Montana sophomore reserve guard Cameron Rundles says the Montana Grizzlies still have a lot to prove – to themselves more than to anyone else. But there’d be nothing better, says Rundles, than to prove it in front of Montana’s home-court fans, which Rundles says are far and away the best in the Big Sky Conference.
Tipoff for Montana’s final homestand, and perhaps its final two home games of the year, is Thursday at 7 p.m. against the 8th place Northern Colorado Bears. On Saturday the Grizzlies host a team at the other end of the conference standings: the first-place Portland State Vikings.
“I really want to win these next two games because I think we’ve got the best crowd in the Big Sky,” says Rundles.
“I love playing with this crowd. Because, now that I’m a little more confident (read the Grizzly Journal interview with Rundles below) I’m going to be with this crowd, because they really are our sixth man and I want them to raise the roof.”
A win against the Bears assures Montana of a first-round playoff game. A sweep gives Montana an outside chance at hosting a third straight home court game with a first-round playoff game.
Montana players, says Rundles, know the challenge in front of them.
“No excuses,” says Rundles. “We’ve got to take care of things first against Northern Colorado.”
But Rundles knows that two wins would provide a big boost for the Grizzlies going into postseason play.
“We know that Portland State is the best team in the league, hands down,” says Rundles. “Their record shows it. They’ve proved it. And they’re going to host (the Big Sky tourney).”
“I really want to win these next two games because I think we’ve got the best crowd in the Big Sky,” says Rundles.
The final weekend of Big Sky Conference play tips off Thursday at 7 p.m. in Dahlberg arena. Read the entire Grizzly Journal SCOUTING REPORT here.
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.
THE GAME: University of Northern Colorado at Montana @ 7:05 p.m.
RECORDS: Northern Colorado is 12-15 (5-9).
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), Northern Arizona (80-77), Idaho State (76-66), Johnson & Wales (84-65), and Eastern Washington (79-66). 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 (71-60), Sac State (74-70), Weber State ( 70-54), and Portland State (88-79).
Montana takes a 13-14, 7-7 record into the game with LOSSES to Gonzaga, Washington State, Cal State Fullerton (2), Portland, Pacific, Santa Clara, MSU (74-58), Northern Arizona (72-64), Idaho State (56-54). Weber State (68-67) at Portland State (70-68) and last Saturday to NAU (80-76) and at Weber State (76-67). The Grizzlies have WINS over 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), at Sacramento State (76-69), Eastern Washington (80-61), at Northern Colorado (71-60), at Eastern Washington (59-57), Montana State (88-76), Sac State (90-57), and at Idaho State in overtime (72-63).
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 7-1. The Grizzlies won the last meeting between the two teams (71-60).
PERSONNEL: The Bears are led by Jabril Banks, a 6’-7” junior forward. Banks leads the Bears with a 13.1 per-game scoring average, and is rebounding an average of 5.9 per game. Banks is considered one of the better small forwards in the Big Sky and is very aggressive, as his whopping 136 free throw attempts illustrate. Second-leading scorer, guard Sean Taibi (11.1 ppg) has seen less playing time recently, giving way to Will Figures and sophomore forward Jefferson Mason toward the second half of conference play. But Taibi is a major three-point threat and can change games quickly from long range. Banks scored 16 and Figures had 13 in the teams’ first meeting of the year. Other key players include senior guard Thanasi Panagiotakopoulos, who averages 8.2 points 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: Statistically the Bears are a second-tier team in every team category and are a solid league worst in turnovers, three-point field goal defense and blocked shots. But 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. The Bears are an unpredictable team which can occasionally uncork a great game. That will happen if teams don’t stop the quick, small front court line in the blocks. The Bears, like the Griz, have played competitively, but have lost more close games than they’ve won.
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.One other factor. Here’s hoping that Brian Qvale is getting close to 100% because he’ll make Montana a force sooner rather than later. Qvale’s presence on the floor 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. Before the first time these two teams met I wrote: “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.” They did that and Montana was on the verge of dominance until Qvale suffered a sever high ankle sprain. If Brian can get close to his mid-season form, the Griz might be ready to rock. It would be goof for Qvale to get enough minutes to get him back into a comfort zone.
On defense -- The Bears are vulnerable at point guard. But the Bears like to enter the ball quickly on defense, so it’s critical that Montana guards stop the Bears guards from generating offensive flow. The Griz did just that in the teams’ first meeting, holding NCU to 36.7% shooting from the field and 12.5% from three point range. The switching-trapping guard defense the Griz used against Idaho State can also be successful against a Northern Colorado team that relies upon two undersized forwards for its scoring punch. If the Griz attack the Bears’ back court aggressively, they should win. If Montana allows Banks and Mason 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. They can’t. Pound it low to Andrew first. Strait just keeps getting better. If the Griz get the ball low to Andrew and Kyle Sharp first, then – when the Bears defense collapses – get it to Jordan Hasquet, Ryan Staudacher and Matt Martin on the perimeter, the Griz should be able to handle NCU. It starts with the inside game because I don’t think there’s a team in the Big Sky that can stop Montana’s steadily improving front court game.
Individuals -- I think success against the Bears starts with solid defense from Ceylon Elgin-Taylor and Staudacher, and a rejuvenated Cameron Rundles. The Griz need Martin to get back on a three-point shooting hot streak as well. Martin is a fighter and the Griz need his moxie on the floor. Also, Jordan Hasquet is starting to get comfortable at the wing on offense. That bodes some very good signs for the Griz.
HEALTH: Battered, but getting better each game.
