Cat/Griz Week

[Catfanatic84]

Wondering how everyone's feeling heading into rivalry weekend? Both men and women are talented and at times appear unbeatable. If the outside shooting would be more consistent, I think they win out. Both Griz teams are playing well now and will give the Cats tough games Saturday. I think playing in the Brick is the advantage, though.

[MSU01]

Looking forward to it! The women's team becomes a heavy favorite to win the regular season championship if they win on Saturday, and the men can go a long way towards locking up the 2-seed if they can win. Both the Cat and Griz women's teams seem to suffer from some wild inconsistency in their levels of play from game to game, so it's hard to predict exactly how that one will turn out. On the men's side I'd expect a close, low-scoring game with MSU ultimately coming out on top.

[BobcatDel]

Looking forward to it! The women's team becomes a heavy favorite to win the regular season championship if they win on Saturday, and the men can go a long way towards locking up the 2-seed if they can win. Both the Cat and Griz women's teams seem to suffer from some wild inconsistency in their levels of play from game to game, so it's hard to predict exactly how that one will turn out. On the men's side I'd expect a close, low-scoring game with MSU ultimately coming out on top.

Ditto those comments. This should be a great rivalry weekend of BB. Since our earlier meeting all 4 of the teams (men and women for both Cats and Gris) are 5-1 so they are all playing well. Both Gris teams had losing records last time we met and have clawed their way to winning records and into contention for finishes in top 4 in conference. The Gris men are on a 5 game win streak and are best 3 point shooting team in the league right now. The Gris women have seemed to be playing better since giving the two freshmen girls more time on the court (Konig and Stump had 20 and 21 points against Cats and have earned more court time) and in fact Griz women only loss since that game was 1 point to Idaho State with a good signature win over NAU.

The Cats inconsistency from game to game is my only concern. If women live up to our capability, play good D and start the game at something less than 10 points back, they should win. I think the men win also if we continue strong D and can actually make some buckets from the arc. Perhaps my glasses are too blue and gold though.

A lot is riding on these games for both teams! Rivalry, revenge for last meeting, conference seating…. All four teams should be fired up and ready to play with what’s riding on the weekend…. And I don’t know what it would take to get fired up if they aren’t already….knowing what’s at stake! I trust we will have a lot of noisy Bobcat fans there.

[hoopsforhope]

It would be so nice and convenient if the games were back to back. Its a long travel day - the games 5 hours apart - then drive couple hours home.
I would be nice if the same crowd could be at both?? Why don't they do this?

[BobcatDel]

It would be so nice and convenient if the games were back to back. Its a long travel day - the games 5 hours apart - then drive couple hours home.
I would be nice if the same crowd could be at both?? Why don't they do this?

I’m with you. Sure would like to see timing closer together. WBB game will get over 4-4:30 pm probably. Then you try to get out of parking lot to a pub and it’s 5 pm. Even if you try to walk across street to Bridger Brew or Specs it’s a mad house getting service there. Trying to get a burger and get back to stadium so you can get a preferred seat (assuming you have general admission)……uuugh. They should sell a “combo pack” of reserved tickets and move times closer….maybe help women game attendance a bit…….put a couple food trucks around so people can get served a bit quicker between games.

Lot that could be done to help fan base….

[aucat]

The above comments are absolutely true when it comes to fans driving to campus for the games. I think having the two times so far apart hurts attendance at the women's game and that's unfortunate. Because to me the absolute HUGE game is the women's game. It's a foregone conclusion that the men are not going to win the Big Sky. However, for the women, this is a CRITICAL game to win if they want to hang another banner from the rafters. The last game UM's two freshmen lit it up, but the player that has been a true thorn in our sides over the years, Carmen Gfeller, inexplicably had a horrible game. I don't know if she was sick or what, but I don't expect a similar performance this time around. No question about it, the Lady Cats will have to bring their "A game" if they expect to win this game, home court advantage or not.

