Popular Post SWSiouxMN Posted February 10, 2017 Popular Post Posted February 10, 2017 Q turned in another POY type game and got a major contribution off the bench from Cortez that lead to a big home victory (and gaining an important tiebreaker) over EWU. They can't rest on their laurels however, as another tough matchup is looming as Idaho come into town for another battle for 2nd Things did not look promising for Idaho, who was viewed as 1 of the 4 teams with a legit shot of winning the league, they lost their 2nd leading scorer from last year to an ACL tear (Callendret) and started the conference season poorly with a 1-3 record. Someone forgot to tell them in Moscow that they were dead in the water. Winners of 7 out of their last 8, they charged back up the standing to the point they are sitting 1 game back of UND in 3rd and looking much like the threat they were going to be. How did they turn their season around? Well its starts with their star guard Victor Sanders, who has been putting up big numbers, including a 40 point performance at Portland. The Sherwood brothers have stepped up and provide big moments when needed, Brayon Blake has been their big performer in the post. Idaho is very similar to what UND is, strength is in their guards. The opposite of what UND was dealing with Thursday night This is only the 4th meeting in Big Sky play for the two teams. Idaho has a 2-1 advantage and won both matchups last year by a combined total of 4 points. The only matchup in Grand Forks was a 74-71 win for the Vandals. Other Games: Weber (9-2) @ PSU (5-6) It appears that the SAC/PSU swing has been a nightmare for the top teams, UND barely got out with a split and Montana got swept. Weber dropped a surprising one down in Sac State and now need to salvage the road swing with a split. Especially with UND coming in next weekend. PSU snapped a 4 game losing streak with a close win against ISU, which they are 1.5 back of Montana for the final bye for Reno, and are looking to get an important home sweep before two big games up in Montana. EWU (8-4) @ UNC (4-8) Eastern dropped a tough one in Grand Forks and are looking to avoid going 0-2 on this road trip and damaging their chances at a top 3 seed. UNC losers of 7 out their last 8 and at this point just looking forward to 2017. Important for EWU not to drop with one with Idaho, Weber and ISU coming up in the next two weeks MSU (6-6) @ SUU (2-10) The Bobcats were sitting pretty one week ago, had a halftime lead over their rivals in Missoula. Then, it all came crashing down. Worse yet, they dropped one on the road at NAU and now sit 1 game back on Montana for the final bye. They cannot afford to slip up again against a basement team. SUU looking forward to 2017 and better days. ISU (3-8) @ SAC (5-6) If Sac State wanted to get back into the race for the final bye they sure did by knocking off Weber at home. Now they need to avoid the let down game against ISU, who just cannot get anything going this year and without question is the leagues most disappointing team. Mont (7-5) @ NAU (4-8) The Griz look to be back on track, in the 5th spot and sitting only 1 back from EWU and Idaho for 3rd and 4th respectively and two back of UND. They are out of the league race unless a miracle occurs but 2nd is definitely in play. They have to avoid the upset down in NAU, who is playing pretty good these past 5 games. Could be a tough play-in game matchup for anyone. The Call: Brian Jones said it best in the GF Herald after the EWU Win: If they don't beat Idaho then it doesn't mean anything, and I agree. The last thing UND wants to do is drop this game at home in the only matchup of the year. They do not want to get back into the muck for a top 3 seed and losing two important tiebreakers to Idaho and Montana. Not only that, but the Weber loss at Sac has open the door to a potential 1st place showdown if UND takes care of business these next two games. UND has won 11 in a row at home in conference play, Idaho has won 7 out of 8. Something has got to give! Being that this is at home, another big game moment for Q to proclaim his frontrunner status as Big Sky POY, and a bounce back game from Geno. UND will extend the streak to 12 in another close win. UND 81-77 Editors note: I enjoy doing these and thank everyone for the kind comments. Even if they aren't perfect 100% of the time 6 Quote
hoops44 Posted February 10, 2017 Posted February 10, 2017 Idaho red hot winning 7 of last 8...six by double digits. Double revenge for UND as lost twice last season to the spuds. Idaho leads BSC in scoring Defense at 71ppg... Look for UND to be a 5 point favorite here. A win here all but locks up a top 5 finish and first round Bye as well putting them in a good chance for a top 3 spot and a easier second round match up in BSC tourney...Would have liked it if UNC would have softened up Idaho last night . Quote
