November 22, 2009
GAME BLOGS: Central sweeps Western
Thursday, Feb. 26, 2009
After most of Western's losses this year, you could identify turning points that had they gone the Griffons' way, it was easy to see the result following. Not the case Wednesday in Warrensburg.
Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2009
Unless you've been living in a cave the past two days, you no doubt have heard Northwest Missouri State football coach Mel Tjeerdsma is a finalist for the Texas-San Antonio head coaching position and will interview with the Roadrunners next week.
The announcement surprised many of us who just assumed Tjeerdsma, 62, would retire a Bearcat. And he still might because I believe the Roadrunners will hire former Miami coach Larry Coker over Tjeerdsma.
Monday, Feb. 23, 2009
Last week's blog entry listed our all-MIAA women's picks. That leaves us with the men's team for this week:
Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009
It's telling when trailing by for with 1:30 to go, Western's players stood around the perimeter and waited for Jessica Koch to save them.
No one wanted the ball in the crucial moments of this game, possibly expecting Koch to rescue the Griffons like she did in their win over Truman in Kirksville. Only Saturday, Koch's driving layup through three defenders rolled off the rim, and the Griffons experienced a new sensation this conference season – getting upset.
Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009
Even when these teams met the first time (when the Bulldogs won 69-67), I had no doubt Western was the more talented team.
The difference in the two outings for the Griffons was just a commitment to get to the ball to the rim no matter what. Western didn't shoot it any better Saturday – 2 for 14 behind the arc as opposed to 2 for 15 in its loss to Truman. The Griffons' primary jump shooters – Dominique Thuston, Lonnel Johnson and Quentin Noblin were a pedestrian 6 of 18 from the floor Saturday, and I would bet most of those baskets came in the paint.
Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009
For many teams, the UCM Multi-Purpose building is “The Black Hole” of the MIAA. Not many teams come out of that cavernous facility with a win.
On Saturday, the colors inside the building matched the building's reputation.
With most of the Central Missouri fans wearing black for the “Central Missouri Blackout” – or in the case of a number of bare-chested students, painted black – this was a raucous atmosphere even a half hour before tipoff.
Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009
With Northwest Missouri State's women all but out of the running for an MIAA tournament berth, Gene Steinmeyer had two different messages for his team on Saturday following a 72-48 loss to Central Missouri.
"The first message is that you play your last week of the season as if you're going to the NCAA Tournament," coach Gene Steinmeyer said. "They're on scholarship. They're representing the school."
Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009
Look for more of Abby Henry on the basketball court as Northwest Missouri State concludes its season with three conference games and barely a whisker's chance of making the MIAA tournament. With this season almost in the books, it's time for the Bearcats to assess exactly what they have for returning talent next season.
The Best and the Rest: Week of Feb. 15Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2009
I read a threat on the D2hoops message board today speculating on the first-team, all-conference selections today. With only two weeks left of these rankings, I figured I would share my picks — the women this week and the men next week.
Where the Northwest women went wrongSunday, Feb. 15, 2009
The team that started Northwest's precipitous fall, fittingly, is the one that put the Bearcats out of their misery Saturday night.
Northwest lost its ninth game in 10 tries Saturday – a 94-65 thrashing at the hands of Missouri Western. While not mathematically eliminated with four games left, Bearcats coach Gene Steinmeyer said afterward, “The tournament isn't going to happen.”
Friday, Feb. 13, 2009
Last week, Western football coach Jerry Partridge unveiled his 2009 signing class. I brought in our prep writers, Ross Martin and Andy Meyer, to discuss and breakdown the Griffons' 19 signees, including local products Austin Barnes, Travis Partridge and Andrew Treat.
GAME BLOG: Missouri Western at Nebraska-OmahaThursday, Feb. 12, 2009
Musings and observations from my perch at Sapp Fieldhouse in Omaha
--- The nightcap between Missouri Western and Nebraska-Omaha was just a great game – well played on both sides with few mistakes. Western shot 50 percent from the floor, Omaha 61. Players on both sides made a ton of tough shots – off-balance layups, contested dunks, turn-around, fade-away jumpers with a hand in the face. This might have been the best-played game I've seen all season. Neither team lost. Western just made a handful of better plays down the stretch to win, 83-77.
Monday, Feb. 9, 2009
Northwest Missouri State and Missouri Western enter this week with the same record — 10-12 — and face each other this Saturday in a game with all sorts of MIAA tournament implications.
But if Western coach Tom Smith had his way, he would have followed Northwest coach Steve Tappmeyer’s lead when it came to scheduling this season and the Griffons would be sitting above .500. Three of the Bearcats’ wins came against NAIA schools William Woods and Peru State and NCCAA member Central Bible.
Sunday, Feb. 8, 2009
I decided to go with a different blog format for Saturday. Teams don't really change their stripes 20 games into the season, and the keys to success, and harbingers for failure, for both Western hoops squads has been pretty well covered in this space.
Instead, here are 10 reasons Western swept its first MIAA doubleheader in 13 months on Saturday.
Sunday, Feb. 8, 2009
It was a weekend of big achievements for the Henry twins of Northwest Missouri State.
Hannah, the older sibling by a few minutes, got things rolling on Friday night in Warrensburg, Mo.
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