The Bobcat Nation

I do not know what kind of an effect pressure has on the cats but I would think there may be some for Sundays game. A Griz upset would open the door to Portland State but it could still be closed. There are two changes since these two teams last met. The cats will be at home and Montana will play Kamarr Davis. I do not think playing on the road is ever easy (or at home) but I think it has been described that playing without Kamarr Davis would be like playing without Marvin Moss. Word has it that you can not defend either one of them because they do not fit a pattern and you have no idea where the next offensive move is going to come from. Heres wishing that Sundays game will be as interesting as the last one with a higher field goal shooting percentage. If you worry about these things it is time to get started. PRESSURE??

I am not sure I would call it an upset if the Griz win the game. Why exactly would you call it an upset?

Because the game is being played in Bozeman probably, we are undefeated in conference play at home.

Wisconsin was undefeated at home for about three years and Illinois came in an beat them.......its never an upset......when you play a rival its never an upset generally.

I guess my take on the Big Sky this year is that the quality of the teams are so balanced, that no game outcome is really an upset. Any team in the conference could win on a given night. I would say the the Cats are probably the favorite because the game is in Bozeman, but a win by either team in a close game would not be surprise. The only way I think I would categorize it as an upset is if the Griz spank the Cats.

The Griz are making me real nervous for next week. They are playing execptional ball since Kamar Davis has come back, (although THAT still pisses me off). Next week we will be seeing a much better team than the one we saw in Missoula. Kamar is one of the top 3-4 players in the league when he is elligible. I am real curiuos to see how Moss matches up agaist him. I hope Moss can make him play some defence and take him out of his game a little.

I really think MSU needs to play SUPER UP tempo this Saturday. K. Davis is a good player in the half court set, but he is LAZY getting down the court and barely if ever wants to run. I think he is still somewhat out of shape. Moss and the rest need to get down the court as I can see some easy baskets coming their way if they do that. The Griz do a very good job of trapping on the sides as well so with our 3 guard small lineup I think we should be able to do some MAJOR damage if they try that on us (assuming we reverse the ball and make that extra pass). The open shots should be there this weekend. The kids need to come out play loose/have fun/shoot the open good look shots. If they do that, I think we get the win this week. I think Moss/Beye inside will be able to limit Davis some (we just need to keep him to his average 14 or so) and not let anyone else go off and I like our chances a lot in this one. Its going to be a fun game. We need to get a huge crowd up there this weekend and make some noise! I can't wait to go up and heckle Tinkle from behind the Griz bench

I noticed the friz had 4900 at the ISU game this weekend....looks like people are starting to come back to them!

With this weekend's sweep we're in the Big Sky tourney for sure so I'd say the pressure is off for the Bobcats. Making the Big Sky tourney and improving over the last two seasons was the one must-goal for this team. That we are talking of a realistic chance of hosting at this point of the season is downright miraculous in my opinion.

The pressure is on the griz to avoid the season the sweep. The Cats should play loose and have fun.

At least I hope that's how Durham sees it-this team is much better when they're playing loose and having fun.

i am not quite as optimistic as you Cardiac. Since getting Davis back, the Griz have been playing some of the best basketball in the Big Sky. I was in missoula the past 4 days and I caught their games against weber and ISU. I am telling you that the Griz are a much different and better team than we faced last month. I am not saying that we can't beat them, but it is going to be a much more difficult task. the key to defending the griz is not letting kamaar get the ball inside because once he gets it close to the basket he is great at muscling his defender down for high percentage shots and knocking down little turnaround hooks. Lately, Davis has also shown a knack for bouncing outside and hitting 3's. Also, Criswell is much more consistent than early this season. Those 2 freshman they have, i dont remember their names, (martin and stong maybe) are pretty damn impressive, they are going to be a force for years to come.

In any case, this is going to be a close game this weekend.

The Cats are playing very well at this time.....so are the Griz. Bobcats are at home.....Griz have Davis back. He can be defended just as Criswell was in the first game. Jefferson was awesome against him.

The Bobcat defense will get the job done as they are tough as many as eight deep defensively. Durham, Pratt and Durr have come off the bench the last five games and played great defense. The key will be which team shoots the ball from the perimeter best.

Should be a great game....down to the wire again. Winner could finish in the top two and see a bye until the Big Sky Tournament.

look here is a few things to ponder:

The griz should have kicked our ass at their place - instead it was a close game that we won - this game is going to be at the brick - we will have the croud on our side not to mention they will be ragging on kamar - whats all this talk about how we must stop kamar? underselling our boys again? we have the best shot blocker in the league. now am i not saying that it is going to be a blowout - all i am saying is that we have the answers to kamar.

