I’m proud to announce that Grizzly Journal will provide full Missoula-based coverage of Montana Grizzly and Lady Griz basketball for the 2008-09 seasons.
Though we take the form of a blog, we’re more: Grizzly Journal has received full press-pass access and courtside-photography credentials for all Grizzly and Lady Griz games, with access to Grizzly practices as well.
Check back later this week for profiles of Griz seniors Ceylon Elgin-Taylor, Jordan Hasquet and Kyle Sharp.
Also slated is an in-depth profile of third-year Montana coach, Wayne Tinkle, and shorter profiles of Montana assistants Andy Hill and Nate DuChesne (already in progress), with GJ plans for a profile of first-year Griz assistant Bill Evans as well.
Starting with the dual Montana intrasquad scrimmages set for Tuesday, Oct. 28, you can expect same-night photos, stories and audio interviews as the season progresses.
Similar practice coverage and player profiles are planned for the Lady Griz. However, I have not yet received clearance by Lady Griz coaches.
Also planned are pre-game “scouting reports,” likely to be briefer than last season’s extended reports, possible brief profiles of coaches and players from visiting teams, and new formats for photo presentation.
Suggestions and comments from readers is always welcome. Any news you have regarding a Montana or Lady Griz recruit or alum is also welcome. You can submit info in the comments section at the end of each story or by emailing me using the Grizzly Journal email function.
Full resolution action photos will also be available, on request, as the season progresses.
IT WOULDN’T TAKE MUCH 
to improve Montana team depth from last season, when a depleted Montana bench got a late-season bench boost from football player Dan Beaudin. That’s because Griz transfers Michael Taylor
(Eastern Washington) and Jack McGillis (Oregon State) were ineligible as well as were redshirt frosh Tyler Hurley (Anaconda) and Derek Selvig (Glendive).
The addition of those four the the team mix this year -- plus Instant roster fortification from promising junior college transfers Anthony Johnson (Yakima Valley CC) and Vassy Banny (Salt Lake CC) will give Montana Coach Wayne Tinkle considerably more options than he had last year.
Not counted at this point are freshmen Nyandigisi Moikobu (Rainer Beach, WA H.S.), Shawn Stockton (Spokane Ferris, WA H.S.) and Mathias Ward (Gig Harbor WA, H. S.), but all three have shown the ability to make the roster for the coming year.
Montana assistant Andy Hill told me that coaches had not yet made serious deliberations regarding Montana’s freshman class. But the point is, this year’s Montana squad is deep enough and competitive enough -- particularly at post and both forward positions -- to allow any or all three freshmen to declare redshirt status, a move that always benefits a team in the long run.
Nonetheless, from what I’ve seen thus far, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Stockton (undersized but possessing the ball-handling and court-vision skills of a classic point guard) make the active roster as a backup for the upcoming season. He possesses outstanding full-court vision and handles the ball on the dribble adeptly with both hands. He is as an excellent passer who can deliver the ball precisely and with adequate force. Ward hasn’t played much but, from my observations, may be battling injury or illness. Don’t expect the freshman forward to play in Tuesday’s scrimmage. Moikobu is a very mobile forward with good rebounding skills, and the necessary lateral quickness to be a good defender.
TWO DEEP -- Of course last year’s Griz were dealt a tremendous blow when JC transfer wing Sean Watson left school in October. With their only other natural wing (McGillis) ineligible, Tinkle had to resort to a musical-chairs approach at filling the wing slot... the results of which resulted in depth problems at either the power forward (4) or shooting guard (2).
No such problem this year. Montana looks -- in early practices -- to be two-deep at every position. And very strong at the wing, where McGillis is expected to add speed, quickness and scoring punch. A surprise to me is the competition McGillis is getting from JC transfer Vassy Banny an active defender and gaps rebounder with fierce competitive drive.
But the early Griz buzz is directed at Montana’s other JC transfer, Anthony Johnson. Capable of playing either at the shooting guard or wing (with some spot duty at the point) Johnson adds an all-around quickness to the Montana back court that Griz fans have not seen in some time. It’ll be interesting to see where Johnson settles in.
He has an unconventional shot with a forward-leaning release that -- at first glance -- seems easy for defenders to disrupt. No matter; Johnson’s ability to turn, pivot, set and shoot with one fluid motion usually gives him adequate separation from defenders for a soft arcing shot that’s deadly from anywhere on the floor. “He just doesn’t seem to miss much,” said one Griz coach.
STARTERS -- My early season starting five is clear. Capable senior leader Ceylon Elgin-Taylor will man the point and a considerably bulked-up senior, Jordan Hasquet, will be Montana’s all-conference pre-season pick at power forward. Sophomore 245-lb, 6’-11’ Brian Qvale -- also with added bulk and quickness -- will anchor the post while junior Ryan Staudacher -- one of the hardest-working Griz in practice -- will start at shooting guard. The only relative newcomer will be McGillis, but he’ll bring a year’s worth of practice experience, speed and toughness to the Montana lineup.
BACKUPS -- Experienced senior Kyle Sharp will rotate between power forward and post and sophomore transfer sharp-shooter Michael Taylor will step in primarily at point. Johnson will provide a dramatic backup contrast to Staudacher at shooting guard (with perhaps tome rotation to wing) while Banny seems to be the front-runner to back up McGillis at wing. I’m unsure at this point whether Derek Selvig will be part of the rotation at post and power forward. He certainly has the skill and quickness to do so.
THE IMPORTANCE OF RECRUITING -- In a pre-season interview this week, Tinkle didn’t hesitate: “Recruiting is THE most important component for building a winning team,” he said.
With the graduation of Matt Martin and Andrew Strait and the transfer of Cameron Rundles, Zach Graves, Dave Vanderjagt and Greg Spurgetis, Tinkle and his staff -- recruited five players who will play major roles toward defining their Montana Grizzly basketball program for the next several years. Not counted are two high profile recruits who recently announced their intent to play at Montana in 2009-10).
Regardless of whether any or all three incoming frosh see playing time this year, the Montana Grizzlies of 2008-09 will BE Wayne Tinkle’s Montana Grizzlies.
And yet, most interesting to me... still another of Tinkle’s “recruits” may end up being the biggest and best surprise of the year. The addition of assistant coach Bill Evans has the potential to add several dimensions to the style of basketball -- particularly on defense -- the Grizzlies take to the court this year.
Evans brings 15 years of head coaching experience (Southern Utah State) to the Montana program and credentials as a defensive specialist. It will be interesting to see how soon the Grizzlies display the results of Evans’ addition to the Montana coaching staff.
Of course it all starts Tuesday with Montana’s first intrasquad game, which tips off at 6 p.m. in Dahlberg Arena.
See you there.
