Basketball First game August 30, 2008

[BARN BALL]

Practice begins Sunday August 24, 2008.

First game Saturday August 30, 2008 vs. Calgary at 7:00 PM

Southern Alberta Institute of Technology. August 31 and Lethbridge August 31.
Two a days.

Calgary again at Noon on September 1, 2008.

 

[Grizzly4Life]

GRIZ MEN’S HOOP TEAM GET EARLY START ON SEASON

MISSOULA, MT (8/22/08-dg) – The University of Montana Grizzly basketball team will have an early
start to their 2008-09 season, participating in the “Battle of the Border, ” a four-team tournament, hosted by the University of Calgary Dinos over the Labor Day weekend, Aug. 30-Sept. 1.

The Grizzlies, 14-16 overall and 8-8 a year ago, will play host Calgary on Saturday, August 30th at 7:00
p.m. (all times listed are Mountain). Montana, which returns three starters and just five total lettermen, plays two games the next day, starting with the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology at noon and Lethbridge at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 31. Calgary and Montana square off for the second time on Monday, Sept. 1st for a noon contest.

“The advantage of playing in a tournament like this, which is called a “foreign tour,” allows us 10 practices leading up to the event,” said third-year Griz head coach Wayne Tinkle. “It is a great year for us to get an early start, considering we return just five players from a year ago, along with five new players and three redshirts.

“We thought it would be a good opportunity to get a jump-start to our season,” added Tinkle, who is 31-31 in two seasons at his alma mater. “The tournament will provide us with a lot of good competition, and the teams there (in Canada) can practice year-round, which means they should be pretty polished. Calgary returns all of their starters from a year ago, and last season they beat Weber State in this tournament. How we play will give us an idea of where our guys are, and provide us with some good competition.

“As I said earlier, we have only five guys who played minutes for us last year, and we have a lot of youth and inexperience,” Tinkle said. “That is the big reason why we thought this would be a great opportunity for us.”

Montana’s three returning starters are 6-9 senior forward Jordan Hasquet, 6-2 senior point guard Ceylon
Elgin-Taylor, and 6-4 junior “two” guard Ryan Staudacher. Hasquet was UM’s leading scorer and rebounder a year ago, averaging 13.7 points and 7.2 rebounds a game. Staudacher was fourth on the squad, averaging 9.0 points per game, while Elgin-Taylor averaged 6.6 points a game and a team-high 3.5 assists per contest.

UM’s other two lettermen who are back include 6-7 senior forward Kyle Sharp and 6-11 sophomore center
Brian Qvale. Sharp averaged 4.7 points and 4.0 rebounds a game last year, while Qvale was second in the
conference in blocks with 1.5 a game.

Michael Taylor, a 6-4 sophomore guard and transfer from Eastern Washington, and Jack McGillis, a 6-6
junior forward transfer from Oregon State redshirted last season due to NCAA transfer rules. Derek Selvig, a 6-11 forward-center, and 6-4 guard Tyler Hurley, both freshmen, also redshirted last season.

UM added to players from the junior college ranks: 6-3 guard forward Vassy Banny from Salt Lake CC,
and 6-3 guard Anthony Johnson from Yakima Valley CC (Wash.), both of whom are juniors.

The Griz signed three from the prep ranks: 6-6 forward Nyandigisi Moikobu (Rainier Beach HS, Seattle,
Wash.), 6-1 guard Shawn Stockton (Ferris HS, Spokane, Wash.), and 6-7 forward Mathias Ward (Gig Harbor HS,
Gig Harbor, Wash.).

The Griz begin practice Sunday, August 24th, and all of the newcomers are allowed to participate in the
tournament. They leave for Calgary on Friday, August 29th via Beach Bus.