Back to the time gap though, I guess one way to handle this would be to go take a break and hang out a bit then come back for the men's game early and simply eat what they have at the Concession Stand. Maybe expand the offerings for Cat Griz day.

[aucat]

I got to thinking more about Bobcat Del's comments. It's true that given the parking, traffic, etc. it is very difficult to get in a meal in between the games. Here is one solution. The Cat-Griz day is unique, in that it's the only time all season that you have both games back to back. I would suggest that for Cat-Griz Day the Concessions are expanded. Instead of just hot dogs, nachos and popcorn, you have a couple or three additional concessions similar to what we have at the football games. Burgers, fries, BBQ, etc. Maybe tables can be provided. This way, perhaps there needs to be a 30 minute pause for emptying the arena then reopen with the expanded Concessions. To encourage attendance at BOTH games a "combo" ticket could be offered. Maybe also a combo ticket that includes a voucher for a meal at the Concessions prior to the men's game. I'll bet two or three vendors would be willing to come, similar to what we see at Sweet Pea and SLAM events, etc. Hey, we now have a "beer garden" so why not get creative here?

[hoopsforhope]

Great ideas - food trucks would be amazing and well utilized - even a 90 minutes between games would be sufficient - love the combo idea too.

[Cledus]

[wbtfg]

RIP Mitch

[nevadacat]

The above comments are absolutely true when it comes to fans driving to campus for the games. I think having the two times so far apart hurts attendance at the women's game and that's unfortunate. Because to me the absolute HUGE game is the women's game. It's a foregone conclusion that the men are not going to win the Big Sky. However, for the women, this is a CRITICAL game to win if they want to hang another banner from the rafters. The last game UM's two freshmen lit it up, but the player that has been a true thorn in our sides over the years, Carmen Gfeller, inexplicably had a horrible game. I don't know if she was sick or what, but I don't expect a similar performance this time around. No question about it, the Lady Cats will have to bring their "A game" if they expect to win this game, home court advantage or not.

Back to the time gap though, I guess one way to handle this would be to go take a break and hang out a bit then come back for the men's game early and simply eat what they have at the Concession Stand. Maybe expand the offerings for Cat Griz day.

Granted, we in the hinterlands are not a high priority. Nevertheless, if the games were closer together one might be better able to get extended watch parties going at a pub, or even at someone's home. Few are going to want to spend 7 hours at a bar or my house.

[PHAT CAT]

MSU has done a piss poor job, advertising the 1993 Bobcat Women's Big Sky Conference Champs being at the lady's Cat/griz game. A lot of the 93 team, are coming back for this.

[BroncoCat]

I have 2 general admission tickets for Cat/griz men's basketball this weekend that I won't be able to use
$35 for the pair.
PM if interested.

[Bobcat4Ever]

It would be so nice and convenient if the games were back to back. Its a long travel day - the games 5 hours apart - then drive couple hours home.
I would be nice if the same crowd could be at both?? Why don't they do this?

Not too many years ago, the Big Sky Conference decreed that it was an unfair competitive advantage for the Montana schools to have both games on the same day in the same location. Anyone remember? And sure enough, they had one game in Missoula and one game in Bozeman on ‘Cat/gris day. It was absolutely stupid, our schools being punished for developing a rivalry that actually had fans.

This lasted for a couple of years — I have no idea of the levers that reversed it, but I’m sure MSU and UM were both mighty, mighty unhappy.

It looks like the compromise has been to let them play same day / same location, but at disjoint times. How stupid once again. It would make for a great evening of all-Montana D-1 basketball, twice a year, to be able to promote a double-header. Fun to attend, fun to watch. An event. Good for absolutely everyone involved.

To my knowledge, MSU isn’t the problem with the schedule — I don’t know where they stand but I suspect the two-session setup is mandated by the Conference.

Competitive advantage? Come on. It’s a 0-sum game — one team wins, one team loses no matter where and when they play.

Leon — you are good at stuff. How about creating a memorable Saturday night of must-see basketball in the middle of the cold and gloomy winter? Just do it. Tell ‘em the heat only stays on in the Brick for four consecutive hours and you are playing a double-header. Listen to the fans that buy the tickets and pay the taxes.

