Men's basketball "Oh-um"

BobCatFan · Post by **BobCatFan** » Thu Dec 20, 2012 11:00 am

Is anybody really care about men's basketball? I went the game a few weeks ago. Boring and very frustrating watching them play. I have followed them for years.

Old Skool Cat · Post by **Old Skool Cat** » Thu Dec 20, 2012 11:32 am

MSU is rapidly reaching the point-of-no-return. And what I mean by that is that I feel we are very close to that point of where the school may not be able to turn this program around. The last few years of Durham combined with the entire tenure of Huse has taken this program to all-time lows. Someone else mentioned it in another thread, but MSU should be one of the marquee programs of the Big Sky, but instead we continually struggle with making the year-end conference tournament, losing records, crowds in the fieldhouse so tiny you can hear the crickets chirp, and player after player not living up to the hype. I get it -- I understand that football has become the golden child of the athletic department, and I have no problem with that. I love football, more so than basketball. But that doesn't mean we can't at least be competitive in our conference. WE ARE NOT AND IT IS UNACCEPTABLE! I get tired of hearing the same tired excuses each year, especially the one about how hard it is to recruit a big man to play ball in Bozeman. The only decent crowds we will draw this season will be Cat-Griz, and even then it won't feel like a home game because they will have more fans there. Someone stick a fork in this thing 'cause it's done.

allcat · Post by **allcat** » Thu Dec 20, 2012 11:38 am

What is this basketball program that you people are talking about?

Old Skool Cat · Post by **Old Skool Cat** » Thu Dec 20, 2012 12:30 pm

Here's the records and some stats for the MSU men's basketball program under Coach Huse since taking over the program in April of 2006:

> 2006/2007: 11-19 regular season, 8-8 conference; Cats lose 5 of last 6 games ending with three straight losses; no BSC tournament appearance
> 2007/2008: 15-14 regular season, 7-9 conference; Cats make BSC tourney - lose first game; Cats lose 7 of last 9 with 5 straight losses
> 2008/2009: 12-16 regular season, 6-10 conference; Cats make tourney and lose in championship game to PSU (Huse's best BSC tourney showing to date); Cats lose 8 of last 11 including 5 straight loses to finish the regular season
> 2009/2010: 15-13 regular season, 10-6 conference (Huse's best regular season of tenure); Cats make BSC tourney & lost first game; Cats lose 6 of last 10 games (no extended losing streaks during season, but win 3 of last 4 to make the tourney)
> 2010/2011: 13-17 regular season, 7-9 conference; Cats make BSC tourney only to once again lose first game; lose 11 of last 13 games with 9 game losing streak in second half of season
> 2011/2012: 12-16 regular season, 7-9 conference; Cats make BSC tourney only to lose AGAIN in first game; lose 9 of last 10 with 8 game losing streak late

On the bright side, the Cats have managed to earn a BSC tournament berth in the last 5 years straight. However, with only 2 winning overall seasons and only 1 conference winning season, Coach Huse has not taken this program any further than where Coach Durham had it near the end of his tenure. Two things stand out to me: 1) the fact that the Cats cannot make it past the first BSC tourney game. Huse guided the team to the tourney championship game in 08/09 which was remarkable considering the team lost it's last 5 straight conference games; and 2) for whatever reason, Huse's team have been abysmal in the second half of the season. Once the losses start, they really rack up. Eight and nine game losing streaks are unbelievable. In five of his six seasons as head coach, Huse's teams have suffered significant losing streaks late in the season or to finish the season. In my opinion, Huse's teams either give up on him late in the year, or he is not able to adjust his gameplan once he goes up against a conference foe again. To me, that says a lot.

