Lumberjacks hold off Thunderbirds

The NAU Lumberjacks jumped out to a 35-17 lead after 3 quarters, then had to hold off a furious rally by Southern Utah in the 4th quarter, prevailing over the Thunderbirds 42-39.

Alex Henderson led the way for the Jacks, with 32 carries for 168 yards and 2 TDs. He also recovered his own fumble in the end zone for a 3rd TD. Micheal Herrick completed 15 of 21 passes for 306 yards and a TD. 4 of those were complete to Conrad Meadows for 121 yards. Austin Shanks and Giovannie Dixon added TD Runs. NAU has 554 yards of total offense.

The Thunderbirds gashed the NAU defense for 540 yards of total offense, led by 425 yards passing by Cade Cooper. Cooper completed 33 of 48 for 4 TDs and no INTs. Austin Minifee had 89 yards rushing and 85 receiving, including 3TDs receiving. Tysson Poots had 6 catches for 109 yards and a TD.

The Lumberjacks evened their record at 1-1, while Southern Utah dropped to 1-2. The Lumberjacks will be in action Saturday September 26, hosting the Montana Grizzles.

Scoreboard
Final 1 2 3 4 T
Southern Utah (1-2) 7 7 3 22 39
Northern Arizona (1-1) « 14 14 7 7 42

Scoring Summary
NAZ Daiveun Curry-Chapman 5 yd pass from Michael Herrick (SHAUN FITZPATRICK 2pt run)
NAZ Alex Henderson 0 yd run (failed 2pt rush)
SUT Austin Minefee 17 yd pass from Cade Cooper (Ryan Griffith kick)
NAZ Austin Shanks 35 yd run (Matt Myers kick)
NAZ Alex Henderson 3 yd run (Matt Myers kick)
SUT Tysson Poots 25 yd pass from Cade Cooper (Ryan Griffith kick)
NAZ Alex Henderson 57 yd run (Matt Myers kick)
SUT Ryan Griffith 17 yd FG
SUT Major Gray 1 yd run (Ryan Griffith kick)
NAZ Giovannie Dixon 30 yd run (Matt Myers kick)
SUT Austin Minefee 15 yd pass from Cade Cooper (Fesi Sitake 2pt pass from Cade Cooper)
SUT Austin Minefee 40 yd pass from Cade Cooper (Ryan Griffith kick)

Team Stats
SUT NAZ
First Downs 29 23
Third Down Efficiency 8-16 5-10
Fourth Down Efficiency 2-2 1-2
Plays-Net Yards 81-540 61-554
Rushes-Yds 32-109 40-248
Passing Yds 431 306
Kick Return Yds 74 82
Punt Return Yds 15 4
Passes 34-49-0 15-21-0
Punts 4-167 3-154
Fumbles-Lost 3-1 4-1
Penalties-Yds 10-105 7-118
Time of Poss. 34:10 25:50

Individual Stats
RUSHING
SUT: Austin Minefee 19-89, Trevor Ward 1-14, Ammon Olsen 1-12, Major Gray 3-2, Cade Cooper 8–8
NAZ: Alex Henderson 32-168, Giovannie Dixon 7-45, Austin Shanks 1-35
PASSING
SUT: Cade Cooper 33-48-425-0, Ammon Olsen 1-1-6-0
NAZ: Michael Herrick 15-21-306-0
RECEIVING
SUT: Fesi Sitake 10-80, Tysson Poots 6-109, Austin Minefee 5-83, Mitch Jessop 4-74, Jared Ursua 4-48, Karl Williams 3-29, Deckar Alexander 1-5, Abbel Aiono 1-3
NAZ: Conrad Meadows 4-121, Alex Henderson 3-64, Daiveun Curry-Chapman 3-47, Ed Berry 2-33, Ryan Rauschert 2-19, Giovannie Dixon 1-22

The Lumberjacks come into Saturday’s showdown with the visiting Thunderbirds off of a 34-17 loss at Arizona. The Jacks put up a good fight, being as close as 21-10 with the ball deep inside Wildcats territory. NAU will look to kick off the 2009 home season on a positive note.

The Thunderbirds are coming off of a 35-19 loss at San Diego State this past Saturday. They stand at 1-1 after starting the season off with a 36-7 victory over Dixie State.

Look for the Lumberjacks offense, under the direction of Micheal Herrick to attack the SUU defense through the air . San diego State had a great deal of seuccess through the air. Having success through the air will allow Alex Henderson to find some gaps in the Thunderbird defense.

