Ole Miss

[citygriz]

I ole-missed this game. So a few questions and observations:
1. Samuelson had four points and two boards early, continuing his impressive play, but nothing after that. What's up with that? Did he play? Get hurt?
2. In the heyday of Montana basketball, we were always among the nation's leaders in field-goal percentage defense, generally holding our opponents to .40 or less. Against Ole Miss, that percentage was around .45. We'd rally, but couldn't get stops. I'm sure our defensive performance will improve once we get back to league, and it has to if we're to win games with an under-sized team.
3. GrizRule on this board is something of an expert on shooting, and has always raved about Gfeller's form and accuracy on his shots. Yet we're now four years into his career and Montana, and he remains wildly inconsistent. He virtually shot us to a win against Oral Roberts, then goes for zippo against Ole Miss. Not the first time either. It would be a huge boost to this team if he could find more consistency.
4. Bobby Moorehead. One of the disappointments to me so far this year is that he is not more involved in he offense, having yet to have a breakout game. The game I saw against USC, it seemed to me he was reluctant to take shots, even when I thought he was open. At 6'7", he can pretty much get shots at will, and I'd like to see him fire it up more. He's a good shooter, and it would open up shots for others.
5. Once again, we played a great second half, outscoring them by eight. We just need to put two halves together like we did against Oral Roberts.
6. Wish I could have seen Sayeed's second half. He's gonna be a star for us.

 

[grizzlyjournal]

I ole-missed this game. So a few questions and observations:
1. Samuelson had four points and two boards early, continuing his impressive play, but nothing after that. What's up with that? Did he play? Get hurt?
2. In the heyday of Montana basketball, we were always among the nation's leaders in field-goal percentage defense, generally holding our opponents to .40 or less. Against Ole Miss, that percentage was around .45. We'd rally, but couldn't get stops. I'm sure our defensive performance will improve once we get back to league, and it has to if we're to win games with an under-sized team.
3. GrizRule on this board is something of an expert on shooting, and has always raved about Gfeller's form and accuracy on his shots. Yet we're now four years into his career and Montana, and he remains wildly inconsistent. He virtually shot us to a win against Oral Roberts, then goes for zippo against Ole Miss. Not the first time either. It would be a huge boost to this team if he could find more consistency.
4. Bobby Moorehead. One of the disappointments to me so far this year is that he is not more involved in he offense, having yet to have a breakout game. The game I saw against USC, it seemed to me he was reluctant to take shots, even when I thought he was open. At 6'7", he can pretty much get shots at will, and I'd like to see him fire it up more. He's a good shooter, and it would open up shots for others.
5. Once again, we played a great second half, outscoring them by eight. We just need to put two halves together like we did against Oral Roberts.
6. Wish I could have seen Sayeed's second half. He's gonna be a star for us.

Well, citay, I've asked some of the same questions you do, but I did watch the game and believe that TD had the players on the floor who best matched up against Ole Miss.
1. Samuelson was not hurt, but basically backed up Fabijan Krslovic, who had a monster defensive game against Ole Miss, and directed play from the high post O, which Montana used most of the second half. That allowed Sayeed Pridgett to post up low, with impressive results. Samuelson still played well, got 4 points and 3 rebounds in 8 minutes on the floor. When Samuelson scored his 14 points, it was against WSU when he started for Jack Lopez at power forward... a game where Pridgett started in place of Morehead. I just think it was a matchup issue, which worked for the Griz in the second half.
2. Montana under Travis DeCuire has played a very aggressive man-on defense that boxes out the paint. It's a helping D where they sometimes hedge high screens with a post, and then other times switch on high post screens. That means that someone else has to jump out on perimeter shooters... something that the Griz are working on. The Griz have given up some perimeter shots, but their D has forced quite a few turnovers in the past three games... and they have been rebounding well on D.
3. I'm not certain about Gfeller. BUT, when he subbed in early in the first half against Ole Miss, he immediately got two wide open shots. Rim rattlers. Close, but... My thinking is that Morehead gets more playing time at wing because he's a pretty good defender against taller players and rebounds well, but that's not meant as a criticism of Gfeller.
4. Morehead's playing his tail off, but still seems a bit uncertain of his shot. Hesitance? Can't say for certain. I believe he has a green light.
5. Sayeed had a monster second half, basically posting up and scoring against a significantly taller defender. As I stated earlier, Kryslo played high post while Jack L. played the perimeter as well. That Left Sayeed free to roam the baseline and he was deadly. He has several varieties of post-up & driving moves, that Ole Miss started double-teaming him low. The big plus for Sayeed is he's adjusted to the college game defensively and really solidified the Griz game on D (and rebounding) in the second half. I got one screen grab from yesterday's game. I just don't know how to post it here (I'll keep trying). No sound, but the two announcers were pretty amazed at Sayeed's toughness, attitude, and "never quit" aggressiveness.

