After so much losing, we’re finally here. Weber State has lost 44 straight games. If the Wildcats lose to Sacramento State Thursday their 45th loss will set the new standard (of really poor basketball).
Oddly enough, Sac. State is the team that WSU is tied with for most consecutive defeats. Should Hornets head coach Jamie Craighead bring up that fact during the pregame? Why not? What’s wrong with a little extra motivation?
Without further ado.
1. Montana 19-6, 13-3
Last week: No. 2
After dropping a spot to No. 2, Montana moves back to the top after having last weekend off.
Why are the Lady Griz No. 1 in these polls (ignoring the fact that with the best record in the Big Sky Montana is clearly positioned to win the regular season outright)?
It’s because at 65.3 points a game, only two teams score more points than the Lady Griz, and the two teams that do score more points also give up way more than everyone other than UM.
Montana’s defense is second only to Idaho State’s in terms of points allowed per game (54.7 for UM and 54.0 for ISU).
The Lady Griz are No. 1 in these polls because, along with an efficient offense and a brutal defense, Montana protects the ball, averaging a league-low 12.4 turnovers a game (eighth in the country).
Montana is No. 1 because it grinds opponents down with precision and execution.
Right now, Montana is a game clear of Northern Colorado. But the Lady Griz have Southern Utah at home Thursday and three games on the road (Montana State, Northern Arizona and Sacramento State) to end the season. So, advantage UNC.
Speaking of the Bears ...
2. Northern Colorado 16-10, 13-4
Last week No. 1
Northern Colorado knocked off North Dakota 44-41 in frigid Grand Forks and then fell to Southern Utah 73-57 at home.
The Bears were up 17-8 on the Thunderbirds about nine minutes into the game. Southern Utah responded with seven 3-pointers, 30 made free throws and a 65-40 run over the last 31 minutes.
It was Northern Colorado’s first loss in Greeley and crippling to its hopes of hosting the postseason tournament. The Bears shots 29 percent from the field and a paltry 5-of-30 from the perimeter.
D’shara Strange and Lauren Oosdyke — UNC’s two leading scorers — were a combined 14-for-37. Strange scored 24 points but she needed 23 shots to do it.
Was this upset just a game where Northern Colorado couldn’t hit a shot while SUU couldn’t miss? Or is it something larger, a sign of future issues for the Bears?
3. Idaho State 15-10, 10-6
Last week: No. 3
In Reed Gym, Idaho State walloped Weber State 68-37.
Am I a homer? I’m not an Idaho State alum but I’m nervous that my vicinity to ISU’s campus has clouded my thought process.
Why don’t I have the Eastern Washington Eagles at No. 3? EWU has a better conference record and beat ISU in Pocatello the one time they clashed this season (by the way, who isn’t looking forward to that rematch March 7?).
Eastern has wins over Montana, Northern Colorado and Sacramento State, and there isn’t a better shooting team in the Big Sky. These are the things I worry about.
But I’ll tell you what, I’m going with the Bengals at No. 3 because of one thing — defense. ISU plays a lot of it and I’m not sold EWU is elite on that end (actually, looking at the numbers, I know Eastern isn’t great).
And if we’re thinking ahead to a conference tournament where players might have to sludge through three games in three days, side with the ones that win games relying more on defense than shooting.
So there, I’m not a homer.
4. Eastern Washington 15-10, 11-5
Last week: No. 4
In its only game of the weekend, Eastern Washington hammered Portland State 83-51.
I hit on Eastern up above, so I want to take a few lines here and discuss EWU’s miserable home-court attendance.
In eleven homes games, the Eagles have drawn 4,722 fans. That’s about 429 people per contest. Only Northern Arizona and Sacramento State have done worse, and it’s less than half what the Bengal women draw.
I can already hear the excuses rolling in like, ‘Well, Kyle, it’s women’s basketball and no one cares.’ Or, ‘Man, there’s so much to do in Spokane that it’s hard to make the time to drive to Cheney for a game.’
