Bawl of the Wild

[citygriz]

I give much credit to the Montana State people for not making more of the flu excuse. Why? Because they were fully entitled to! Have you had this crap? I have. Ten days below par, three racked out--and I hardly ever get sick. I could barely sit at a desk, let alone play a basketball game. Tyler Hall was clearly sub-par, as apparently were two others on their team. And remember, too, that two Portland State players were out as well, in civvies, wearing breathing masks, when we took them down in Portland. One a starter, another apparently a key sixth man.

So we've definitely had our own "sixth man." The flu bug.

At the same time, no matter the flu situation, it is clear there is angst among Bobcat fans about their program. One described the game as "men against boys." Another commented on the difference in athleticism between the two teams. Even our estimable board friend and recruiting expert, Mslacat, is speculating whether or not they have wasted the talents of the great Tyler Hall by not surrounding him with better talent--the same complaint I leveled at Mike Montgomery Krysko's senior year.

So what? So this.

Something is becoming manifest, not just in Bozeman but around the league and even on the national scene: Travis DeCuire is one helluva recruiter--and possibly an even better coach and motivator. Where before there has always been a sharp distinction between a "Big Sky Power" and a team capable of taking down a higher seed in a national tournament, I believe DeCuire is really closing that gap. From fearing bigger programs, I'm eager to take them on. Right now KenPom has us at 76--two better than Utah, and way ahead of Oregon State at 105. Which means by one highly regarded statistical ranking, DeCuire is now out-coaching both the guys who left us for bigger programs, Kyrsko and Tinkle. And UCLA? At 60. How eager would we all be to take them on!

Yes, it's taken time. Yes, DeCuire has had some bad luck with bigs--both Samuelson and Alphonso Anderson left the program. It wasn't until this year that Akoh and NIcholas arrived to enforce the paint for us.

And, yes, teams have good stretches and bad, and we'll surely have our bad ones. A season is a long grind, especially in the BIg Sky with its onerous travel. Yet we all know: This program is rockin'. The Bawl of the Wild will get louder.

 

[NorthEndZoneDan]

So what? So this.

Something is becoming manifest, not just in Bozeman but around the league and even on the national scene: Travis DeCuire is one helluva recruiter--and possibly an even better coach and motivator. Where before there has always been a sharp distinction between a "Big Sky Power" and a team capable of taking down a higher seed in a national tournament, I believe DeCuire is really closing that gap. From fearing bigger programs, I'm eager to take them on. Right now KenPom has us at 76--two better than Utah, and way ahead of Oregon State at 105. Which means by one highly regarded statistical ranking, DeCuire is now out-coaching both the guys who left us for bigger programs, Kyrsko and Tinkle. And UCLA? At 60. How eager would we all be to take them on!

That paragraph right there, nailed it perfectly citay. We should definitely enjoy this season, there is no way the bigger programs aren't aware of what TDC has accomplished. This will be an epic ride.

 

[PlayerRep]

I give much credit to the Montana State people for not making more of the flu excuse. Why? Because they were fully entitled to! Have you had this crap? I have. Ten days below par, three racked out--and I hardly ever get sick. I could barely sit at a desk, let alone play a basketball game. Tyler Hall was clearly sub-par, as apparently were two others on their team. And remember, too, that two Portland State players were out as well, in civvies, wearing breathing masks, when we took them down in Portland. One a starter, another apparently a key sixth man.

So we've definitely had our own "sixth man." The flu bug.

At the same time, no matter the flu situation, it is clear there is angst among Bobcat fans about their program. One described the game as "men against boys." Another commented on the difference in athleticism between the two teams. Even our estimable board friend and recruiting expert, Mslacat, is speculating whether or not they have wasted the talents of the great Tyler Hall by not surrounding him with better talent--the same complaint I leveled at Mike Montgomery Krysko's senior year.

So what? So this.

Something is becoming manifest, not just in Bozeman but around the league and even on the national scene: Travis DeCuire is one helluva recruiter--and possibly an even better coach and motivator. Where before there has always been a sharp distinction between a "Big Sky Power" and a team capable of taking down a higher seed in a national tournament, I believe DeCuire is really closing that gap. From fearing bigger programs, I'm eager to take them on. Right now KenPom has us at 76--two better than Utah, and way ahead of Oregon State at 105. Which means by one highly regarded statistical ranking, DeCuire is now out-coaching both the guys who left us for bigger programs, Kyrsko and Tinkle. And UCLA? At 60. How eager would we all be to take them on!

Yes, it's taken time. Yes, DeCuire has had some bad luck with bigs--both Samuelson and Alphonso Anderson left the program. It wasn't until this year that Akoh and NIcholas arrived to enforce the paint for us.

And, yes, teams have good stretches and bad, and we'll surely have our bad ones. A season is a long grind, especially in the BIg Sky with its onerous travel. Yet we all know: This program is rockin'. The Bawl of the Wild will get louder.

