Grumpy Old Coaches, Cocky Players Cloud Sky

They’ve made a sequel to the movie “Grumpy Old Men” called “Grumpier Old Men.”

If they make another sequel, some Big Sky Conference folks might be perfect to cast in the lead roles.

Several Big Sky players, coaches and administrators are getting downright ornery these days.

Despite losing at home to Idaho State by 14 points last week, Northern Arizona forward Brent Bowden was underwhelmed by the Bengals.

“My prediction is that Idaho State will (finish) in the bottom half of the league,” said Bowden, an expert on finishing in the bottom half of the conference.

ISU is 3-1 and tied for second.

And in Ogden, Utah, last week, Idaho State coach Herb Williams complained to the officials about a raucous group of Weber State fans in a section behind one of the baskets.

Soon, Weber athletic director Dutch Belknap joined in the discussion.

“He (Williams) said, ‘Who are you?”’ Belknap said. “I said, ‘I’m the athletic director and they (the fans) are fine. They (the officials) said, ‘The fans are getting a little loud.’ I said, ‘Bull, they’re going to be loud; they’re within the bounds.”’

Afterward, Williams told his players: “Remember tonight. Look up at the scoreboard and see we’re down 20 and (Weber coach) Ron Abegglen is still pressing. Just chalk it up. They have to come to Pocatello.”

And every time Idaho coach Joe Cravens turns around, somebody, usually a media type, is reminding him of his bold comments that the Vandals will kick the fannies of Idaho State and Boise State in three weeks.

In the Big Sky, it would appear scoring threats like Orlando Lightfoot and Jim Potter have been replaced by personal threats.

Success stories

Tonight and Saturday night, one can view several players who took unusual paths in making Big Sky lineups.

NAU visits Eastern Washington tonight at 7:05 and Idaho on Saturday night. NAU forward Scott Taylor didn’t play basketball in high school but he’s now a college starter, averaging 11.7 points and 5.9 rebounds.

Point guard Travis King walked on at EWU after starring at Walla Walla Community College and Ephrata High. He’s been EWU’s leading scorer in two of three conference games. In a recent game against Gonzaga, the 5-foot-11 junior even led the Eagles in rebounding, with eight.

And Weber State, which is at Idaho tonight (7:05) and EWU on Saturday, has Bryan Emery, a 26-year-old guard who was discovered in city rec league games. Emery served a two-year church mission, played two years at Ricks College and then went to Weber State as a student.

A Utah high school coach mentioned Emery’s name to Weber coach Ron Abegglen, who remembered the guard from his high school career in the late 1980s.

Abegglen watched Emery in city league and signed him.

MSU never lets up

Montana State is 3-0 and already has impressive wins over nemeses Weber State and Montana. In MSU coach Mick Durham’s six years, his record against those two foes is a combined 5-19, so he was understandably tense late in the win over Montana.

MSU guard Scott Hatler explains: “There’s 3 seconds left, and we’re up five, and coach pulls me aside and he’s telling me different things we have to do. I said, ‘Coach, we might have it (won) by now.”’

Police blotter

NAU’s Jermone Riley quit the team before last week’s Idaho State game, but rejoined the Lumberjacks about 24 hours later with coach Ben Howland’s blessing.

A defensive specialist, Riley held Arizona State guard Ron Riley - his older brother - to 5-for-16 shooting and nine points.

NAU’s Mike Chapman was suspended last week for violating team rules. He was averaging 10.7 points and 5.4 rebounds.

Idaho State’s Shabaka Lands has been suspended for the second time this season.

Lands was arrested in Flagstaff, Ariz., at 4:14 a.m. for possession of marijuana and illegal alcohol consumption. Lands had been suspended for two earlier games for shoplifting a $44 pair of gloves before a road trip to chilly Wisconsin.

, DataTimes