Bigtime75 wrote:i am not quite as optimistic as you Cardiac. Since getting Davis back, the Griz have been playing some of the best basketball in the Big Sky. I was in missoula the past 4 days and I caught their games against weber and ISU. I am telling you that the Griz are a much different and better team than we faced last month. I am not saying that we can't beat them, but it is going to be a much more difficult task. the key to defending the griz is not letting kamaar get the ball inside because once he gets it close to the basket he is great at muscling his defender down for high percentage shots and knocking down little turnaround hooks. Lately, Davis has also shown a knack for bouncing outside and hitting 3's. Also, Criswell is much more consistent than early this season. Those 2 freshman they have, i dont remember their names, (martin and stong maybe) are pretty damn impressive, they are going to be a force for years to come. In any case, this is going to be a close game this weekend.

I agree Davis is a force for them inside as well and yes they are better with him. But he also has some draw backs on their team as well. I think by getting our guys down the floor and making him run/play defense (Moss needs to go at him hard if they are in MAN to MAN and he's guarding him) we can get some easy buckets. I don't think Davis is in very good shape right now ... pure half court type player (watch him run in transition). The Griz are a bigger team overall and I think if we get in a half court game with them and our shots aren't falling we could be in trouble. Up Tempo with our guard tandem and get some easy shots/fouls. It should be a good one.

Kamarr Davis : field goal percentage .529, free throw percentage 73% , Grizzlies leading scorer, rebounder and minutes played. He got zero in all three categories in the first game and may have been around to see the joy on the Cats faces as they ran around tugging at the front of their jerseys.

Barnbat wrote: Kamarr Davis : field goal percentage .529, free throw percentage 73% , Grizzlies leading scorer, rebounder and minutes played. He got zero in all three categories in the first game and may have been around to see the joy on the Cats faces as they ran around tugging at the front of their jerseys.

Sweet, I hope he's ready to get up and down the court this week! Just another player as the Griz other big guys had pretty good games against us last time as well. So just swap number (davis for 2 of those as they won't be playing as much). I think Moss and Beye will take it on their shoulders that they need to contain him. Should be a very good matchup with Davis/Moss.

CARDIAC_CATS wrote:

Barnbat wrote: Kamarr Davis : field goal percentage .529, free throw percentage 73% , Grizzlies leading scorer, rebounder and minutes played. He got zero in all three categories in the first game and may have been around to see the joy on the Cats faces as they ran around tugging at the front of their jerseys.

Sweet, I hope he's ready to get up and down the court this week! Just another player as the Griz other big guys had pretty good games against us last time as well. So just swap number (davis for 2 of those as they won't be playing as much). I think Moss and Beye will take it on their shoulders that they need to contain him. Should be a very good matchup with Davis/Moss.

Not only do I want to see Davis running up and down the court, I want to see him chasing Moss from side to side, out to three point land and back in, run that fat boy, run him!

I think this game will come down to the Cat's 3 point shooting - if they hit their 3's again the Cat's will win, but if they struggle shooting I think the Griz will win.

the Griz have shown a 3- guard look lately with Criswell, Martin and Mathews (who has turned up his game the last few games) that has been effective on defense and breaking the press.

Attendance is going up for the Griz, but I think it has more to do with 1) students back in town, and 2) some promotions (Monte night, Dance with the Dance team) than a real swing in support. I would say the actual people at the games is much closer to the announced attendance than it was earlier in the season, so although announced attendance is up by 1,000 - 1,500, I think actual attendance is probably up closer to 2,000.

Griz now actually lead MSU in per game attendance (3379 vs 3349), but that will change after this weekend, obviously. By the end of the season I would expect both team to average right about 3600 per game.

grizbeer: The real question is who will draw better the Women's BSC tourney in Msla or the Men's BSC tourney in Msla? The men will have a chance since the Bozo Mens team should carry some fan support. We all know the Bozo's womens team will not make it.

jagur1 wrote:grizbeer: The real question is who will draw better the Women's BSC tourney in Msla or the Men's BSC tourney in Msla? The men will have a chance since the Bozo Mens team should carry some fan support. We all know the Bozo's womens team will not make it.

Its always nice to dream Jaeger! The Griz's chance of hosting the tournament will be SILENCED after this weeks BIG BOBCAT WIN!

Keep shooting those 3s. Peace.