PREVIEW: Wayne Tinkle’s Montana Grizzlies may have learned more about themselves as a team during their conference-opening three-game, two-loss weekend than they have all season.
After experimenting off and on with a “large” lineup that placed freshman center, Brian Qvale (#44, shown in photo to the left), on the baseline alongside Andrew Strait, the Grizzlies finally committed to it against Weber State.
The next game the Griz “won big” over the Eastern Washington Eagles. Big, in more ways than one.
It made me nostalgic.
That lineup looked... and then started to play... like. Well, like the big, bruising, bashing, take-it-to-em’ Grizzly teams of yore from the eighties and early nineties. You know. The ones that bannered a bruising, two-tank, heavy-howitzer front line. The names: McKenzie, Stroeder, McBride, Krystkowiak, Vanek, Tinkle, Engellant, Kempfert and Samuelson.
Ok, it’s too early to add another name. But I think young Mr. Qvale is up to the challenge.
If there’s been some question regarding whether Qvale is ready, then ask no more. Thursday he answered big time. Sure, there will be games where he’ll foul out. And he’ll struggle against a smaller post with better baseline quickness.
But with time he, and the Grizzlies, should only get better. Qvale’s presence injected, and then fused, several dimensions instantaneously into Montana’s game. That resulted in a faster game and 80 points from the Griz, which is the second-highest total this season against any team not named “Montana Tech.”
It also strengthened the Montana bench. There is now no dropoff at guard. And -- after a few games with the new lineup -- the frontline reserves will add a dimension of quickness that will be tough for opponents to adjust to. This is where Montana’s potential has yet to become fulfilled.
If it is fulfilled, and if Montana can get back onto a winning track, then I can certainly envision some “really big things” happening for Montana basketball in the near future.
MONTANA v.s Northern Colorado
Game time is 7:05 p.m., with radio coverage provided by KGVO and announcer Mick Holien. TV -- Fans with PCs and Internet access can view a video stream of the game from Big Sky Television (www.bigskytv.org) for a fee. Those who have macs, like me, are out of luck.
THE GAME: University of Montana at Northern Colorado at 7:05 p.m.
RECORDS: Northern Colorado is 8-11 (2-5). The Bears have two overtime losses, and one three-point loss, and one three-point win in conference play.
The Bears have WINS against VMI (104-97), Denver (54-46), Johnson + Wales (62-51), Colorado State (72-59), Bowling Green St. (64-60 OT), Sacramento State (74-60), Weber State (55-52), and San Diego State (62-56). The Bears have LOST to: Air Force (71-62), Iowa (59-47), Denver (69-53), Gonzaga (77-57), Oregon State (65-56), Portland (70-63), Northern Arizona (86-70), Idaho State (76-65), Eastern Washington (91-85 OT), Portland State (85-83 OT), and Montana State (70-67).
Montana takes a 7-11 (1-4) record into the game with losses to Gonzaga, Washington State, Cal State Fullerton (2), Portland, Pacific, Santa Clara, Montana State, Northern Arizona, Idaho State and Weber State. The Grizzlies have beaten Colorado State (75-39), Montana State Northern (72-47), South Dakota State (70-61), Air Force (59-57), Mississippi Valley State (69-62), Montana Tech (91-36) and on Thursday, beat Eastern Washington 80-61.
The Grizzlies are 3-9 since claiming second place in the Washington State Cougar Classic over Thanksgiving weekend.
THE COACH: Tad Boyle, is in his second year as head coach of the University of Northern Colorado Bears. This is his first head coaching position after having served as an assistant at Oregon (1994-97), Tennessee (1997-98), Jacksonville State (1998-2000), and Wichita State (2000-2006). He is the 17th head coach at UNC. A native of Greeley, Colorado, Boyle spent the past six seasons at Wichita State on the staff of longtime friend Mark Turgeon. Boyle’s record at UNC is 10-25.
HISTORY: Montana leads the series 6-1. The Grizzlies won the last meeting between the two teams (85-64).
PERSONNEL: The Bears are led by Jabril Banks, a 6’-7” junior forward, and Sean Taibi, a 6’-3” senior swingman. Banks leads the Bears with a 12.9 per-game scoring average, and is rebounding an average of 6.1 per game, ranked 8th in conference. Banks has the third best shooting percentage in conference, at 58.9% Taibi averages 10.7 points per game. Other key players include senior guard Thanasi Panagiotakopoulos, who averages 8.2 points per game, and 6’-6” sophomore forward, Jefferson Mason, who is averaging 9.6 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. Guard Robert Palacios, who averages 5.9 points and 2.33 assists per game, is considered a solid defender and is the fourth-ranked player in the Big Sky in steals (1.61 pg.)
THE TEAM: The Bears lead the Big Sky in one category (offensive rebounding), and are ranked second in steals. Otherwise, the Bears are a second-tier team in every other team category and are a solid league worst in turnovers (a negative average of -2.32 per game) and assists-to-turnovers (0.67). The Bears have good overall team quickness, play solid defense, and create opportunities in early offense, even though the Bears aren’t really a running team. More than any other Big Sky team, the Bears have produced a season similar to Montana, with some interesting comparisons against common foes (Colorado State, Air Force, Gonzaga). The Bears, like the Griz, have played competitively, but have lost more close games than they’ve one. In overtime games, UNC is 1-2, while Montana is 0-2.
HOW TO BEAT THE BEARS: If Montana can neutralize the Bears’ overall advantage in quickness, the Griz match up very well in every other category. Simply put: pound it low. And when the defense collapses, swing it out to Montana’s shooters and tell them to win it with threes.
The recent emergence of Brian Qvale should make Montana the most powerful team in the Big Sky in the front court. And that should soon lead to the most versatile inside-outside-wing combo in the conference. Qvale was once considered the future. The future is now. If Montana commits to its newfound dominant lineup, Qvale’s presence can make the Griz the most feared team in the Big Sky.
On defense -- The Bears are vulnerable at point guard. The switching-trapping guard defense that frustrated the Eastern Washington Eagles can work even better against a Northern Colorado team that relies upon two undersized forwards for its scoring punch. Montana’s guard-depth has gradually become the deepest in the conference. If the Griz attack the Bears’ back court aggressively, they can win. If Montana allows Banks and Taibi to get the ball near the paint, then the Griz risk getting into foul trouble early. This game will be won on defense by Montana’s ever improving defensive perimeter defenders.
On Offense -- Every Big Sky team that’s played the Griz has double-teamed Andrew Strait. Enough. Let’s see if they can double both Andrew and Brian. They can’t. Pound it low to Andrew first. Swing it to Brian second. Then, when the Bears' defense collapses, get it to Jordan Hasquet, Ryan Staaudacher and Matt Martin on the perimeter. It starts with the inside game because I don’t think there’s a team in the Big Sky that can stop BOTH Strait and Qvale
Individuals --I think success against the Bears starts with solid defense from Ceylon Elgin-Taylor and Ryan Staudacher (given a healthy ankle). But Montana’s hopes may rest on keeping Brian Qvale both in the game AND out of foul trouble.
HEALTH: Ryan Staudacher either sprained or bruised his right foot at midweek. He played well Thursday, but was slowed.
