1st Semester Grades

[GrizBall]

In honor of the 1st semester (and non-conference) being over I decided to give each individual on the team a grade based on they performed compared to MY pre-season expectations. P= Pass (met my expectations) A= better than I expected and B= Below what I expected. Again keep in mind it’s not whether Player A is playing better than Player B but how they have performed based on MY expectations (rightly or wrongly).

Bannan (B) - Bannan is having a good season, however I was expecting him to be playing at least at a 3rd team All-BSC level (Top 15 BSC player). I don’t think he is playing at that level and maybe that’s my fault for being overly enthusiastic. Still believe he has the highest upside on the team and arguably the best player on the team thus far.

DCH (A) - I don’t think DCH is necessarily playing better than Bannan (for example) but based on last year, I didn’t really know what to expect. Were we getting Freshman or Sophomore DCH? He has exceeded my expectations.

Anderson (P) - He is what he is and has played how I would have expected him to play. No shame in that. Be a star in your role.

Martin (B) - I think he is the defensive wing Travis wanted, however, offensively he has really struggled. His shooting percentages are low, his assists, rebounds and FTA are also very low. At this point I am not sure his defense is enough to compensate for his offense. Still teases you with enough to think he can turn the corner at any time. Still time to make the D-1 adjustment.

Beasley (P) - This was my toughest grade. I had high expectations for him based on what he did last year with no pre-season practices as a freshman. His shooting percentages are low, but he is doing enough in other aspects of the game for a pass.

Whitney (P) - After the North Dakota game I thought maybe my expectations were a little too low. Other than that he has been solid and I am giving him the benefit of the doubt because he is working through an injury.

Blakney (B) - His grade should actually be an incomplete due to injuries which are out of his control, but at his point he obviously hasn’t been the missing piece that many thought he would be.

Parker (A) - He is passing at a high level and is 2nd on the team in rebounds. Also leads team in FTM and FTA. While not great defensively what he gives the team on the offensive end more than compensates for any defensive short-comings.

Vasquez and Owens (B) - I put these two together because I think they are both suffering from lack of playing time, which in turn is likely hurting their confidence. I am obviously not privy to anything going on behind the scenes as to why this may be, but I feel the Staff has bet big on Martin which has had the biggest impact on these two.

 

[BelierPeaux]

That's generous.

How about a grade for the coaching?

 

[GrizBall]

That's generous.

How about a grade for the coaching?

Not sure how it’s generous. 5/10 were below expectations, 2/10 were above and 3/10 were meets.

Would love to hear where you disagree.

 

[Jackieb125]

These grades obviously weren’t based on the stats

 

[GrizLA]

That's generous.

How about a grade for the coaching?

The best I can say about Travis right now, in INC. I think we are seeing a talented player that brought excitement back to Dahlberg but now seems a bit like a deer in the headlights. His teams are moving backwards and the style he promotes is not going to win many games unless the shooters, not only shoot, but make a few of their shots. And, under any circumstances, Montana should never be among the very bottom of team rebounds in the nation!

 

[citygriz]

That's generous.

How about a grade for the coaching?

The best I can say about Travis right now, in INC. I think we are seeing a talented player that brought excitement back to Dahlberg but now seems a bit like a deer in the headlights. His teams are moving backwards and the style he promotes is not going to win many games unless the shooters, not only shoot, but make a few of their shots. And, under any circumstances, Montana should never be among the very bottom of team rebounds in the nation!

I view Travis in two different ways.

As a man of character, I give him the highest marks. He recruits good kids, and he makes sure they graduate. If I had a son, I'd want him to play for Travis, knowing the life-lessons he learned would be greater than anything he learned about basketball. After all, character is destiny. Travis is a high-character guy, and I'd know that my son would leave this program well prepared for real life--and with a degree.

