Memorial Musings
3/8/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Don't bother looking for Bill Walton. Lionel Hollins is here no more, and Dr. Jack Ramsey has relocated. Clyde the Glide dueled Jordan here, but Portland's quirky, legendary Memorial Coliseum is mostly silent these days, sparing a few high school graduations, minor league hockey games, and trade shows.
The old, square, glass-fronted building comes to life for meaningful basketball today and Wednesday as the Big Sky Conference has settled in for its 2005 championship tournament. The Bobcats square off with Montana at 7 pm MST, with Portland State facing Weber State at 9:30 pm.
Bobcat coach Mick Durham and the Bobcats have brief brushes with the Coliseum. Durham watched a Trail Blazers regular season game in 1978, the year after the organization won its first and only NBA Championship. The Bobcats own a 2-3 record in the building, having played in the Far West and Raindrop Classics in the early '80s.
If the 'Cats have some marginal history in the building, the Grizzlies have out-and-out karma. Memorial Coliseum was the site of UM's Eric Hays' 32-point effort in the Grizzlies' near-upset of of John Wooden's final UCLA team back in 1975. The Bruins beat the Grizzlies 67-64. Also, current UM coach Larry Krystkowiak dropped a 30-plus point effort on the Blazers while playing for the Bucks for his career high.
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MSU finished as the Big Sky's second seed this season for the first time ever.
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The Bobcats have lost two straight Big Sky Tournament games. MSU's last tourney win was 1999, but the Bobcats have lost all four of its semifinal meetings with Montana.
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Montana has won four straight games, the longest current streak in the league.
The old, square, glass-fronted building comes to life for meaningful basketball today and Wednesday as the Big Sky Conference has settled in for its 2005 championship tournament. The Bobcats square off with Montana at 7 pm MST, with Portland State facing Weber State at 9:30 pm.
Bobcat coach Mick Durham and the Bobcats have brief brushes with the Coliseum. Durham watched a Trail Blazers regular season game in 1978, the year after the organization won its first and only NBA Championship. The Bobcats own a 2-3 record in the building, having played in the Far West and Raindrop Classics in the early '80s.
If the 'Cats have some marginal history in the building, the Grizzlies have out-and-out karma. Memorial Coliseum was the site of UM's Eric Hays' 32-point effort in the Grizzlies' near-upset of of John Wooden's final UCLA team back in 1975. The Bruins beat the Grizzlies 67-64. Also, current UM coach Larry Krystkowiak dropped a 30-plus point effort on the Blazers while playing for the Bucks for his career high.
* * * * *
MSU finished as the Big Sky's second seed this season for the first time ever.
* * * * *
The Bobcats have lost two straight Big Sky Tournament games. MSU's last tourney win was 1999, but the Bobcats have lost all four of its semifinal meetings with Montana.
* * * * *
Montana has won four straight games, the longest current streak in the league.
Wednesday, June 10
Friday, March 27
Monday, March 23
Friday, March 13
