Cats Host Title Tilt Tonight
2/24/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Mick Durham knew just what to do when presented with a series of spreadsheets detailing every possible scenario facing the Big Sky Conference, as it enters its final weekend of men's basketball regular season play tonight.
He threw them away.
"I don't even want to look at these," Durham said, noting that it was nothing against the exhaustive research project put together by the Big Sky Conference office. "Last year there were something like 250 different scenarios going into the last weekend, and after we beat NAU there were only a couple that would leave us out of the tournament. And after it was all done, we didn't make it."
Durham's focus, and that of his team, is squarely on Portland State. The league-leading Vikings come to Worthington Arena tonight with a chance to clinch their first Big Sky title outright, lock, stock and barrel. That the Vikings' title tilt, billed as perhaps the most important game in school history, comes on Montana State's home floor is not lost on Durham. "I like the way we've played at home this season. Portland State is the best team in the Big Sky this season. This game will be a challenge."
Senior forward Seamus Boxley, considered by consensus the league's top player this year, leads PSU's charge into Bozeman. Boxley leads the Big Sky in scoring and is second in rebounds. PSU point guard Will Funn has been among the nation's top two players in assists throughout the season, as well. "With Boxley inside and Funn running the show, they are a difficult team to deal with," Durham said.
Still, Durham has a message for anyone that thinks the Bobcats -- picked to finish last in the league by the Big Sky's coaches and media members before the season -- will wilt under the pressure of a championship setting against the team who has dominated the Big Sky throughout the conference season. "We're excited," he says, simply. "Our guys know what's at stake. They'll play well. Whether it's enough, we'll see Thursday night."
He threw them away.
"I don't even want to look at these," Durham said, noting that it was nothing against the exhaustive research project put together by the Big Sky Conference office. "Last year there were something like 250 different scenarios going into the last weekend, and after we beat NAU there were only a couple that would leave us out of the tournament. And after it was all done, we didn't make it."
Durham's focus, and that of his team, is squarely on Portland State. The league-leading Vikings come to Worthington Arena tonight with a chance to clinch their first Big Sky title outright, lock, stock and barrel. That the Vikings' title tilt, billed as perhaps the most important game in school history, comes on Montana State's home floor is not lost on Durham. "I like the way we've played at home this season. Portland State is the best team in the Big Sky this season. This game will be a challenge."
Senior forward Seamus Boxley, considered by consensus the league's top player this year, leads PSU's charge into Bozeman. Boxley leads the Big Sky in scoring and is second in rebounds. PSU point guard Will Funn has been among the nation's top two players in assists throughout the season, as well. "With Boxley inside and Funn running the show, they are a difficult team to deal with," Durham said.
Still, Durham has a message for anyone that thinks the Bobcats -- picked to finish last in the league by the Big Sky's coaches and media members before the season -- will wilt under the pressure of a championship setting against the team who has dominated the Big Sky throughout the conference season. "We're excited," he says, simply. "Our guys know what's at stake. They'll play well. Whether it's enough, we'll see Thursday night."
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