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UM MEN'S BASKETBALL BLOG: Strong crop of guards returns to Big Sky
StoryUM MEN'S BASKETBALL BLOG: Strong crop of guards returns to Big Sky
By BOB MESEROLL Missoulian sports editor missoulian.com | Posted: Tuesday, October 12, 2010 6:00 am
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Of the seven players returning from last season's All-Big Sky Conference team, six are guards. The only exception is Montana State's Bobby Howard, a senior forward.
The cream of the crop of returnees is Weber State junior Damian Lillard, last season's league MVP who has all the tools. Lillard led the league in scoring at 19.9 points a game, improved his 3-point shooting from 37 percent to 39 percent last season and shoots 85 percent from the line. He's a player who can take over a game and will likely make the Wildcats the preseason pick to win the league.
Just a tick below Lillard is Northern Arizona's Cameron Jones, who averaged 19.3 ppg last season while shooting better than 50 percent from the field overall and 42 percent from 3-point range.
Devon Beitzel returns to Northern Colorado for his senior season after missing the latter part of last season with an injury, a blow from which the Bears couldn't recover after finishing second during the regular season. Beitzel is a streaky scorer who averaged 14.3 ppg last season. He led his team in treys with 68 despite missing the final seven games of the season.
Idaho State welcomes back senior Broderick Gilchrest, who was seventh in the league in scoring (15.5) and seventh in assists (3.2).
The other two returning postseason honorees are Montana's Will Cherry and Eastern Washington's Glen Dean, the top two freshmen in the league last season.
Dean was named the top freshman after averaging better than 14 points a game during league play. He also led his class in assists, field goal percentage, free throw percentage and 3-point field goal percentage.
Cherry isn't the shooter Dean is, but he was fourth in the league in steals and is truly creative on the offensive end.
Eastern Washington also brings back sophomore Jeffrey Forbes, who averaged 11.0 ppg last season, giving the Eagles one of the deepest backcourts in the league.
Montana State lost its starting backcourt to graduation, but brings in freshman Casey Trujeque, who is expected to vie for the starting point guard slot.
Another newcomer to keep an eye on is Northern Colorado freshman Paul Garnica, who averaged 30 ppg as a senior at Robert E. Lee High School in San Antonio.
Portland State returns senior Melvin Jones, who averaged 11.8 ppg for the Vikings last season
UM MEN'S BASKETBALL BLOG: Strong crop of guards returns to Big Sky
StoryUM MEN'S BASKETBALL BLOG: Strong crop of guards returns to Big Sky
By BOB MESEROLL Missoulian sports editor missoulian.com | Posted: Tuesday, October 12, 2010 6:00 am
Font Size
efault font sizeLarger font size.Practice for Division I men's basketball teams begins Friday. It might be a good time to review who's who in the Big Sky Conference. First, a look at the guards.Of the seven players returning from last season's All-Big Sky Conference team, six are guards. The only exception is Montana State's Bobby Howard, a senior forward.
The cream of the crop of returnees is Weber State junior Damian Lillard, last season's league MVP who has all the tools. Lillard led the league in scoring at 19.9 points a game, improved his 3-point shooting from 37 percent to 39 percent last season and shoots 85 percent from the line. He's a player who can take over a game and will likely make the Wildcats the preseason pick to win the league.
Just a tick below Lillard is Northern Arizona's Cameron Jones, who averaged 19.3 ppg last season while shooting better than 50 percent from the field overall and 42 percent from 3-point range.
Devon Beitzel returns to Northern Colorado for his senior season after missing the latter part of last season with an injury, a blow from which the Bears couldn't recover after finishing second during the regular season. Beitzel is a streaky scorer who averaged 14.3 ppg last season. He led his team in treys with 68 despite missing the final seven games of the season.
Idaho State welcomes back senior Broderick Gilchrest, who was seventh in the league in scoring (15.5) and seventh in assists (3.2).
The other two returning postseason honorees are Montana's Will Cherry and Eastern Washington's Glen Dean, the top two freshmen in the league last season.
Dean was named the top freshman after averaging better than 14 points a game during league play. He also led his class in assists, field goal percentage, free throw percentage and 3-point field goal percentage.
Cherry isn't the shooter Dean is, but he was fourth in the league in steals and is truly creative on the offensive end.
Eastern Washington also brings back sophomore Jeffrey Forbes, who averaged 11.0 ppg last season, giving the Eagles one of the deepest backcourts in the league.
Montana State lost its starting backcourt to graduation, but brings in freshman Casey Trujeque, who is expected to vie for the starting point guard slot.
Another newcomer to keep an eye on is Northern Colorado freshman Paul Garnica, who averaged 30 ppg as a senior at Robert E. Lee High School in San Antonio.
Portland State returns senior Melvin Jones, who averaged 11.8 ppg for the Vikings last season
