If we've all detected one weakness in this year's team, it is the lack of a polished post presence. Sure, basketball is changing, becoming more "positionless," yet the absence of a skilled big is killing us.
But if you look back on Montana basketball, solid post play has always been a hallmark of Montana teams: Krysko; Tinkle; Engellant; Trammel; Kemfert; Samuelson; Covill; McBride; Vanek; Strait; Hasquet; Rosser; Qvale; Selvig; Breunig; Krslovic. (And I've probably forgotten some good ones in there.)
How we could use any of those guys this year!
Meantime, for many years, Montana's weakness was its lack of quickness in the backcourt. We'd make it to the Big Dance, only to get killed by quick speedy guards from the bigger conferences. I remember vividly watching us take on a much quicker Oregon team in Sacramento in 2002, and while Scooter Christiansen was in the game, we could keep pace with them. But the minute he came out for a rest, Oregon would be in full control.
Today? No way. During the entire DeCurie coaching reign, I'd match our guards up against anybody--and the best is just ahead, next year, when two three-star guards join the team.
But bigs?
As I say, irony of ironies.
But if you look back on Montana basketball, solid post play has always been a hallmark of Montana teams: Krysko; Tinkle; Engellant; Trammel; Kemfert; Samuelson; Covill; McBride; Vanek; Strait; Hasquet; Rosser; Qvale; Selvig; Breunig; Krslovic. (And I've probably forgotten some good ones in there.)
How we could use any of those guys this year!
Meantime, for many years, Montana's weakness was its lack of quickness in the backcourt. We'd make it to the Big Dance, only to get killed by quick speedy guards from the bigger conferences. I remember vividly watching us take on a much quicker Oregon team in Sacramento in 2002, and while Scooter Christiansen was in the game, we could keep pace with them. But the minute he came out for a rest, Oregon would be in full control.
Today? No way. During the entire DeCurie coaching reign, I'd match our guards up against anybody--and the best is just ahead, next year, when two three-star guards join the team.
But bigs?
As I say, irony of ironies.