FootballGuru
Well-known member
Griz continue to evolve
By BOB MESEROLL of the Missoulian
If coach Larry Krystkowiak is right, the Montana Grizzlies' best basketball is still ahead of them.
Considering the Griz are 14-3 overall, 4-1 in league and ranked No. 11 in collegeinsider.com's Mid-Major poll, that might be bad news for the rest of the Big Sky Conference.
“We came a long way in the last week in practice,” said Krystkowiak, whose Griz entertain Portland State on Thursday at 7:05 p.m. at Dahlberg Arena. “Our practice (Tuesday) might have been our best practice of the year in intensity and focus, guys taking care of their own business. They understand we're not going to be out there for a long time now and there's no such thing as going half speed or three-quarter speed. They're ready to go at game speed so we can simulate game conditions.”
Roles continue to evolve, the team is improving defensively and the offense is still humming along at an efficient pace. Junior Matt Dlouhy stepped into the starting lineup four games back and has averaged nearly 11 points a game since. Sophomore point guard Matt Martin's minutes have decreased as a result, but he came off the bench for seven big points and three assists in the Grizzlies' road win at Sacramento State last week. And junior Bryan Ellis' time has increased dramatically over the last four games, giving the Griz a defensive spark plug off the bench.
“Some guys are really determined to prove that they deserve some playing time,” Krystkowiak said while rattling off the names of Austin Swift, Stuart Mayes, Kyle Sharp, Mike Chavez and Ellis. “It's a nice competition at each position. I just sense we're firing on a few more cylinders than we were before.”
As the reserves have come along in practice, so has Krystkowiak's confidence in them.
“I have a lot of faith in our bench,” Krystkowiak said. “Some of those younger kids ... I can't say I've had as much faith in them as I do right now.”
Add those guys into a mix that includes three starters who average in double digits in scoring - Andrew Strait (17.6), Kevin Criswell (15.6) and Virgil Matthews (10.1) - and the Griz look primed for a strong stretch run.
Although the Griz already lead the league in defensive field goal percentage (.430), it's on that end of the floor that Krystkowiak would like to see continued improvement.
“I find myself this time of year watching the NFL playoffs,” Krystkowiak said. “In basketball, you tend to forget all the different facets of the game. When you watch a football game, you see what the offensive statistics are, what the defensive statistics are. Why the Pittsburgh Steelers are in the Super Bowl is because of certain elements of their defense. In basketball, it tends to get all woven in together. In five seconds you go from one to the other.
“I want us to go out and be a group of stoppers.”
Portland State is not the high-octane group that won the league's regular-season title last season - six seniors departed from that team - but the Vikings still have some firepower.
They're led by senior guard Jake Schroeder, the third most prolific 3-point shooter in the Big Sky with 2.5 a game. Junior transfer Juma Kamara was 5-for-6 from beyond the arc on his way to 23 points in a home win over Weber State last week. And sophomore point guard Ryan Sommer returned from a hamstring injury last week, giving the Vikings another outside threat.
Inside, the Vikings look to University of Washington transfer Anthony Washington, a 6-foot-9 junior averaging 9.1 ppg, and 6-7 senior Tyler Hollist (6.2 ppg). Scott Morrison, a 6-11 sophomore, gives the Vikings a solid option off the bench.
“We can't lose shooters, not know where guys are,” Krystkowiak said of defending the Vikings. “I really believe it starts with having some energy at the start of the game. Come out and defend like it's your last possession.”
NOTES: The starting time for Saturday's game against Eastern Washington has been pushed back 30 minutes to 7:35 p.m. ... PSU is guided by first-year coach Ken Bone, an assistant at Washington for three seasons before taking over for Heath Schroyer this year. Bone compiled a record of 253-97 as head coach of Division II Seattle Pacific from 1990-2002. ... PSU brought a five-game winning streak into league play, including two wins over Idaho and one over Pac-10 Oregon, but has lost four of five in league, including two at home.
Sports editor Bob Meseroll can be reached at 523-5265 or at [email protected].
