Grizbacker1 said:
sorta sad when you think about it. not gb1's evident personality flaws, but the circumstances surrounding qvale's true freshman year, 2006-2007.
tinks was in his second year as head coach. he would go 14-16, after a 17-15 record his first year. put yourself in his position. the boobirds were out. he couldn't coach, he wasn't ready, blah, blah, blah. this board was afire with critics. but most of all, he wasn't the legendary krystkowiak. the program would sink under his tutelage. tinks had to be feeling some pressure.
into this environment steps qvale. i saw him play at pacific that year, and the talent was obvious. you couldn't really fault a coach for playing him. at the same time, we all know it takes more time for big men to develop, and that too was obvious in qvale. he tried to block every shot, often getting into foul trouble. selvig in his fifth year is learning to slow the game down, let it come to him, but this takes time. qvale hadn't yet learned this. combine that with several injuries he suffered that year, and it was pretty much a lost year for qvale, in a sad season for montana basketball.
i've often wondered, if tinks had had more talent, and had been personally in a more secure space as a coach that second year, would he have made the same decision? against new mexico, qvale was the best player on the court. and how often does a montana team go into pauley against ucla and have the better center? tinks went out and recruited the players he needed--athletic wings, a big time point guard. i don't doubt reader and selvig will be good this year. but with qvale back, this would have been potentially a top 25 or sweet 16 team.
but, yup, gb's right, as he occasionally is. i gotta get over it. but it coulda been special.
