BigSkyBreakdown said:
We have said this on Twitter and we will say it here. Everyone is dealing with COVID, stops, startsc travel, cancelations and reschedules.
Teams that put a premium on player development over course of a players career or in this case...just one season cannot be overlooked.
The Lady Griz have experience with Stiles, Gfeller and Anderson. Fatkin and Frolich are also vets that have experience. That is 5 experienced kids that have lots of playing experience. ISU is the only team we can think of that returns more experience. Are the Lady Griz running out of gas? Monday sure was not a good outing. What is being done in the short term prior to BSC tourney to improve upon this? Obviously the return of Fatkin will really help. Who they play in the rotations up until the end of the season will or should give fans an indication who Holsinger is willing to give a shot and who he has confidence in.
Time will tell if Holsinger and his staff recruit and develop depth in the program. The question is will he go transfer portal for more experience? Will he develop the younger kids over the course of their careers (Albrecht, Keller, Huard, Barsch, Polymeni and Kiefer? They have 3 HS kids coming in along with the big that just joined. Will they finish there careers as Lady Griz?
It will be interesting to watch how this program builds. If they continue to put a premium on P&R then recruiting players that have bball IQ and skills to play that action is a high priority. Which also means he will need to recruit shooters that provide space to allow P&R to be effective.
We think after the season is over more roster shake ups are going to happen. This happens in almost every program, but if anyone leaves, who leaves will paint a picture as to the direction they are going to go.
BSB
BigSkyBreakdown: I assume you have a history with the Big Sky Conf. in general and a team in particular... though you don't identify those connections on your site. Which is ok, but you seem to have a view from a distance. Which is also ok.
In that light, your unflinching examination of Montana basketball's ongoing situation makes me feel somewhat uncomfortable because...
well, you've got a valid and important analytical perspective. I personally acknowledge: you're correct. A winning probram is not built in one season. The blunt truth of your "time will tell" observation, is already being played out every game... not always on the court. This program, which literally collapsed within months after Robin Selvig symbolically cleaned out his desk (which few of us saw at first) has a long way to go yet, I agree. Coach Holsinger probably faced a much larger task than most of us can recognize because of the history, the heavy influence of a large and loyal (often internally partisan) fan base, and the long shadow of a legend. And great former players as well.
It was frankly impossible for Coach Holsinger to "just do a complete sweep and build his own program from the bare lockers," like some other first-year coaches have done. I'm glad he didn't, because the veteran returning players really sacrificed for this program and deserved at least one season of a new attitude. My personal hope is that this GrizWBB team can win at least one tourney game (to shake the monkey off) for starters... even though I believe they're capable of more.
That might have meant a delay of sorts in the rebuilding process. Though there have been many promising signs so far, substantive change is certainly elusive; it will likely be an up and down process for awhile. It's painted on players' and coaches' faces. This team just can't go out and play; there's too much pressure in "Griz Nation" to be that carefree. ANY long observors of college basketball know that building a program takes 4 or 5 seasons. Doubt that? Then ask coach Binford or coach Sobolewski.
And THAT is OK as well. I'm patient. I'm going to support this team and program 100%. Most of the WBB posters here at eGriz are fully supportive as well.
Now I could be flat-out wrong: these kids are exhausted & that's a good enough explanation. In that light, we can be patient. These are kids who start as students. We have an obligation to support them.
But deep down, I believe they're still in this, and that they know it. This group, these coaches and these players will jump back into the fray. I ain't counting them out. No one likes a monkey on their back, especially if it was put there by circumstances they had nothing to do with. I'm going to be there Thursday to cheer them on.