2008-09 MONTANA GRIZZLY NUMERICAL ROSTER

NO.-NAME POS. HT. WT. YR. EXP. HOMETOWN (PREVIOUS SCHOOL)
2-Jordan Hasquet F 6-9 245 Sr. 3V Missoula, Mont. (Sentinel HS)
3- Ryan Staudacher G 6-4 205 Jr. 2V Kirkland, Wash. (Lake Washington HS)
5-Ceylon Elgin-Taylor G 6-2 185 Sr. 1V Los Angeles, Calif. (Irvine Valley)
13-Michael Taylor G 6-4 190 So. TR/RS Brewster, Wash. (E. Washington Univ.)
15-Nyandigisi Moikobu F 6-6 200 Fr. HS Tacoma, Wash. (Rainier HS)
22-Shawn Stockton G 6-1 185 Fr. HS Spokane, Wash. (Ferris HS)
23-Anthony Johnson G 6-3 190 Jr. JC Tacoma, Wash. (Yakima Valley CC)
24-Derek Selvig F 6-11 215 Fr. RS Glendive, Mont. (Dawson County HS)
32-Tyler Hurley G 6-6 200 Fr. RS Anaconda, Mont. (Anaconda HS)
33-Vassy Banny G-F 6-3 215 Jr. JC Ivory Coast (Salt Lake CC)
40-Kyle Sharp F 6-7 220 Sr. 3V Hollister, Calif. (San Benito HS)
41-Brian Qvale C 6-11 245 So. 1V Williston, ND (Williston HS)
44-Jack McGillis F 6-6 210 Jr. TR/RS Missoula, Mont. (Oregon State)
45-Mathias Ward F 6-7 215 Fr. HS Gig Harbor, Wash. (Gig Harbor HS)
Head coach: Wayne Tinkle, 31-31, 2 Seasons
Assistant coaches: Nate DuChesne, 3rd season; Andy Hill, 6th season; Bill Evans, 1st season.

 

[coyote]

Anyone attend the first practice?

 

[Mslacat]

Preview of this International Tournement

Battle of Border enables Dinos to test cage mettle
Calgary to face NCAA's Montana Grizzlies

Kristen Odland, Calgary Herald
Published: Tuesday, August 26, 2008

There's no better measuring stick for Dan Vanhooren's 2008-09 edition of University of Calgary court stars than this weekend's Battle of the Border tournament.

Stacking themselves against NCAA Division 1 competition Saturday at the Jack Simpson Gym is invaluable experience, according to the coach of the Dinos men's basketball team.

"With any NCAA team we play, it's a great attractor for us from a recruiting perspective," said Vanhooren, whose Dinos open their exhibition play against the University of Montana Grizzlies on Saturday. "It's also great for our players to play at that level and play another level of basketball.


These are all kids that have probably played at a bit higher level than some of our kids, so it's a good opportunity for us to test our mettle and see where we're at."

This is the third time NCAA competition has come to Calgary for the Labour Day weekend round-robin; the Grizzlies face the Dinos as well as SAIT and the University of Lethbridge.

Last year, Utah's Weber Sate, which competed in the Big Sky Conference with the Grizzlies, and Nebraska's Creighton University made an appearance at the tournament.

And it was the first time the Dinos beat a Division 1 team, downing Weber State 81-74.

"Certainly, (winning) against Weber State, that gives us a little bit of confidence going into play a team from the same conference," said Vanhooren, whose group finished the season by bowing out in the bronze-medal match of the Canada West Final Four. "But year-to-year, their teams are different and so are ours.

"I don't have any pipe dreams about what's going to happen. I just hope our kids play hard and play well and play together."

Because NCAA rules don't allow teams to practise before Oct. 17, they made an exception for Montana to start practising Sunday because of this weekend's tournament.

The Grizzlies, who finished their season 8-8 in this year's Big Sky Conference play, dropped the conference quarter-final. Over the years, they've made seven trips to the NCAA tournament.

And with only three returning starters, head coach Wayne Tinkle's main objective was to give his young group some experience.

"When you add that to the fact we've got basically nine new guys, shoot. It's going to be a good challenge for us," he said. "But we thought this would be a good year to compete in something like this."

Meanwhile, Vanhooren, who conducted the Dinos' first practice of the year on Monday, has been busy working to fill spots over the summer.

