Big Sky Tourney 2009: Vikings obtain Wooden Trophy Glory

The Quest for Wooden Trophy Glory is finally over. Portland State is the champion of the Big Sky Tournament (again), has earned the right to represent the conference (again) and has earned the forgiveness of Big Sky Trophy God (again). They beat Montana State, who, by the grace of Big Sky Trophy God, beat Weber State (yes, you read that right. The 6th seeded Montana State Bobcats, armed with solid, fundamental play and devastating black magic, beat Weber State in Ogden)! Portland State got to the title game by beating Idaho State, taking advantage of a poor first half and a Bengal team that was an incredible 0-13 from 3-point land, and weathering a furious ISU rally that cut the lead to 3 with about 2 minutes left (almost a spooky repeat of the rally on February 12th, when ISU went on a Run of Death and scored 55 2nd half points to send the Vikings packing). PSU held on and won by 4 to play MSU in the Big Sky Title Game, winning handily and once again cutting down the nets. What a difference 1 week can make! Weber State (the regular season champs) were expected to repeat, win the title on their home floor and ride the purple-clad faithful on a magical road to the NCAA Tournament. Instead, the Wizard's magic was countered by the black magic of Montana State and instead of riding a magical road, Weber State will ride the not-so-magical road into the NIT (on a sidenote, the NIT for a mid-major like Weber State is actually a good thing. It ensures the Wildcats get to play for something and that their season goes on, so it's not a lost cause. In fact, mid-majors with great records but no NCAA bid should aim for the NIT, because a post-season of any kind ensures recruiting opportunities, which is the lifeblood of every college team in every sport).


"Portland State has earned my forgiveness! Go now, and ride into the glorious NCAA Tournament! The rest of the Big Sky...YOU ALL WEAR SNUGGIES!!! HAHAHAHAHA!!!"

So now the men's basketball season is over. Idaho State, Montana State and Weber State all earn Snuggies and will be forced to wear them for the Big Sky Media Days. And who would have thought it would have ended this way? PSU beating MSU for the title (thus making a nightmare scenario for the Conference big-wigs, who probably would have preferred an ISU-Weber State final, if only because half of Pocatello would have ventured down to a sold-out Dee Center. Pocatello is only an 1 1/2 hour away from Ogden) was something that even the boys at the Journal offices couldn't have predicted last week. Idaho State had title aspirations and came within 4 points of pulling it off. Had ISU capped the rally off with a few 3's, an NCAA bid would have been guaranteed (remember, we've crushed MSU every time this fall. That Vandal Guy once said that beating a good team 3 times in a season is very hard. Well, MSU isn't that good of a team. They hit a great hot streak but overall ISU is by far the superior squad). Instead, the men's team will be consigned to the offseason, that wonderful time of weights, working out and looking back on what could have been and looking ahead of what should be. All while wearing their Snuggies given by the Big Sky Trophy God, of course!


Portland State: Victory! The Viking Gods look onwards to a glorious future!

Congrats to Ken Bone and Portland State, and good luck in the NCAA Tourney. We'll see you next year! Big Sky Trophy God will also take his rest (after the women's tournament, of course. More on that later) and will heap forgiveness and Snuggies to His readers when action is resumed in August. This blog will still be up and running, so no fears to the few people who read this! Of course, the season isn't over yet. Softball and the Women's Big Sky Tournament is going on as I write this. Updates tomorrow or the weekend, or whenever I get to it.