John K · Post by **John K** » Thu Dec 20, 2012 12:52 pm

Old Skool Cat wrote:Here's the records and some stats for the MSU men's basketball program under Coach Huse since taking over the program in April of 2006:

> 2006/2007: 11-19 regular season, 8-8 conference; Cats lose 5 of last 6 games ending with three straight losses; no BSC tournament appearance
> 2007/2008: 15-14 regular season, 7-9 conference; Cats make BSC tourney - lose first game; Cats lose 7 of last 9 with 5 straight losses
> 2008/2009: 12-16 regular season, 6-10 conference; Cats make tourney and lose in championship game to PSU (Huse's best BSC tourney showing to date); Cats lose 8 of last 11 including 5 straight loses to finish the regular season
> 2009/2010: 15-13 regular season, 10-6 conference (Huse's best regular season of tenure); Cats make BSC tourney & lost first game; Cats lose 6 of last 10 games (no extended losing streaks during season, but win 3 of last 4 to make the tourney)
> 2010/2011: 13-17 regular season, 7-9 conference; Cats make BSC tourney only to once again lose first game; lose 11 of last 13 games with 9 game losing streak in second half of season
> 2011/2012: 12-16 regular season, 7-9 conference; Cats make BSC tourney only to lose AGAIN in first game; lose 9 of last 10 with 8 game losing streak late

On the bright side, the Cats have managed to earn a BSC tournament berth in the last 5 years straight. However, with only 2 winning overall seasons and only 1 conference winning season, Coach Huse has not taken this program any further than where Coach Durham had it near the end of his tenure. Two things stand out to me: 1) the fact that the Cats cannot make it past the first BSC tourney game. Huse guided the team to the tourney championship game in 08/09 which was remarkable considering the team lost it's last 5 straight conference games; and 2) for whatever reason, Huse's team have been abysmal in the second half of the season. Once the losses start, they really rack up. Eight and nine game losing streaks are unbelievable. In five of his six seasons as head coach, Huse's teams have suffered significant losing streaks late in the season or to finish the season. In my opinion, Huse's teams either give up on him late in the year, or he is not able to adjust his gameplan once he goes up against a conference foe again. To me, that says a lot.

Wow...those numbers are pretty sobering! His record looks even worse when it's laid out like that. Regarding your last statement, I'm not sure that it even matters which one it is...either way it's a huge indictment against Huse. I don't see how Fields can possibly justify keeping keeping him for another season, unless our fortunes take a dramatic upturn before the end of this season. And that seems...unlikely.

LongTimeCatFan · Post by **LongTimeCatFan** » Thu Dec 20, 2012 1:26 pm

Well, I'm no basketball coach, but I do know that ball movement leads to points. Huse coached teams have never moved the ball around very well and as a result always either end up being a perimeter shooting team or street ball, which neither one of these games are very successful. Neither one is very entertaining either, at least to me. As a result, I haven't watched a basketball game live in the last 10 years nor do I plan to.

As a contrast, the Women's team does a great job of ball movement and I would certainly consider watching them play.

Cat Grad · Post by **Cat Grad** » Thu Dec 20, 2012 4:22 pm

Starner's record: http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/coa ... html?redir" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Anderson's record: http://statsheet.com/mcb/coaches/hank-anderson" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Would put Juarez's record up also, but I'll just put this instead: http://www.collegehoopedia.com/schools/montana-state" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Very few bright years the last 40 to 50.

MSU01 · Post by **MSU01** » Thu Dec 20, 2012 9:54 pm

It's pretty sad. I used to love going to watch MSU basketball because win or lose, it was at least entertaining. Huse's teams are excruciating to watch unless you really enjoy awful offensive execution and even worse shot selection, and while I still go to a few games a year it's much more of a chore than something I actually look forward to.

defensivearts · Post by **defensivearts** » Thu Dec 20, 2012 10:44 pm

The games have zero energy. They are a snooze.

Part of that is the non-existent home court advantage. The seating is so spread out it's impossible to get energy and noise.

But, more than anything there is no energy because Huse plays an offense that is slowed down, deliberate and predicated on having good shooters, which he has a few of- or maybe just one of, Budinich, but he doesn't play much.

Oddly, Huse has recruited a team of VERY similar players (Stewart, Blount, Moon, F Davis, Coleman) all between 6'2" and 6'5' who can run and jump but don't shoot well (Moon was supposed to be a great 3 shooter), and don't play particularly good defense OR seem well-fitted to the Huse style of offense.

Then he has a group of capable PG's (Bigelow, Dison, Colbert) who are all pretty good but never seem given the green light to really use their speed. 'Well, we are short, but we sure can't shoot.'

