About a week ago, Ian Ruder, the publisher of
Vikings Blog, approached me with the idea of exchanging a series of questions on our respective teams. Well, not our teams, but you know, the ones we write
about.
I've been trying to network a bit more and thought this was an excellent idea. Ian has a very well run blog over at
OregonLive.com, which is very up-to-date on the whole blogging scene with a blog for just about every local team.
The interview is after the jump, with questions on their impressive preseason, the return of Anthony Washington and the Cameron Indoor Stadium of the West -- The Stotts Center.
If you want to see his questions and my answers, head over to
his blog.
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Grizzoulian: Does this PSU basketball season feel a little like the PSU football season? Going into the UM football game PSU was a formidable Big Sky contender but after dropping to UM in Portland and then to MSU things seemed a little out of reach. How confident are you the basketball team will do the opposite?
Vikings Blog: I haven’t gotten that vibe from fans and those around the team. It’s been kind of an odd year with the departure and return of Anthony Washington sandwiched around a stronger than expected preseason. After he left people seemed content with the notion of finishing 4th or 5th and battling it out in the conference tourney. Now, after a 9-4 preseason where no Big Sky teams other than EWU (maybe) stood out, I think people have set their sights higher with some even thinking of hosting. People expect PSU to beat the Montana schools this week but hopefully understand that a loss here isn’t the same as in football. The reality in the BSC is that as long as you make the tourney and are playing well in late February/early march you’re okay. With the 2 or 3 bottom-feeding BSC teams, one loss isn’t the end of the world. That said, I would be shocked if MSU beat PSU Saturday. Also, after watching Montana flounder last Friday at Portland I’ll be interested to see if they bounce back like championship contenders as I’m sure they would have under Krystkowiak.
Grizzoulian: What does it mean
getting Anthony Washington back? An imposing force on the low post or just signs with A&W Root Beer references?
Vikings Blog: Assuming he can get into playing shape, it’s huge and could potentially decide the Big
Sky tournament. Everyone made him out to be the savior last year after he redshirted after transferring from UW and it never really happened. But, he averaged nearly 18 pts on 60 percent shooting in his final three games and alongside 6-foot-11 center Scott Morrison was easily the best 1-2 big man combo in the conference. Without him this year PSU has faced a lot of mismatches in the post and been forced to play 6-foot-6 Juma Kamara –one of the team’s most versatile and talented players – against bigger players, negating his opportunities. Don’t look for AW to do much this week, or even this month, but come March, if he’s healthy he could be key.
Grizzoulian: The Vikings are 6-0 at the Stott Center this year; is this because it's an intimidating place to play or are the Vikings just more comfortable there?
Vikings Blog: If you’ve never been to the Stott Center, picture your high school gym, then think smaller, think concrete walls, think half-empty and voila! You’ve got the Stott Center. Its easily one of the nation’s worst D-I gyms. Two years ago it was standing room only (1500 capacity) for the last few games of the season but usually it fails to sell out or even come close. When it’s full the Viks have a HUGE advantage because the fans are literally inches from the court and players, but most of the time its just depressing. The Viks strong home record is more a product of good scheduling. I’d expect around 800-1000 for the Montana game (because of UM fans) and less for MSU.
Grizzoulian: PSU won the regular season conference title in 04-05 but went 5-9 in conference play last season. Is their nonconference record an indication that the rebuilding process is complete or is there still work to be done? Or was last season just a fluke?
Vikings Blog: Last year was Ken Bone’s first as head coach and he inherited a team without the strengths he coaches to (ballhandling, speed). Last year’s team also had a lot of new faces and a big part of the late run was the team coming together. One side effect of AW’s departure this season was it accelerated the transition to the scrappier style I think Bone would like to play. I don’t think of the team as rebuilding as much as building towards one in Bone’s ideal mold.
Grizzoulian: Twenty seconds left, Vikings have the ball and are trailing the Griz by 1, what is Head Coach Ken Bone drawing up?
Vikings Blog: Scott Morrison has been the go-to guy so far this season, but he doesn’t match up as favorably against the Griz and isn’t the greatest free throw shooter so I’m not sure he’d be the choice. I would think Bone would draw something up for [Juma] Kamara. He has a deceptively good shot from inside and out and the ability to get it off over a good defender. He also led the league in 3-pt percentage last year.
Grizzoulian: Is Ken Bone looking to give
Paul Hafford more minutes and possible a starting job or is this kid just better off the bench?
Vikings Blog: I sense that Bone really likes the firepower Hafford brings off the bench. As good as this guy’s numbers have been, I can tell you from watching him in practice – they can be better. He is the definition of a gunner – fearless and able to make from anywhere. If he can shoot in games like he does in practice (as he has the last two weeks) he is the perfect sixth man and a great switch-up to Deonte Huff, who is more a slasher than a shooter.
