jodcon said:
So didn't see the game but checked the thread occasionally...what did you guys think about the team overall?
A little early to be specific, simply because Michael Oguine did not play. When he does return, I believe this team has incredible potential. The not-so-glamorous good stuff from last night:
• Team rebounding was solid. Except for a couple of scrums on long caroms where USC got 4 3-4 straight boards on the offensive end, the Griz did well... outboarded 39-32 by a MUCH larger, athletic team. They held their own.
• I think a lot of teams are going to play some sort of zone D against the Griz this season (USC really hemmed Walter Wright in last night)but there were good signs that Montana has a good gaps offense and will just get better. They did a good second-half job of getting the ball into Fabijan Krslovic and Jared Samuelson. Krslo scored 10, which is a good starting point for post O. Samuelson showed very solid potential; he's solid, moves well, has a nice variety of low-post moves. But he got banged around a bit on rebounding scrums. Jack Lopez had an off night after getting called for two blocking fouls early.
• The Griz defense looked to be at mid-season form last night and will just get better. Several steals on traps and passes into the key that turned into early O. The irony is that almost all of the early O breakaways the Griz got were snuffed by USC swat blocks (they're a long team)... including two blocks I felt were goaltending. As this team gets comfortable on D, they'll be very good.
* It seemed obvious to me that freshman Sayeed Pridgett got down on himself a bit, but his potential is similar to what we saw with Oguine last year. He's going to be a monster on defense and rebounds well. He got stuffed several times on shots and you could see he was a bit rattled.
• The Griz continue to be streaky on offense, which is probably understandable.But I believe this team will just get better as they play tough competition. Morehead, Gfeller and Lopez will be a great perimeter combo.
• Walter Wright was another player who got a bit frustrated, but Mario Dunn did an outstanding job -- particularly defensively -- in the guard rotation. Griz are ok here. Mario's shot was off last night, but he's got a good shot and I think he'll be ok.
• The team played with toughness and composure, but faltered down the stretch. Here's hoping that an unrelenting lineup of tough opponents makes them tougher. They have the physical potential. The mental toughness will build with each game.
• I don't like to make specific predictions... but this team has the talent to do this year what a lot of folks say they'll possibly do in a year or two.
• Lastly, the Griz have a young star in Ahmaad Rorie. Incredible shot from the perimeter and the high key. He's so deceptive and can usually clear space for a pull-up shot with a slight shoulder dip and the threat of a drive. USC keyed on him hard, because they know him from his time at Oregon. But he played within himself all game. No worries about where the Griz will get the scoring to fill in for Martin Breunig's scoring.