The three-day, six-game Washington State Cougar Hispanic College Fund Challenge was a fascinating example of how mid-game adjustments in a college basketball game can spell the difference between winning and losing.
For Montana, it often starts with how opposing teams defend Grizzly center Andrew Strait.
DOUBLING ANDREW -- Of course Strait knew he’d be a moving target before the season began. The three Montana games -- an 11 point loss to the Cougars and nail-biters over Air Force and Mississippi Valley State -- were textbook examples of how the Grizzly offense will have to adjust to the way opposing teams defend Strait. (PHOTOS: Strait dealing with double-teams from Air Force, WSU and MVS.)
In game one, the WSU Cougars started with single coverage and Strait responded, burning the tourney hosts with 10 first half points on his classic post moves through the Cougar low post defense. The Cougars adjusted at halftime with effective double-team coverage and Strait didn’t get another bucket.
That left the perimeter open, and Grizzly guards responded, hitting 50% from beyond the arc in the second half and 8-for-18 on the game, compared to 3-for-12 by the Cougars. Close, but not quite enough. The game difference boiled down to field goal percentage and a 6-point imbalance in free throws. WSU shot 49% (24-49) compared to UM’s 39% (19-48), many of the Griz misses coming from contested shots in the low blocks.
In a fascinating contrast, the Air Force Falcons were ready for Strait, smothering the Montana post with a physical double-team defense. Griz guards responded, knocking down 7-of-16 first-half treys, three from Cameron Rundles and two each from Matt Martin and Ryan Staudacher. The effective Montana adjustment from inside game to perimeter game was the primary reason (along with a tight zone defense) the Grizzlies surged to a 16-point 37-21 first half lead.
The Falcons adjusted at halftime, extending the court with effective zone traps on Montana guards, stalling both the Griz outside game and preventing the guards from penetrating the zone traps to get the ball down low. Clutch free throw shooting in the game’s final minute by Martin and Greg Spurgetis was enough to hold off the charging Falcons.
The Misssissippi Valley State Delta Devils picked up where the Falcons left off. The seemingly 
over-matched but quicker Delta Devils employed relentless first-half perimeter pressure on Grizzly guards, holding them to 1-for-5 from beyond the arc in the first half and 4-of-11 on the game. Meanwhile, the Delta Devils forced 18 Griz turnovers, effectively preventing the taller Griz from generating much low-post offense. Jordan Hasquet responded with 13 points on baseline drives, but it was an adjustment in guard play that guaranteed the win for Montana.
Rundles, Martin and Ceylon Elgin-Taylor (see photo above) responded with quick dribble-enter drives down the lane, where low block screens from Hasquet and Strait freed the guards numerous times for layups. Those quick drives in turn opened up the perimeter for open threes by Martin and Elgin-Taylor... enough to gain an 8-point lead and a slim cushion for the Griz to hold off the Delta Devils.
The Cougar Challenge tourney provided an intense, three-day laboratory full of valuable lessons for Montana. From here the question is this: Will the Grizzlies see more exterior pressure on their guards, or continued double-team defense down low?
One thing is certain: the Grizzly outside game -- led by Rundles and supported by Elgin-Taylor’s capable 
backup alongside Staudacher (see photo at left) and Martin’s long-range accuracy -- is vastly improved over last year. If Montana’s deep guard tandem continues to successfully fend-off exterior pressure, and convert three-point shots at its current ratio, that will open things up down low.
And that will be a very good thing for Strait, Hasquet and the Grizzly power game.
Before the season began, Montana coach Wayne Tinkle said that opposing teams will this year have to “pick their poison” by double-teaming down low OR applying pressure on the exterior. Not both. If the Grizzlies can continue to adjust their game like they did during the Cougar Challenge, the prospects for the season look increasingly bright.
