Thoughts From Someone At The Cat-Griz Game in PDX

[PapaG]

I don't have a ton of time, but here goes. Sorry if these are scattershot.

1) The 'Cats started off well and moved to ball around quickly. Four quick points, and I thought they were rolling.

2) Krysko was pacing and working the refs right from the start. Durham was sitting on the bench as if the 'Cats were playing Athletes in Action. From where I was sitting (end corner of court opposite side of 'Cat bench), one ref kept obstructing Mick's view, so you'd see Mick's head peek out aroung the ref's legs like a prarie dog popping his head out his hole. I'd have to say that Krysko's demeanor helped his team.

3) The Bobcats kept launching NBA 3-pointers. I was with three other MSU grads, and we were wondering if the 'Cats were confused because of the two lines. Lo and behold, this morning's Oregonian has Casey Durham saying he was confused by the line. Perhaps if the team had come out with more than two minutes remaining at halftime they could have figured this basic court situation out for themselves.

4) The Griz did an outstanding job on Moss. Ballgame. They swarmed him whenever he got the ball, and then the guards would launch up 25' prayers.

5) #10 for the Griz had at least four weakside offensive rebounds. The Bobcats were playing man (at least it looked like man), so I have no idea how a guard could be the only person in rebound position on the weakside.

6) The Martin kid hit some very difficult shots. Casey Durham was on him for the ones I remember, but Durham's defense seemed OK. Martin just hit the shots. Nothing that can be done about that.

7) For the umpteenth time, I'll say again that this program needs some sort of energy infusion. The difference between the Griz staff and the 'Cat staff was noticeable and was commented on by more than my group.

8 ) The players have talent. I hope they can improve on this season and will learn to play with a greater sense of urgency in a tournament situation.

9) The Griz are a better team than the 'Cats at this point in the season.

[Bleedinbluengold]

Good thoughts. I don't see how anyone can be surprised at the outcome given how the griz kept improving down the stretch while the Cats imploded again. I mean, the Cats' regular season was all smoke and mirrors in my opinion. All a person has to do is look at the rebound margin and 3-pt stats to know where this team was headed.

I just don't get how a head coach can let a team consistently launch 25-30 3-pointers......especially in a case like last night where the Cats made, what, 4 or 5? You have got to be kidding me?

To me, that is a sign that the kids are horribly underprepared, and/or just not willing to play hard, and/or they just don't listen to Mick. In any case, there is only 1 person to that should take responsibility.

[Cat Grad]

I didn't see the game, but if you consider the two head coaches and their own particular style when they were players maybe we could have a better feel for the way their teams play the style they play. Geeezzz, Mick was a gunner in high school and the first few games he played for the Cats. Had Dillon's coach as a shooting guard with him, so there were some incredible downtown, cast-a-way hope for a prayer shots attempted. Don't have time to search the archives for the Cats record while he was a player, but after all the Craft teams, it left something to be desired. Krysko was and is tough D and in the Fizzlie tradition since Heathcote, they utilize and continue to teach fundamentals to the big men they get in Mazzola. I know Mick has an assistant that can help this area of the Cat game now. Just hope we don't get too close to Big East, OSU, or Barnes BB, but if we do...that'll be okay with me. It'll mean the conference is joining the rest of the country--finally.

[BozoneCat]

Great post, and thanks for the thoughts, PapaG. Sadly, I can't disagree with you on one single point. Durham never works the refs, and gee, looky what happens to us with the refs in just about every single game we play (not that the refs lost it for us last night, we did that just fine on our own). All year long, this team has never learned the lesson of not hucking the ball up from 25 feet when given just a hint of an opening - why should we have expected that to change last night. Mick still hasn't gotten it through his head that teams who rely on the 3-ball rarely do well in the long run, and especially teams who don't work it around well enough to get wide-open 3-point looks. I don't know what the explanation is for the terrible defense we played last night - the team just didn't sound as if they were ready.

Perhaps the most difficult to stomach and telling quote of the day came from Brandon Miller, who flat out admitted that the griz "just wanted it more." Are you kidding me??? That makes me want to puke.

[CatfaninGA]

You can also blame part of this on the press. After our quick 3 game streak to start the season the reporters were basically saying that MSU was a lock to win the conference, I think a lot of our players and coaches also bought into this and well we know what happened.

[MSUcantouchus]

I once asked Josh Barsh how he liked playing for Durham. He said it was ok but he said Durhams biggest problem is motivation. He noted that the only time Durham's teams do well is when he has a player who will take charge in the huddle yell a bit at the other guys and get them fired up. He said Kenny Plummer a few years ago was the guy who yelled in the huddles and did the motivational talks. That is the year, if I'm not mistaken, we won the regular season title and lost to the griz in the semis.

[PortlandCat]

Interesting observations from Papa G but I have to disagree on a couple of points.

I don't really think Krysko working the refs had much to do with the outcome. As a former referee I can tell you that rarely does constantly griping get you a call unless it is a Technical on you. The tv announcers make this an issue and give showboat coaches credit for it, but it's ineffective. In addition, Krysko was not constantly on them and was focusing on his team not the officials.

The Cats shot horribly. Ball movement was lacking and it took far too long for them to recognize that the guy guarding Jefferson could not stop him off the dribble. Too little too late.

Martin was not well defended, the bank shot at the end of the half was lucky and he probably pushed off, but Durham should not have been trying to steal the ball at that point. He got several wide open looks with lots of time and made a few.

The griz rebounded well and played a better overall game. It cost me lunch with one of my grisly coworkers. Oh well, she is now even after the football losses in 2002 and 2003.

[PapaG]

I don't really think Krysko working the refs had much to do with the outcome. As a former referee I can tell you that rarely does constantly griping get you a call unless it is a Technical on you.

I never said Krysko working the refs had an impact on the calls. I was just pointing out the obvious difference in demeanor between the two coaches. Krysko's energy was palpable. Mick was eating a bowl of soup.

As for Martin, he was hitting 22' shots with a guy near him. He wasn't wide open or all alone. Thus, the defense was "OK".

[blgscats]

We decided on Monday afternoon to make the trip to Portland to watch the Cats. We were in town for three hours before our hopes were destroyed To see the Cats play the entire game with no urgency was disheartening. On the plus side we met some great folks from Bozeman, having a beer or two in the hottub (you know who you are - send us a pm if you read this). Overall it was a both a successful and a disappointing season. We are getting sick of the smug griz fans around this town.