LadyGriz LG/Harris Contract

[BigSkyBreakdown]

It seems UM basketball doesn't recruit Boise, the 6A girls just had there state championships this past weekend, alot of players going D1 and have offers to D1 but not Montana, just curious.

Eagle HS in Boise...only 1 senior on Eagle that is D1 talent. She is actually the niece of Holsinger and is signed with Liberty. They have 2 outstanding JRs. One with loads of interest and offers in Berkely Jones. LG have no chance at her. The other Taya Nelson is starting to attract some attention of 4 years schools. We see Taya more as a NAIA or D2 kid to be honest as her shooting if not improved will limit her level of play.

The rest of the high level talent is young or locked up. Colvin JR, from CDA high level recruit and will go higher than BSC, Lakeland HS has some solid 4 year level talent, but the best of the bunch is a frosh. She has D1 talent the others are lower level 4 year players.

Not sure what Pocatello or Boise HS have, but there is not much talent in the state of ID at the moment.

 

[GallatinGriz03]

John Stockton's daughter played for MSU and saw it as a great chance to help coach his daughter.

Thanks for jogging my memory. What good fortune for MSU to have a player whose father was an NBA Hall of Famer and he was willing to coach for half a year. He was never a coach, other than AAU, if I remember correctly. Also, she was on the team for several years before he came to Bozeman for a semester to coach her senior year. MSU was good before he came, winning the regular season a few times, but he helped them get over the hump and win the BSC tourney and get to the NCAA.

 

[Griz66]

This year's results won't help with next year's recruiting, either high school or the portal. That dampens my enthusiasm for a recovery. Pardon me for being a glass is half empty guy.

I think you are100% correct. Decent D1 talent is not going to want to come to a program that was an embarrassment this year and was not truly competitive.

 

[TrueGriz]

with little experience and I think no HC or recruiting experience Kent gave him a 3 year contract in August for 135/year so your stuck with him for another two years unless someone ponies up money to buy him out

Wouldn’t surprise me if most players transfer out once season is over and the 2026s decommit.

By the way, the letter of intent the 2026 signees signed binds them to come here for the full academic year unless they are granted a release from it which I do not think Harris would do that.

 

[MikeyGriz]

Cat fans might not know or are purposely misremembering, but most were ready to fire Binford after 5 seasons, definitely after 8. First 5 years, went 2-9 against Griz. Best season finish was 18-14. Took another 5 seasons of some heartbreaking losses before she won the BSC. Only broke through after hiring John Freaking Stockton as an Assistant Coach. And now look at them. Perennially in the conference champ hunt, own the Griz, and recruit the best in-state girls every year. Binford runs a great program, consistently the best at MSU. Harris might not get to Binford's level of success. I'm doubting he does, actually because no one beside Selvig can match it over the past 10 years. But this is year one. I know it doesn't look good, but lets hold off on the torches and pitchforks ... at least for another year.

I think a lot of Griz fans are misremembering this also!

 

[MSU01]

Thanks for jogging my memory. What good fortune for MSU to have a player whose father was an NBA Hall of Famer and he was willing to coach for half a year. He was never a coach, other than AAU, if I remember correctly. Also, she was on the team for several years before he came to Bozeman for a semester to coach her senior year. MSU was good before he came, winning the regular season a few times, but he helped them get over the hump and win the BSC tourney and get to the NCAA.

MSU had an assistant coach leave shortly before the start of the 2015-16 season and John agreed to commute from Spokane to serve as an assistant coach during his daughter Lindsay's senior year. Nate Harris was also on Binford's staff at that time. The year John coached was MSU's first regular season championship under Binford but they were upset by Idaho State in the quarterfinals of the conference tournament. The following season in 2016-17 they won the regular season title again and also the tournament.

In this day and age I don't think it's going to be possible for a single Big Sky program to be as dominant as the Lady Griz were with Robin Selvig, but Harris right now faces a lot of the same challenges competing against MSU that Binford had to overcome in her first decade or so at MSU until Selvig retired and the balance of power in the state shifted east. If Binford had been hired today I don't think she would have been given the time she had to build her program, but I hope Harris at least gets a second and/or third year to show what he can do after unrealistically high expectations were placed on your team this year after that conference tournament run.

