while before that break can fully happen.
Follow me on Twitter @bigskybball
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