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Grizzlies face powerful foe in Cowboys
By BOB MESEROLL Missoulian sports editor
The Montana men's basketball team exits the frying pan and enters the fire with its game at the University of Wyoming on Wednesday night.
“I just text messaged Krysko that same message today,” Montana coach Wayne Tinkle said of former Griz coach Larry Krystkowiak. “He said it would only get tougher from here.”
The Griz are coming off a 74-57 defeat at the hands of Utah Valley State on Monday at Orem's McKay Events Center, where the Wolverines have lost just twice over the past three seasons.
Now the Griz face Wyoming in the 15,000-seat Arena-Auditorium, dubbed the “Dome of Doom,” in the Wyoming media guide. The arena sits at 7,200 feet above sea level in the rarified air of Laramie. The Cowboys of the Mountain West Conference are 51-8 in the “Double A” against nonconference foes in Coach Steve McClain's nine years at the helm.
The most recent win was a 94-79 drubbing of Boise State in the Cowboys' season opener last Saturday. That's the same Boise State team, more or less, that beat the Griz 90-69 at the start of last season.
Sophomore sensation Brandon Ewing led the Pokes with 32 points in the win over Boise State. Fellow guard Brad Jones added 24.
“Jones is a guy looking to beat you off the dribble at any time,” Tinkle said. “He can finish and draw contact, and he's a capable shooter. You can't just play off of him.”
Ewing set the Mountain West's freshman scoring record last season with 423 points and and also broke Utah great Andrew Bogut's freshman record for scoring in league play. Bogut now plays for the Milwaukee Bucks.
“Ewing is just a threat wherever he is on the floor,” Tinkle said. “He's great at drawing contact. It's going to be a tough challenge for our perimeter players.”
Matt Martin will start at shooting guard for the Griz while either senior Bryan Ellis or freshman Cameron Rundles will start at the point. Ellis has been battling a sprained ankle and a bruised shin. He won't start unless he's at full strength, Tinkle said.
The Griz came out hot against Utah Valley, making their first eight shots. They were just 13-for-43 (30 percent) thereafter. Utah Valley, meanwhile, lit up the Griz, making 9 of 13 from 3-point range.
“Our big thing is we knew this would be a work in progress,” Tinkle said. “The players we lost (Kevin Criswell and Virgil Matthews) were so huge in more ways than statistics - toughness and leadership.
“But the kids' attitude is awesome. We have to minimize our lapses.. There was a six-minute stretch in the second half against Utah Valley where we zoned out a little bit defensively and didn't execute offensively.”
Tinkle said these tough nonconference games will help the Griz down the road.
“Like I told them at our walk-through tonight, just because we want to be peaking at the right time doesn't mean we can't play well now,” Tinkle said. “Our guys are up for the challenge. If we can keep their guards out of the paint and keep their shooters from getting hot, we'll be in for a nice ballgame.”
NOTES: The sister of Griz freshman Dave Vanderjagt plays for Wyoming. Rebecca Vanderjagt, a 6-foot-3 junior, averaged 2.4 points and 2.6 rebounds a game last season. Š Tinkle said Vanderjagt might see his first action of the regular season against the Cowboys. ... Wyoming, which is picked to finish eighth in the Mountain West, was 14-18 a year ago and was the top rebounding team in the league. ... Tinkle said he did not play senior Mike Chavez against Utah Valley for “personal reasons.” Chavez will be available against Wyoming.
By BOB MESEROLL Missoulian sports editor
The Montana men's basketball team exits the frying pan and enters the fire with its game at the University of Wyoming on Wednesday night.
“I just text messaged Krysko that same message today,” Montana coach Wayne Tinkle said of former Griz coach Larry Krystkowiak. “He said it would only get tougher from here.”
The Griz are coming off a 74-57 defeat at the hands of Utah Valley State on Monday at Orem's McKay Events Center, where the Wolverines have lost just twice over the past three seasons.
Now the Griz face Wyoming in the 15,000-seat Arena-Auditorium, dubbed the “Dome of Doom,” in the Wyoming media guide. The arena sits at 7,200 feet above sea level in the rarified air of Laramie. The Cowboys of the Mountain West Conference are 51-8 in the “Double A” against nonconference foes in Coach Steve McClain's nine years at the helm.
The most recent win was a 94-79 drubbing of Boise State in the Cowboys' season opener last Saturday. That's the same Boise State team, more or less, that beat the Griz 90-69 at the start of last season.
Sophomore sensation Brandon Ewing led the Pokes with 32 points in the win over Boise State. Fellow guard Brad Jones added 24.
“Jones is a guy looking to beat you off the dribble at any time,” Tinkle said. “He can finish and draw contact, and he's a capable shooter. You can't just play off of him.”
Ewing set the Mountain West's freshman scoring record last season with 423 points and and also broke Utah great Andrew Bogut's freshman record for scoring in league play. Bogut now plays for the Milwaukee Bucks.
“Ewing is just a threat wherever he is on the floor,” Tinkle said. “He's great at drawing contact. It's going to be a tough challenge for our perimeter players.”
Matt Martin will start at shooting guard for the Griz while either senior Bryan Ellis or freshman Cameron Rundles will start at the point. Ellis has been battling a sprained ankle and a bruised shin. He won't start unless he's at full strength, Tinkle said.
The Griz came out hot against Utah Valley, making their first eight shots. They were just 13-for-43 (30 percent) thereafter. Utah Valley, meanwhile, lit up the Griz, making 9 of 13 from 3-point range.
“Our big thing is we knew this would be a work in progress,” Tinkle said. “The players we lost (Kevin Criswell and Virgil Matthews) were so huge in more ways than statistics - toughness and leadership.
“But the kids' attitude is awesome. We have to minimize our lapses.. There was a six-minute stretch in the second half against Utah Valley where we zoned out a little bit defensively and didn't execute offensively.”
Tinkle said these tough nonconference games will help the Griz down the road.
“Like I told them at our walk-through tonight, just because we want to be peaking at the right time doesn't mean we can't play well now,” Tinkle said. “Our guys are up for the challenge. If we can keep their guards out of the paint and keep their shooters from getting hot, we'll be in for a nice ballgame.”
NOTES: The sister of Griz freshman Dave Vanderjagt plays for Wyoming. Rebecca Vanderjagt, a 6-foot-3 junior, averaged 2.4 points and 2.6 rebounds a game last season. Š Tinkle said Vanderjagt might see his first action of the regular season against the Cowboys. ... Wyoming, which is picked to finish eighth in the Mountain West, was 14-18 a year ago and was the top rebounding team in the league. ... Tinkle said he did not play senior Mike Chavez against Utah Valley for “personal reasons.” Chavez will be available against Wyoming.
