Tale of Two Travel Nighmares?

[citygriz]

Mine: Left the office at 4:30, arrived at the game just before tip. Missed the warm-ups. Stop-and-go traffic 22 miles from Palo Alto to San Jose--with "go" meaning 20 mph. With no traffic, this is a one hour trip. Tonight, two and a half hours. I arrived a tired grouchy crankbutt.

Team: These weren't the Montana Grizzlies, they were the Montana Zombies. Their opponent wasn't the Spartans, it was the Sandman. Our team needed to make more free throws, but they also needed No-Doz. Midway through the second half, Walter Wright, already with two fouls, committed two of the dumbest fouls I've ever seen, mugging an opposing guard at half court. With four fouls, he went to the bench. Little wonder. He probably needed a blow. Or a nap. Down the stretch Martin Breunig missed two free throws and a bunny at the rim. But was that guy Breunig? Or a sleepwalker?

Then it hit me. I wonder if our team had a worse travel nightmare than I did. Did somebody say they got up at 6 a.m.? Does this mean they got up at that hour then flew to San Jose for a game that started at eight their time? Please somebody tell me this was the case. I'm looking for an excuse, and this would be a great one. This would explain pretty much everything. Because this was the most lethargic performance I have seen by a Griz team, maybe ever. Random observations:

Krslovic: When he got his second foul, I glanced at the clock. "19:08." Two fouls in the first minute! When does that happen? Krslovic was as mystified as I was. He could only shrug his shoulders and shuffle off the court. That was an indication that these refs were going to ruin the game, which they did. But I love Krslovic. He plays tight defense, hustles, and has developed some nifty moves around the basket. He played most of the second half with three fouls, before yet another ticky-tack call fouled him out of the game.

Oguine: Oh, gosh yes, this kid is special. His quicks, hops, athleticism just leap out at you. The best player on the court, and he's ours and he's only a freshman. This is exciting.

Gavin DeJong: With this team, I'm looking at what DeCuire is building, and while we know we'll have plenty of firepower at the guard slots, I want to know what we'll have in the paint. Well, I was extremely impressed with DeJong. He's got the body, played good defense, and showed a nifty little hook shot. About the only silver lining in the Krslovic debacle was getting a chance to see DeJong in extended minutes. I'm so glad we have him and not the Cats.

Walter Wright: Lightning-quick junior college all-American--and he's walking the ball up the court? I simply don't get it. This kid has jets, and on one play, where a long rebound came to him and he took off down the court leading to a quick basket, you could see the potential for a Warriors-style run-and-gun offense, with him streaking down and court and either going to the basket or dishing out to one of our three-point shooters, Moorehead or Gfeller. In a half-court offense seems he can get to the basket almost at will, though he has trouble finishing. But in an open court game, this kid would be almost unstoppable. Team him with Oguine in that kind of pell-mell offense, and they would be a nightmare to any opposing team. Instead....walk...the...ball....up....the....court.......zzzzzz..........

Moorehead: Another building block for the future. So slight, he could probably have used a redshirt year, but it looks like the kid can ball and guard. Not quite a three-star recruit, but he'll be at the level before he's finished at Montana.

DeCuire: Apart from the team's overall lethargy, DeCuire was my one small question mark. We know he has great character, is not afraid to "hire up," and has proved to be fabulous recruiter. Lest anybody on this board think otherwise, I am probably his biggest fan. But here's my one small question: Is it possible to over coach? He was on his feet the entire game, instructing, cajoling, gesturing. At one point he yelled to the team before a free throw at the other end of the court, "Huddle up!" It seemed to me our team played tight, constantly looking over to see what he wanted, rather than getting into the flow of the game. My impression was that rather than fitting into the role of sideline coach, he was back in the role of on-the-court point guard, as if he were right in the middle of the action. I know, he's in a position where he sees so much, and knows so much, that he's constantly got to release that knowledge. But as I say, it seemed to me our team played tight, not to make mistakes, rather than just get into a flow, and utilize the incredible talent DeCuire has brought in, and will continue to bring in. Sometimes when I see parents with their kids, I want to say, "Lighten up a bit. Your kids are great!" Maybe we just mellow a bit with age. Travis will as well.

