SEMIFINAL GAME
BANNER HEALTH
BIG SKY CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT
WHERE: Butler-Hancock Sports Pavilion (3,200)
SITE: Greeley, Colorado
TIME: 5:30 p.m. (MST)
WAYNE TINKLE is in his 5th season as head coach of the Grizzlies. ... Coming into Tuesday’s game vs. Weber State his overall record stands at 90-62 (.592) and 51-29 (.637) in Big Sky Conference regular season games. ... TINKLE is 4-7 lifetime vs. Weber State and 1-0 vs. the Wildcats post-season play. That came in last year’s championship game in Ogden, 66-65.
MONTANA, along with Idaho State, is Weber State’s oldest continual men’s basketball rival. The series began in 1962-63, the first year WSU began play as a four-year school. The ‘Cats won that game, 89-79 in Ogden. ... The next year, both teams became charter members of the Big Sky Conference. ... Weber State holds a 63-47 advantage in the series. ... WSU snapped a three-game losing streak to the Grizzlies with a 68-52 win in Ogden back on February 3. ... Montana is 29-22 vs. WSU when playing in Missoula. Weber State is 40-15 vs. Montana in Ogden. ... Tuesday will be the fourth meeting between the two teams ON A NEUTRAL COURT. Montana is 3-1 in those games.
Weber State is 4-4 vs. Montana in the Big Sky Conference Post-Season Tournament play. All eight games have come in the semifinal (four times: 2-2) or championship game (four times: 2-2). ... Weber State won its two semifinal games in Ogden (1978-79: 98-71) and in Reno, Nevada (1982-83: 54-53). Montana won its two semifinal games in Reno, Nevada (1985-86: 72-68) and in Flagstaff, Arizona (1996-97: 81-56). That game in Flagstaff is still the largest margin of defeat for the Wildcats in Big Sky Conference tournament play.
Weber State’s RANDY RAHE is in his 5th season at the Wildcat helm. ... In his four short seasons, Rahe’s teams have captured THREE Big Sky Conference regular season championships 06-07, 08-09, 09-10, the Big Sky Post-Season Tournament championship 06-07, and an NCAA post-season berth in 2006-07. ... Rahe was named Big Sky Conference Coach of the Year in 06-07, 08-09 and 09-10. ... Rahe is 95-58 .621 overall in his four plus seasons as Weber State, and 60-20 .750 in Big Sky Conference games. ... Rahe’s teams have posted a HOME COURT record of 58-11 .840 during his tenure, overall. ... He is 41-6 (.872) at home in Big Sky Conference games.
Beginning in 1983-84, the Big Sky has had first round and quarterfinal rounds of the post-season tournament. Below is Weber State’s history in those games
1984 - Idaho 58 @ Weber State 67
1985 - Weber State 78 vs. Idaho State 80 (Boise, ID)
1986 - Weber State 79 vs. Boise State 76 (Reno, NV)
1987 - Weber State 106 vs. Montana State 101 (Flagstaff, AZ)
1988 - Weber State 96 vs. Nevada (OT) 93 (Bozeman, MT)
1989 - Weber State 69 vs. Nevada 61 (Boise, ID)
1990 - Weber State 75 vs. Nevada 66 (Boise, ID)
1991 - Idaho 60 vs. Weber State 54 (Missoula, MT)
1992 - Weber State 92 vs. Idaho State 74 (Missoula, MT)
1993 - Weber State 91 vs. Montana State 72 (Moscow, ID)
1997 - Weber State 68 vs. Idaho State 58 (Flagstaff, AZ)
2000 - Cal State Northridge 73 vs. Weber State 68 (Missoula, MT)
2001 - Weber State 86 vs. Idaho state 67 (Northridge, CA)
2002 - Weber State 84 vs. Portland State 62 (Bozeman, MT)
2004 - Weber State 68 @ Sacramento State 62
2005 - Weber State 74 @ Sacramento State 71
2008 - Montana State 49 @ Weber State 65
2011 - EASTERN WASH 70 @ WEBER STATE 79
Weber State is 14-15 (.483) in semifinal play of the Big Sky Conference post-season tournament. ... The games in BLACK print are the games which WSU has PLAYED in the semifinal game on its opponents’ HOME COURT.