So... that's my take.

 

[grizzlyjournal]

Well, here's an attempt to post a video clip of Sayeed Pridgett muscling up a shot against a double team. His bucket brought the Griz to within 8 late in the game. I selected this as proof that this young man just won't back down from anyone. Notice the great entry pass from Kryslo at the high post.

I don't think the audio works, but the video is as long as it is because the two announcers were raving at Pridgett's play, which was his 16th-17th points of the game.

https://quartzglen.smugmug.com/Video-grabs/i-LD4d5z7/A

 

[mtgrizrule]

With work, birthday, and Thanksgiving, I have been quite busy. I could not watch the GRIZ/Ole Miss game. It sounds like this team is rounding out to be a very nice team, with plenty of time to be ready for conference play.

As for Gfeller, I am completely stymied by his inconsistent shooting. Last season, I did notice he was not as square as he should be. He often faded one way or the other. I honestly feel, the majority of the problem is all in his head now. I would love to see him and Moorehead each find their consistent 3 point shot. Both are capable of going off with 5+ plus made 3's in a game. It is a matter of time before the GRIZ are consistently hitting at 40% + from 3. To me, regardless who is shooting the 3, that should be the team goal. So far this season, there have been a lot of struggling players from 3. The encouraging part, the GRIZ are consistently creating open looks. In time, those shots will start falling at a more consistent basis.

 

[citygriz]

Well, here's an attempt to post a video clip of Sayeed Pridgett muscling up a shot against a double team. His bucket brought the Griz to within 8 late in the game. I selected this as proof that this young man just won't back down from anyone. Notice the great entry pass from Kryslo at the high post.

I don't think the audio works, but the video is as long as it is because the two announcers were raving at Pridgett's play, which was his 16th-17th points of the game.

https://quartzglen.smugmug.com/Video-grabs/i-LD4d5z7/A

Thanks, Journal; thanks, GrizRule. Good to get your comments.
In high school, Michael Ray Richardson at 6'3" was a forward; at Montana, he became a point guard with lightening quickness and deft passing and scoring abilities.
On the other foot, Pridgett in high school was a tall scrawny point guard, with great open court awareness, and stunning bursts to the hoop. But he seems to be filling out into a solid post-up player, while (like Anthony Davis) retaining his ball-handling and passing skills. Remember, he's a true freshman, and he's going toe-to-toe with top-notch Division One players. Game I saw against USC, he seemed slightly awed in his first college game, but also absolutely like he belonged underneath against those long lean Trojan frontcourt players. He's gonna be a load for the Big Sky, that's for sure. And what if he's got a growth spurt left in him? I cannot believe how good he's be at 6'8".

 

[sacstateman]

I've watched Saheed since he was a sophomore in HS...what he has done so far does not surprise me in the least...if you look back at the recruiting threads, I said he was a great get and a players with a great motor but he has been 6' 5" ish since his sophomore year in high school so I don't think he's going to have a "growth spurt"....