Another key factor will be if the Lumberjack defense can force Southern Utah QB Cade Cooper into forcing throws and throwing interceptions. In the win for the Thunderbirds: 0 turnovers; the loss: 3 turnovers.

Prediction: The NAU defense force the Thuderbirds to turn the ball over numerous times, and Herrick has a big day. NAU 31 SUU 20

The Northern Arizona Lumberjacks gave the Arizona Wildcats all they wanted for a half, but the Wildcats proved to be too much, pulling away late for a 34-17 victory at home. The Lumberjacks trailed only 14-10 in the 2nd quarter, but Arizona outscored NAU 20-7 the rest of the way.

The Jacks had no answer for Arizona running back Nic Grigsby. Grigsby carried the ball 15 times for 207 yards and 2 TDs, with a long run of 94 yards in the 3rd quarter.

Micheal Herrick made the start at quarterback for the Lumberjacks, completing 20 of 30 passes for 2 TDs and 2 INT.

Grigsby led off the scoring with a 25 yard TD jaunt in the 1st quarter. After a 43 yard field goal by NAU kicker Matt Myers, Grigsby took it in from 30 yards out to give the Cats a 14-3 lead. The Lumberjacks then went on a 14 play, 79 yards scoring drive to cut the Wildcat lead to 14-10, early in the 2nd quarter. Micheal Herrick hit Ed Berry with a 4 yard TD pass to finish the drive.

The 2nd quarter was uneventful, until Matt Scott hit Terrell Turner with a 2 yard TD pass with 30 seconds to go before the half to give the Cats a 21-10 halftime advantage.

NAU’s last opportunity to get back in the game was foiled by a Terrell Wade INT near the Arizona goal line, stopping a Lumberjack scoring drive. Nic Grigsby went 94 yards on the next play to the NAU 1. Keola Antolin plunged in on the next play and the Cats took a 27-10 lead.

Arizona backup QB Nick Foles threw a TD pass early in the 4th quarter to make the score 34-10. Herrick and Berry teamed up again for a 19 yard TD completion to close out the scoring.

The Lumberjacks host Southern Utah on Saturday.

SCOREBOARD
Final    1    2    3    4    T
Northern Arizona  (0-1)    3    7    0    7    17
Arizona  (2-0) «    14    7    6    7    34

SCORING SUMMARY
AZ    Nic Grigsby 25 yd run (Alex Zendejas kick)
NAZ    Matt Myers 43 yd FG
AZ    Nic Grigsby 30 yd run (Alex Zendejas kick)
NAZ    Ed Berry 4 yd pass from Michael Herrick (Matt Myers kick)
AZ    Terrell Turner 2 yd pass from Matt Scott (Alex Zendejas kick)
AZ    Keola Antolin 1 yd run (missed kick)
AZ    Juron Criner 5 yd pass from Nick Foles (Alex Zendejas kick)
NAZ    Ed Berry 19 yd pass from Michael Herrick (Matt Myers kick)

Team Stats
NAZ    AZ
First Downs    13    27
Third Down Efficiency    4-9    8-13
Fourth Down Efficiency    0-0    3-4
Plays-Net Yards    49-226    75-559
Rushes-Yds    19-67    47-365
Passing Yds    159    194
Kick Return Yds    88    84
Punt Return Yds    0    0
Passes    20-30-2    20-28-1
Punts    4-169    0-0
Fumbles-Lost    1-0    1-1
Penalties-Yds    1-5    5-35
Time of Poss.    24:8    35:52

Individual Stats
RUSHING
NAZ: Alex Henderson 14-56, Giovannie Dixon 2-13, Austin Shanks 1-6, Team 1–1, Michael Herrick 1–7
AZ: Nic Grigsby 15-207, Keola Antolin 9-60, Matt Scott 7-48, Greg Nwoko 9-32, Nick Booth 3-17, Terrell Turner 2-6, Nick Foles 1–2, Delashaun Dean 1–3
PASSING
NAZ: Michael Herrick 20-30-159-2
AZ: Matt Scott 14-20-150-1, Nick Foles 6-8-44-0
RECEIVING
NAZ: Ed Berry 7-71, Daiveun Curry-Chapman 4-34, Conrad Meadows 4-18, Alex Henderson 2-16, Mike Czyz 1-12, Austin Shanks 1-7, Curt Sweeney 1-1
AZ: Terrell Turner 5-46, David Douglas 5-43, Delashaun Dean 2-26, A.J. Simmons 2-21, David Roberts 2-17, William Wright 1-21, Nic Grigsby 1-12, Juron Criner 1-5, Chris Gronkowski 1-3