1976 - Weber State 63 vs. Northern Arizona 58 (Ogden, UT)
1977 - Weber State 69 vs. Gonzaga 68 (Pocatello, ID)
1978 - Weber State 84 vs. Idaho State 79 (Missoula, MT)
1979 - WEBER STATE 98 vs. MONTANA 71 (OGDEN, UT)
1980 - Weber State 93 vs. Montana State 73 (Ogden, UT)
1982 - Idaho 57 vs. Weber State 55 (Moscow, ID)
1983 - WEBER STATE 54 vs. MONTANA 53 (RENO, NV)
1984 - Nevada 85 vs Weber State 68 (Ogden, UT)
1986 - Weber State 79 vs. Boise State 76 (Reno, NV)
1987 - Nevada 98 vs. Weber State 90 (Flagstaff, AZ)
1988 - Idaho State 58 vs. Weber State 57 (Bozeman, MT)
1989 - Boise State 71 vs. Weber State 60 (Boise, ID)
1990 - Eastern Wash. 83 vs. Weber State 67 (Boise, ID)
1992 - Nevada 92 vs. Weber State 83 (Missoula, MT)
1993 - Boise State 69 vs. Weber State 63 (Moscow, ID)
1994 - Boise State 84 vs. Weber State 72 (Boise, ID)
1995 - Weber State 71 vs. Idaho State 65 (Ogden, UT)
1996 - Weber State 77 vs. Boise State 70 (Bozeman, MT)
1997 - MONTANA 81 vs. WEBER STATE 56 (Flagstaff, AZ)
1999 - Weber State 93 vs. Montana State 73 (Ogden, UT)
2001 - Northridge 91 vs. Weber State 74 (Northridge, CA)
2002 - Eastern Wash. 62 vs. Weber State 57 (Bozeman, MT)
2003 - Weber State 82 vs. Sacramento State 60 (Ogden, UT)
2004 - E. Wash. 72 vs. Weber State 53 (Cheney, WA)
2005 - Weber State 71 vs. Portland State 61 (Portland, OR)
2007 - Weber State 77 vs. Portland State 74 (Ogden, UT)
2008 - Northern Arizona 75 vs. Weber State 70 (Portland, OR)
2009 - Montana State 70 vs. Weber State 61 (Ogden, UT)
2010 - Weber State 69 vs. Portland State 60 (Ogden, UT)
CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES
Weber State is 8-5 (.615) in Big Sky Conference tournament championship games.
1976 - Boise State 77 vs Weber State 2OTs 70 Ogden, UT
1977 - Idaho State 61 vs. Weber State 55 Pocatello, ID
1978 - Weber State 62 vs. Montana OT 55 Missoula, MT
1979 - Weber State 92 vs. Northern Arizona 70 Ogden, UT
1980 - Weber State 50 vs. Montana 42 Ogden, UT
1983 - Weber State 87 vs. Nevada 78 Reno, NV
1995 - Weber State 84 vs. Montana 62 Ogden Utah
1996 - Montana State 81 vs. Weber State 70 Bozeman, MT
1999 - Weber State 81 vs. Northern Arizona 75 Ogden, UT
2003 - Weber State 60 vs. E. Washington 57 Ogden, UT
2005 - Montana 63 vs. Weber State 61 Portland, OR
2007 - Weber State 88 vs. Northern Arizona 80 Ogden, UT
2010 - Montana 66 vs. Weber State 65 Ogden, UT
A QUICK WSU MBB HISTORY LESSON
Weber State is completing its 49th season as an NCAA Division I men’s basketball member, and the 48th year as a member of the Big Sky Conference. ... In 1962-63, Weber State became the first JUNIOR COLLEGE to jump from the JC ranks to the NCAA Division I ranks in men’s basketball. ... The Wildcats have WON 19 REGULAR SEASON Big Sky Conference championships and made 15 appearances in the NCAA Tournament.
The 2010-11 season is WSU’s 32nd year playing in the Dee Events Center which opened on November 1, 1977. ... The Wildcats are 376-100 (.790) when playing in the DEC. ... Weber State’s overall home court record, counting 15 seasons in the old Swenson Gym, is a solid 555-117 (.827).
