Basketball

[CelticCat]

Anyone hav eany news regarding the bball team?

Is Ted Morris going to be a force in the paint next year? Is he offensive minded or defensive?

Will any of the new freshman fight for time and possible make it on the court, especially Johnson?

Are we going to be shooting 30 threes a game again?

When do camps start, and if they have already, how are they going?

I see Beye all the time at the food service, and he sits with a couple other guys, I don't know if they are players or not. One looks like Chawn Johnson, while the other might be Jacques Wilson, but don't quote me on that I haven't really seen pictures of either of them.

Also, do you think we will be favored to win the Sky next year?

[mslacat]

Anyone hav eany news regarding the bball team?

Is Ted Morris going to be a force in the paint next year? Is he offensive minded or defensive?

Will any of the new freshman fight for time and possible make it on the court, especially Johnson?

Are we going to be shooting 30 threes a game again?

When do camps start, and if they have already, how are they going?

I see Beye all the time at the food service, and he sits with a couple other guys, I don't know if they are players or not. One looks like Chawn Johnson, while the other might be Jacques Wilson, but don't quote me on that I haven't really seen pictures of either of them.

Also, do you think we will be favored to win the Sky next year?

********* Rumor Alert **********
*********** You will be sorry you asked ***********

Ted Morris: From an assistant coach: Ted is a banger w/ good hands, he can really mix
it up, he is pretty solid in both scoring and rebounding, but is a little more of a offensive
center. The one problem that the are concerned about is his passing. Not that he does
not pass, but some times you never know where the pass is going to go. Passing is very
important in the Bobcat offense and they are actually working pretty hard on his passing
skills. Beye will start next year, but they do not what to have to count on him to play
30-35 minutes a game. Between fouls and his lack of muscle they really want Morris to
get a lot of quality minutes. If Morris can improve his passing they may play him a little
at forward.

Freshman playing: Yes. how much and who will be determined this fall. When asked
point blank which freshman may contribute the most early, the answer surprised me.
Jacques Wilson! I was told he is the most D-1 ready and is a real talent. His only
problem is that we are loaded at the 1 , 2, & 3. I was told that he could push Ryan
Holmes to a redshirt. Of the Big men again I was surprised by the assistant coaches
opinion on which true freshman "Johnson" forward will contribute next year. His gut
feeling was Braden Johnson. He felt Braden had a much more well rounded game at this
point. Can score from 3 point land to a very good post up player and fundamentally
sound on defensive and rebounding. He could be one of the most offensively talented
true big men the Cats have signed in some year. He did say that when all is said and
done Chawn will most likely be the better player, but Chawn's offensive game is limited
to one side of the basket and in close power game.

I am told that "the three point shot will always be part of the Bobcat game, but with the
hiring of Johnny Brown and the recruiting of quality big men (Moss, Morris , Beye, C.
Johnson and B. Johnson ) a commitment has been made to running more balance in our
offensive game". That is a direct quote.

Basketball camps are/were June 26-30 and July 5-8. I have not heard any reports but I
am efforting. I have heard some rumors from the Griz.

I have heard most of the Freshman Basketball players will be on campus for a portion of
the summer taking some "summer classes", and that the JC recruit Derrick Edmonds
moved to Bozeman already (I can not confirm the later). It would not surprise me if you
did see the freshman on campus.

On paper it will be hard not to pick the cats next year as things now stand. We return
every single player who contributed last year 2nd place team. Then we add a former
Indiana State starter and a high scoring JC guard recruit who can shoot from 1/2 court on.
Plus you get to add one the best freshman recruiting class we have had in a while. The
other top team finishing teams last: Portland State lost a lot of its key players and head
coach and has had a less then stellar recruiting class. Montana was looking good but has
lost a lot of underclassmen depth (Easley, Farr, McKay, and Lynch) as well as Kamar
Davis. In my opinion, Montana's strength last year was it's quality depth. They replaced
there depth with an excellent class of freshmen, but still they are freshmen. On paper I
think they look to be at best equal to last years team, in reality I think they will be
challenging us, especially if they get Mike Chavez back.