The top six scorers all JC transfers who all look they are still trying out for some all star team. They play with very little chemistry. If I had the group Huse has recruited I would press man to man the entire game and see what happens. They have athletes and speed, why not try to exploit that? They certainly can't rebound even against shorter teams like NAU.

But Huse insists on slowing it down- just like they did at Jamestown and UM. But now, the problem is he has no threat of scoring big man or shooters. The reason Stewart, Blount, Moon and Bigelow were available to a poor MSU program is because they are undisciplined and not great shooters. And, It is very hard finding HS players that will attend MSU and be good players. But somehow UM and Weber do it.

The arena needs to be reconfigured and the team needs a new leader. At this point the program is adrift in absolute community and university apathy.

MSUcantouchus · Post by **MSUcantouchus** » Thu Dec 20, 2012 11:28 pm

Somebody at MSU needs to pay attention and stop the mediocrity.

BelgradeBobcat · Post by **BelgradeBobcat** » Thu Dec 20, 2012 11:29 pm

defensivearts wrote:The games have zero energy. They are a snooze.

Part of that is the non-existent home court advantage. The seating is so spread out it's impossible to get energy and noise.

But, more than anything there is no energy because Huse plays an offense that is slowed down, deliberate and predicated on having good shooters, which he has a few of- or maybe just one of, Budinich, but he doesn't play much.

Oddly, Huse has recruited a team of VERY similar players (Stewart, Blount, Moon, F Davis, Coleman) all between 6'2" and 6'5' who can run and jump but don't shoot well (Moon was supposed to be a great 3 shooter), and don't play particularly good defense OR seem well-fitted to the Huse style of offense.

Then he has a group of capable PG's (Bigelow, Dison, Colbert) who are all pretty good but never seem given the green light to really use their speed. 'Well, we are short, but we sure can't shoot.'

The top six scorers all JC transfers who all look they are still trying out for some all star team. They play with very little chemistry. If I had the group Huse has recruited I would press man to man the entire game and see what happens. They have athletes and speed, why not try to exploit that? They certainly can't rebound even against shorter teams like NAU.

But Huse insists on slowing it down- just like they did at Jamestown and UM. But now, the problem is he has no threat of scoring big man or shooters. The reason Stewart, Blount, Moon and Bigelow were available to a poor MSU program is because they are undisciplined and not great shooters. And, It is very hard finding HS players that will attend MSU and be good players. But somehow UM and Weber do it.

The arena needs to be reconfigured and the team needs a new leader. At this point the program is adrift in absolute community and university apathy.

I agree with a whole lot of this...except the part about Budinich being a good shooter-he makes just enough to reinforce the notion that he should be shooting 3's instead of being inside where his 6'10" height could do some good-and on defense he is a significant liablility in Huse's system where possessions are at a premium.

But you really nailed it with the configuration of the Fieldhouse. Could they put the student section any farther away from the court-and beind a two story press table. Even the women's team has a better record on the road than at home-where opposing teams can always shoot the lights out. I was talking to some guys a few weeks ago about this-it seems the atmosphere of the Fieldhouse really died after the last renovation. It's totally dead.

Do our players know where the weight room is? I don't see our 4-5 year players getting any bigger or stronger as their career moves on. Basketball players can be pretty lazy when it comes to lifting-lifting weights and long arms just don't go together. Does our weight coach who has had such great results with the football team work with the basketball players? They need to lock Budinich, Norman, and Robison in the weight room and throw away the key.

I could go on and on but there's no point in being redundant. I see very little to be optimistic about-this season or seasons to come.

ameriCATS · Post by **ameriCATS** » Sat Dec 22, 2012 2:57 pm

Long story short, Huse needs to be out at the end of the year.

Cats15 · Post by **Cats15** » Sat Dec 22, 2012 5:05 pm

ameriCATS wrote:Long story short, Huse needs to be out at the end of the year.

Why do we meed to wait till the end of the season?

Sent from my Kindle Fire using Tapatalk 2

ameriCATS · Post by **ameriCATS** » Mon Dec 24, 2012 2:47 pm

Cats15 wrote:
ameriCATS wrote:Long story short, Huse needs to be out at the end of the year.
Why do we meed to wait till the end of the season?

