vs SUU

[CelticCat]

For those that didn't click Colter's story, this is a great quote:

“When we got off the bus on Sunday night, literally I was seething. It hit me on the bus ride, I need to make sure these guys know the opportunity we have. We had a team meeting, I brought them on the court, and looked up at that banner right there. We were standing right here, the whole team, and I talked to them about the championship team I played on and how close we are to this day. Leaving a legacy means something, and if you don’t win it, will you be remembered?

“You might be remembered for a little bit but you’re not going to be remembered forever. That 2022 (banner) is going to be up there forever. They’re going to be able to come back (and see it) at any time, and the camaraderie this team will have forever is something they don’t even know how special it is right now. I showed them my net from ’96 and I told them about Nico (Harrison) and Quad (Quadre Lollis) and (Adam) Leachman, (Scott) Hatler, Danny Sullivan, the whole team, and how special that bond is.”

[Cats15]

As a kid I stood on the floor and watched Sprinkle cut down the net in '96. Last night I stood there with my kids and watched Sprinkle cut down the net. Was a pretty cool moment!

As I recall in '96 we cut the net down for winning the tournament, correct?

[WalkOn79]

X has come so far in the two years he's been here. Turned himself into one of the best PG's in the league at 5'8"!! Heart of a lion that kid, and a great spokesman for MSU!!

[ilovethecats]

As a kid I stood on the floor and watched Sprinkle cut down the net in '96. Last night I stood there with my kids and watched Sprinkle cut down the net. Was a pretty cool moment!

As I recall in '96 we cut the net down for winning the tournament, correct?

Yep. Back when the regular season champ got to host the tourney. Like they should still do today.

[BobcatDel]

Their guard ran into a camera guy on the baseline? That’s what Mackey said. I seemed to have missed that.

Yep, it happened towards the end of the 1st half.

Yep…first half their guy took out a camera guy.

Then second half Bobcats took out the cameraman on the other end of the court sometime in the last 5 minutes of game. He was completely laid out with glasses and gear all amiss. I think it was Mohammed (I may be wrong). That was an interesting sequence…. Mohammed took the guy out, tried to stay to help the guy up while play went on….Bishop gets double teamed at half court and loses the ball….SUU headed for an easy layup and Amin runs it down to make a huge block from behind…great athletic play….that got me going.

[BobcatDel]

For those that didn't click Colter's story, this is a great quote:

“When we got off the bus on Sunday night, literally I was seething. It hit me on the bus ride, I need to make sure these guys know the opportunity we have. We had a team meeting, I brought them on the court, and looked up at that banner right there. We were standing right here, the whole team, and I talked to them about the championship team I played on and how close we are to this day. Leaving a legacy means something, and if you don’t win it, will you be remembered?

“You might be remembered for a little bit but you’re not going to be remembered forever. That 2022 (banner) is going to be up there forever. They’re going to be able to come back (and see it) at any time, and the camaraderie this team will have forever is something they don’t even know how special it is right now. I showed them my net from ’96 and I told them about Nico (Harrison) and Quad (Quadre Lollis) and (Adam) Leachman, (Scott) Hatler, Danny Sullivan, the whole team, and how special that bond is.”

Outstanding!

[WalkOn79]

Their guard ran into a camera guy on the baseline? That’s what Mackey said. I seemed to have missed that.

Yep, it happened towards the end of the 1st half.

Yep…first half their guy took out a camera guy.

Then second half Bobcats took out the cameraman on the other end of the court sometime in the last 5 minutes of game. He was completely laid out with glasses and gear all amiss. I think it was Mohammed (I may be wrong). That was an interesting sequence…. Mohammed took the guy out, tried to stay to help the guy up while play went on….Bishop gets double teamed at half court and loses the ball….SUU headed for an easy layup and Amin runs it down to make a huge block from behind…great athletic play….that got me going.

Amazing sequence!

[CelticCat]

This team really does go as Bishop goes. When he's forcing things, turning it over, getting swatted at the rim we struggle, but when he's protecting the ball, hitting his jumpers and able to finish at the rim the Cats are very very hard to beat.

Battle is in a slump right now too, after scoring 10+ points in 10 straight games, he's now coming off back to back 4 point performances, fouled out at UM and had 4 against SUU and has only shot 3-9. We don't need him to be scoring 13 points to win but we are darn near unstoppable when he does.

Patterson is also in a slump - hasn't hit a 3 since EWU (1-4) and has scored 7 total points in the last 4 games combined including a goose egg in Missoula. He's just 1-9 from deep and hasn't hit one in 3 straight games. Luckily his defense has really improved and he takes care of the ball (zero turnovers since the first EWU 1/27) but we need more production from him if we are going to win the tournament.

[WalkOn79]

This team really does go as Bishop goes. When he's forcing things, turning it over, getting swatted at the rim we struggle, but when he's protecting the ball, hitting his jumpers and able to finish at the rim the Cats are very very hard to beat.

Battle is in a slump right now too, after scoring 10+ points in 10 straight games, he's now coming off back to back 4 point performances, fouled out at UM and had 4 against SUU and has only shot 3-9. We don't need him to be scoring 13 points to win but we are darn near unstoppable when he does.

Patterson is also in a slump - hasn't hit a 3 since EWU (1-4) and has scored 7 total points in the last 4 games combined including a goose egg in Missoula. He's just 1-9 from deep and hasn't hit one in 3 straight games. Luckily his defense has really improved and he takes care of the ball (zero turnovers since the first EWU 1/27) but we need more production from him if we are going to win the tournament.

I think you really hit on two keys for this team to be not good, but great! Battle and Patterson.

[tetoncat]

And Gazalaes as well. Really no three point production from that group in a while.

[CelticCat]

And Gazalaes as well. Really no three point production from that group in a while.

My favorite statistician @wbtfg tells me the trio of Battle, Patterson and Gazelas is 4 for their last 17 field goals combined in the last 2 games. Patterson and Gazelas in particular need to step it up from deep as that is their main offensive role. Battle can do other things but he needs to find his grove again.

Winning games in March is tough, games get sloppy and physical. But we still need to be able to create open looks and right now that just isn't happening.