grizzlyjournal
Well-known member
Whether the Griz or lose to the Idaho Vandals in today’s final test before 2014 Big Sky conf. action begins next week is probably of little importance. How the Griz compete against a true Big Sky level team (which the Vandals are, in more ways than one) and who contributes important and productive minutes means most.
The lineup and on-court style will likely predict whether Montana goes big or small from here on.
FACT: If the Griz can beat or compete (in a less-than-8 pt. loss) against the Vandals in Idaho, it’ll be a solid indicator of this team’s ability to be a Big Sky contender again.
Because -- no matter how vulnerable the Griz have seemed so far in the blocks... scoring, rebounding & defense -- they’re still positioned to compete for a third-straight “winnable” conference title.
Despite projections of Weber State’s resurgent dominance, Northern Colorado’s “new look” back court, or North Dakota’s and Eastern Washington’s emergent offensive potency, the Big Sky appears -- alas -- as a continued weakling among Division 1 hoops conferences. Again!
And -- as so many of the astute posters here at eGriz of late have noted -- that’s probably not a good sign for the Big Sky, no matter which team finally wins the trophy.
Going into the season, the Big Sky was ranked in the high 20s of Division one conferences.... held firm after UNC’s road win over Kansas St., and then began a slow slide. But after Weber State’s loss to UCLA and UNC’s collapse at Wyoming, the Big Sky’s ratings took a mighty plunge and the conference is now ranked one spot BELOW all of last season, as the 27th “strongest” conference (out of 32) in Division One hoops.Ouch.
Waaaay below the conferences it should be grouped against: Summit (17), Big West (19) and even the WAC (22), whose alignment I ridiculed in a November post here at egriz.
The good to emerge from it all is that the Griz are now considered a slight favorite to win the Big Sky and are ranked AHEAD of Weber State for the first time this year in the KenPom rankings (147-to-148). And in the Sagarin Ratings (169--to 181). All other Big Sky schools trail behind... most of them WELL behind. Ugh.
At the beginning of the year I figured that the Griz would have to get frontcourt production from two players equal to the numbers Matthias Ward had in 2012-13 in order to compete. Haven’t come close.
But here the Griz are: facing a weak Big Sky with a crew of very talented perimeter players supporting All-everything Kareem Jamar, and ready for a shot at a fourth conference title in five years.
Whether we see a “new look” small ball attack from the Griz (a hint appeared against Montana Western) or an attempt to coax more production from our “still learning” bigs, I guess we’ll see today. I’m hoping Michael Weisner (not a true front court player, as we all know) has a break out game in the paint today.
In the meantime, despite the demonstrated and continued weakness of the Big Sky, I’m looking forward to the Griz putting the pieces together & winning it all once again.
I DO know that they have a on-court leader in Kareem Jamar who’s capable of doing just that. I guess we’ll soon see which additional players will step up & lend a hand.
Go Griz!
The lineup and on-court style will likely predict whether Montana goes big or small from here on.
FACT: If the Griz can beat or compete (in a less-than-8 pt. loss) against the Vandals in Idaho, it’ll be a solid indicator of this team’s ability to be a Big Sky contender again.
Because -- no matter how vulnerable the Griz have seemed so far in the blocks... scoring, rebounding & defense -- they’re still positioned to compete for a third-straight “winnable” conference title.
Despite projections of Weber State’s resurgent dominance, Northern Colorado’s “new look” back court, or North Dakota’s and Eastern Washington’s emergent offensive potency, the Big Sky appears -- alas -- as a continued weakling among Division 1 hoops conferences. Again!
And -- as so many of the astute posters here at eGriz of late have noted -- that’s probably not a good sign for the Big Sky, no matter which team finally wins the trophy.
Going into the season, the Big Sky was ranked in the high 20s of Division one conferences.... held firm after UNC’s road win over Kansas St., and then began a slow slide. But after Weber State’s loss to UCLA and UNC’s collapse at Wyoming, the Big Sky’s ratings took a mighty plunge and the conference is now ranked one spot BELOW all of last season, as the 27th “strongest” conference (out of 32) in Division One hoops.Ouch.
Waaaay below the conferences it should be grouped against: Summit (17), Big West (19) and even the WAC (22), whose alignment I ridiculed in a November post here at egriz.
The good to emerge from it all is that the Griz are now considered a slight favorite to win the Big Sky and are ranked AHEAD of Weber State for the first time this year in the KenPom rankings (147-to-148). And in the Sagarin Ratings (169--to 181). All other Big Sky schools trail behind... most of them WELL behind. Ugh.
At the beginning of the year I figured that the Griz would have to get frontcourt production from two players equal to the numbers Matthias Ward had in 2012-13 in order to compete. Haven’t come close.
But here the Griz are: facing a weak Big Sky with a crew of very talented perimeter players supporting All-everything Kareem Jamar, and ready for a shot at a fourth conference title in five years.
Whether we see a “new look” small ball attack from the Griz (a hint appeared against Montana Western) or an attempt to coax more production from our “still learning” bigs, I guess we’ll see today. I’m hoping Michael Weisner (not a true front court player, as we all know) has a break out game in the paint today.
In the meantime, despite the demonstrated and continued weakness of the Big Sky, I’m looking forward to the Griz putting the pieces together & winning it all once again.
I DO know that they have a on-court leader in Kareem Jamar who’s capable of doing just that. I guess we’ll soon see which additional players will step up & lend a hand.
Go Griz!