siouxfan512 Posted February 10, 2017 Posted February 10, 2017 1 hour ago, SWSiouxMN said: Q turned in another POY type game and got a major contribution off the bench from Cortez that lead to a big home victory (and gaining an important tiebreaker) over EWU. They can't rest on their laurels however, as another tough matchup is looming as Idaho come into town for another battle for 2nd Things did not look promising for Idaho, who was viewed as 1 of the 4 teams with a legit shot of winning the league, they lost their 2nd leading scorer from last year to an ACL tear (Callendret) and started the conference season poorly with a 1-3 record. Someone forgot to tell them in Moscow that they were dead in the water. Winners of 7 out of their last 8, they charged back up the standing to the point they are sitting 1 game back of UND in 3rd and looking much like the threat they were going to be. How did they turn their season around? Well its starts with their star guard Victor Sanders, who has been putting up big numbers, including a 40 point performance at Portland. The Sherwood brothers have stepped up and provide big moments when needed, Brayon Blake has been their big performer in the post. Idaho is very similar to what UND is, strength is in their guards. The opposite of what UND was dealing with Thursday night This is only the 4th meeting in Big Sky play for the two teams. Idaho has a 2-1 advantage and won both matchups last year by a combined total of 4 points. The only matchup in Grand Forks was a 74-71 win for the Vandals. Other Games: Weber (9-2) @ PSU (5-6) It appears that the SAC/PSU swing has been a nightmare for the top teams, UND barely got out with a split and Montana got swept. Weber dropped a surprising one down in Sac State and now need to salvage the road swing with a split. Especially with UND coming in next weekend. PSU snapped a 4 game losing streak with a close win against ISU, which they are 1.5 back of Montana for the final bye for Reno, and are looking to get an important home sweep before two big games up in Montana. EWU (8-4) @ UNC (4-8) Eastern dropped a tough one in Grand Forks and are looking to avoid going 0-2 on this road trip and damaging their chances at a top 3 seed. UNC losers of 7 out their last 8 and at this point just looking forward to 2017. Important for EWU not to drop with one with Idaho, Weber and ISU coming up in the next two weeks MSU (6-6) @ SUU (2-10) The Bobcats were sitting pretty one week ago, had a halftime lead over their rivals in Missoula. Then, it all came crashing down. Worse yet, they dropped one on the road at NAU and now sit 1 game back on Montana for the final bye. They cannot afford to slip up again against a basement team. SUU looking forward to 2017 and better days. ISU (3-8) @ SAC (5-6) If Sac State wanted to get back into the race for the final bye they sure did by knocking off Weber at home. Now they need to avoid the let down game against ISU, who just cannot get anything going this year and without question is the leagues most disappointing team. Mont (7-5) @ NAU (4-8) The Griz look to be back on track, in the 5th spot and sitting only 1 back from EWU and Idaho for 3rd and 4th respectively and two back of UND. They are out of the league race unless a miracle occurs but 2nd is definitely in play. They have to avoid the upset down in NAU, who is playing pretty good these past 5 games. Could be a tough play-in game matchup for anyone. The Call: Brian Jones said it best in the GF Herald after the EWU Win: If they don't beat Idaho then it doesn't mean anything, and I agree. The last thing UND wants to do is drop this game at home in the only matchup of the year. They do not want to get back into the muck for a top 3 seed and losing two important tiebreakers to Idaho and Montana. Not only that, but the Weber loss at Sac has open the door to a potential 1st place showdown if UND takes care of business these next two games. UND has won 11 in a row at home in conference play, Idaho has won 7 out of 8. Something has got to give! Being that this is at home, another big game moment for Q to proclaim his frontrunner status as Big Sky POY, and a bounce back game from Geno. UND will extend the steak to 12 in another close win. UND 81-77 Editors note: I enjoy doing these and thank everyone for the kind comments. Even if they aren't perfect 100% of the time Yummmmm, Steak! jk Great write up. Thanks for the reading material! Quote
Cratter Posted February 11, 2017 Posted February 11, 2017 Look like a major program with this tv production. Quote
UND1983 Posted February 11, 2017 Posted February 11, 2017 Shanks! Best game of year so far. That last post move kiss off glass was beautiful. Quote
UND1983 Posted February 11, 2017 Posted February 11, 2017 And again! Shanks off the glass from 15. Quote
SWSiouxMN Posted February 11, 2017 Author Posted February 11, 2017 both of Shanks shots were with nice touch Quote
UND1983 Posted February 11, 2017 Posted February 11, 2017 If Shanks does this in Reno, UND will be dancing. Quote
SWSiouxMN Posted February 11, 2017 Author Posted February 11, 2017 Jafar on the bench. BWAHAHA! Having a little fun Quote
SWSiouxMN Posted February 11, 2017 Author Posted February 11, 2017 they are putting on a clinic Quote
CMSioux Posted February 11, 2017 Posted February 11, 2017 Crowd gives Shanks a hand as he sits - nice kid we need him to play to his strengths. Quote
zonadub Posted February 11, 2017 Posted February 11, 2017 21 minutes ago, Cratter said: Look like a major program with this tv production. Eversport s#%ks! Can't get the stream at all. Quote
SWSiouxMN Posted February 11, 2017 Author Posted February 11, 2017 Its all UND right now... and Sanders picked up number 3 UND 36 Idaho 17 6:21 1st Quote
SIOUXFAN97 Posted February 11, 2017 Posted February 11, 2017 13 minutes ago, zonadub said: Eversport s#%ks! Can't get the stream at all. thank god for our move to the summit...espn3!! Quote
CMSioux Posted February 11, 2017 Posted February 11, 2017 Law of averages catching up to Shanks Quote
SWSiouxMN Posted February 11, 2017 Author Posted February 11, 2017 UND 49 Idaho 33 Half dominate half, balanced scoring Quote
CMSioux Posted February 11, 2017 Posted February 11, 2017 Hope that last series doesn't come back to haunt us. The courtside reporter must be a college student? Quote
hoops44 Posted February 11, 2017 Posted February 11, 2017 too bad drick bricked the bunny...he has a hard time making easy shots look easy Quote
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