Thanks for the reports, men!! :clap: :clap: :clap:
grizzlyjournal said:Just returned home from the scrimmage. Here's the box score. If there's anything telling about the stats, it's minutes played. Only two players with fewer than 10 minutes and that confirms one of my first post-scrimmage impressions: this is one of the deepest, most balanced Griz hoops teams I've ever seen, which was a bit of a surprise to me, given the number of newcomers. Keep in mind that Manuel (#12) and Miller (#34) as transfers will have to sit out a year. That means that coaches might not have much leeway on redshirting a freshman (Brown? Anderson? Carter? Egun?). The other glaring stat is 3-pt shooting. The shots were open. BUT: Bobby Moorehead, Timmy Falls and Ahmaad Rorie each made the first trey they took.
Note: Scrimmage box score is wrong regarding Bobby Moorehead's stats. He made his first shot, a trey. The same is true regarding Timmy. It's possible that the coaches may have run a pre-scrimmage session before re-starting the clock. After an initial start that had a potential "starting 5" line up (Rorie, Akoh, Moorehead, Akoh and Pridgett) rip out to a 19-2 lead, coaches called time and re-sorted the lineups. I didn't initially notice, but it looks like they reset the clock to run for two 20-minute halves.
[media]https://twitter.com/MontanaGrizBB/status/1054920961865084928[/media]
grizzlyjournal said:GRIZ SCRIMMAGE: General first Impressions.
1. In a six-minute session before the actual scrimmage, coaches started: Jamar Akoh (PF), Bobby Moorehead (W), Sayeed Pridgett (F), Michael Oguine (SG) and first reserves Timmy Falls (G), Donaven Dorsey (W) and Kelby Kramer (C) in what might be Montana's initial 8-man rotation. This rotation outscored the reserves 19-2 in a six-minute pre-session.
2. Players who showed the most potential for cracking into that 8-man rotation could be freshmen Eddy Egun (G) and Ben Carter (C). They could also be candidates for redshirt, as could be Mack Anderson (C) and Freddy Brown (G). Transfers Kendal Manuel and Tony Miller are not eligible until next year. Sophmore power forward Peter Jones played played approx 7 minutes, scoring on a rebound and putback and grabbing a rebound. He is a strong, solid player, with good potential, and could well work his way up as an important reserve.
3. Montana's defense -- particularly its half-court trapping pressure -- was intense. All signs show that they're taking up where they finished last season. Play was very physical and almost chippy. Refs stopped play a couple of times to tone things down a bit. Despite the intensity, cameradie was high and congenial.
4. I could not determine how (or who) the team will designate to replace departed Fabijan Kryslovic (they may not need to). All four backup low-block players (Kramer, Carter, Anderson and Jones) have unique "big man" skills. It might take most of the pre-season for one player to work his way into a steady role. The player who surprised me most with his skill is Carter. He's still learning the Griz play book, but rebounds and moves well (has good footwork) and maintains a solid base.
5. This is a deep, deep team. If eligible, both Manuel and Miller could contribute immediately. Frosh Eddy Egun is a sophisticated, intense defender and made a big-time shot stuff late in the game. He has a wide floor base and very quick footwork: he does not defend like a typical frosh (which is meant as a high compliment). Freddy Brown is quick, smooth and a quick-draw shooter from the perimeter, but I see him as an ideal rs candidate.
6. This team is fit. The front seven are lean, muscular, sinewy and carry themselves like they have something to prove. Donaven Dorsey is close and -- though he said earlier this fall that he isn't quite "game ready," showed remarkable inside-outside versatility. On defense he played very physically; on offense, he played in the blocks with a wide post base until he moved to the perimeter where he seemed very comfortable with a long-range corner shot (though his accuracy was off). Kelby Kramer had a quiet scrimmage, but is an imposing low-block presence. I think he needs competitive game experience. The top six ALL showed evidence of a full summer of hard work. Oguine and Rorie have each added new twists to their offensive attack and both showed signs of dribbling through (and around) defense traps with more of an attack approach. Falls and Moorehead have both stepped up their defensive approach. Both are elite defenders with good vision and instincts. Both showed increased physical intensity. Both had several pass deflections and/or steals. On offense, both appear to have worked hard on ball control and driving skill. Falls had a couple of quick-step drives that were impressive. Pridgett seems (to me) primed for a break-out season. He seems to thrive on versatility. He snared seven rebounds, converted two for short buckets, and seemed to own the paint on the offensive end. He defended larger players early on, and held his own. I can envision him as a leading rebounder this season, but also envision him as capable of upping his offensive output. Remarkably, Akoh seemed to have made the most visible changes to his physique. Still an imposing force, he seems to have trimmed down somewhat. He's that rare low-block player who doesn't need to play above the rim to be effective and tonight showed several shot-feint/step-through pivots for easy shots under the bucket. Though he has a low power-crouch base, his shot is hard to block from behind. He moved to the high post several times tonight, and drove effectively several times. Pound-for-pound, muscle-for-muscle, I think Akoh is one of the strongest Grizzly big men I've had the opportunity to watch (Steve Vanek? John Stroeder? Larry Krystkowiak?)
7. This may be that rare team where 4-5-6 players can regularly score in double digits. It also may be a team where the first-line subs might be leading scorers.
8. This team appears built to defend well against quick teams with outside scoring versatility. Not yet answered is whether this team can match up well with teams that have a large front court with 2 high scoring low post players. That, however, is not intended as a criticism, but as an opportunity. The top-seven players on this team are pretty set in stone. If a low-block younger player can step up as a defender/rebounder, this Montana Griz team has the potential to be one of the very best.
Go Griz!