Sent from my Kindle Fire using Tapatalk 2

If I could I would say have him out today, but I don't think that Fields would do that. A benefit I could see of letting him go, say after a miserable start to the conference season (which it seems like we are), would be to have an assistant take the reigns to close out the season and see what he can do.

BUT after typing that out, that sounds just as dumb, the whole coach staff needs to be cleaned out, this program has nothing good going for it right now. Ugh. Cant even think of a positive with Bobcat basketball. Depressing...

Where have you gone Nico Harrison? Danny Sprinkle?

Viper51 · Post by **Viper51** » Wed Dec 26, 2012 6:37 am

Removing Huse right now wouldn't be a horrible idea, because what would we have to lose? It would be nice if Sprinkle or Starr was still on staff, but nope they left. Which brings up the subject of high turnover amongst asst and players during Huse's tenure. Reminds me of what happened last year with Greenberg at VaTech.
It is obvious he is difficult to play for and work with. I heard his brother at MSUN is the same way except he has been winning.

John K · Post by **John K** » Wed Dec 26, 2012 11:22 am

There's no doubt that Huse has to go, but I'm not in favor of firing him mid-seasson. And it's a moot point anyway, because there's no way in the world that Fields would ever do that. I just don't see what there is to be gained by firing Huse before the end of the season, and then having one of his assistants finish the year as an interim coach. He wouldn't change any of the systems mid-season, and I don't beleve the results would be much different as compared to just riding it out with Huse. He definitely needs to be gone at the end of the season though, and then we just have to hope and pray that Fields can find the right guy to turn things around.

homeytennis · Post by **homeytennis** » Wed Dec 26, 2012 11:37 am

Pfeiffer has head coaching experience at Idaho, MSU Billings and the NAIA level. Maybe the lads would play harder for a "new" leader.

LTown Cat · Post by **LTown Cat** » Wed Dec 26, 2012 12:25 pm

homeytennis wrote:Pfeiffer has head coaching experience at Idaho, MSU Billings and the NAIA level. Maybe the lads would play harder for a "new" leader.

He isn't on the staff anymore...

Post by **SonomaCat** » Thu Dec 27, 2012 12:43 pm

When I was in college (1990 to 1995), I loved going to the basketball games (as did a bulk of the students). I look back on them as almost having a magical nostalgic quality to me now. I honestly enjoyed the baskeball games and followed the basketball team far closer than I did the football team, although I rarely missed a football game.

It's really sad that the enthusiasm for the program has sunk so low.

I always come back to this in my mind when the topic comes up, and I know we've discussed it before, but what would it take to make MSU an exciting program again? I really don't buy the idea that you can't recruit to Bozeman (the football team recruits just fine ... as do many, many, many good basketball programs in towns otherwise far less appealing to "urban" kids than Bozeman). Is it just a matter of finding a coach that can recruit and coach at a high level? How much would an infusion of cash into the program help (salaries for coaches, recruiting budget, etc)?

I'm sure if we built a new state of the art arena, that would help, but short of that sort of extraordinary makeover of the facilities, what would it take to revive this program?

CatBlitz · Post by **CatBlitz** » Thu Dec 27, 2012 1:01 pm

Honestly we need a new coach/system. I love Brad as a person and he is actually a decent recruiter but it's just not working anymore. You have to get guys here that can shoot a jumper and have that "it" quality that gets the crows going. Huse hasn't been able to get a player like that since Carlos Taylor and Divaldo Mbunga (might even be able to add Bobby Howard and Erik Rush to that mix). Remember how much fun those teams were? They didn't win a ton of games but they were competitive and played like a team. That just isn't the case anymore. Huse has been on the verge of getting some major major players here but other schools have swooped in and gotten them at the last second. Huse had been very very close to getting some big names like Damian Lillard and Ali Farokhmanesh. Can you imagine where this program would be if we had gotten those guys? I think it's been a string of bad luck coupled with a system that just doesn't really work anymore. I don't really know what the finite solution is but I can see what could have been and what might need to change.