As a coach, I think Travis suffers from having been such a good player himself. The way he paces the sidelines, yelling at his players, calling out plays, it seems he's more like one of the players than the coach. It was very much my impression after attending a game a few years ago at San Jose State that because of Travis's constant pressure from the sideline our kids played tight, always looking over at the bench, almost more involved in what Travis was saying, or how Travis was acting, than in the game itself.
As a parent I have learned, you raise 'em to leave 'em. You do your best, but at some point you have to let go, let the kids figure it out. I believe the same is true of coaching.

My model for this is Steve Kerr. He pretty much sits on the bench during a game, rising most generally only to dispute a ref's call. Not that he's not in charge. If a player makes an egregious mistake, like not getting back on defense, you can be sure a time out is coming and abuse forthcoming. But during the game? It's up to the players. And I don't think there's any team in basketball that plays more carefree, mistake-prone basketball than the Warriors. Basketball is a beautiful game to watch when a team is "in the flow."

But I seldom see that with our Griz, especially on offense. There's simply no flow. Maybe if our guys could pass the ball to the all-time assists leader at Montana, we'd see that flow. But that guy is no longer in the game. He's no longer a player. He's on the bench. He's on the coach.

So my advice, coach 'em up. But let 'em play.

 

[coyote]

:thumb:

The best I can say about Travis right now, in INC. I think we are seeing a talented player that brought excitement back to Dahlberg but now seems a bit like a deer in the headlights. His teams are moving backwards and the style he promotes is not going to win many games unless the shooters, not only shoot, but make a few of their shots. And, under any circumstances, Montana should never be among the very bottom of team rebounds in the nation!

I view Travis in two different ways.

As a man of character, I give him the highest marks. He recruits good kids, and he makes sure they graduate. If I had a son, I'd want him to play for Travis, knowing the life-lessons he learned would be greater than anything he learned about basketball. After all, character is destiny. Travis is a high-character guy, and I'd know that my son would leave this program well prepared for real life--and with a degree.

As a coach, I think Travis suffers from having been such a good player himself. The way he paces the sidelines, yelling at his players, calling out plays, it seems he's more like one of the players than the coach. It was very much my impression after attending a game a few years ago at San Jose State that because of Travis's constant pressure from the sideline our kids played tight, always looking over at the bench, almost more involved in what Travis was saying, or how Travis was acting, than in the game itself.
As a parent I have learned, you raise 'em to leave 'em. You do your best, but at some point you have to let go, let the kids figure it out. I believe the same is true of coaching.

My model for this is Steve Kerr. He pretty much sits on the bench during a game, rising most generally only to dispute a ref's call. Not that he's not in charge. If a player makes an egregious mistake, like not getting back on defense, you can be sure a time out is coming and abuse forthcoming. But during the game? It's up to the players. And I don't think there's any team in basketball that plays more carefree, mistake-prone basketball than the Warriors. Basketball is a beautiful game to watch when a team is "in the flow."

But I seldom see that with our Griz, especially on offense. There's simply no flow. Maybe if our guys could pass the ball to the all-time assists leader at Montana, we'd see that flow. But that guy is no longer in the game. He's no longer a player. He's on the bench. He's on the coach.

So my advice, coach 'em up. But let 'em play.

 

[marooncoloredglasses]

I feel the problem is learning to play on the road.Of course, that's also where they're had to play there toughest opponents. They've do reasonably well at home.

 

[fanofzoo]

The best I can say about Travis right now, in INC. I think we are seeing a talented player that brought excitement back to Dahlberg but now seems a bit like a deer in the headlights. His teams are moving backwards and the style he promotes is not going to win many games unless the shooters, not only shoot, but make a few of their shots. And, under any circumstances, Montana should never be among the very bottom of team rebounds in the nation!

I view Travis in two different ways.

As a man of character, I give him the highest marks. He recruits good kids, and he makes sure they graduate. If I had a son, I'd want him to play for Travis, knowing the life-lessons he learned would be greater than anything he learned about basketball. After all, character is destiny. Travis is a high-character guy, and I'd know that my son would leave this program well prepared for real life--and with a degree.