 

[UMGriz75]

DeCuire: Apart from the team's overall lethargy, DeCuire was my one small question mark. We know he has great character, is not afraid to "hire up," and has proved to be fabulous recruiter. Lest anybody on this board think otherwise, I am probably his biggest fan. But here's my one small question: Is it possible to over coach? He was on his feet the entire game, instructing, cajoling, gesturing. At one point he yelled to the team before a free throw at the other end of the court, "Huddle up!" It seemed to me our team played tight, constantly looking over to see what he wanted, rather than getting into the flow of the game. My impression was that rather than fitting into the role of sideline coach, he was back in the role of on-the-court point guard, as if he were right in the middle of the action. I know, he's in a position where he sees so much, and knows so much, that he's constantly got to release that knowledge. But as I say, it seemed to me our team played tight, not to make mistakes, rather than just get into a flow, and utilize the incredible talent DeCuire has brought in, and will continue to bring in. Sometimes when I see parents with their kids, I want to say, "Lighten up a bit. Your kids are great!" Maybe we just mellow a bit with age. Travis will as well.

I noticed that as well. Jud Heathcote could fly off the bench in a tirade, taking off his sport coat, stomp all over it while hollering "BENNNNIIEEEEEEE!" but most of the time, he let the kids play the game. Hard to look in two directions at once from the floor, and the style of coaching I often wonder does more harm than good by being a distraction.

Kind of like having kids. You drive the first one crazy demanding perfection; the second one, your a little tired, by the time you get to the fourth or fifth one, "oh well, they'll figure it out."

 

[NorthEndZoneDan]

6 am departure from here. I was thinking earlier that would make for one long day on game day. Still, that's no excuse for the horrendous free throw shooting and the absolute refusal to get a rebound.

 

[montanamagic]

Unfortunately the poor performance can't be blamed on travel. While they did fly out at 6:00 am- it was Sunday morning.

 

[NorthEndZoneDan]

Unfortunately the poor performance can't be blamed on travel. While they did fly out at 6:00 am- it was Sunday morning.

some one posted in the game thread that it was 6 am game day departure. Dont know which happened, but the point remains, make the free throws and get the rebounds. There is no excuse for either.

 

[AllWeatherFan]

I think two other nightmares are:

1. How over-optimistic we fans sometimes get after we win (i.e., Boise State); and
2. How down we get after a loss.

It's a long season. You know you're gonna have a game like this on the road every now and then. Hopefully we got it out of our system.

 

[GrizLA]

I think two other nightmares are:

1. How over-optimistic we fans sometimes get after we win (i.e., Boise State); and
2. How down we get after a loss.

It's a long season. You know you're gonna have a game like this on the road every now and then. Hopefully we got it out of our system.[/quote
Optimism is warranted with the caliber of player. This game might be a fluke but it is why the Big Sky will be lucky to get a 15 seed....this one hurts more than most because SJS is a perennial bottom feeder with only 2 wins last year...no excuse for this performance...

 

[citygriz]

I think two other nightmares are:

1. How over-optimistic we fans sometimes get after we win (i.e., Boise State); and
2. How down we get after a loss.

It's a long season. You know you're gonna have a game like this on the road every now and then. Hopefully we got it out of our system.[/quote
Optimism is warranted with the caliber of player. This game might be a fluke but it is why the Big Sky will be lucky to get a 15 seed....this one hurts more than most because SJS is a perennial bottom feeder with only 2 wins last year...no excuse for this performance...

Right. San Jose has very little. No dominant big. Nobody quick or exceptional at guard. I would say that Wright, Oguine, Krslovic and Breunig were the four best players on the court. Sad too for the potential recruits. And I agree with GrizLA, this will hurt us and the conference in the seedings.

 

[UMGriz75]

I think two other nightmares are:
1. How over-optimistic we fans sometimes get after we win (i.e., Boise State); and
2. How down we get after a loss.