Five Weber State players were accorded Big Sky Conference honors, announced on Thursday, March 3. ... SCOTT BAMFORTH (6-2, 190 Soph. Guard) and KYLE BULLINGER (6-6, 215 Jr. Forward) were each named FIRST TEAM ALL-BIG SKY CONFERENCE. ... BAMFORTH was also named the NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR. ... BYRON FULTON (6-7, 220 RsFr.) was named FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR. ... LINDSEY HUGHEY (6-3, 215 Sr. Guard) and TREVOR MORRIS (6-9, 245 Sr. Center) earned Honorable Mention honors. ... The Wildcats have now had the NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR, two years running. Last year, Franklin Session (6-3, 200 Jr. Forward) earned the honor. Session left WSU after one season, transferring to Cal State Los Angeles.
WEBER STATE NEWCOMERS OF THE YEAR
1985-86 Walt Tyler Forward
1992-93 Stan Rose Forward
1998-99 Eddie Gill Guard
2002-03 Slobodan Ocokoljic Forward
2009-10 Franklin Session Forward
2010-11 Scott Bamforth Guard
1996-97 *Ryan Jama Forward
1999-00 Stephan Bachmann Center
2008-09 Damian Lillard Guard
2010-11 Byron Fulton Forward
*co-freshman with Ross Land of NAU.
Weber State has now had 73 players named First Team All-Big Sky. Montana is second with 45 followed by Idaho State with 44.
This is the 37th year the Big Sky Conference has hosted a post-season tournament, and the 35th time the Weber State Wildcats have earned the right to play in it. The only two years the ‘Cats have missed were 1980-81 and 2005-06. ... The first Tournament was held in 1975-76 and was hosted by Weber State in the old Swenson Gym. Boise State beat the ‘Cats, 77-70 in double overtime. ... Weber State is 36-26 (.581) overall in Big Sky Conference Tournament games. Those 36 wins are the most by any team in league history.
Of all the teams which have played, at one time or another, in the Big Sky Conference Tournament, MONTANA has been WSU’s most frequent opponent. The two teams have met NINE times with Weber State holding a 5-4 advantage.
Boise State 2-4
Cal State Northridge 0-3
EASTERN WASHINGTON 2-3
Gonzaga 1-0
Idaho 1-2
IDAHO STATE 5-3
MONTANA 4-4
MONTANA STATE 5-3
Nevada 4-3
NORTHERN ARIZONA 4-1
PORTLAND STATE 4-0
SACRAMENTO STATE 3-0
The most points scored by a Weber State team in the Big Sky Tournament was 106 (1986-87) in a 106-101 win over Montana State in the opening round in Flagstaff, Arizona. WSU was the #8 seed in the Tournament and Montana State was #1. The 101 points scored by MSU is the most allowed by the Wildcats in a tournament game as well. ... The fewest points scored by the Wildcats in a Tournament game, and the fewest allowed, also came in the same game. WSU defeated Montana, 50-42, in the championship game of the 1979-80 Tournament hosted by Weber State. ... WSU’s largest MARGIN OF VICTORY was a 98-71 win over Montana in the semifinal game of the 1978-79 Tournament, hosted by Weber State. ... Weber State’s worst defeat came against Montana, 81-56, in the semifinal game of the 1996-97 Tournament held in Flagstaff, Arizona.
The Wildcats have played in three OVERTIME games in Tournament history.
1975-76: WSU loses 77-70 at home in double overtime to Boise State in the championship game in Swenson Gym.
1987-88: Greg Boyd makes a WSU school record NINE three-pointers (9-13) which is still a Tournament single-game record, in defeating Nevada 96-93 in the opening round in Bozeman, Montana.
The Wildcats have had SIX players earn MVP honors in the Big Sky Conference Tournament.
JIMMIE WATTS (6-7, 210 Forward)
..MVP of the first-ever Tournament in 1975-76, he is still the only player to earn the honor for a LOSING team in the championship game.
BRUCE COLLINS (6-5, 210 G/F)
...Still the only THREE-TIME MVP (1978, 1979, 1980) of the Tournament.
RUBEN NEMBHARD (6-3, 215 Guard)
...MVP of the 1994-95 Tournament hosted by WSU. ... Helped WSU to a stunning 79-72 win over Michigan State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
EDDIE GILL (6-0, 190 Jr. Guard)
...Was the star of the 1998-99 Tournament hosted at Weber State, over-shadowing the Big Sky regular season MVP, and teammate, Harold Arceneaux.