As a coach, I think Travis suffers from having been such a good player himself. The way he paces the sidelines, yelling at his players, calling out plays, it seems he's more like one of the players than the coach. It was very much my impression after attending a game a few years ago at San Jose State that because of Travis's constant pressure from the sideline our kids played tight, always looking over at the bench, almost more involved in what Travis was saying, or how Travis was acting, than in the game itself.
As a parent I have learned, you raise 'em to leave 'em. You do your best, but at some point you have to let go, let the kids figure it out. I believe the same is true of coaching.

My model for this is Steve Kerr. He pretty much sits on the bench during a game, rising most generally only to dispute a ref's call. Not that he's not in charge. If a player makes an egregious mistake, like not getting back on defense, you can be sure a time out is coming and abuse forthcoming. But during the game? It's up to the players. And I don't think there's any team in basketball that plays more carefree, mistake-prone basketball than the Warriors. Basketball is a beautiful game to watch when a team is "in the flow."

But I seldom see that with our Griz, especially on offense. There's simply no flow. Maybe if our guys could pass the ball to the all-time assists leader at Montana, we'd see that flow. But that guy is no longer in the game. He's no longer a player. He's on the bench. He's on the coach.

So my advice, coach 'em up. But let 'em play.

A great example of this.... the LG.

 

[Mavman]

The best I can say about Travis right now, in INC. I think we are seeing a talented player that brought excitement back to Dahlberg but now seems a bit like a deer in the headlights. His teams are moving backwards and the style he promotes is not going to win many games unless the shooters, not only shoot, but make a few of their shots. And, under any circumstances, Montana should never be among the very bottom of team rebounds in the nation!

I view Travis in two different ways.

As a man of character, I give him the highest marks. He recruits good kids, and he makes sure they graduate. If I had a son, I'd want him to play for Travis, knowing the life-lessons he learned would be greater than anything he learned about basketball. After all, character is destiny. Travis is a high-character guy, and I'd know that my son would leave this program well prepared for real life--and with a degree.

As a coach, I think Travis suffers from having been such a good player himself. The way he paces the sidelines, yelling at his players, calling out plays, it seems he's more like one of the players than the coach. It was very much my impression after attending a game a few years ago at San Jose State that because of Travis's constant pressure from the sideline our kids played tight, always looking over at the bench, almost more involved in what Travis was saying, or how Travis was acting, than in the game itself.
As a parent I have learned, you raise 'em to leave 'em. You do your best, but at some point you have to let go, let the kids figure it out. I believe the same is true of coaching.

My model for this is Steve Kerr. He pretty much sits on the bench during a game, rising most generally only to dispute a ref's call. Not that he's not in charge. If a player makes an egregious mistake, like not getting back on defense, you can be sure a time out is coming and abuse forthcoming. But during the game? It's up to the players. And I don't think there's any team in basketball that plays more carefree, mistake-prone basketball than the Warriors. Basketball is a beautiful game to watch when a team is "in the flow."

But I seldom see that with our Griz, especially on offense. There's simply no flow. Maybe if our guys could pass the ball to the all-time assists leader at Montana, we'd see that flow. But that guy is no longer in the game. He's no longer a player. He's on the bench. He's on the coach.

So my advice, coach 'em up. But let 'em play.

You almost made it without throwing in the Warriors but then mentioned Nicks dad.
I do agree TD could tone it down it is easy to overcoach.

 

[rocklobster]

I would like to see us further along. Big blow out losses to Mississippi State and Oregon. A winnable game vs Santa Clara. The UND & UNC games should have been wins. This team is a work in progress. Lots of young players, transfers, and Travis is still figuring things out—as far as the rotation goes. I like what he’s doing. I can see us in the top two or three by the end of conference play. Really like to see Vasquez and Owens more in the rotation. It’s a long season.