After seeing the irrationality on the football side with QB issues, it approaches Wombat quality sometimes. Or perhaps more like a sorority, where the more some posters are around each other, the more synchronized their periods become.

I am sure Bob Stitt will be a good coach, but there is no reason to expect that he will be phenomenal just because the Eags collapsed. He might be, there's just no evidence beyond one good game, after two bad games, after one good game, after two bad games, after one good game, a record something resembling his previous tenure as a head coach. I sure hope this weekend makes it two in a row, however.

For the same reasons that I like Bob Stitt, I like Travis DeCuire. That's based more on perceptions and hope, and I always feel the need to be realistic about those aspects as a sports fan, sometime sports reporter and sometime sports editor. As usual, the game play and the stats tell a story, not a real positive one this past game, similar to our Home game loss in football against Cal Poly. But, I think both coaches are smart, and have some great talent. Not a fan of the new hand check rule, that's for sure. Puts too much "game outcome" in the hands of the refs, without a corresponding benefit to the game. And to have giddy refs applying a very technical rule is always a recipe for disaster anyway.

Last night was just a rough game, not physically, but no smoothness at all. Five mostly independently firing cylinders with poor shooting luck, and uncharacteristic lack of success at FTs. Good grief, they are "free" throws, fellahs. I've watched Gavin and Martin make 500 in practices with ease. What's with the cold shooting? That one doesn't require teamwork, doesn't require a strategy, doesn't require a floor leader. It just requires standing there and taking a free shot at the basket.

 

[grizzlyjournal]

I think two other nightmares are:
1. How over-optimistic we fans sometimes get after we win (i.e., Boise State); and
2. How down we get after a loss.

After seeing the irrationality on the football side with QB issues, it approaches Wombat quality sometimes. Or perhaps more like a sorority, where the more some posters are around each other, the more synchronized their periods become.

Last night was just a rough game, not physically, but no smoothness at all. Five mostly independently firing cylinders with poor shooting luck, and uncharacteristic lack of success at FTs. Good grief, they are "free" throws, fellahs. I've watched Gavin and Martin make 500 in practices with ease. What's with the cold shooting? That one doesn't require teamwork, doesn't require a strategy, doesn't require a floor leader. It just requires standing there and taking a free shot at the basket.

I certainly agree about the free throws; 2-for-6 from Breunig is unusual, but has happened in the past when the Griz were behind or in pressure situations. I think this will get better soon (hope!).

After thinking about last night's game, and subtracting the official's calls (which really took a first half toll).... this looked like a classic "young team" early season loss. In terms of talent alone, the Griz back court looks at least as good as last year, when Jordan Gregory and Mario Dun ruled court. But they're young & green and running a new offense. Both Walter Wright and Michael Oguine are talented but somewhat unsure in running the team. And Riley Bradshaw has really struggled.

No good team can win without a tough floor general and currently there's only a buncha sargents running around. As both Wright and Oguine gain familiarity with DeCuire's system, we'll see better on-court composure. In the meantime, we're bound to see a few games like this from a young back court.

 

[grizzlyjournal]

I think two other nightmares are:
1. How over-optimistic we fans sometimes get after we win (i.e., Boise State); and
2. How down we get after a loss.

After seeing the irrationality on the football side with QB issues, it approaches Wombat quality sometimes. Or perhaps more like a sorority, where the more some posters are around each other, the more synchronized their periods become.

Last night was just a rough game, not physically, but no smoothness at all. Five mostly independently firing cylinders with poor shooting luck, and uncharacteristic lack of success at FTs. Good grief, they are "free" throws, fellahs. I've watched Gavin and Martin make 500 in practices with ease. What's with the cold shooting? That one doesn't require teamwork, doesn't require a strategy, doesn't require a floor leader. It just requires standing there and taking a free shot at the basket.

I certainly agree about the free throws; 2-for-6 from Breunig is unusual, but has happened in the past when the Griz were behind or in pressure situations. I think this will get better soon (hope!).