 

[gotgame75]

MSU had an assistant coach leave shortly before the start of the 2015-16 season and John agreed to commute from Spokane to serve as an assistant coach during his daughter Lindsay's senior year. Nate Harris was also on Binford's staff at that time. The year John coached was MSU's first regular season championship under Binford but they were upset by Idaho State in the quarterfinals of the conference tournament. The following season in 2016-17 they won the regular season title again and also the tournament.

In this day and age I don't think it's going to be possible for a single Big Sky program to be as dominant as the Lady Griz were with Robin Selvig, but Harris right now faces a lot of the same challenges competing against MSU that Binford had to overcome in her first decade or so at MSU until Selvig retired and the balance of power in the state shifted east. If Binford had been hired today I don't think she would have been given the time she had to build her program, but I hope Harris at least gets a second and/or third year to show what he can do after unrealistically high expectations were placed on your team this year after that conference tournament run.

It’s not a “unrealistically high expectation” to expect to watch a competent team that isn’t a hot mess

 

[GallatinGriz03]

MSU had an assistant coach leave shortly before the start of the 2015-16 season and John agreed to commute from Spokane to serve as an assistant coach during his daughter Lindsay's senior year. Nate Harris was also on Binford's staff at that time. The year John coached was MSU's first regular season championship under Binford but they were upset by Idaho State in the quarterfinals of the conference tournament. The following season in 2016-17 they won the regular season title again and also the tournament.

In this day and age I don't think it's going to be possible for a single Big Sky program to be as dominant as the Lady Griz were with Robin Selvig, but Harris right now faces a lot of the same challenges competing against MSU that Binford had to overcome in her first decade or so at MSU until Selvig retired and the balance of power in the state shifted east. If Binford had been hired today I don't think she would have been given the time she had to build her program, but I hope Harris at least gets a second and/or third year to show what he can do after unrealistically high expectations were placed on your team this year after that conference tournament run.

Regarding the bolded, I tend to agree. But how it turned out, with MSU WBB being about as dominant as Selvig's Lady Griz, I think its an interesting example of what could happen if the right coach is given enough time to get the program up and running. MSU WBB doesn't show any signs of falling off or releasing its grip as the preeminent program of the BSC. I don't know Binford, only about her from people who do. But I don't think her style of coaching and the type of recruit she is looking for has changed. Her earlier teams had some amazing athletes on them. But something really broke through in that 2016-2017 season. They have won 4 conference tourney titles (I'm counting 2020 because they were riding a 17 game win streak and set to play Idaho that year) and probably will win this years. Its a great example of what sticking with a coach long enough, longer than she probably would be given today, can lead to.
I don't know about Harris. I'm not sure his offence is set up for success in the BSC. Similar to the discussion on the 3-3-5 in the football forum, it appears that unless you have the perfect athletes to run it, you will be deficient in some key areas. Need players who can dribble, drive, and shoot well because rebounding will be difficult and post defense will be tougher with generally a shorter set of players. Is Harris' decision to run a "gimmicky" offense reason enough to question his ability? Or does he need more time to get the right players into the system and let him try another year? I don't know. But as MSU found out, sometimes sticking with a coach longer than most think they should can pay off.

 

[BigSkyBreakdown]

Regarding the bolded, I tend to agree. But how it turned out, with MSU WBB being about as dominant as Selvig's Lady Griz, I think its an interesting example of what could happen if the right coach is given enough time to get the program up and running. MSU WBB doesn't show any signs of falling off or releasing its grip as the preeminent program of the BSC. I don't know Binford, only about her from people who do. But I don't think her style of coaching and the type of recruit she is looking for has changed. Her earlier teams had some amazing athletes on them. But something really broke through in that 2016-2017 season. They have won 4 conference tourney titles (I'm counting 2020 because they were riding a 17 game win streak and set to play Idaho that year) and probably will win this years. Its a great example of what sticking with a coach long enough, longer than she probably would be given today, can lead to.
I don't know about Harris. I'm not sure his offence is set up for success in the BSC. Similar to the discussion on the 3-3-5 in the football forum, it appears that unless you have the perfect athletes to run it, you will be deficient in some key areas. Need players who can dribble, drive, and shoot well because rebounding will be difficult and post defense will be tougher with generally a shorter set of players. Is Harris' decision to run a "gimmicky" offense reason enough to question his ability? Or does he need more time to get the right players into the system and let him try another year? I don't know. But as MSU found out, sometimes sticking with a coach longer than most think they should can pay off.

