Missoulian - Big Sky Conference Tournament

Championship Men's Matchup:

SATURDAY, MAR. 11, 2000
8:30 pm • Adams Center • Missoula, MT • ESPN2

Northern Arizona
LUMBERJACKS VS. Cal State Northridge
MATADORS

Record: 11-5 in league, 17-10 overall. H
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Record: 10-6 in league, 18-9 overall.

Tourney Seed: Third Tourney Seed: Fifth

2nd Round Opponent: Eastern Washington
Final: 82-65 2nd Round Opponent: Montana:
Final: 76-65

Tourney record: 7-10 Tourney record: 5-3

NCAA Appearances: One (1998) NCAA Appearances: None

Best Win: 76-66 at Weber State on Jan. 28, the Jacks’ fourth in what turned into an 11-game win streak. Best Win: 76-62 over Weber State on March 1, a game in which the Matadors had 27 assists as a team.

Worst Loss: 101-75 at Portland State on Jan. 15, their fourth straight road loss to begin conference play. Worst Loss: 113-92 at Weber State on Jan. 29.

Stats that matter: NAU has won 11 of its last 12 games. The Jacks were the best shooting team (.483) during league play and the best defenders, holding foes to 41.6 percent shooting. Stats that matter: The Matadors were the second best shooting team (47 percent) during league play and the worst free-throw shooting team (63.5 percent). Northridge gets nearly 13 second-shot opportunities a game, ranking third in the league in offensive rebounds.

Key Players: C Dan McClintock (7-0, Sr.) is a force on both ends of the floor, ranking sixth in the league in scoring (15.6) and first in blocked shots (2.4). The Jacks can play tight perimeter defense knowing he’s under the basket waiting to swat away shots from short range. G Ross Land (6-5, Sr.) is simply one of the best pure shooters the league has ever seen. F Cory Schwab (6-5, Jr.) is often overlooked, but shoots 44 percent from 3-point range and F Billy Hix (6-7, Sr.) is a blue-collar defender and rebounder. Key Players: C Brian Heinle (6-9, So.) is probably more comfortable facing the basket and has good range. F Andre Larry (6-9, Sr.), who took a three-game hiatus from the team during conference play, is a big-time scoring threat who can shoot from outside or take you off the dribble. F Jeff Parris (6-5, Jr.) is a load on the low blocks and a great offensive rebounder. Ditto for F Hewitt Rolle (6-7, Jr.). G Markus Carr (6-1, So.) was second to Gill in assists (7.1) during league play.

Tourney Prospects: Very good. NAU and Montana were the two hottest teams down the stretch and the Jacks handed the Griz a 26-point loss in Missoula during that time, something that bodes well should they meet in the title game. If not for an incredible performance by Weber’s Eddie Gill last week, the Jacks would be hosting the tournament and favored to win it. The Jacks are a veteran club and know what it takes to win. Tourney Prospects: Never count out the Matadors. Nearly every coach in the tournament agrees that the Matadors have the deepest pool of talent. Coach Bobby Braswell, nevertheless, will have his team sold on the fact that they are the underdogs, a role the Matadors have embraced in their short time in the league. This is the team no one wants to play because of their physical and aggressive – at times frenetic – style of play. If Braswell can keep them pulling in the same direction, they could be a darkhorse.

Probable Starters: F – Billy Hix, 6-7, Sr. 6.5 ppg
F – Cory Schwab, 6-5, Jr. 9.5 ppg
C – Dan McClintock, 7-0, Sr. 15.6 ppg
G – Ross Land, 6-5, Sr. 16.4 ppg
G – Adam Lopez, 6-0, So. 8.0 ppg
6 – Commander King, 6-3, Jr. 1.6 ppg
6 – Ryan McDade, 6-7, Fr. 5.3 ppg
6 – Andrew Wolthers, 6-8, Sr. 2.7 ppg Probable Starters: F – Jeffrey Parris, 6-5, Jr. 12.2 ppg
F – Hewitt Rolle, 6-7, Jr. 9.0 ppg
C – Brian Heinle, 6-9, So. 15.1 ppg
G – Markus Carr, 6-1, So. 8.4 ppg
G – Carl Holmes, 6-1, So. 8.1 ppg
6 – Andre Larry, 6-9, Sr. 13.0 ppg
6 – Marco McCain, 6-3, Jr. 5.9 ppg
6 – Dan Read, 6-10, Fr. 1.7 ppg