GrizRanger said:
Griz basketball team has the worst overall record in the Big Sky Conference. I see little improvement under the current coaching staff in comparison to the prior coaching staff. The prior coach won the Big Sky Conference tournament in his last year and went to the National tournament. Anybody think the current Griz coach and team can achieve that?
Not likely this year, but you never know. There is a couple of recruits doing quite well now and have promising futures as Griz. Kennedy is starting to emphasize high school players. Plus, that tournament championship may have made it look like a better future for BB under Holst, but there isn't any proof that the Griz wouldn't be under the same situation if Holst was still coach.
As for Holst, I never liked his system, thought it very boring even when compared to Blaine Taylor's. One thing I didn't like Taylor is that he shuffled his players in and out so fast that there never was a chance for any continuity or flow to his offense.
But, Not to defend Kennedy as he was certainly not my first choice (an assistant from University of Arizona was mine), I was not sorry to see Holst go. Bad timing under the circumstances. That last year, the Griz weren't even at .500 or higher either before the tournament with a weaker schedule. And when reading the Missoulian after it, it seems the players wanted him just to sit down and let them play.
As it is turning out though, Kennedy's system is turning out just as bad or worse. But, the Griz played real well in the holiday tournament durung the thanksgiving holiday. The most exciting basketball I have watched in many years.
But there is something very lacking on the team right now. That is a true point guard (better than Mansell) and a good backup point guard. Plus, the Griz lack a very dominating big man to take the pressure off of Kamar Davis.
As of now, because of the lack of a dominating big man (like Trammel and Matt Williams), every opponent double or triple teams Kamar Davis and then extends everybody else out to take away the passing lanes. Thus, Griz have problems passing the ball and it turns into a one on one offense. Thus there are few if any assists, and more turnovers.
As for the tournament, you have to consider only two teams do not make the tournament. Right now, that can be any team, though Eastern Washington looks to be the early favorite to win the regular season championship and host tournament. As long as a team makes the tournament, it only matters that you play your best basketball during the tournament than anytime else. With the quality of play in Big Sky, I think a team may only have to win 5 or 6 Big Sky Conference wins to get in. Maybe even 4 wins will get a team in. Big Sky Conference is very poor this year.
In addition, you never know what will happen after a coaching change. Hauck is certainly going to be wearing a bullseye again next football season if it turns out like last year and Griz go one and out in playoffs.
