Montana

GameNight: Duke vs Montana

Blake Hofstad — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 11:30:11 -0500

Start: Nov 23 2008 - 1:00pm

Preview & Prediction: By Blake Hofstad

The Grizzlies of Montana make the trip down to Durham to play the Duke Blue Devils. While Montana is a good team, and has a shot to win the Big Sky, this is Duke. It's hard for anyone to come into Cameron and win, let alone Montana.

For the Grizzlies to have a shot, they will need to rely heavily on their perimeter defense, as Duke’s offense utilizes their tremendous shooting ability. The bulk of Montana’s scoring comes from three guys. Ryan Staudacher pours in 16 a game. Jordan Hasquet and Brian Qvale are the Grizzlies best rebounders, and between the two of them average around 24 points and 15 rebounds a game. Point guard Jack McGillis is a solid passer, giving out 5 assists a game. Unfortunately for Montana, they haven’t looked good early. Their record is 2-1, but that is deceiving. They got blown out by Colorado State, beat Montana Western by 7 and beat possibly the worst non-independent team in college basketball in Mississippi Valley State. If you lose by 30 to Colorado State, how bad will Duke beat you?

The Blue Devils boast one of the top teams in the country. They skated through the Coaches against Cancer tournament and their only real challenge was against Rhode Island, who had possibly the nation’s best shooter in Jimmy Baron on their side. The thing that makes Duke so tough is that they can put 5 guys on the court that can shoot, and make, the three. Jon Scheyer has played very well; his dribble penetration has set up some great looks for both himself and his teammates. Gerald Henderson does everything for this team. He and Kyle Singler are two very versatile players. Nolan Smith has played well enough in the starting role. Even Brian Zoubek has played key roles in Duke’s victories, being the one true big guy on their roster.

Poor Montana. This is not a good morale booster so early in the season.

Winner: Duke Margin: 20+

Big Sky Basketball Preview: 08-09

CHN — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 21:16:03 -0500

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Conference Rank: 23rd

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All-BIG SKY Team
Pos.	Player	Team	Yr.

G	Jeremiah Dominguez	Portland St	Sr
G	Josh Wilson	NAU	Sr
F	Phil Nelson	Portland St	So
F	Jabril Banks	No. Colorado	Sr
F	Jordan Hasquet	Montana	Sr
CHN Award Winners		Returning Leaders
none		Points: Jeremiah Dominguez 14.2 Rebounds: Jordan Hasquet 7.2 Assists: Josh Wilson 5.4

BIG SKY Standings
Nat'l	Team	League	Tourney

112	Montana	Big Sky	1	NCAA
149	Portland State**	Big Sky	2
181	Northern Arizona	Big Sky	3
203	Weber State	Big Sky	4
243	Idaho State	Big Sky	5
265	Eastern Wash	Big Sky	6
279	Northern Colorado	Big Sky	7
308	Montana State	Big Sky	8
327	Sacramento St	Big Sky	9

*Click on links for full Top 144 team preview

** returning conference champion

Poll: Who Do You Think Will Win the Big Sky?

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Rise & Fall: Big Sky

Daily Conference Poll: Who Will Win the Big Sky?

Shawn Siegel — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 09:41:14 -0400

2008-09 Montana Basketball Preview: #112

Joel Welser — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 10:53:29 -0400

Montana Grizzlies

Overall Rank: #112

Conference Rank: #1 Big Sky

2007-08: 14-16, 8-8, 4^th

2007-08 postseason: none

Heading into his third year as the leader of the Montana Grizzlies, Coach Wayne Tinkle is building something special in Missoula. The recruiting has been very good over the last few years and it is about time for that talent to turn into conference championships. However, the championships will not start rolling in until the defense improves.

Who’s Out:

Besides the defense, a lack of experience may be the only thing that could keep the Grizzlies away from the Big Sky championship. Andrew Strait was the big man under the basket and averaged 13.3 points and 6.6 rebounds, ranking second on the team in both categories. Guard Matt Martin started a dozen games and was a solid shooter, usually off the bench and Cameron Rundles has transferred after averaging 6.6 points per game last year. Dave Vanderjagt, Greg Spurgetis and Zach Graves will also not be returning this season after seeing limited action last year.

