MBB vs. NAU-Big Sky Tournament Championship

[BelgradeBobcat]

Since it's gameday already I thought I get a thread started.
NAU-the most snake bitten team in America-has finally got it going. Wow are they playing well.
Bobcats going for their first back to back tourney titles ever.
Go Cats!

[MSU01]

Thank goodness this doesn't start until 9:30 tonight so that the guys can have a few more hours to rest up! If NAU wins tonight they'll set the record for lowest winning percentage of a team that makes the NCAA tournament.

[justafan]

anyone go into cardiac arrest last night? I didn't think I could have taken a double OT. Need to be in Cone's face all night.

[Hi-Line Bobcat]

Need to guard their slip screen action on the three point line and be prepared for rolls to the basket by their center.That center for NAU isn’t tall but he is stronger than an ox and can really move.

[Catfanatic84]

NAU appeared to be the best team of the final four last night. Cone is playing out of his mind and NAU's bigs are really doing a job around the basket. Should be a heck of a game tonight. Bobcats need to shoot better, obviously....I'd put Darius and Ford on Cone to slow him down. Go Cats!!

[tetoncat]

anyone go into cardiac arrest last night? I don't think I could have taken a double OT. Need to be in Cone's face all night.

It did go double ot

[justafan]

anyone go into cardiac arrest last night? I don't think I could have taken a double OT. Need to be in Cone's face all night.

It did go double ot

should have typed didn't think, about went into cardiac after regulation.

[Bocephus]

I went to bed at halftime, watched the game winning dunk on replay. Feeling really good about my decision.

[wapiti]

We can't let NAU shoot 50% like they did against the Griz.

[PapaG]

anyone go into cardiac arrest last night? I didn't think I could have taken a double OT. Need to be in Cone's face all night.

Took a melatonin and still didn’t fall asleep until 1am because I was so amped.

[PapaG]

NAU appeared to be the best team of the final four last night. Cone is playing out of his mind and NAU's bigs are really doing a job around the basket. Should be a heck of a game tonight. Bobcats need to shoot better, obviously....I'd put Darius and Ford on Cone to slow him down. Go Cats!!

Maybe, but EWU stumbled down the stretch yet it still took a miracle 3 to beat them, and the Gris didn’t really even try to play defense last night and seemed over the season.

Rather be playing NAU than EWU. Just need some 3-point shots to fall tonight, get Belo and Osobor some post points, and the guards make their fricking lay-ups (unlike last night).

[PapaG]

We can't let NAU shoot 50% like they did against the Griz.

Gris didn’t look like they wanted to be there. Soft team.

[grizzh8r]

We can't let NAU shoot 50% like they did against the Griz.

I highly doubt this happens. Anyone have time to research how many teams have shot 50% on the Cats this season? Heck, even better than 40%? They are playing elite level defense right now. Absolutely smothering/suffocating teams with on ball defense. It's a beautiful thing to behold.

[PapaG]

We can't let NAU shoot 50% like they did against the Griz.

I highly doubt this happens. Anyone have time to research how many teams have shot 50% on the Cats this season? Heck, even better than 40%? They are playing elite level defense right now. Absolutely smothering/suffocating teams with on ball defense. It's a beautiful thing to behold.

Gris didn’t have anyone to one-on-one defend Cone. I like the ‘Cats chances with DPOY Darius Brown II at least pestering Jalen all over the court and making him defend on drives, too. Make some open 3s and finish on lay-ups and it should be a W.

[CelticCat]

NAU shot 26.5% FG and 28.6% from 3 the first matchup in Flagstaff. Cats were 52.3% from the field and 44.4% from deep.

NAU 42.9% and 58.8% from deep in Bozeman. Cats shot one of their classic 16.7% from deep games (43.6% overall) 3 of 18, and still won.

I think we can contain NAU, I know they are hot right now but I doubt they will be as hot as they were in Bozeman last time. Can the Cats find their shot is the real question right now.

Personally I think this will be a bit like last year, we had a slobberknocker against Weber in the semis and then smoked UNC.

[BelgradeBobcat]

I think the back-to-back games thing is real. NAU had a rest day while griz had to play Idaho State-who's a pretty physical team. It looked like maybe the griz ran out of gas in the second half? Moody was walking around the arena during our game with Weber. He moved like a tired old man-I almost (almost) felt sorry for him. He ran around like a chicken with its head cut off against ISU and he was doing the same thing against NAU in the first half, but maybe it wasn't sustainable. They're not a super deep team so I that's what I think happened.

I'm worried about Darius Brown and how tired he'll be. His defensive work against Weber was amazing and he hardly ever came out. Ford should be okay-he didn't play as many minutes. Gazellas didn't play a whole lot. Lecholat didn't play much either so he'll have some legs. Danny is going to have to trust those guys I think. NAU only has one true big in Carson Tout-who is a very good player, but has historically struggled against Belo and Osobor.

[catsrback76]

Nice start. Good D leading to a lead.

[BleedingBLue]

Has the offensive footwork been this bad all year?

[BleedingBLue]

BSC officials don't know what a travel is holy hell. NAU has 3 points and a foul on Belo because of missed travel calls. One of our assistants is about to lose his mind.

[catsrback76]

They are letting them play!