One last note. The coach who I talked to said that he felt this fall will be very
competitive as younger players fight for playing time and try to avoid a redshirt. Along
with the freshmen, he mentioned that it would not be inconceivable to one or more of
returning players may redshirt. The one he mentioned were Holmes, Pratt, and Carson
Durr.

********* Now arn't you sorry you asked? *********

[thecitygriz]

always like your analyses, mslacat. but don't forget that college basketball, like business, is a moving target, and change from year to year is its chief dynamic. if you look carefully at this dynamic for the griz, you conclude (if you're a griz fan!) that the realization of even a few of the following factors would suggest quite an upside to the season:
1. matt martin, andrew strait or virgil matthews (or all of them!) blossoms into all-conference player;
2. jordan hasquet is as good as the rumors about how well he's playing this summer;
3. the new jaycee guard provides the first solid play we've had at the point since shane christiansen four years ago, and travis decuire seven years before that;
4. mike chavez returns to the team and makes a solid contribution;
5. the three incoming freshmen--van vliet, sharp and swift--all play their first year (which is the plan) with one (think kyle sharp) contributing substantially and swift showing the ability to play the point;
6. matt dlouhy finally refines his talent into a solid all-around game;
7. kevin criswell regains his freshman form, emerges as a team leader and avoids lengthy shooting slumps;
8. either john seyfert or chris mckay steps up to provide even a few minutes per game of solid play in the post.

sure, sure, it's not at all reasonable to suggest all these things are going to happen, but i think it's equal folly to think none will. this will be a real young team for the griz, but in some ways, the upside is even greater than last year because the overall level of talent is measurably higher--even with the loss of kamarr. my griz opinion, of course.

generally, both the cats and the griz are upgrading their programs dramatically, and i think we're on the verge of a golden era in montana basketball. look out, football!

[MSUcantouchus]

Anytime someone mentions Matt Martins name it make me want to puke. He is one mouthy dirty player. Although I do like the fact that he pisses our crowd off and makes it louder in the brick.

[MSUcantouchus]

I finally took the time too add the picture that inspired my name. For those who don't know it is a picture of a Eastern player who took a wizz in the griz tunnel during their 2003 game at Wash Griz.


I like to think he put the WIZ in Griz.

[El_Gato]

So from now on we refer to them as the Wizzlies?



I like it!

[MSUcantouchus]

I think that could be arranged

[mslacat]

thecitygriz
Thanks for the comment about my posts, but what really makes the post work is if I get good comments back like yours. The following post I posted on egriz.

On paper vrs reality.

On paper You lost a lot of depth (Easley, McKay, Farr, and Lynch) as well
as Davis and replaced most of them with freshmen, albeit a great class. The Griz depth
was so darn important last year, and it is really tough "on paper" to count on Freshman to
contribute.

Reality Unfortunately championships are not won on paper. I really like
what Krysco is doing, some time you can add by subtraction. Farr leaving may actually
help Mathews become a better player. I love Strait, he is an all conference player as is
Martin. Doughly could be. Criswell already is. Seyfert, though, I don't know. Has all
the talent to dominate almost everyone in the league, but is a head case. I actually think
he would be a better forward facing the basket than a center. Mathews and your JC.
guard will be major contributors. That said though who will back up Seyfert and Strait?
Eric Van Vliet, Hasquet, and Sharp all have the potential to be stars but you are still
counting on your depth to be supplied by true freshmen. My opinion is that at least one
of those guys will come through big time. If Chavez can make it back that will be huge!
The Griz will struggle at the start of the season, but as players learn roles Krysco will
develop a top 3 Big Sky team.