Who’s In:

Only five players return to the squad, so the newcomers will have to be ready to at least play an important role off the bench. Jack McGillis, a transfer from Oregon State, probably will not have to spend much time on the bench. The former Mr. Basketball in the state of Montana, McGillis spent two years with the Beavers before heading back home. Two years ago he started six games in Corvallis and averaged 5.9 points per game. The 6-6 forward is a decent rebounder as well and should play a big role on this year’s team. Another transfer joins the Grizzlies from Eastern Washington. Michael Taylor started 25 games for the Eagles two years ago and has the experience to contribute immediately. Guard Anthony Johnson and wing Vassy Banny have some experience too. Johnson, a 6-3 guard from Yakima Valley Community College, will add some much needed depth at the point guard position and shooting guard spots and Banny can do a little bit of everything. The large group of incoming freshmen are led by point guard Shawn Stockton and small forward Mathias Ward. Those two, along with wing Tyler Hurley, forward Mathias Ward and big man Derek Selvig, might need some time to adjust to playing in the Big Sky, but there will be some minutes to be had if they can quickly show they are ready.

Who to Watch:

The duo of Strait and Jordan Hasquet dominated the opposing frontcourts in the conference. Now that Strait is gone, the pressure falls on Hasquet. The 6-9 senior led the team with 13.7 points and 7.2 rebounds, is a consistent outside shooter and a decent passer, but he needs to find his partner in crime in the paint. Enter Brian Qvale. The 6-11, 245 pound Williston, North Dakota product averaged 4.0 points and 3.3 rebounds as a freshman last season. Given more playing time, those numbers should increase, but more important than scoring or rebounding is his defense. Qvale tallied 1.5 blocks per game and can spearhead the improved defensive initiative with his long arms and ability to alter shots. Add senior Kyle Sharp, who can play the three, four or five spot, and the Grizzlies have plenty of potential and talent in the frontcourt…even without Strait.

Final Projection:

Ceylon Elgin-Taylor and Ryan Staudacher started a majority of the games in the backcourt during the 2007-2008 campaign. Elgin-Taylor is not a great shooter, but he is a steady floor leader, a good passer and a senior leader. Staudacher is a great shooter. The 6-3 junior knocked down over 45 percent of his attempts from long range as a sophomore and rarely misses a free-throw. Without Matt Martin and Cameron Rundles around, Staudacher carries the scoring burden of the backcourt. And with a frontcourt that can dominate again and a senior running the point, Staudacher and the entire Montana team should be looking at a very successful season.

Projected Post-season Tournament: NCAA

Projected Starting Five:

Ceylon Elgin-Taylor, Senior, Guard, 6.2 points per game

Ryan Staudacher, Junior, Guard, 9.0 points per game

Jack McGillis, Junior, Forward, DNP last season

Jordan Hasquet, Senior, Forward, 13.7 points per game

Brian Qvale, Sophomore, Center, 4.0 points per game

Complete Top 144 Ranking | 2008-09 Preview & Awards | Coach Interviews | Discuss the Preview

Daily Poll: Who Will Win the Big Sky?

Shawn Siegel — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 19:54:00 -0400

2007-08 Montana Basketball Preview

Joel Welser — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 09:12:26 -0400

Montana Grizzlies

Overall Rank: #113

Conference Rank: #1 Big Sky

2006-07: 17-15, 10-6, 3^rd

2006-07 postseason: none

Montana’s high hopes were dashed time and time again last year, but there is still a ton of talent ready to return the Grizzlies to the NCAA Tournament. Andrew Strait and Jordan Hasquet are easily the best frontcourt duo in the Big Sky. Strait averaged 15.0 points and 6.4 rebounds last year while Hasquet added 13.0 points and 6.4 boards. If Strait could hit a free-throw (he shot 52.3 percent last year), he would be nearly impossible to stop.

Who’s Out:

The Grizzlies have a few pieces to replace with the absence of Matt Dlouhy and Bryan Ellis. Dlouhy was third on the team in scoring and rebounding last year and Ellis led the squad with 4.2 assists per contest. Replacing them would not be too tough, but much of the depth off the bench is now gone as well. Forwards Stuart Mayes, Mike Chavez and Gus Chase are gone and wing Austin Swift has opted to transfer.

Who’s In:

That means the newcomers will have to be the guys that are filling in the holes. The most important may end up being Sean Watson. Montana really needs an athletic wing who can get to the basket and Watson is the best option at this point. The versatile 6-5 transfer from Howard College is not afraid to take the ball to rim, but he becomes more dangerous because he has a nice looking shot. Ceylon Elgin-Taylor brings some more toughness to the perimeter. The 6-2 combo guard will show that toughness to the defensive end and that may be enough to get him some playing time right away. However, Elgin-Taylor can also run the show and is not too shabby in the scoring department either. Redshirt freshman Zach Graves will add even more depth to both guard positions. Up front, Derek Selvig and Brian Qvale are hoped to be the next Strait and Hasquet. Selvig, a 6-10 forward, earned Montana’s Gatorade Player of the Year as a high school senior and has all the tools to be a star in the next couple of years. He needs to add a little strength and develop more consistency with his jump shot, but when Selvig hits the floor it will be during meaningful minutes. Qvale is not quite as polished, but the 6-11, 235 pound Williston, North Dakota native is a handful to deal with under the basket. These newcomers do help to fill some of the holes on this year’s roster and the class will likely see another member or two before the season tips off.