Great points. The 5 out offense is no longer "gimmicky" There are plenty of examples of teams that run 5 out from professional to high school now. The issues are the points you bring up. Post defense and versatile offensive threats that can create with paint touches and shooting. The PG needs to be able to get down hill on drives, DHO's and PNR actions. Have not seen enough know exactly what all he is doing with the 5 out but early in the year they were incorporating some Princeton style away and over concepts. Have to surround the pinch player with shooters and creators and a down hill PG.

Harris should get some time. Will the LG faithful give as much latitude and time as the AD? We have heard donors are holding back funds to be donated based on the Haslam situation. I believe this was also mentioned earlier in this thread.

 

[Sport]

I was the original author that started this thread. The feedback, for the most part has been very supportive of giving Nate the time to build his team. Regardless, he has two more years to prove his worth and I want him to succeed.
Some very good comparisons were made to the lady cat organization and while I hate to say it I’d like to get the lady Griz moving in that direction at least.
(Interesting side note, not related to women’s bb but back in the 90’s we were hearing the same rhetoric from the bobcat football fans about the men’s football)
Not that I have any say in who comes and who goes from a coaching stand point but I’m now in the camp of let’s not be so quick to dump Nate.
And for hells sake, we need to add some minority players, Native American, foreign and black players.

 

[BigSkyBreakdown]

I was the original author that started this thread. The feedback, for the most part has been very supportive of giving Nate the time to build his team. Regardless, he has two more years to prove his worth and I want him to succeed.
Some very good comparisons were made to the lady cat organization and while I hate to say it I’d like to get the lady Griz moving in that direction at least.
(Interesting side note, not related to women’s bb but back in the 90’s we were hearing the same rhetoric from the bobcat football fans about the men’s football)
Not that I have any say in who comes and who goes from a coaching stand point but I’m now in the camp of let’s not be so quick to dump Nate.
And for hells sake, we need to add some minority players, Native American, foreign and black players.

Honest questions?

How does this current staff attract/recruit Native American, black or international players?

Who on this current staff goes into a black or native household and seals the deal?

Internationals are a little different. Are you investing recruiting dollars to travel abroad and evaluating live play? Or are you using a middle man and film? Or are you going thru the portal to find the Internationals?

 

[MontanaGrizSoccer]

I think you are100% correct. Decent D1 talent is not going to want to come to a program that was an embarrassment this year and was not truly competit

By the way, the letter of intent the 2026 signees signed binds them to come here for the full academic year unless they are granted a release from it which I do not think Harris would do that.

MSU had an assistant coach leave shortly before the start of the 2015-16 season and John agreed to commute from Spokane to serve as an assistant coach during his daughter Lindsay's senior year. Nate Harris was also on Binford's staff at that time. The year John coached was MSU's first regular season championship under Binford but they were upset by Idaho State in the quarterfinals of the conference tournament. The following season in 2016-17 they won the regular season title again and also the tournament.

In this day and age I don't think it's going to be possible for a single Big Sky program to be as dominant as the Lady Griz were with Robin Selvig, but Harris right now faces a lot of the same challenges competing against MSU that Binford had to overcome in her first decade or so at MSU until Selvig retired and the balance of power in the state shifted east. If Binford had been hired today I don't think she would have been given the time she had to build her program, but I hope Harris at least gets a second and/or third year to show what he can do after unrealistically high expectations were placed on your team this year after that conference tournament run.