10:00pm ET Saturday September 12, 2009

The Arizona Wildcats are coming off of a season opening victory over the Central Michigan Chippewas, 19-6. New Wildcat quarterback Matt Scott completed 19 out of 30 passes for 202 yards and an interception. Nic Grigsby led the Wildcat rushing attack with 23 carries for 118 yards and a touchdown. Scott added 83 yards on 9 carries. Alex Zendejas jr. added a career high 4 field goals. The Wildcats owned a time of possession advantage of 38 minutes to 22 minutes, thanks to a balanced offensive output of 246 yards on the ground and 202 yards through the air.

The Wildcat defense was spectacular, holding a potent Central Michigan offense to under 300 yards of total offense. Central Michigan QB Dan LeFevour never got going against the Wildcat defense, throwing for only 108 yards and an INT.

This is a tough opener for the Lumberjacks. Starting the season with a new QB, new RB and rebuilding the defense is tough enough, but beginning the season with an FBS opponent on the rise makes an already tough task even tougher. Look for the Lumberjacks to put up a fight, but the Cats to be too much.

Score Prediction: Arizona 41  NAU 7

Scoring Summary

FIRST QUARTER				UNCO	KU
	TD	10:10	Todd Reesing 1 Yd Run (Jacob Branstetter Kick)	0	7
SECOND QUARTER				UNCO	KU
	TD	13:42	Todd Reesing 13 Yd Run (Jacob Branstetter Kick)	0	14
	TD	10:03	Jake Sharp 10 Yd Pass From Todd Reesing (Jacob Branstetter Kick)	0	21
	TD	03:01	Tertavian Ingram 16 Yd Pass From Todd Reesing (Jacob Branstetter Kick)	0	28
THIRD QUARTER				UNCO	KU
	FG	12:27	Michael York 29 Yd	3	28
FOURTH QUARTER				UNCO	KU
	TD	14:17	Jake Sharp 1 Yd Run (Jacob Branstetter Kick)	3	35
	TD	04:38	Toben Opurum 10 Yd Run (Jacob Branstetter Kick)	3	42
	TD	00:33	Toben Opurum 26 Yd Run (Jacob Branstetter Kick)	3	49

2008 Record: 6-5, 4-4 Big Sky

Postseason: None

Head Coach: Jerome Souers

Returning Starters: 14 (7 Offense, 7 Defense)

Preseason Ranking: #21 by the Sporting News

Schedule

Sep 12, 2009 at Arizona Tucson, Ariz. All Day

Sep 19, 2009 Southern Utah Flagstaff, Ariz. 3:05 PM

Sep 26, 2009 Montana* Flagstaff, Ariz. 3:05 PM

Oct 03, 2009 Northern Colorado* (Family Weekend) Flagstaff, Ariz. 3:05 PM

 Oct 10, 2009 at Montana State* Bozeman, Mont. 12:35 PM

Oct 17, 2009 at Portland State *Portland, Ore. 1:05 PM

Oct 24, 2009 Idaho State* (Homecoming) Flagstaff, Ariz. 3:05 PM

Oct 31, 2009 at Sacramento State Sacramento, Calif. 2:00 PM

Nov 07, 2009 at Ole Miss Oxford, Miss. All Day

 Nov 14, 2009 at Weber State Ogden, Utah 12:05 PM

Nov 21, 2009 Eastern Washington* Flagstaff, Ariz. 3:05 PM

* Big Sky Conference

OFFENSE

NAU must replace multiple skill position performers. Junior Micheal Herrick (6′1″ 195lbs) takes over the quarterback responsibilities for NAU. He appeared in 10 games last year for the Lumberjacks, completing over 65% of his passes for 1043 yards, 3 TDs and 6 INTs. His best performance last year was in the season finale vs Eastern Washington, throwing for 283 yards. At running back, senior Alex Henderson (5′10″ 205lbs) takes over after an injury plagued 2008 season. He ran for over 400 yards at a 5.9 yards per carry clip, but only appeared in 6 games due to injury. The Lumberjacks return their top 3 receivers from 2008 in senior Ed Berry (5′9″ 185lbs), senior Curt Sweeney (5′11” 179lbs) and senior Conrad Meadows (5′9” 180lbs). The 3 combined for 128 catches, 1722 yards and 6 TDs.