Generally agree, but my view is that the Griz defender on Hall got up for the occasion, studied the guy, listened to his coaches, is a very good defender, has length, has desire, and shut down Hall. Hall is very good. A few other nice players. The rest--not so much.

 

[AZDoc]

I give much credit to the Montana State people for not making more of the flu excuse. Why? Because they were fully entitled to! Have you had this crap? I have. Ten days below par, three racked out--and I hardly ever get sick. I could barely sit at a desk, let alone play a basketball game. Tyler Hall was clearly sub-par, as apparently were two others on their team. And remember, too, that two Portland State players were out as well, in civvies, wearing breathing masks, when we took them down in Portland. One a starter, another apparently a key sixth man.

So we've definitely had our own "sixth man." The flu bug.

At the same time, no matter the flu situation, it is clear there is angst among Bobcat fans about their program. One described the game as "men against boys." Another commented on the difference in athleticism between the two teams. Even our estimable board friend and recruiting expert, Mslacat, is speculating whether or not they have wasted the talents of the great Tyler Hall by not surrounding him with better talent--the same complaint I leveled at Mike Montgomery Krysko's senior year.

So what? So this.

Something is becoming manifest, not just in Bozeman but around the league and even on the national scene: Travis DeCuire is one helluva recruiter--and possibly an even better coach and motivator. Where before there has always been a sharp distinction between a "Big Sky Power" and a team capable of taking down a higher seed in a national tournament, I believe DeCuire is really closing that gap. From fearing bigger programs, I'm eager to take them on. Right now KenPom has us at 76--two better than Utah, and way ahead of Oregon State at 105. Which means by one highly regarded statistical ranking, DeCuire is now out-coaching both the guys who left us for bigger programs, Kyrsko and Tinkle. And UCLA? At 60. How eager would we all be to take them on!

Yes, it's taken time. Yes, DeCuire has had some bad luck with bigs--both Samuelson and Alphonso Anderson left the program. It wasn't until this year that Akoh and NIcholas arrived to enforce the paint for us.

And, yes, teams have good stretches and bad, and we'll surely have our bad ones. A season is a long grind, especially in the BIg Sky with its onerous travel. Yet we all know: This program is rockin'. The Bawl of the Wild will get louder.

Generally agree, but my view is that the Griz defender on Hall get up for the occasion, studied the guy, listened to his coaches, is a very good defender, has length, has desire, and shut down Hall. Hall is very good. A few other nice players. The rest--not so much.

I agree with PR here. Maybe some flu, but I think he was defended very, very well overall.

 

[Mavman]

I give much credit to the Montana State people for not making more of the flu excuse. Why? Because they were fully entitled to! Have you had this crap? I have. Ten days below par, three racked out--and I hardly ever get sick. I could barely sit at a desk, let alone play a basketball game. Tyler Hall was clearly sub-par, as apparently were two others on their team. And remember, too, that two Portland State players were out as well, in civvies, wearing breathing masks, when we took them down in Portland. One a starter, another apparently a key sixth man.

So we've definitely had our own "sixth man." The flu bug.

At the same time, no matter the flu situation, it is clear there is angst among Bobcat fans about their program. One described the game as "men against boys." Another commented on the difference in athleticism between the two teams. Even our estimable board friend and recruiting expert, Mslacat, is speculating whether or not they have wasted the talents of the great Tyler Hall by not surrounding him with better talent--the same complaint I leveled at Mike Montgomery Krysko's senior year.

So what? So this.

Something is becoming manifest, not just in Bozeman but around the league and even on the national scene: Travis DeCuire is one helluva recruiter--and possibly an even better coach and motivator. Where before there has always been a sharp distinction between a "Big Sky Power" and a team capable of taking down a higher seed in a national tournament, I believe DeCuire is really closing that gap. From fearing bigger programs, I'm eager to take them on. Right now KenPom has us at 76--two better than Utah, and way ahead of Oregon State at 105. Which means by one highly regarded statistical ranking, DeCuire is now out-coaching both the guys who left us for bigger programs, Kyrsko and Tinkle. And UCLA? At 60. How eager would we all be to take them on!

Yes, it's taken time. Yes, DeCuire has had some bad luck with bigs--both Samuelson and Alphonso Anderson left the program. It wasn't until this year that Akoh and NIcholas arrived to enforce the paint for us.

And, yes, teams have good stretches and bad, and we'll surely have our bad ones. A season is a long grind, especially in the BIg Sky with its onerous travel. Yet we all know: This program is rockin'. The Bawl of the Wild will get louder.

Speaking of the two players from PSU in masks, How come the one was not given a technical during the lil scuffle in PSU? He clearly left the bench and was talking in the middle of the crowd of coaches and players. The refs looked at the video for quite awhile, thought he may get T'd up.

Back on topic if TD continues to recruit and coach like he has he will be gone in a couple seasons.
I'm very pumped to get to watch this team in Reno.