By BOB MESEROLL of the Missoulian
If coach Larry Krystkowiak is right, the Montana Grizzlies' best basketball is still ahead of them.
Considering the Griz are 14-3 overall, 4-1 in league and ranked No. 11 in collegeinsider.com's Mid-Major poll, that might be bad news for the rest of the Big Sky Conference.
“We came a long way in the last week in practice,” said Krystkowiak, whose Griz entertain Portland State on Thursday at 7:05 p.m. at Dahlberg Arena. “Our practice (Tuesday) might have been our best practice of the year in intensity and focus, guys taking care of their own business. They understand we're not going to be out there for a long time now and there's no such thing as going half speed or three-quarter speed. They're ready to go at game speed so we can simulate game conditions.”
Roles continue to evolve, the team is improving defensively and the offense is still humming along at an efficient pace. Junior Matt Dlouhy stepped into the starting lineup four games back and has averaged nearly 11 points a game since. Sophomore point guard Matt Martin's minutes have decreased as a result, but he came off the bench for seven big points and three assists in the Grizzlies' road win at Sacramento State last week. And junior Bryan Ellis' time has increased dramatically over the last four games, giving the Griz a defensive spark plug off the bench.
“Some guys are really determined to prove that they deserve some playing time,” Krystkowiak said while rattling off the names of Austin Swift, Stuart Mayes, Kyle Sharp, Mike Chavez and Ellis. “It's a nice competition at each position. I just sense we're firing on a few more cylinders than we were before.”
As the reserves have come along in practice, so has Krystkowiak's confidence in them.
“I have a lot of faith in our bench,” Krystkowiak said. “Some of those younger kids ... I can't say I've had as much faith in them as I do right now.”
Add those guys into a mix that includes three starters who average in double digits in scoring - Andrew Strait (17.6), Kevin Criswell (15.6) and Virgil Matthews (10.1) - and the Griz look primed for a strong stretch run.
Although the Griz already lead the league in defensive field goal percentage (.430), it's on that end of the floor that Krystkowiak would like to see continued improvement.
“I find myself this time of year watching the NFL playoffs,” Krystkowiak said. “In basketball, you tend to forget all the different facets of the game. When you watch a football game, you see what the offensive statistics are, what the defensive statistics are. Why the Pittsburgh Steelers are in the Super Bowl is because of certain elements of their defense. In basketball, it tends to get all woven in together. In five seconds you go from one to the other.
“I want us to go out and be a group of stoppers.”
Portland State is not the high-octane group that won the league's regular-season title last season - six seniors departed from that team - but the Vikings still have some firepower.
They're led by senior guard Jake Schroeder, the third most prolific 3-point shooter in the Big Sky with 2.5 a game. Junior transfer Juma Kamara was 5-for-6 from beyond the arc on his way to 23 points in a home win over Weber State last week. And sophomore point guard Ryan Sommer returned from a hamstring injury last week, giving the Vikings another outside threat.
Inside, the Vikings look to University of Washington transfer Anthony Washington, a 6-foot-9 junior averaging 9.1 ppg, and 6-7 senior Tyler Hollist (6.2 ppg). Scott Morrison, a 6-11 sophomore, gives the Vikings a solid option off the bench.
“We can't lose shooters, not know where guys are,” Krystkowiak said of defending the Vikings. “I really believe it starts with having some energy at the start of the game. Come out and defend like it's your last possession.”
NOTES: The starting time for Saturday's game against Eastern Washington has been pushed back 30 minutes to 7:35 p.m. ... PSU is guided by first-year coach Ken Bone, an assistant at Washington for three seasons before taking over for Heath Schroyer this year. Bone compiled a record of 253-97 as head coach of Division II Seattle Pacific from 1990-2002. ... PSU brought a five-game winning streak into league play, including two wins over Idaho and one over Pac-10 Oregon, but has lost four of five in league, including two at home.
Sports editor Bob Meseroll can be reached at 523-5265 or at [email protected].
