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all time montana team

pretty much have to go with that except I would replace Lucien with Shane Christenson.
 
Marc Glass runnin' the point. Strong, tall, smart, and a lot of wins. They played slooowww tempo during his era (great D) but the best point guard in griz history. He also played several years as a pro in Europe and won championships abroad.

Didn't see Shane play. I think point guards have been the weakest link in griz history.

Tony from Ankorage was also pretty good, but on bad teams (Tinkles ballhog stat seeking lazy era).

Everyone thinks points guards are easy to find, but this is a hard to fill position....
 
I am going beyond 5 and going with 12, Front court and backcourt. Sorry if I omit anyone prior to Richardson's days, just was too young to understand basketball then. Beastie is right we have been rather weak at PG over history. I am not going on stats alone, but a few guys with chemistry and team guys too. You guys debate who starts or who does what how you feel. (I know a few of these guys are not amongst career leaders in anything, but I just felt they fit into the team perfect.) If this were alltime greats list, it would have been different for me.

I really wanted to put Strait, Hasquet, Matthews, and Kamaar on here. Strait and Hasquet came up short on defense and rebounding compared to the other frontcourt guys though. Matthews impact was really one 1 year, but I loved his game. I know AJ impact to date is one year so far, but he is too good to leave off the team. I do not see him ever letting up.

Here is my complete team:

Richardson
AJ (i feel he will have an alltime great year this year)
Glass
Christiansen (sp?)
Criswell
Kearney
Fastings
McKenzie (sp?)
LK
Pope
McBride
Engellant
 
second team:

c daren engellant (all-time leader in shot blocks, second all-time in rebounding)
f matt williams
f kmaar davis
g travis decuire (all-time leader in assists at montana)
g kevin criswell (fourth all-time scorer, all-around hustle guy.)

honorable mention: shane christiansen (second all-time in assists); andrew strait (fifth all-time scorer, author of one of the greatest idividual performances in the history of montana basketball v. nevada in ncaa's); kevin kearney; wayne tinkle (sixth all-time scorer, fourth all-time rebounder); virgil matthews (twice voted team's outstanding defensive player, mr. clutch in two big sky championships and one of only two montana wins at the big dance.)

notes: the old-timers definitely get short-shrift. bob cope, still the third all-time scorer, needs to be somewhere, as does lou rocheleau, charles davis, eddie argenbright, zip rhoades, ray howard, dan balko, terry screnar. maybe we put lucien in this crowd, and elevate one of the modern guys to the point. remember, these guys put up their numbers against the much tougher competition of the old pacific coast and skyline conferences.

still, lucien was a remarkable talent, lightening-quick, who got submerged in the pattern-offense of frosty cox. in a modern up-tempo game, lucien would have been incredible. at least that's what my grandfather tells me.

finally, happy to reserve a spot for anthony johnson. i'm not putting anybody on my list based on one year in the program.
 
I debated AJ for a long while. I do not like putting current guys on any all time team. I am banking on him having a huge season this year. Last year he sold me on his scoring, defense, versatility (playing both guards), and leadership. I feel he is the kind of player that refuses to let his teammates let him down and vice versa. I also love how merciless he is on defenders. He is fun to watch at both ends of the court.

The scary thing about AJ is toward the later part of the season, his perimeter game was actually quite improved. If that is the case all season this year, we are looking at 20.0 ppg, 2 steals, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists per game guy. AJ was the reason the team turned it around last year. I really look forward to hearing how he leads this team this year through the offseason all the way to the NCAA's in 09/10.

His status is very dependent on how his supporting cast steps it up offensively and on the glass this year. I am not one bit worried about defense. I feel that will carry over from last year. I have faith Selvig, Ward, and Qvale will be better this year in the paint.
 
What about Delvon Anderson,one of the best players on both sides of the ball with tremendous hustle and was Big Sky MVP.
 
IPQS said:
What about Delvon Anderson,one of the best players on both sides of the ball with tremendous hustle and was Big Sky MVP.
Click to expand...

My bad, I will add him to my list, but not sure who to take out? Glass, Fastings, Kearney, or McBride?
 
G - Michael Ray Richardson
PF - Larry K.
C - Brent Smith
SF - Delvon Anderson
PG- JR Camel
F - Kevin Kearney
F- Jordan Hasquet
G- Virgil Mathews
G- Travis Decuire (sp?)
PF- Kamaar Davis
F- Isreal Evan - shorten stint with the team do to conflicts with Blaine Taylor but he still has to go on my list

There is the squad that I'd like to put on the floor
 
The late Herb Jones was truly awesome. But you cannot consider him for an All-Montana team. Had he had the opportunity to play a full four years, he'd probably be on the list.

Now, if you were talking an all-athletic team, he'd be at the head of the class.
 
grizaremoregooder said:
No love for Criag Zannon or Rob Hurley?
Click to expand...

Scott Zanon was better than Craig and you have to love Rob Hurley. His neice Ali will be great for the LG.
 
Center - Ken Mckenzie with John Stoeder and Craig Larson as backups
PF= LK (no brainer) with Kearny and Anderson as backups
SF- Derrick Pope with Allen Neilson as backup (Lee Johnson would be #1 except he caused the Griz to forfit most of a season.
PG - Michael Ray Richardson (even though he never played the point for the Griz, he was an NBA all-star at the point) backup Marc Glass
SG - Craig Zanon (Could you imagine a backcourt with a 6'5' point guard and a 6'6" shooting guard that could jump out of the gym?) Back ups - JR Camel, Criswell

Historically, the griz have been weak at the point and small forward. You cannot win without a great point guard. MR Richardson was the first player to ever lead the NBA in steals and assits.
 
so, looks to me like we have three unanimous choices --krysko, micheal ray and pope--with mckenzie the leader at center. the controversy seems to swirl over the other guard spot--and whether micheal ray comes in as a point guard or as a two. if we put micheal ray at the point--then we're talking about a two as the only remaining slot on our starting five.

in that case, i put virgil matthews or kevin criswell on my team. maybe craig zanon. now that's a team to love--big, quick, versatile.

but only two n.b.a. players on our strting five. north carolina's fiftieth-team probably has five. wow. did somebody say "mid" major?
 
Herb Jones would have made the team had he played here even two seasons.

I'd have Harold Ross on the roster at guard, followed closely by Scott Zanon. If there had only been a three-point line when Harold played...

1968-69 - Big Sky All-Conference Team

First Team

Willie Sojourner, Weber State, So.
Jerry Smith, Idaho, Sr.
Jack Gillespie, Montana State, Sr.
Justus Thigpen, Weber State, Sr.
Harold Ross, Montana, Jr.
Sessions Harlan, Weber State, So.

Now those are some great basketball names.
 
I forgot a guy that almost single handedly pulled what would have been the biggest upset in Montana history. Who can forget Eric Hays and his 32 points against UCLA in 1975? He could be the SF or 2 guard. Stroeder and Pope both played a little in the NBA so you could have a team with 4 guys who played in the NBA. No North Carolina yet.

Lee Johnson played for Griz in 76-77 year. He was a 6'10" "small" forward that ended up being a 1st round draft pick after he was declared inelgible (costing the griz that season) and transfering to a NAIA school. I don't think he played much in the NBA. It would have been amazing to have had him playing along side of MR Richardson MR's senior year. They were amazing the one year they had together. They beat Boston College and gave Minnesota a run in the finals of the Pillsbury Classic. Minnesota had Micheal Thompson, Ray Williams and a young Kevin McKale.
 
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