DEFENSE

The Lumberjacks boasted one of the best defenses in the NCAA FCS in 2008, ranking in the top 10 in many defensive categories. The leader of the 2009 defensive unit will be preseason Big Sky All Conference pick, LB Cody Dowd (Sr. 6′3″ 250lbs). Dowd is the only Lumberjack to be picked preseason All Big Sky. Sr. DE Micheal Battisti (6′3″ 235lbs) will anchor the NAU defensive front. Battisti had 6 QB sacks last year and was named to the Big Sky Honorable Mention team in 2008.

Outlook

The Lumberjacks are coming off of their 3rd consecutive 6-5 season in 2008, looking to challenge Montana and Weber State for supremacy in the Big Sky Conference. Facing the Lumberjacks are many different challenges in the 2009 season.

The schedule provides both challenges and opportunities for NAU. The Lumberjacks face two FBS (formerly Division I-A) opponents in the Arizona Wildcats in the season opener, and the Ole Miss Rebels on November 7. Both teams won 8 or more games, as well as their bowl games. The Lumberjacks must also travel to Ogden, Utah to face Big Sky power Weber State, as well as Bozeman, Montana to challenge Montana State. NAU does get to host Big Sky preseason favorite Montana on September 26 and Eastern Washington on November 21. The other home games for NAU are: September 19 against Southern Utah; October 3 against the Northern Colorado Bears; October 24 against the Idaho State Bengals for homecoming. The other road games for the Lumberjacks are: October 17 at Portland State; October 31 at Sacramento State.

Season Prediction:

Overall Record: 7-4

Conference Record: 6-2  3rd Place

On Friday afternoon in Boise, the 13th seeded Portland State Vikings take on the 4th seeded Xavier Musketeers at the Taco Bell Arena. Neither has been expected to advance past the second round. A win for Xavier could mean a chance at the Sweet 16 if the Wisconsin Badgers can find some way to upset the Florida State Seminoles. Portland State has a better shot at advancing further if FSU moves on given that they play much better in a fast-paced game. However, as neither of these outcomes is likely, the teams will focus on the task at hand, each other. Who are these teams, and what might we expect from them come Friday?

Let’s begin with Portland State. After receiving a righteous beat-down from eventual national champion Kansas in the first round last season, the Vikings struggled to replace seniors Scott Morrison and Deonte Huff. The 10-3 start included a loss to Big West cellar-dwellers Cal Poly and close wins against Division III Lewis & Clark College and transitioning Division I Seattle University. That said, the one point loss at Washington and victory on Gonzaga helped offset the negative energy flowing from the previously mentioned near-disasters. Since then, the Vikings also had their issues with the Big Sky schedule. Although there are deceiving point spreads like the 14 point home loss to Weber State that was competitive until the last two minutes, the 5 losses seem to describe the inconsistency that plagued the team all season. It seems, however, that they have righted the ship at the critical point, winning the six heading into the tournament.

Xavier hasn’t been playing its best basketball for a while now. The Musketeers went 20-2 to start the season, but have only played .500 basketball since. Sorry Xavier fans. I’m not buying the argument that beating Dayton by 17 required the same kind of sustained effort that it took to beat Memphis by 5. Granted, that wasn’t the same Tiger team that thrashed everyone in Conference USA. What I am buying with this team is that all their losses aside from an ugly one to Charlotte came at the hands of solid opponents. If they can find a way to pressure the Vikings’ outside shooters, they should be able to take care of business and move on. Whether or not they can do that is the question many analysts are asking themselves at this point.

Match-Ups
Center
XU: Jason Love PSU: Jamie Jones
Love hasn’t been the focal point of the Xavier offensive scheme at many points this season. However, this may be the time coach Sean Miller needs to get the big man involved. He is matched up with a fragile, finesse player in Jones to begin the game and should be able to use his bulk to get to the hole. Kenny Frease could also do some damage if given the opportunity against Jones. However, don’t be surprised to see the Ken Bone go with Julius Thomas or a 1-3-1 zone if the Musketeers rattle off a bunch of points in the paint early on. Another defensive option for the Vikings here is Tyrell Mara. Although Thomas is still likely to be in the game, it adds a little bit more size and strength to match up with Love and/or Frease. If Miller really forces the issue, the Xavier centers may out-produce those of Portland State on the offensive end. However, I think we’re more likely to see the biggest discrepancies in the rebounding numbers, because the Vikings are one of the worst defensive rebounding teams you’ll ever see.
Advantage: Musketeers