After thinking about last night's game, and subtracting the official's calls (which really took a first half toll).... this looked like a classic "young team" early season loss. In terms of talent alone, the Griz back court looks at least as good as last year, when Jordan Gregory and Mario Dunn (both very tough on-court leaders with Jordan als being very vocal) ruled court. But this year's new crop (with a frustrated Mario on the sidelines) are young & green and running a new offense (for them). Both Walter Wright and Michael Oguine are talented but somewhat unsure in running the team. And Riley Bradshaw has really struggled, which is a puzzle to me, because he's got the talent.

No good team can win without a tough floor general and currently there's only a buncha sargents running around. As both Wright and Oguine gain familiarity with DeCuire's system, we'll see better on-court composure. In the meantime, we're bound to see a few games like this from a young back court.

 

[grizzlyjournal]

After seeing the irrationality on the football side with QB issues, it approaches Wombat quality sometimes. Or perhaps more like a sorority, where the more some posters are around each other, the more synchronized their periods become.

Last night was just a rough game, not physically, but no smoothness at all. Five mostly independently firing cylinders with poor shooting luck, and uncharacteristic lack of success at FTs. Good grief, they are "free" throws, fellahs. I've watched Gavin and Martin make 500 in practices with ease. What's with the cold shooting? That one doesn't require teamwork, doesn't require a strategy, doesn't require a floor leader. It just requires standing there and taking a free shot at the basket.

I certainly agree about the free throws; 2-for-6 from Breunig is unusual, but has happened in the past when the Griz were behind or in pressure situations. I think this will get better soon (hope!).

After thinking about last night's game, and subtracting the official's calls (which really took a first half toll).... this looked like a classic "young team" early season loss. In terms of talent alone, the Griz back court looks at least as good as last year, when Jordan Gregory and Mario Dunn (both very tough on-court leaders with Jordan also very vocal) ruled court. But this year's new crop (with a frustrated Mario on the sidelines) are young & green and running a new offense (for them). Both Walter Wright and Michael Oguine are talented but somewhat unsure in running the team. And Riley Bradshaw has really struggled, which is a puzzle to me, because he's got the talent.

No good team can win without a tough floor general and currently there's only a buncha sargents running around. As both Wright and Oguine gain familiarity with DeCuire's system, we'll see better on-court composure. In the meantime, we're bound to see a few games like this from a young back court.

The best sign for me would be to see Wright or Oguine start taking charge vocally. It takes a kind of "attitude or arrogance," actually. But it can really solidify a team. We need a kid who can strut like Will Cherry did (starting with his sophomore year). Someone will step up. The sooner, the better.

 

[AllWeatherFan]

I think two other nightmares are:

1. How over-optimistic we fans sometimes get after we win (i.e., Boise State); and
2. How down we get after a loss.

It's a long season. You know you're gonna have a game like this on the road every now and then. Hopefully we got it out of our system.

Optimism is warranted with the caliber of player. This game might be a fluke but it is why the Big Sky will be lucky to get a 15 seed....this one hurts more than most because SJS is a perennial bottom feeder with only 2 wins last year...no excuse for this performance...

Agreed. Let's pack it in and call it a season. Why bother to even suit up after this unforgivable atrocity? Oh, woe is us! [faint]

 

[GrizLA]

I think two other nightmares are:

1. How over-optimistic we fans sometimes get after we win (i.e., Boise State); and
2. How down we get after a loss.

It's a long season. You know you're gonna have a game like this on the road every now and then. Hopefully we got it out of our system.

Optimism is warranted with the caliber of player. This game might be a fluke but it is why the Big Sky will be lucky to get a 15 seed....this one hurts more than most because SJS is a perennial bottom feeder with only 2 wins last year...no excuse for this performance...

Agreed. Let's pack it in and call it a season. Why bother to even suit up after this unforgivable atrocity? Oh, woe is us! [faint]

Go ahead...the rest of us will watch and will keep our optimism.

 

[bearister]

Lady Griz looked ghastly against Seattle and a week later crushed a fast and talented Pacific team. Griz and Lady Griz are young and it's early. By the time conference rolls around they'll be very dangerous teams.