so there i was last night, idly flipping channels, and what do i come across but a replay of the montana-denver game. it was halftime, we were already down 14, but of course we won the second half big, and but for a few key misses and turnovers down the stretch, could have won it. some observations:
--a.j. and qvale were the two best players on the court. which means that at the two most critical positions on any team--center and point guard--we more often than not are going to have an edge in talent.
--turnovers--ouch! first half, denver scored 14 points off seven montana turnovers, the difference in the game. we've just got to eliminate turnovers.
--the season will turn on the health of derek selvig, and the development of three key players--will cherry, raason young and mathias ward. denver's announcers, who applauded montana's talent and comeback, felt young is going through the typical transition from junior college player to d-1 player, and that by february he will be a very good player. cherry played very little the second half, but in subsequent games we've already seen improvement from him. and ward will develop into a solid player in the paint for us, as both his moves and his attitude remind me a bit of andrew strait.
--denver is a solid well-coached team, favored to finish high in their conference. so our two losses have both been narrow losses on the road against very good teams.
--we are playing solid hustling defense.
--finally, what a difference a year makes! this team bears no resemblance to the team that got hammered at portland state just one year ago.
--a.j. and qvale were the two best players on the court. which means that at the two most critical positions on any team--center and point guard--we more often than not are going to have an edge in talent.
--turnovers--ouch! first half, denver scored 14 points off seven montana turnovers, the difference in the game. we've just got to eliminate turnovers.
--the season will turn on the health of derek selvig, and the development of three key players--will cherry, raason young and mathias ward. denver's announcers, who applauded montana's talent and comeback, felt young is going through the typical transition from junior college player to d-1 player, and that by february he will be a very good player. cherry played very little the second half, but in subsequent games we've already seen improvement from him. and ward will develop into a solid player in the paint for us, as both his moves and his attitude remind me a bit of andrew strait.
--denver is a solid well-coached team, favored to finish high in their conference. so our two losses have both been narrow losses on the road against very good teams.
--we are playing solid hustling defense.
--finally, what a difference a year makes! this team bears no resemblance to the team that got hammered at portland state just one year ago.
