On WCC Expansion: The Great Pacific Gambler

via WCCsports.com

by Will Green

When Jamie Zaninovich assumed the role of West Coast Conference Commissioner in 2008 he did so with the laudable goal of making the league the strongest non-BCS conference in the country. On Wednesday, in a move that was apparently months in the making, he worked toward that goal by adding the University of the Pacific to the WCC, effective in the 2013-14 season.

Re-admitting one of the WCC’s charter members brings a 7,000-member school (fourth smallest in league) a 6,150-seat gym (second largest), and a modest basketball tradition to the conference. Pacific will conveniently function as a fourth Bay Area-school, and the tenth total team, resulting in an 18-game league schedule. Several programs have noted that this year’s nine-team conference scheduling experiment, which deviated some from the traditional travel-partner format of two successive home or away games played on Thursdays and Saturdays, put an extra burden on the logistics of travel.

Lillard to Declare for NBA Draft, CBS Reports -- Remembering What We Witnessed

Brian Nicholson, Deseret News

It comes as little surprise, but Gary Parrish of CBS Sports is reporting that Damian Lillard will declare for the NBA draft. Lillard returned from a serious foot injury last season to lead Weber State to a 25-7 record in his 2011-2012 junior campaign. The point guard led the nation in scoring for most of the season, finishing second with 24.5 points per game.

Six players set to transfer from San Francisco; Dons left with six returning players

"What the hell, Coach Walters?"

Some strange news was released on Thursday night out of the West Coast Conference, as University of San Francisco basketball coach Rex Walters confirmed that six (6!) Dons are leaving the program and will transfer elsewhere. The transfer class is led by junior Perris Blackwell, who averaged 13 points and 6 rebounds last season. The news definitely puts a damper on an up-and-coming program -- one that finished 8-8 in the WCC, beat Gonzaga at home, and put scares (two with Saint Mary's, one with BYU) into the other two programs at the top of the conference.

The departures leave a huge dent in USF's future.

Second Half Tsunami sends Montana to the Big Dance

Montana is dancing once again. For the fifth time in the past decade, the Montana Grizzlies are headed to the NCAA Tournament as Big Sky Conference Tournament Champions. The top-seeded Griz dispatched their chief rival, two-seeded Weber State 85-66 in front of just over 7,000 fans in Missoula, Montana on Wednesday night. Trailing by five points at intermission, the Grizzlies provided a second half to remember. Montana shot a blistering 59 percent from the field in the second frame, including a mind-boggling eight makes beyond the arc. It was simply a wave too high for Weber State and its star Damian Lillard to bear. 

Lillard was fantastic per usual. The two-time Big Sky MVP finished with 29 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists. Unfortunately for the NBA lottery pick and his Wildcat teammates, it simply was not enough. Weber State was eliminated from the Big Sky Tournament by Montana for the third straight season. But the pill is much more bitter for Randy Rahe's squad. In each of those three contests, Weber State led at halftime. The Grizzlies outscored the Wildcats in the second half of those three games by 29, 21, and 24 respectively. The torrential second half onslaught has become all too familiar for the folks from Ogden, Utah. 

One could readily see the aura of confidence, mixed with a hint of feeling slighted, on the faces of each and every one of the Montana cogs. How can a team who finished the regular season at 15-1 feel snubbed? Weber State, and its star Lillard, have been the story of the Big Sky for the entire season. And believe me, Montana head coach Wayne Tinkel, and his terrific point guard Will Cherry took that alleged cold shoulder personally. They say it is suicide to mess with a wounded bear. That fact was assured throughout the second half of the Big Sky season and the second half of the Big Sky Tournament Final. Montana simply would not be denied. 

The Grizzlies proved, with emphasis, that they are the best team in the Big Sky. Montana won 17 of its 18 conference match-ups during the season. And how about that one loss? Well, the Grizzlies just dominated the team that beat them, Weber State, twice in just a week's time. Big Sky Tourney MVP Kareem Jamar scored 23 points on 9 of 12 shooting. Mathias Ward provided the spark Montana needed to take control of the game in the middle of the second half. Ward finished with 23 points as well. 

Now the Griz look forward to Selection Sunday, where Montana can hope for a spot in the 14-line. This squad has all the makings of a team that can win a first-round game. No one plays with as much defensive tenacity as the Grizzlies. And, as evidenced tonight, no one can turn scorn to glory quite like the 2011-2012 Montana Grizzlies. The Big Sky Conference will be well-represented come Tournament time. Someone tell Montana that no one expects anything of them come next weekend. Montana fans know how it will turn out. 

Montana outlasts Eastern Washington, sets up rematch with Weber State

MISSOULA -- The analogy of a "Heavyweight Fight" is so overused in the world of sports journalism. It simply is a lazy habit for sports writers who have no desire to think anew. Call me lazy, but I think in the Big Sky semifinal between Montana and Eastern Washington fits the bill. Montana was surely the favorite, but Eastern Washington had something to prove. And, for 38 minutes of action, the Eagles proved more than capable. Using a terrific game plan, the tempo-free lovin Eagles gave top-seeded Montana everything it could handle. But, in the end, we were reminded why Montana finished 15-1 in the league.