Seriously, are we really accepting those excuses? Seriously? The Gonzaga women, a whopping 25 minutes away, average 5,664.
I know there are other circumstances at work here, but overall, and this is undeniable, there’s just an apathetic attitude that is unbelievably disappointing. People don’t care. They’d rather sit at home on their couch and watch bad reality television.
5. Sacramento State 15-10, 10-6
Last week: No. 5
Sacramento State beat Northern Arizona in Flagstaff 78-68.
Can I tell you how excited I am to watch the Hornets when they visit Pocatello this Saturday (and not just because there’s a player with the same last name as me)? Sac. State simply wants to outscore its opponents. Defense, ball possession, executing plays ... pssh ... Sacramento State would rather shoot, create steals and play as fast as possible, in total contrast to Idaho State.
Oh, and we’ll have a chance to watch Kylie Kuhns in person. She’s a mere 17 rebounds away from breaking ISU’s Natalie Doma’s all-time rebounding record of 1,174.
Of course, it’s also a game with major implications on the Big Sky postseason’s tournament, too.
6. Southern Utah 13-13, 7-9
Last week: No. 7
Southern Utah made the long trip from Cedar City to Greeley and whipped Northern Colorado 73-57.
Every week, I try to make fun of SUU and its mascot, the Thunderbird (since it’s absolutely ridiculous to call yourself a Thunderbird). How can I do that after you beat a team that not only hadn’t lost at home all year but was riding a nine-game winning streak.
And of the teams vying for the last postseason spot, SUU is now in the pole position with four games left. So props to you Southern Utah and all the mystical, supernatural birds of power and strength everywhere.
7. Northern Arizona 7-18, 6-10
Last week: No. 6
At home, Northern Arizona lost to Sacramento State 78-68.
The final margin was 10 but it wasn’t that close. Sac. State led by 16 at the break and by as much as 24 in the second half.
The Big Sky’s leading scorer, Amy Patton, played 19 minutes and finished with seven points. Interestingly enough, Patton subbed out with 13:11 left and did not return. At the time, NAU was down 19.
I don’t know if she was hurt — I can’t find anything that said she was — and I don’t know if it was a coaching decision (I’m thinking it was). Either way, with Patton out NAU whittled the lead down to nine.
8. North Dakota 11-16, 6-12
Last week: No. 9
In Grand Forks, North Dakota picked up a split, falling to Northern Colorado 44-41 and rocking Portland State 71-50.
Mascot-less North Dakota’s chances of reaching the postseason tournament are slim — like Hollywood actress kind of skinny.
And now with the season almost over two backup guards — that started a combined 26 games this season — announced they’re both transferring. So, I guess, everything isn’t going too well in North Dakota land.
On the bright side the temperature in Grand Forks is projected to nearly reach 30 degrees today.
9. Montana State 15-10, 9-7
Last week: No. 10
Montana State took a week off to recover from its six-game losing steak (what, you think I’m going to count that four-point victory over Weber State as a win?).
OK, admittedly a bad joke. MSU did end its three-week nightmare Feb. 16 after finally getting off the schneid and beating Weber (thank goodness, too, because “The Watch to History” is almost complete).
Does anyone know what to expect in the Bobcats’ next game this Saturday when they host Montana (MSU beat UM 58-49 Jan. 19)?
10. Portland State 11-15, 5-12
Last week: No. 8
Minus two starters, Portland State has gone into an absolute tailspin. PSU lost to Eastern Washington 83-51 in Cheney and 71-50 to North Dakota in Grand Forks.
The Vikings have Northern Colorado on the road Saturday before hosting Weber and ISU to end the season. Portland State is a talented team. Knee injuries to Kate Lanz and Angela Misa are unfortunate.
11. Weber State 0-25, 0-16
Last week: No. 11
After a spirited 12 minutes, Weber State was tied with Idaho State at 15-15. Thankfully, for all of us out there, ISU flipped the switch and blew out WSU 68-37.
If Sacramento State can hold up its end of the deal Thursday in Ogden, we’ll have a new record.
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