Drove over for the game from Helena and was definitely satisfied that I took the time to do it. I was more impressed with the team than I was the students. Students lacked something, but I remember High School student crowds more amped up for crappy high school basketball teams. This team is special! They are so unselfish and have a no I in team attitude. Rundles has a ton of fire in him and I hope it is not too much at some point this year. But regardless he is a leader. If we keep hitting those 3s, the BSC is in trouble. I told my father last night that I think this is the best team we have had since Delvon, Kevin, Darren, Roger, and Co. And we have had some dang good teams that have gone to the Dance. This will also raise the level of the BSC. The great thing is that we have a great team this year, I am mostly talking about chemistry here because it is early in the season to say how far this team can go, but next year the sky is really the limit and I am not referring to the Big Sky.
Jordan Hasquet, is this kid a fun guy to watch play basketball or what. Strait started out a bit slow, but he is still a force to be reckoned with at only 6'8". Cameron is going to have a great career as a griz and CET will provide some quality backup minutes at the point and will also have a great two year griz career. The one thing I have noticed in the past is the Griz typically are a team that gets pushed around quite a bit, but there was none of that last night. They were the aggressors. I know I would not have wanted to be in the paint last night.
Tinks was very fun to watch interact with the crowd. I am sure he wants this more than anyone and his emotions were worn on his sleeve last night. One thing is for sure, he is a player's coach. I saw him go over to Matt Martin after Matt forced a bad shot I believe and gave him a little pep talk reassuring him they were going to be ok. But it was a big brother "you have it in you and you can do better than that" type of talk, not a father like chat like LK would have done. As long as my pocketbook can handle the increasing gas prices this will not be my last game. STILL NEED MORE FROM THE STUDENTS!!! There was too much of "what is our role here" instead of this is our house and you will not be able to get out of here alive". And more capacity over all would be nice. Missoula can support it with the right work. What a great time to be a griz. Now if we could only get into the Mountain West Conference!