Power Forward
XU: Derrick Brown PSU: Kyle Coston
Brown has been touted as a future NBA player by Xavier fans and should get the opportunity to prove his mettle here as long as the Vikings play man defense. Coston is intense, but not the best on-ball defender. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Brown have a huge night if the Vikings stick with man the entire game. We’re talking 25 points and 10 rebounds. Coston and Mara should be able to contribute about 10 points and 5 rebounds, but unfortunately that’s together, not apiece. If it isn’t obvious from those numbers, Brown has a huge advantage, and should enjoy the national spotlight.
Advantage: Musketeers

Small Forward
XU: B.J. Raymond PSU: Phil Nelson
Raymond’s numbers have really improved markedly every season. In his senior year, he has averaged 14 points, 4 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game, which are all at least 25 percent increases from last years numbers. The dependable senior matches up with Phil Nelson, an enigmatic talent. The future star has been the best player on the floor at times, and the worst at others. His defense has improved significantly since the beginning of the season, but he continually seems to struggle against players who put forth their best effort on both ends of the floor. If he plays up to his potential, this match-up should be the most exciting on the court. If not, at least we’ll have fun watching Raymond do some damage. We’re likely to see some highlight-reel dunks from Nelson given the audience, even if he doesn’t hit a high percentage from outside. I think both players will play up to the environment, and we’ll see something special.
Advantage: Push

Shooting Guard
XU: C.J. Anderson PSU: Andre Murray
This match-up should also be a lot of fun to watch. Although Murray is significantly smaller in stature, he tends to play like a forward when necessary. I’m inclined to think it may be necessary in this one. For those of you who aren’t familiar with “Draeno,” he came in from the College of the Canyons and immediately shook things up. He took advantage of Dupree Lucas’ struggles last year and pushed his way into the starting lineup with a huge performance at Southern Utah. This season, he has taken over Deonte Huff’s role of rebounding better than his size, playing tough on-ball defense, and making big shots when needed. Anderson could provide a test for Andre as he has the sort of height that could make him dangerous. However, I think we’re more likely to see Murray on Raymond and Nelson on Anderson given the sizes and skill sets of the respective players. Regardless of what we see on Friday, these players aren’t likely to get the most hype. Neither player has the types of skills that make him an obvious pick over the other.
Advantage: Push

Point Guard
XU: Dante Jackson PSU: Jeremiah Dominguez
As many analysts have noted, Xavier does not have a true point guard. Will that hurt them? It’s hard to tell. Dominguez is very skilled, and has the ability to go off for 20 or 30 points on any given night. He is also a great passer, and has very quick hands, which could give Jackson fits. If you haven’t seen him play, you’ll be amazed by how quick he releases the ball on his jump shots. Jackson’s obvious advantage over Dominguez is his size. If he can post up, he may be able to exploit Jeremiah’s 5’6” frame. If this appears to be the game plan early, don’t be surprised to see the Vikings quickly transition to the 1-3-1 zone with one of their long-armed forwards (Coston or Nelson) at the top of the key. If Dominguez can’t handle the physicality, Dominic Waters will play the point. Ultimately, the quickness and scoring knack Dominguez has should be the one advantage the Vikings have over the X-men.
Advantage: Vikings

Bench
Xavier has a huge advantage here. Unlike the Big Sky Conference schedule, the Vikings will have to deal with significant depth that they just can’t counter. Jamel McLean, Kenny Frease, Brad Redford, Terrell Holloway all contribute to the offensive effort with more than 4 points per game. For all the Xavier fans out there, that should come as no surprise, but it’s a new experience for Viking fans who haven’t seen a team as deep as the Musketeers since they faced off with Baylor at the end of 2008. The main threat off the bench for the Vikings is Dominic Waters. Other contributors for the Vikings include backup center Julius Thomas and power forward Tyrell Mara. True freshman Wendell Wright has played in a number of games this season, but isn’t likely to see the floor in this one unless there is serious foul trouble or a large deficit one way or the other.
Advantage: Musketeers

This is a hard game to call. If PSU plays well, it’ll be close, regardless of how Xavier plays. If PSU plays like they did in the Big Sky Tournament, they’ll lose by 20. I’ll go with an optimistic prediction this time around. PSU has a shot at winning this game, but only if they shoot the ball like they did at home in the Bracket Buster game against Boise State and minimize the Musketeers’ offensive rebounding opportunities.