JERMAINE BOYETTE (6-2, 190 Sr. Guard)
...Scored 29 points, 22 in the second half, in the championship game vs. Eastern Washington at the Dee Events Center in 2002-03. ... Led WSU to a perfect 16-0 regular season Big Sky record.
...The regular season MVP didn’t disappoint, scored 22 points in the semifinal game vs. Portland State, and had 14 points/8 rebounds in the championship game vs. Northern Arizona in Coach Randy Rahe’s first season (2006-07).
Weber State has now won 10 Big Sky Conference regular season games for a fifth straight season. Under Coach RANDY RAHE, the Wildcats have won 60 games. It is only the 4th time in league history a team has won 10 or more games in five straight seasons. Here are the teams which have accomplished that feat.
Weber State 1968-73 (12-15-12-12-10-13) 62
Weber State 2006-11 (11-10-15-13-11) 60
Idaho 1988-93 (11-1313-11-10-11) 58
Weber State 1992-96 (10-10-10-11-10) 51
Tuesday’s game will be the THIRD NEUTRAL COURT game for the Wildcats this season. They played Arizona State and Drake in Anchorage, Alaska in the Great Alaska Shootout back in November. The ‘Cats lost to Arizona State, 58-57, and came back the third night to beat Drake, 82-81, for third place. ... SCOTT BAMFORTH scored 37 points in those two games, hitting 11-18 (.611) from the field and 9-15 (.600) from beyond the arc. ... As a team in those two games, the Wildcats shot just 44-102 (.431) overall from the field, but were 17-40 (.425) from behind the arc and 35-44 (.795) from the free throw line.
SCOTT BAMFORTH is still the NCAA Division I Three-Point Field Shooting Percentage leader through games played on March 3, 2011. ... He is 68-128 (.531) and is averaging 2.51 makes per game, just over the minimum of 2.50.
TEAM THREE-POINT %%
...Northern Arizona (192-443 .433) and Weber State (235-559 .420) are still ranked ONE-TWO in the latest NCAA Division I men’s basketball stats in team Three-Point Field Goal Shooting Percentage. ... The ‘Cats are closing in on a WSU single season team record for Three-Point Shots Made. They have 235 and the record is 345 (30 games) set in 1995-96. ... The 559 Three-Point Shot ATTEMPTS are the second most in a season at WSU. The 1993-94 squad hoisted up 601 treys (20.3 per game).
...A loss on Tuesday or Wednesday would eliminate the Wildcats from the championship game or NCAA Tournament, but it won’t be the end of the season. ... You can play 28 regular season games plus post-season games count as one, making it a 29-game schedule. ... Weber State only had 28 scheduled games going into the season (the three-games @The Great Alaska Shootout count as one). ... The Wildcats finally found an opponent to play to make it 29 games. ON FRIDAY, MARCH 11, THE WILDCATS WILL PLAY AT SAINT MARY’s (California) at 7:00 p.m. (PST). ... The Gaels were also a game short and wanted to play a game AFTER its WCC post-season tournament (March 3-6).
...The 75 points scored by Montana vs. the Wildcats in Missoula, ties for the most points scored against the Wildcats by a Big Sky team this season. Eastern Washington scored 75 in last Wednesday’s win (75-59) in Ogden. ... The 56 points scored by WSU @Montana (75-56) is the second lowest scoring game of the year for the Wildcats. Northern Colorado (65-46) and San Jose (62-46) are the lowest. ... The only opponent to score 30 or more points vs. Weber State this season was Tulsa’s JUSTIN HURTT who tallied 36 vs. the ‘Cats in an 81-79 OT win. Northern Colorado’s DEVON BEITZEL had the most by a Big Sky player with 29 vs. the Wildcats in Ogden. ... Idaho State’s Abner Moreira, and San Jose State’s Will Carter, have the most individual rebounds vs. Weber State this season with 14. ... Weber State has had 14 disqualifications this season. TREVOR MORRIS has half of them (7). ... The Wildcats shot 51.8 percent from the field during their six-game win streak in late January through mid February, but have cooled off to just 43.0 percent in the last five games since that streak ended.