Over the coming weeks, a handful of recruits are auditioning to replace point guard Jeff Price who made an unexpected departure before the season to get married.

But the majority of the team's core is returning, including fifth- and fourth-year veterans, power forward brothers Henry and Ross Bekkering, second-year Tyler Fidler and fourth- year Robbie Sihota.

"We're pretty excited with what we have," said Vanhooren. "Outside of that, it'll take me the next few weeks to determine how excited I should be."

Calgary faces Montana on Saturday at 7 p.m. and Monday at noon, while Lethbridge and SAIT play the Grizzlies on Sunday at noon and 7 p.m. respectively.

 

[EverettGriz]

Mslacat, do you know what level of competetion this will be for Montana? Would these teams be somewhat comparable to DII schools in the US?

 

[Mslacat]

Mslacat, do you know what level of competetion this will be for Montana? Would these teams be somewhat comparable to DII schools in the US?

Do you remember Simon Frazer the Griz used to beat upon every year for about 20 years strait. That is the level of play you should expect, but remember these Canadian team have been practicing together for about 4 week week the Griz will only be able to get a handful of practices in before the games. Tinkle is also going to want to see a lot of players on the floor so the minutes are going to be spread around quite a but, and they will be playing in their home Gyms and they will be looking to knock off a D-1 team. The Griz should win all three games, but they will have quite a few hurdles ahead of them.

 

[Hoops_Fan]

The University of Calgary did beat Weber State last year in this tournament. Weber did play everyone a lot of minutes. I think these types of tournaments are more for the coaches to look at their team going against competition other than themselves. With all the new players expected to contribute this year I can't think of a better thing for the Griz to do than go play in this.

 

[Potomac Griz]

Anyone know if this will be on the radio anywhere? I checked with the U of M and it didn't sound like any Montana stations will be carrying it. I found that fan960.com does carry U of Calgary basketball games (and is carrying the one on the 29th), but it doesn't list the Griz one on their schedule. I'm hoping their schedule is just not right....

 

[grizpack]

DICKENSON TO PERFORM CEREMONIAL TIP-OFF



CALGARY - The University of Montana Grizzlies men's basketball team
heads north to Calgary for the 2008 Battle of the Border this weekend,
and they will be welcomed by one of the school's most legendary
athletes.



Dave Dickenson, now with the CFL's Calgary Stampeders, will perform the
ceremonial tip-off prior to Saturday night's game between his alma mater
and the Calgary Dinos in the Jack Simpson Gym.



Dickenson is a hero at the University of Montana, where he led the Griz
to their first-ever NCAA Division I-AA football championship in 1995,
his senior year. A three-year starter at quarterback, Dickenson won the
Walter Payton award as the Division I-AA outstanding player in 1995 and
left the Missoula campus with 26 school and seven league records.



He is still the all-time Montana leader in passing touchdowns (96, also
a Big Sky Conference record), total yards offence (11,523), passing
yards (11,080), passing attempts (1,208), and completions (813).



The Dickenson-led Grizzlies breezed through the NCAA playoff bracket in
1995, not allowing a point in 48-0 and 45-0 defeats of Eastern Kentucky
and Georgia Southern, respectively, in the first two rounds. The defence
did allow 14 points in the national semifinal, but Dickenson and the
offence more than made up for that in a 70-14 blowout of Stephen F.
Austin, setting up a national championship tilt with Marshall in West
Virginia. There, Dickenson capped off the season by leading Montana to a
22-20 victory and the I-AA title.



Dickenson spent a year on the Stampeders' practice roster in 1996 before
joining the active roster a year later. He was Jeff Garcia's backup when
Calgary won the 1998 Grey Cup and moved into the starters' role the
following year, earning CFL most outstanding player honours in 2000.



He went on to spend the 2001 and 2002 seasons in the NFL with San Diego,
Seattle, Miami, and Detroit before returning to the CFL with the B.C.
Lions, where he led them to the Grey Cup title in 2006.