Prediction: PSU 74 XU 72

Power Forward
MSU: Branden Johnson PSU: Kyle Coston
Johnson did nothing against Portland State in Bozeman, going scoreless in 12 minutes. However, he scored 9 points in Portland and appears ready to do more after a 16 point performance in the semifinal game against Weber State. That said, Kyle Coston, not the most productive offensive player in the world, has outplayed Johnson in both match-ups. Can Coston do it again? That may be difficult given that he is shooting just 33% at Dee Events Center, and went 0 for 4 against Idaho State. As has been pointed out many times this season, all the team needs from the 4 is a couple three balls and some defensive energy. There’s no doubt that’s gonna happen.
Advantage: Push

Small Forward
MSU: Erik Rush PSU: Phil Nelson
Rush presents an interesting match-up for the Vikings who play a traditional lineup. Last season, a guard/forward would have been no issue as the Viks had Deonte Huff and Dupree Lucas to fit that role. With a new year comes new talent. Phil Nelson has been every bit as spectacular as advertised coming in. Though not an offensive dynamo on a nightly basis, he provides prototypical small forward size that gives most Big Sky teams fits. Back to the match-up. Nelson played a solid first half against Idaho State’s Amorrow Morgan in the semis, but gave it up late. If he can keep up with Rush, this match-up should be no different. There’s no doubt that Nelson is the more physically talented player. The question is motivation. If Rush can get around screens quickly, that should neutralize Nelson, who tends to get rid of the ball quickly. If not, expect a big night from Phil.
Advantage: Vikings

Shooting Guard
MSU: Will Bynum PSU: Andre Murray
Will Bynum can be a very dangerous player for the Bobcats. In two games against Portland State, the junior has averaged 20 points and 4 rebounds. He also added an amazing 7 steals in Bozeman. If that happens again, don’t be surprised to see the Bobcats cutting down the nets. He matches up with Andre Murray, a player who averaged just 9 points in two games against Montana State. Why would any person in their right mind think this might turn out differently this time around? “Draeno” scored 21 points and carried the Vikings to victory in a game they seemed destined to lose from the time the second half started. The senior has also scored in double figures 19 times this season, including a 24 point effort on the road. Expect this to be the best match-up on the court, regardless of how much offense results.
Advantage: Push

Point Guard
MSU: Marquis Navarre PSU: Jeremiah Dominguez
Navarre has played okay against the Vikings considering he is being compared with two of the Big Sky’s best point guards in Dominic Waters and Jeremiah Dominguez. If he can produce another 10 points, like he did in Bozeman, the Bobcats may have a shot going down the stretch. However, that all depends on what they can get out of Bynum and Mbunga. Jeremiah Dominguez has finally reached the end of the road in the Big Sky Conference. After picking up the conference’s Most Valuable Player award last season, Dominguez persevered through injury to take a place on the first team all-conference squad this time around. Regardless of Wednesday night’s outcome, JD will always have a place in Viking fans’ hearts, as he was the one to finally get them to the NCAA tournament, and knock off a top-10 opponent.
Advantage: Vikings

Bench
Dom Waters has been great at times this season (41 points at Northern Arizona), and fairly putrid at others (0 at Cal Poly). Although the reason for this inconsistency is unknown, Waters seems to find his confidence every time he steps out on to the court, something the Vikings will need next year with Dominguez’ departure. Along with Julius Thomas and Tyrell Mara, he makes up one of the better benches in the conference. They match up with Bobby Howard and Austin Brown, two solid rebounders with an ability to score the basketball if need be. I wouldn’t bet on much coming from the benches scoring wise in this one given the magnitude of the game. In all likelihood, this is the last time either team will have a chance at winning this season.
Advantage: Vikings

Ultimately, I can’t go against the Vikings if they aren’t playing Weber State. No team has looked better than the Vikings since they lost on the road at Baylor, something they’ll have to deal with if they play any more games this season. As long as Jamie Jones and Julius Thomas can produce a couple points inside, there should be plenty of room for the Viking marksmen to gun away. Don’t expect it to be pretty, but Bone’s boys should get it done. Nobody wants to see a team with only 14 wins in the Big Dance.
Prediction: PSU 71 MSU 66