Signs of trouble:
Criswell and Krysco clash, (Their is relationship rumored to be strained)
Strait or Seyfert go down with an extended injury.
Martin's ego gets the best of him.

The point being that when the preseason predictions come out don't be surprised if the Griz are not granted all the love they deserve.

To be honest I do not know if McKay or Chavez will be available next year for the Griz. Krysco though has had to notify the NCAA about McKay's scholarship status by now. With out one or both of those guys the griz will have only Strait and Seyfert on the team who have played any time at all of Basketball above the highschool level. Krysco could need to get creative, playing Douhly some at the 4 early on in the season. That said though I really see the griz having too, much talent on their team not to finish in the top three, but they will be soooooo....... young at the 4 & 5 possition.

About Martin; he is very talented, but not only does he get under the skin of opposing players, but he is not the most beloved player on the Griz team among his fellow team mates!

[CARDIAC_CATS]

Anytime someone mentions Matt Martins name it make me want to puke. He is one mouthy dirty player. Although I do like the fact that he pisses our crowd off and makes it louder in the brick.

Yeah, Matt Martin is a punk. He really 'punked' his own team out last year in Bozeman as well. Just makes for more rowdy fans. Casey Durham can flat out D him up and get in his head it is so fun to watch. Now if the refs would call the legit head butts and push off that Martin does all the time, he probably could only play about 10 minutes a game.

[MSU88]

Along
with the freshmen, he mentioned that it would not be inconceivable to one or more of
returning players may redshirt. The one he mentioned were Holmes, Pratt, and Carson
Durr.

********* Now arn't you sorry you asked? *********

There is NO way any of those three will redshirt. Pratt is going to be a senior, Durr is too much of a student to hand around five years and Holmes is better than Durham. The new freshman will be the redshirts....wait and see.

[mslacat]

Along
with the freshmen, he mentioned that it would not be inconceivable to one or more of
returning players may redshirt. The one he mentioned were Holmes, Pratt, and Carson
Durr.

********* Now arn't you sorry you asked? *********

There is NO way any of those three will redshirt. Pratt is going to be a senior, Durr is too much of a student to hand around five years and Holmes is better than Durham. The new freshman will be the redshirts....wait and see.

Hey listen just reporting. I have not seen any of the Freshman recruits play. The old
MSU BB policy that I knew was that if a senior did not want to redshirt he did not have
to. So I think it will be up Pratt if he wants to redshirt. In my opinion, the only way Pratt
redshirts, short of an injury, is if he is clearly out played by BOTH freshman big men.
From what I hear Durr has garnered a lot of respect from the coaching and administrative
staff. Carson has done ever thing anyone has asked him to do on and off the court.
Carson will not be forced to do any thing he does not want to. That said though they
have recruited another JC player to help on the wing, and more inside help (which Durr
played out of position some last year). Durr brings versatility, and dependability to the
Bobcat basketball team, now that he is a Junior to be he needs to develop a consistent
offensive game. I think everyone would prefer to see Dissly backed up by a 6-6 forward
next season, as a posed to a 6-2 (or smaller) guard. I have not seen enough of Holmes to
determine whether he is Talent wise better than Casey Durham. I will give you that
coming into last year Casey definitely had a big advantage over Holmes as far as
knowing the players and system. I also grant you that based on what Holmes did as a
senior in highschool and what I did see of him last year that he will be a great player for
the Cats It was my feeling all along that Wilson would be redshirted, but the coaches
have been indicating that they are not willing to make that commitment yet.

All said I think the coaches are trying to push the existing and incoming players not to sit
on their fannies this summer. Not only did I hear personally from a coach about the
specter of existing players being redshirted but Durham also said as much in two
newspaper articles (Great Falls Trib and Chronicle) a few months back. It makes sense
that with a team returning all of its top players from last year that a coach would want to
try to light a fire under the players during the off season.

BTW I would bet as a pure minimum that at least one of the Freshman big men will not
Redshirt next year.