[thefrank1]

Not sure it's in Bobcat's interest to do so, unless you double the ticket price.

[Bobcat4Ever]

Not sure it's in Bobcat's interest to do so, unless you double the ticket price.

Still need a ticket for each game, or sell a premium ticket. It’s a solvable problem. They played one double-header this year.

[BobcatDel]

It would be so nice and convenient if the games were back to back. Its a long travel day - the games 5 hours apart - then drive couple hours home.
I would be nice if the same crowd could be at both?? Why don't they do this?

Not too many years ago, the Big Sky Conference decreed that it was an unfair competitive advantage for the Montana schools to have both games on the same day in the same location. Anyone remember? And sure enough, they had one game in Missoula and one game in Bozeman on ‘Cat/gris day. It was absolutely stupid, our schools being punished for developing a rivalry that actually had fans.

This lasted for a couple of years — I have no idea of the levers that reversed it, but I’m sure MSU and UM were both mighty, mighty unhappy.

It looks like the compromise has been to let them play same day / same location, but at disjoint times. How stupid once again. It would make for a great evening of all-Montana D-1 basketball, twice a year, to be able to promote a double-header. Fun to attend, fun to watch. An event. Good for absolutely everyone involved.

To my knowledge, MSU isn’t the problem with the schedule — I don’t know where they stand but I suspect the two-session setup is mandated by the Conference.

Competitive advantage? Come on. It’s a 0-sum game — one team wins, one team loses no matter where and when they play.

Leon — you are good at stuff. How about creating a memorable Saturday night of must-see basketball in the middle of the cold and gloomy winter? Just do it. Tell ‘em the heat only stays on in the Brick for four consecutive hours and you are playing a double-header. Listen to the fans that buy the tickets and pay the taxes.

With all the good comments made by you and others, this could be made into a fantastic day of basketball and fun for fans/families with a lot of the creative ideas posted here. I sent it on to Bethany Cordell to read this thread but the return message says she is out on maternity leave. Hoping she picks up on it when she gets back and responds. She always has some good insights what is happening “behind the scenes”.

[MSU01]

One issue with holding a doubleheader would be season ticket holders. If I've got Row 12 Seats 7 & 8 for MBB and someone else has those same seats for WBB, which of us gets to use them and who has to move elsewhere?

If we're talking something like reduce the gap between games to an hour or so, clearing the arena between games and requiring fans to re-enter with a new ticket, then I guess that could work.

[Bobcat4Ever]

One issue with holding a doubleheader would be season ticket holders. If I've got Row 12 Seats 7 & 8 for MBB and someone else has those same seats for WBB, which of us gets to use them and who has to move elsewhere?

If we're talking something like reduce the gap between games to an hour or so, clearing the arena between games and requiring fans to re-enter with a new ticket, then I guess that could work.

I have attended double-headers of pre-conference games there in the past. Yup, we simply sat in our WBB seats for the first game, got up and ate something and spent time with friends for the one hour between games, and then returned to our MBB seats. The point being, this makes it so much more family friendly and really helps those who drive from out of town. I hated leaving home at 1:30 to get to the first game, getting home at 4, leaving again by 6:30 for another game. And I lived two miles away! Double-headers are not uncommon and experienced people know how to handle them. Our friends on here with families or from out-of-town (or both) will likely choose one game or the other. Shoot, even if I’m watching on TV I’d rather sit down at 6 for one game, grab some dinner, and watch the second game and quit for the day. That’s what we do often anyway, thanks to the many delayed or deferred viewing options. I agree with @BobcatDel above — could be a fun day with free-throw shooting contests, Champ, cheerleaders, pep band, Waded and updated food carts. The downside — MSU might sell a lot more tickets.

[CatBot]

Don't throw rocks at me on this, but I like the schedule. I'm looking forward to having plenty of time for a nice dinner out and get back to the Men's game without stressing.