Match-Ups
Center
ISU: Demetrius Monroe/Deividas Busma/Lucas Steijn/Felix Caspari PSU: Jamie Jones
The player seeing the majority of the minutes at center for the Bengals is anyone’s guess (probably Steijn). Perhaps the lack of a consistent option is the reason, and maybe playing everyone in this group between 10-15 minutes at one of the two big man spots just keeps them all fresh and effective. The main man up front in the most recent match-up was Honorable Mention All Big Sky Lucas Steijn. If Steijn is the answer for Idaho State, he presents major match-up problems for the 6’7” Jones and 6’5” Thomas. The one positive for the Vikings in all of this is that Steijn is primarily a jump shooter with very little power game. Don’t expect him to have his way with the Viking big men the same way Brandon Moore of Eastern Washington did. Jones was a non factor in the February 12 game coming off his foot injury. If he can provide an inside scoring presence, the Vikings are a different team. Look for the coaching staff to call plays that will get him established early as they have in recent games. Ultimately, the majority of both teams’ points will come elsewhere, so the stat to watch for is offensive rebounds, which every team in the Big Sky seems to give up at an astronomical rate.
Advantage: Push

Power Forward
ISU: Chron Tatum PSU: Kyle Coston
Even though he played 25 minutes in the game in Pocatello, Kyle Coston managed just 1 point. Since then, he has averaged 8 points per game, with the only sub-par performance coming at Eastern Washington. Nobody on the Viking coaching staff expects Kyle to match Tatum’s all-around game. However, if he can play tough defense and keep Tatum off the boards by making some 3 pointers, he will make a lot of people happy. Tatum has averaged 13 points and 5 rebounds against the Vikings this season. Expect him to be right on those numbers again. If he’s the one who leads the Bengals in scoring, they have no chance.
Advantage: Bengals

Small Forward
ISU: Amorrow Morgan PSU: Phil Nelson
Morgan is the guy that transforms the Bengals from a mediocre team into the team that was expected to challenge for the Big Sky regular season title this year. Unfortunately, things haven’t turned out quite as expected in Pocatello. Amorrow has averaged 13.6 points per game this season, but gone over 20 just twice during the Big Sky portion of the schedule. That said, this is Idaho State’s chance at redemption. They beat a pesky Northern Colorado squad at home after trailing at halftime and now sit two games from the NCAA tournament. The only problem is that those two games match them up with Portland State, the most physically talented team in the conference, and if they win, Weber State, the best coached and most complete team. Coach Joe O’Brien will need Morgan to have at least 15 points if they hope to move on. He matches up with the frontrunner for next season’s Big Sky player of the year in Phil Nelson. It’s been a bit of an up and down year for Nelson, but the next two games provide him an opportunity to carry the team back towards its goal: a return to the NCAA tournament. However, if he isn’t effective, don’t be surprised to see Andre Murray log heavy minutes at the 3.
Advantage: Push

Shooting Guard
ISU: Donnie Carson PSU: Andre Murray
One never knows what to expect from a match-up like this one. Both Carson and Murray played very strong games the last time these teams met up. What’s different this time around? Well, after scoring 24 points in Pocatello, Andre has averaged just under 8 points per game. Carson has had two big games in his last five, but also had two awful performances. If he expects to play significant minutes in a game of this magnitude, he will need to step up and contribute in the way he has in his better games. After all, he is a far more complete player than Kilpatrick, the other option here.
Advantage: Vikings

Point Guard
ISU: Matt Stucki PSU: Jeremiah Dominguez
Although this should be the most fun match-up to watch, it seems like one of the two stars is always guarding somebody else. When the two teams met in Portland, Stucki shadowed Phil Nelson the entire game. In the second game, he played more off the ball and let Sherrod Baldwin and Amorrow Morgan handle it while he carried the team offensively. Perhaps third time’s the charm? I wouldn’t bet on it. In all likelihood we’ll see one of the first two scenarios relive itself. If Morgan is having a good shooting night, we’re likely to see Stucki shadow Nelson. If he isn’t, look for Stucki to try to match the multifaceted Viking offensive attack with his ability to hit the outside shot and get to the line. Either way, don’t expect him to be one on one with Dominguez the whole game. Last week, Jeremiah was rewarded with another First Team All Big Sky selection for his second great season in a row. He will be sorely missed next season, and the team will have to find somebody new to take and make the big time shots. Both players have put on a great show for Big Sky fans in the past couple years and should have opportunities to play basketball somewhere in Europe next year if they choose to.
Advantage: Push

