Nau’s Math Shows Bad Call Equals No Class
The Big Sky Conference blew the whistle on itself earlier this week after its officials sent the wrong player to the foul line in crunch time of the Northern Arizona-Boise State game last Friday.
Art Mendini, supervisor of officials, said a breakdown in mechanics led to the error. And that led to BSU guard Darnell Woods, an 82-percent shooter, going to the stripe instead of Bernard Walker, who hits 41 percent.
Woods made both shots with 52 seconds left in regulation to tie the game at 72 and send it into overtime, where BSU prevailed 84-80.
“I was surprised. The refs said it was me, so I just stepped up and shot the ball,” Woods told The Idaho Statesman newspaper in Boise.
To hear NAU officials tell it, neither Woods nor Walker should have been at the line because neither was fouled.
“Replays showed that (NAU’s Marcel) Ten Berge had indeed set a perfect screen,” this week’s NAU press release states.
We’re guessing NAU is still a little honked after reading the following item from its release:
“Northern Arizona University has been in the Big Sky for 25 seasons, and during that eventful quarter of a century, the Lumberjacks have struggled to gain respect from their league foes.
“Case in point was Friday night in Boise, where the Jacks were looking to upset the Boise State Broncos on their home court on live television. The ‘Jacks and the Broncos battle for 40 minutes, but instead of the game being decided by the players, once again the outcome was left up to the officiating.
“For the umpteenth time since joining the Big Sky during the 1970-71 season, the officials took a game from the Jacks, as NAU fell in overtime to BSU, 84-80.”
The Big Sky said officials’ decisions are final, but the conference added public acknowledgment of the error is appropriate.
A correctable error
While we’re at, the Big Sky ought to address a potentially volatile pregame situation. At Idaho’s last two Big Sky home games, against Eastern Washington and Boise State, tempers flared after the starting lineups were announced.
Teams often gather in the center circle for a last-minute psyche session - kind of an “our house” statement - before tipoff. The problem: Both teams are gathering in the center circle, leading to pushing and shouting.
The Big Sky would be wise to require visiting teams to do “our house” statements at the free-throw circle and afford the home team the center circle. That might prevent a fight.
Road woe-rriors
There’s a very good reason Idaho hasn’t won a road game this year.
The Vandals have never led in a road game this year. Not even 2-0 or 3-2 or 6-4.
Idaho is 0-4 on the road heading into tonight’s visit to Weber State and Saturday’s venture to Northern Arizona. The Vandals did lead Portland twice before falling 74-70 in a game at Seattle.
UI coach Joe Cravens figures there’s another good reason Idaho hasn’t won a road basketball game.
“It’s not like we’re playing the Little Sisters of the Poor,” he said. UI has lost at New Mexico, Washington, Oregon and Gonzaga.
The Vandals have won six straight at NAU’s Skydome, where Eastern Washington visits tonight.
Don’t even bring up road losses to EWU coach John Wade. His Eagles have lost 41 straight road games.
At least Wade hasn’t lost his sense of humor, as this recent exchange illustrates:
Wade: “Nothing surprises me anymore, nothing at all.”
“Well, John, hope you don’t encounter any surprises on the trip to Flagstaff.”
Wade: “Well I do. I hope we win a game! That’d be a helluva a surprise. That’s what I hope.”
Sky lines
At the time, Montana State had the nation’s longest winning streak - 12 - entering Sky play. Two weeks later, MSU is 0-3 in conference.
That gives the Bobcats a seven-game Sky losing streak, dating to last season. A big reason for MSU’s staggering Sky start: MSU has been outrebounded by nearly 15 per game. …
UI forward Harry Harrison is 11th nationally in rebounding at 11.2 per game…
Hey, we’ve never claimed to be rocket scientists, but we don’t need Idaho State’s sports information department pointing out that the Bengals are 13-0 when outscoring opponents.
That begs a question - Why don’t they point out ISU’s record when being outscored? Probably too tough to figure out. …
EWU’s Wade wouldn’t say why senior forward Josh Lewis, a starter in five games this season, was held out of Saturday’s game at Idaho. Will Lewis, averaging 11.2 points per game, play tonight?
“To be honest with you, I really don’t know,” Wade said. “We’re just trying to get our team to play better. If he gets his opportunity, just get out there and play. If he doesn’t, fine. I mean, that’s part of basketball.”