Dickenson rejoined the Stampeders for his second stint in 2007, where he
currently backs up Henry Burris.



The Dinos and Grizzlies will do battle on the hardwood twice this
weekend, beginning Saturday night in the Jack Simpson Gym, with tip-off
at 7 p.m. They will also meet up on Monday, Sept. 1 with a noon start
time.



Plenty of tickets are still available for the weekend and can be
purchased at the door of the Jack Simpson Gym.



-UC-



2008 Battle of the Border Schedule

All games in the Jack Simpson Gym



Saturday, August 30

7 p.m. CALGARY vs. Montana



Sunday, August 31

12 p.m. Lethbridge vs. Montana

7 p.m. SAIT vs. Montana



Monday, September 1

12 p.m. CALGARY vs. Montana





Ben Matchett

Sports Information Director

University of Calgary Dinos

Office (403) 220-8143

Mobile (403) 863-8143

Email [email protected]

Web goDINOS.com



Pride. Spirit. DINOS.



Host of the 2009 CIS Wrestling Championships

Feb. 27-28, 2009 - Jack Simpson Gym

 

[grizvox]

I am on the trip, leaving this afternoon, but the games will not be on Montana radio anywhere. The home station was not interested.
Sorry
Mick

 

[EverettGriz]

I am on the trip, leaving this afternoon, but the games will not be on Montana radio anywhere. The home station was not interested.
Sorry
Mick

Mick, thanks for letting us know. That's unfortunate that the games won't be aired. It's never too soon for some "pickle barrel" action! Please take good notes and give us a report on how they looked when you get back.

 

[mtgrizrule]

Mick or anyone, I for one would appreciate updates/observations on all the games posted here. I hope a few GRIZ fans make it to the games. Even if it means sending me a pm for me to post here without me posting a name to who gave me information, I will. I really want to know how the progress of Qvale and Selvig has gone, and how the newbies look to fit into this seasons plans. If I hear the defense, inside scoring, and rebounding are improved on, I will be very happy.

 

[GrizWhiz]

The Missoulian article this morning said Anthony Johnson would not make the trip due to paperwork clearing house delays. I realize it isn't the official start of BB season yet, but I hope this isn't something more serious. After our JC "no-show" events at the beginning of last year, I am a little paranoid about this. The Missoulian also said live stats would be available on montanagrizzlies.com.

 

[Mslacat]

The Missoulian article this morning said Anthony Johnson would not make the trip due to paperwork clearing house delays. I realize it isn't the official start of BB season yet, but I hope this isn't something more serious. After our JC "no-show" events at the beginning of last year, I am a little paranoid about this. The Missoulian also said live stats would be available on montanagrizzlies.com.

Given that it is less than 6 days after classes start it is not that uncommon that to be waiting to get the last I's dotted and t's crossed on the on the transcript and clearing house papers. Still though the fact that they do not want to risk taking him on the trip, shows that there could be some risk involved.

 

[citygriz]

so, the griz win by ten, despite "most favored nation" officiating (they shoot 45 free throws to our 18--are you kidding me?)

judging from the stats:
--qvale, taylor, hasquet, sharp and mcgillis all seem to have solid games;
--e/t has seven assists;
--balanced scoring;
--we prevail big in the second half, so this team may have an instinct for winning;
--selvig goes oh for five but kicks in five rebounds and two assists.

anxious to get other reports, especially about the rooks--stockton and ward. (digs does not play.)

 

[Grizbacker1]

The Missoulian article this morning said Anthony Johnson would not make the trip due to paperwork clearing house delays. I realize it isn't the official start of BB season yet, but I hope this isn't something more serious. After our JC "no-show" events at the beginning of last year, I am a little paranoid about this. The Missoulian also said live stats would be available on montanagrizzlies.com.

Given that it is less than 6 days after classes start it is not that uncommon that to be waiting to get the last I's dotted and t's crossed on the on the transcript and clearing house papers. Still though the fact that they do not want to risk taking him on the trip, shows that there could be some risk involved.

I don't think they have the option of taking him in this situation.