Bench
Given that these teams have already played each other twice, we know the story of the bench players. Dominic Waters and Felix Caspari get to see each other again after their fight on the way to the locker room in Portland. Other contributors for the Bengals include Austin Kilpatrick, a shooter, and Sherrod Baldwin. The Vikings rely on Julius Thomas’ energy and Tyrell Mara’s defensive prowess off the bench.
Advantage: Vikings

Prediction: PSU 78 ISU 73

Match-Ups
Center
BSU: Ike Okoye PSU: Jamie Jones
It may be a good sign for PSU that Jamie Jones finally appears to have recovered from the hand and foot injuries that made him ineffective for most of the Big Sky Conference schedule. With an established presence inside, the Vikings are a legitimate team to watch going forward. He will have to be assertive though, as Okoye is a shot blocker who will take advantage of any weakness around the tin. Okoye has had some big games, but only averages 9 points and 6 rebounds. He hasn’t done much in the past three games, while Jones appears to be back to his old self.
Advantage: Vikings

Power Forward
BSU: Mark Sanchez PSU: Kyle Coston
Coston became assertive to a point not seen since the first five games of the season on Thursday night. Back to back 10 point games appear to have Kyle back to the form fans expected from him most of the year. Unfortunately, he matches up with Boise State’s most talented player, senior Mark Sanchez (no, not USC’s quarterback), a 235 pound bruiser who should be able to bully Coston around. I expect a lot more Tyrell Mara than Coston given his tough defense and ability to match up with bigger players. Sanchez is more talented than either of the guys PSU has to throw out there (25 points, 14 rebounds, 5 assists against Idaho State), even though the score line could tip in their favor if they get hot from outside.
Advantage: Broncos

Small Forward
BSU: Paul Noonan PSU: Phil Nelson
Nelson was the highest rated recruit coming out of Oregon in the class of 2006. However, Noonan may have been the hottest prospect near the end of the process. He eventually committed to Boise State spurning offers from Portland State and Eastern Washington. The Beaverton native likely returns with hopes of impressing in front of a quasi home town crowd. The Viks will no doubt attempt to show Noonan that he made the wrong choice picking the Broncos. Ultimately, Nelson should get the best of Noonan given his superior athleticism and offensive ability.
Advantage: Vikings

Shooting Guard
BSU: Aaron Garner PSU: Andre Murray
Garner is certainly not the Broncos most talented offensive player. He is averaging just 6 points per game. Given this ineffectiveness, he surrendered minutes to La’Shard Anderson in the loss to Idaho. Andre Murray on the other hand has been one of the most consistent offensive players all year for the Vikings, averaging 11 points per game. As has been stated in previous blogs, the only thing standing between Andre and major production may be a need. When other players have assumed their share of the load, he has been in the single digits, but when they haven’t he’s had to pick up the slack (24 points @ Idaho State). I’d guess that Saturday should be one of his less productive games given the recent progress of frontcourt players.
Advantage: Vikings

Point Guard
BSU: Anthony Thomas PSU: Jeremiah Dominguez
Dominguez never ceases to amaze Viking fans, and regardless of his questionnable early game antics against Northern Colorado, he was able to redeem himself with a buzzer beater. He matches up with Anthony Thomas, a 6 foot point guard with the ability to score, pass and rebound. Dominguez faces the same question in this match-up that he has throughout his basketball career: Can he overcome his size disadvantage with his speed and outplay his opponent? In the majority of cases, he has stepped up and answered that question affirmatively, the possible exceptions taking place while he was suffering from a hand injury. Although Thomas brings a little more talent to the table than most Big Sky point guards, I still expect him to be outclassed by Dominguez.
Advantage: Vikings

Bench
Though Okoye is listed as the starting center in the breakdown, Kurt Cunningham has also filled that role this season. The 265 pound bruiser could definitely present some problems for the Vikings, and seems like a good man for the Broncos to have on the floor when Jamie Jones is out there. The issue for Boise State is the recent playing time for Julius Thomas. There’s no way Cunningham can keep up with Thomas, and given the Vikings’ fast-paced offense, he could quickly become a liability. Given this fact, Okoye seems the likely choice for extended time. Other factors off the bench include Jamar Greene and La’Shard Anderson a pair of guards. The records, point production, eight man rotations for each team are fairly comparable, so expect a close game.
Advantage: Push
Prediction: PSU 76 BSU 71