Montana plays the third game of their California road swing Thursday at Cal State Fullerton, which beat the Grizzlies 100-91 Nov. 30 in Missoula.
Since this is the second meeting of the schools this season, I’ll let my initial scouting report serve as the base for Thursday’s game. You can read that scouting report here.
Since their previous meeting:
• The TITANS are 1-1, losing 79-76 at Central Michigan and beating Southern Utah 99-66. Against Central Michigan, the Titans were whistled for 31 fouls. Scott Cutley led the Titans with 21 points, followed by 16 from Junior Russell and 15 from Frank Robinson. Josh Akognon was held to 9 points. Central Michigan limited the Titans to 6-for-21 from three-point range, an average of 28.6 percent. Monday the Titans scored 55 second half points against Southern Utah, hitting 50 percent of their 3-pointers on 11-for-22
shooting. Five Titans scored in double figures, led by Marcus Crenshaw’s 17 and Akongon’s 16.
PHOTOS: In action from the teams' first meeting, Ryan Staudacher is guarded by Titan Frank Robinson. Below, Cameron Rundles drives past (#?). I think it's #15, Junior Russell.
• MONTANA is 0-3, losing 58-57 in Missoula to the Portland Pilots, losing 76-71 in OT to the Pacific Tigers, and losing 60-49 at Santa Clara. You can read coverage of those games on this site.
THE TEAMS -- The Titans obviously got a huge boost with the return of Scott Cutley, who is averaging 12.5 points per game (including his first game back at Montana). Akognon leads the team with a 20.9 average while Robinson is second at 15.8 ppg. The Titans are currently averaging 85.3 points per game while allowing opponents a 75.6 average.
The Grizzlies are led in scoring by Jordan Hasquet (15.6), Matt Martin (11.9) and Andrew Strait (10.7). As a team the Grizzlies are scoring 65.6 points per game and allowing 63.9. While the Grizzlies are 0 for December so far, it’s important to note that the team effectively lost two of those games on the final shot in regulation and could easily be 2-2 instead of 0-4.
Perhaps most troubling for the Grizzlies are the (statistically verified) signs of streaky play, heightened by 35 percent field goal shooting in three of their past six games. In those games the Grizzlies have averaged 55 points, a significant 10-points below their seasonal average. Whether it’s a sign of shooting inconsistencies or solid defense by opponents against the Grizzly offense, the pattern has to be of concern for Montana coaches.
HEALTH -- No mention has been made of Montana guard Cameron Rundles’ foot injury, so that has to be a good sign. Grizzly play-by-play announcer, Mick Holien, noted several times during the Montana loss to Santa Clara that Hasquet’s two sprained ankles (can’t get more than tnat!) were slowing him down significantly. Despite two more days of rest, Hasquet will probably be slowed by his injuries.
The Cal State Fullerton web site indicated that Frank Robinson sat out one game with an ankle injury while Eddie Lima has been hampered by a knee problem.
THE MATCHUP: An interesting comparison is Southern Utah, which lost by 14 to the Titans on Nov. 14 and by 33 on Monday. That means SU lost the transition game to the Titans in a big way. To reverse that pattern, the Grizzlies will need to limit the Titans’ three-point looks (and makes), and eliminate Titan second-shot chances with solid defensive boarding. I believe the Titans (a very physical team that racks up the fouls) can be beaten if the Grizzlies constantly attack the basket with a combo of early offense strategies and patient half court offense. On defense, the Griz need to work the transition game to force the Titans to drive. The best way for this Montana team to force turnovers is to take charges, something we haven’t yet seen much.
Perhaps most importantly, the Grizzlies desperately need a breakout game from their entire guard tandem. Whether it’s making the assist to the low block, driving the lane, hitting the open wing for a three, or pulling up for a jumper in the lane, this is the perfect scenario for Montana’s guards to put it all together. Continued quality minutes from Montana subs, including Brian Qvale, Kyle Strait and Ceylon Elgin-Taylor, are also important, because we know this will be an uptempo game.
Thursday’s showdown might be a “confidence” game more than anything else. If the Griz can show improvement in several critical areas, that might be enough.
To Montana Coach Wayne Tinkle’s credit, the Montana pre-season schedule has been uncompromisingly challenging. Regardless of the record, I still think it’s better to play tough opponents early than it is to build a nifty won-loss record against mediocre opposition.