The Grizzly crowd was more than rowdy to begin the festivities. Being just two games from a berth in March Madness, the Adams Center was rocking. Lowly fourth-seed Eastern Washington was just the appetizer before the full-course rematch with second-seed Weber State in the Final. The appetizer was tough to keep down, but keep down the Grizzlies did. Trailing 62-61 with under two minutes remaining, Montana exploded for the next eight points and assured itself a spot in the Title Game.

It's amazing how, when we compare how short the 40 minutes of a basketball game is compared to how long and hard these players and coaches work. Time ran out for Eastern Washington on Tuesday night, despite three heroic performances from Eastern Seniors' Cliff Colimon, Laron Griffin, and Cliff Ederaine. Colimon poured in 27 points; Griffin had 16 points and 15 rebounds; Ederaine had 16 points on just 11 shot attempts. In the end, it wasn't enough.

Kareem Jamar dominated the second half, scoring 17 of his 18 points, to lead the Grizzlies from the brink. Montana trailed by as much as 11 in the first half. By the time the clock was about to strike triple zeroes, the Griz had turned that score upside-down. Will Cherry was key, as he always is, in the Montana attack. Cherry finished with 16 points. The Montana crowd was rocking and the Grizzlies moved to a single win between them and their fifth trip to the Big Dance since 2002, the most in the Big Sky over that period of time.

The stage is set for Weber State-Montana III tomorrow night from Missoula. If tonight's terrific basketball was any sort of teaser, the Big Sky is about to go out with a bang.

Weber State survives and advances to Big Sky Final

MISSOULA -- Tournament play is always foreboding. With so much on the line, it is no wonder that the emotion level is raised to the brink of insanity. The Conference Tournament is a special form of psychological warfare. There are no surprises between the contenders. In the Big Sky, each of the semifinalist had seen each other twice before. The third time, it’s all about grit; All about determination; All about the quest for March Madness.

Up until one week ago, Weber State was in control of its destiny. Win on the final day of the regular season, and the Wildcats would host the Big Sky Tournament. Montana had another plan, Weber State found itself a more difficult road to March, and Portland State stood in its way. The Wildcats had defeated the Vikings in their two previous matchups. The third would be as hard fought as any.

Playing with reckless abandon, the Vikings looked the favored Wildcats equal for the vast majority of the contest. Behind the play of Charles Odom and Chehales Tapscott, the dynamic duo from Portland, the Vikings tore up the Wildcats in the first half, scoring 27 points and giving the third-seed a five-point halftime lead. For much of the second half, it seemed like it was simply Portland State’s night.

Then, as all great players do, Weber State’s Damian Lillard took the game upon his shoulders. The two-time Big Sky MVP led a fierce second half comeback, a stretch of 20 minutes that saw the Wildcats the Vikings by 11 points, clinching a spot in the Big Sky Tournament Final tomorrow. While Lillard may get the headline, underclassmen Gelaun Wheelwright and Jordan Richardson were the difference makers. Freshman Wheelwright played 30 minutes, hit 6-of-10 from the field, and provided Weber with two terrific driving layups late in the second half to propel the comeback.

As for Richardson, the usual cog in the Weber rotation didn’t see any playing time in the first 30 minutes of action. Then, when he entered, he proved ready to change the complexion of the game. Richardson hit a three-pointer, made two defensive stops, and a hustle play to save a possession.

Then, in crunch time, Weber State made the shots necessary to survive and advance. When it comes to Tournament time, that’s the only victory that matters. 

Big Sky Tourney About to Begin!

Checking in from Missoula. The Adams Center, site of the 2012 Big Sky Men's Basketball Championship, is buzzing with excitement as Championship Week hits the Rocky Mountain region. Montana, the tourney-host and favorite, will play in the nightcap against Eastern Washington. The first semifinal between second-seed Weber State and three-seed Portland State will tip off at 5:30 Mountain time. The Wildcats are a six-point favorite in the opener. Check back here and @TheUpsetBlog for constant updates.

Big Sky Tournament Podcast with Weber FM's Trevor Amicone

We recorded a Big Sky Tournament Preview podcast (with an admitted Weber State slant) with Trevor Amicone of KSL.com and Weber FM. We recap our thoughts on Montana's win over Weber State to end the regular season, discuss the tournament, and also talk about Damian Lillard's draft status.

Big Sky Tournament Preview

The Big Sky Conference Tournament kicks into high gear tonight as action moves to Missoula, Montana. First round action took place last Saturday and high seeds held serve. Our Zach Bloxham will be in Missoula the next two nights to cover the action. Here's a preview of tonight's semifinal matchups.

[3] PORTLAND STATE (17-13, 10-6) vs

[2] WEBER STATE (23-5, 14-2)

5:30 pm MT | Altitude TV, Big Sky TV