Nobody likes to have their boss doing their job.

It's not comfortable and it certainly doesn't promise longevity.

That's why Ken Beazer seems in a precarious position today as the athletic director at Southern Utah University.

Continue reading " Bopped on the Beazer " »

Posted by Ed Kociela at 09:16 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 3 ) | TrackBacks ( 0 )

MID-CON STRUGGLES IN PRESEASON

After preseason games the SUU women start Mid-Con play Saturday against UMKC in Kansas City. Though the T-Birds 3-11 is less than ideal, the rest of the conference hasn't faired much better. Other than Oral Roberts, who enters league play 9-4, the rest of the Mid-Con starts conference play with a losing record.
With a bad losing record.
Minus the Golden Eagles, the Mid-Con's remaining seven teams end their nonconference schedule with a 23-51 record.
To say the least, the conference race should be pretty open.

POINT GUARDS STRUGGLING
After the T-Birds 61-50 loss to San Diego on Tuesday, one stat one impossible to overlook for SUU. The Toreros scored 33 points off turnovers. The T-Birds have struggled all season finding someone to get them in their offense and not turn the ball over since Amy Anderson left the team and Kristina Peterson went down with a knee injury.
Heather Hillock has done an admirable job moving from shooting guard to point and Jana Sorenson, another two-guard, showed potential Tuesday night in her first action at the one, but eight combined turnovers between the two (SUU had 22 overall) is still too many.

Posted by Beau Eastes at 09:17 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 1 ) | TrackBacks ( 0 )

The Southern Utah men's team has not played a complete basketball game in nearly three weeks, and it could come back to haunt the T-Birds if they don't pull together before next week.

They can't afford to play as they did against Western State, an NCAA Division II team, if they hope to have a chance against Mid-Continent Conference teams like Oral Roberts.

Of course, with the way the T-Birds started the season, maybe they were due for a slump. And considering they just won two straight games, maybe I'm nitpicking.

Continue reading " T-Birds squeak by Western State " »

Posted by Rich Johnson at 10:16 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 0 ) | TrackBacks ( 0 )

SUU came within a missed 3-pointer of sweeping a home-and-home series with Weber State.

Continue reading " T-Birds drop heartbreaker " »

Posted by Rich Johnson at 11:12 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 0 ) | TrackBacks ( 0 )

I just wanted to congratulate Bill Evans, Utah's longest tenured NCAA coach, for his 200th win as head coach of Southern Utah.

Evans earned the win on Saturday night, when the T-Birds topped in-state rival Weber State for a 75-63 victory at the Centrum Arena.

Continue reading " Congrats Bill Evans on 200th win as SUU head coach " »

Posted by Rich Johnson at 10:53 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 1 ) | TrackBacks ( 0 )

Southern Utah dropped to 3-2 on Friday night, falling 80-61 to Brigham Young at the Marriott Center in Provo.

The score was not indicative of the game, as the Cougars cruised to a 31-point lead early in the second half. But this is not a crippling loss by any means. This was easily the best team SUU has faced so far, and likely the second best (behind Washington) the T-Birds will play all season.

The Thunderbirds simply had no answer for BYU's Trent Plaisted, who erupted for 10 points in the game's first four minutes.

Continue reading " T-Bird men's hoops thoughts " »

Posted by Rich Johnson at 01:08 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 0 ) | TrackBacks ( 0 )

SUU again looked good on defense, holding San Diego State to 55 points and 41.9 percent shooting from the floor, but their offense is still a work in progress.
That being said, in almost any sport, a team is able to pick up a new defense quicker than a new offense. Ideally for SUU, these nonconference games will do the trick before Mid-Con play starts.

Bright spots during Friday night's game was the T-Birds' bench. Cash Connors scored nine points, making 4 of 8 shots. A sophomore shooting guard, Connors looks like she could be the offensive burst off the bench SUU's been looking for. Additionally, Silvia Da Silva scored a career-high nine points as the backup point guard. With Amy Anderson quitting, Da Silva should get a lot more playing time than the six minutes a contest she was averaging before Friday. Against the Aztecs Da Silva played a season-high 23 minutes. Shooting guard Heather Hillock will serve as the team's third point guard if needed.

Posted by Beau Eastes at 10:57 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 1 ) | TrackBacks ( 0 )

This won't be easy by any means.

I don't remember seeing SUU with such a height disadvantage.

Continue reading " T-Bird Hoops vs. Utah thoughts " »

Posted by Rich Johnson at 11:28 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 2 ) | TrackBacks ( 0 )

The T-Birds finished up their exhibition season with a win over Mesa State.

As is normal with teams this early in the season, there are promising possiblities with this team but also plenty of shortcomings needing improvement.

Continue reading " SUU men's hoops thoughts " »

Posted by Rich Johnson at 11:43 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 3 ) | TrackBacks ( 0 )

It'll be the Thunderbirds against the Thunderwolves as Southern Utah plays host to Lakehead (Ontario) Wednsday night at the Centrum Arena.

Continue reading " T-Birds open season with exhibition game " »

Posted by Rich Johnson at 08:00 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 2 ) | TrackBacks ( 0 )

After attending Thunderbird Madness and two men's basketball practices this week, I believe I can see Bill Evans' team taking shape.

I don't think anyone is under the illusion that the T-Birds don't still have a long way to go. Most coaches and players would probably admit that.

Continue reading " T-Bird Men's hoops thoughts " »

Posted by Rich Johnson at 05:13 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 0 ) | TrackBacks ( 0 )

One thing is certain about this year's SUU men's basketball team — the T-Birds are quicker and more athletic.

I was at the first official practice on Friday, and the T-Birds have some good athletes.

One player who has particularly impressed me is honorable mention All-Mid-Con point guard Steve Barnes.

Continue reading " T-Birds open practice " »

Posted by Rich Johnson at 01:14 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 2 ) | TrackBacks ( 0 )

It's hard to believe it's been nearly seven months since the Thunderbirds lost to Valparaiso in the Mid-Continent Conference tournament in Tulsa, Okla.

Now Southern Utah officially opens practice on Oct. 13 — two weeks from tonight.

Continue reading " T-Bird Men's Hoops season approaches " »

Posted by Rich Johnson at 10:17 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 0 ) | TrackBacks ( 0 )