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Griz-MSU Northern-Game Thread

Griz won by 14 in a pretty sloppy game. AJ only took 6 shots as the Griz pounded the ball inside to Qvale (20 plus points and 9 boards) who feasted against the smaller MSU-Northern team.
 
THe boys didn't play with much fire tonight and we still need to clamp down on 3pt defence, we are getting killed ! Hope we come out strong for UC Riverside on Sat. Night, should be a nice crowd with the Football celebration at Halftime !
 
I didn't attend the game but listened to Tinkle's post game interview. He was obviously upset with our performance but two things really stood out in his comments:

1) He gave absolutely no credit to MSU Northern's performance.

2) He took no blame for any of the team's issues in the game.

Although it looked like we won fairly comfortably and probably had some inevitable "playing down" lapses, I was a little put off by Tinkle's comments.

I think any good coach should always give the opponent credit/respect both before and after the game. If he showed the same lack of respect for Northern with his team before the game as he did after, it's pretty easy to understand why they may have had a letdown. Northern was probably playing their "game of the year" and to diss them so thoroughly is also not good PR for the coach of the University of Montana, particularly when playing another in-state school.

As well, to place the blame for the performance on the team is not an example of a good leader. Say what you may about Bobby H., but one of his most respectable traits, in my opinion, is his willingness to say "I didn't do a good enough job of coaching my team today." I've heard that on more than one occasion from BH this year and we're 14 - 0!

Tinkle needs to listen to Bobby a little more and learn to respect the opponent and take some of the blame if HIS team doesn't perform as expected.
 
Sorry, but I disagree with Tinkle needing to take blame on the Northern game. Did you see the game? (I have heard Tinkle after other games take blame for coaching mistakes.) I too would have been upset and disappointed as a coach in somethings from that game, as well as a few things that are getting repetitive for a few too many games. Collectively, the players had a huge letdown in concentration and intensity. After all the work and practice in getting defensive intensity the last 2 years, a letdown in defensive execution against a lesser opponent is unacceptable.

Tinkle is proving the last season and 1/2 he has improved in strategy and personnel decisions, in fact it is hard to question team strategy in a long time. This team is struggling hitting open perimeter shots. That is acceptable a game here and there, but not at the rate this team struggles now. It is frustrating when you have solid fundamental shooters with good history on your team. We have the shooters in Taylor, Staudacher, Selvig, AJ, Young, and at times McGillis, yet our perimeter shots just do not fall .

Offensively, we have the right players taking the right shots, and not forcing shots. That is a good sign the coaching and strategy is good. AJ forces some shots, but he makes most of them or gets fouled, as coach you have to live with that with his kind of results. The coaches cannot put the ball in the basket for our perimeter shooters. They have to come through for us to succeed.

Defensively, most games this team is tenacious. Yet, Northern got many open shots, and thankfully blew some bunnies. We also did not box out their perimeter players, they got too many rebounds, and more chances because of it. We also had too many unforced turnovers. All these things are from lack of focus and concentration. Once again, not the coaches fault.

I am in complete agreement with Tinkle on his thoughts of this game. This team has come together nicely, has great attitudes, great coaching, solid strategy, in addition the core has been together long enough to be consistent in all aspects of the game. Tinkle is 100% correct, it is up to the players to focus and execute consistently. They have to be held accountable at this stage. Most coaches understand offenses can struggle from time to time. However, there are no excuses for defensive letdowns, unforced turnovers, and not boxing out on rebounds.

I wish Tinkle had this kind of attitude a few years earlier. I am reliefed and glad he has higher expectations of his team and each player now. Keep it up Tinkle, do not let up on this team. They need this kind of push to get to the next level.
 
I respect the above opinion but what I saw was a team that did come out unfocused and "entitlted" to a W. Any critique of Tinkle's teams over the years should note that starting slow at home is somewhat familiar. For whatever reason the team was not mentally ready to play. Turnovers were just horrible.
If this game were against PSU we might have been blown out at home, but I give Tinkle credit for getting them back on track, riding Qvale and getting the W. I think we will see a different start against Riverside.
 
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