Who to Watch:

We know the frontcourt will be good. The perimeter is where there are some concerns. Cameron Rundles had a great freshman campaign, averaging 8.2 points and 2.1 assists. This year, if he can hold off some newcomers, the point guard position should be all his. Rundles shot nearly 48 percent from behind the arc, which was almost as good as Strait at the free-throw line, and there is no reason for him not to get good looks again this year. It is Matt Martin that will likely take most of the shots from long range this year. Martin does not hit at the same rate as Rundles, yet the 6-2 senior is poised for a bigger season than last year. Ryan Staudacher was down the bench a ways as a freshman, but the sharpshooter is expected to provide a spark off the bench.

Final Projection:

There are other teams that deserve to be here as much as Montana, like Weber State, Northern Arizona and Portland State, but the Grizzlies have a frontcourt that can take on any of them. As long as the team can hold defensively against quicker guards, the Grizzlies will be fine. In that regard, it will come down to match-ups against most of the Big Sky opponents and that falls on the shoulders of Coach Wayne Tinkle.

Projected Post-season Tournament: NCAA

Projected Starting Five:

Cameron Rundles, Sophomore, Guard, 8.2 points per game

Matt Martin, Senior, Guard, 6.7 points per game

Sean Watson, Junior, Guard, DNP last season

Jordan Hasquet, Junior, Forward, 13.0 points per game

Andrew Strait, Senior, Center, 15.0 points per game

Complete Top 144 Ranking | 2007-08 Preview | Discuss the Preview

Big Sky Conference Preview

CHN — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 12:32:55 -0500

Conference Previews | Top 144 | 06-07 Preview Home

Big Sky Preview

Conference Rank: 16th

Conference Page

All-Conference

Player of the Year - Rodney Stuckey, EWU, G

David Schroeder, Idaho St, G

Alex Bausley, Sacramento St, F

Ruben Boykin, NAU, F

Andrew Strait, Montana, F/C

Nat'l	Team (Click for Preview)	Conf	Tourney
99	Northern Arizona	1	NCAA
128	Eastern Washington	2
144	Montana	3
172	Portland State	4
194	Sacramento St	5
215	Weber State	6
246	Idaho State	7
279	Montana State	8
321	Northern Colorado	9

Preseason Head Coach Interviews:

Brad Huse - Montana State

Other Big Sky Articles

Big Sky Preseason Coaches & Media Poll

Big Sky Preseason Coaches/Media Poll

Press Release — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 16:38:14 -0400

In very close balloting, Northern Arizona (21-11, 12-2 last season) was picked first in the coaches poll by just one point over Montana (24-7, 10-4). Meanwhile, the Grizzlies were picked first in the media poll by just one point over the Lumberjacks. They were followed by consensus third, fourth and fifth teams, Eastern Washington (15-15, 9-5), Portland State (12-16, 5-9) and Sacramento State (15-15, 5-9).

The 2006-07 Big Sky season will include the addition of new conference member Northern Colorado. UNC, Montana State, Idaho State and Weber State – picked in various order sixth through ninth in the polls – all have new head coaches this season. Northern Colorado will play a full Big Sky schedule, but because of NCAA reclassification requirements, will not be eligible for the regular-season title, or a trip to the postseason.

Coaches’ Poll
School (First-place votes) Points
1. Northern Arizona (4) 59
2. Montana (4) 58
3. Eastern Washington (1) 54
4. Portland State 41
5. Sacramento State 37
6. Weber State 27
7. Idaho State 22
8. Montana State 17
9. Northern Colorado 8

Media Poll
School (First-place votes) Points
1. Montana (9) 233
2. Northern Arizona (13) 232
3. Eastern Washington (7) 222
4. Portland State 149
5. Sacramento State 143
6. Montana State 109
7. Weber State 95
8. Idaho State 93
9. Northern Colorado 30

2006-07 Preview: Team's #131-144

Joel Welser — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 17:02:05 -0400

Capsules of teams ranked 131st to 144th in CHN's 144 Teams in 144 Days college preview.