Great points. The 5 out offense is no longer "gimmicky" There are plenty of examples of teams that run 5 out from professional to high school now. The issues are the points you bring up. Post defense and versatile offensive threats that can create with paint touches and shooting. The PG needs to be able to get down hill on drives, DHO's and PNR actions. Have not seen enough know exactly what all he is doing with the 5 out but early in the year they were incorporating some Princeton style away and over concepts. Have to surround the pinch player with shooters and creators and a down hill PG.

Harris should get some time. Will the LG faithful give as much latitude and time as the AD? We have heard donors are holding back funds to be donated based on the Haslam situation. I believe this was also mentioned earlier in this thread.

Give your donations to women soccer. Kent let the team get gutted have 13 players need to attract another 10-13 by June-july season starts in August.

 

[TrueGriz]

Give your donations to women soccer. Kent let the team get gutted have 13 players need to attract another 10-13 by June-july season starts in August.

Yes, When a head coach leaves by either getting fired, retired, or hired elsewhere, a high school recruit can decommit without penalty. But not because of a losing record. Sorry about the soccer team, or as the rest of the world calls football. But, the head coach left and any player can go somewhere else.

 

[MontanaGrizSoccer]

Yes, When a head coach leaves by either getting fired, retired, or hired elsewhere, a high school recruit can decommit without penalty. But not because of a losing record. Sorry about the soccer team, or as the rest of the world calls football. But, the head coach left and any player can go somewhere else.

everyone knows that

 

[mousegriz1]

everyone knows that

Post on the soccer board.

 

[Sport]

Honest questions?

How does this current staff attract/recruit Native American, black or international players?

Who on this current staff goes into a black or native household and seals the deal?

Internationals are a little different. Are you investing recruiting dollars to travel abroad and evaluating live play? Or are you using a middle man and film? Or are you going thru the portal to find the Internationals?

Regarding international players. It always amazed me that Wayne Tinkle played overseas for 12 years but outside a couple of Aussies that played for the Griz there no other European players that played for the Griz to the best I can recall. One would’ve thought he would have had some great connections in Europe? Go figure.
Doesn’t answer your question but there are a sprinkling of international players on many D1 programs.

 

[TrueGriz]

Regarding international players. It always amazed me that Wayne Tinkle played overseas for 12 years but outside a couple of Aussies that played for the Griz there no other European players that played for the Griz to the best I can recall. One would’ve thought he would have had some great connections in Europe? Go figure.
Doesn’t answer your question but there are a sprinkling of international players on many D1 programs.

Martin Breunig of Germany played for the Griz. But, he transferred from University of Washington.

 

[Griz66]

I assume many of you Montana residents have read that Spencer Laird of Missoula Loyola and likely the top female player in the state in the class of 2027 has committed to Stanford. Grandfather, aunt and mother are all legacy Griz yet she is going out of state. The true elite girls in the state are going to leave. Top player in class of 2026 is also going out of state. What, if anything can we do to attract them?. last Gatorade player of the year to play for the Griz was Dani Bartsch when Schweyen was still the HC and recruited her to UM.

 

[BigSkyBreakdown]

Regarding international players. It always amazed me that Wayne Tinkle played overseas for 12 years but outside a couple of Aussies that played for the Griz there no other European players that played for the Griz to the best I can recall. One would’ve thought he would have had some great connections in Europe? Go figure.
Doesn’t answer your question but there are a sprinkling of international players on many D1 programs.

Each school Admin sees the international route differently. It costs more to bring in internationals to many universities.

Then you also have to factor in English test scores, visa issues, middle men, live scout (program dedicates part of recruiting budget to this) or word of mouth and lots of film evaluation.

Some support it because they know and understand recruiting international can be the way to turn a program around or take it to next level.

We have always thought Portland St WBB should go international. Maybe PSU doesn't support this. Idaho State has had some solid internationals but many of those connections where with the assistant currently with Cats.

Some schools will cap the amount of internationals as well.

BSC is a great place to land an under the radar recruit.

 

[MTbest]

LG had another twice Gatorade Player of the year, Taylor Goligoski, recognized twice prior to joining UM. An excellent player, who was recruited by Rob Selvig. Taylor could have easily gone out of state. She played under Schweyen and was underutilized. https://gogriz.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/taylor-goligoski/5177