The most important Griz Mens BB player next year.

[Mslacat]

If the athletes are not on campus right now they will be in the next 2 days.

Who do you feel will be the most important player on next years men Basketball. As I define the player, the one player who if he goes down with injury, of extended foul trouble, the team will struggle mightily. This player is not always leading score on the team, but could be a key leader or importand cog in running of the offence, like a point gaurd, or a starter, behind whom there is little depth.

In years past I might have said Criswell, but I think Krysco will retool the front court around Martin, as good as he is I think the Griz have enough quality depth to handle an injury from Martin. In my opinion Andrew Strait will be the player with the most important. He provides pts, rbs and defence. His running mate Seyfert is a decent center but can/could not hold down the interior by himself. The remaining back-up have talent but zero d-1 experiance. With out Strait to stableize the interior it will look really struggle.

 

[GrizWhiz]

I agree that it is Strait. He is the only big man on the team who was consistent last year in terms of scoring, defense and rebounding. I believe either Van Vliet or Sharp will not redshirt. I think we also may be in for a nice suprise in terms of Hasquet as an inside player. For a team that had only one senior, there is going to be a heckuva lot of new players. The only returning guys who played last year are Strait, Martin, Seyfert, Criswell, Dlouhy and Matthews. I also noticed that Chris McKay is no longer listed on the Montanagrizzlies.com BB roster. I don't think his departure was ever announced although I may have missed it. Mike Chavez is listed and he could be a huge bonus if he plays this year.

 

[Montana Gym Rat]

I have a feeling that Krysko would agree with you guys about Strait as well. :wink: Him and Hasquet are definitely his favorite kids and he'd hate to have either one out with injury or foul trouble.

With the style of play introduced last year though, I don't see one player making or breaking the team. Look at what happened when KD was out last year. The rest of the guys just picked up the slack and pulled out some big W's. This style of play is what took the team to the NCAA tournament in my opinion.

I have a sneaking suspicion that Martin may have to come off the bench at some point in the season, which he may struggle with. The same situation bodes for a couple of the other starters, so hopefully if (probably when) the lineup gets tweaked, the players respond, no matter what their role changes to.

There could be some rough spots through the first half of the season, but I imagine that once the lineup shakes out, the team should have another shot at a BSC title run.

 

[Mslacat]

....
I have a sneaking suspicion that Martin may have to come off the bench at some point in the season, which he may struggle with. The same situation bodes for a couple of the other starters, so hopefully if (probably when) the lineup gets tweaked, the players respond, no matter what their role changes ....

I would bet Criswell will be coming off the bench before Martin. Crizwell and Krysco playing nice together at best. From what I have heard Krysco feels that Martin is the future, now. The signing of the JC point was done to allow Martin to get more time at the 2 guard. The other comment I will make is that if Martin is forced (and I mean forced) to come of the Bench, the Griz could have their own Terrel Owens situation happening on the Basketball court.

 

[Montana Gym Rat]

Very possible. I could see that happening against smaller teams. The problem with bringing Criswell off the bench is that you lose a big part of your defensive intensity, along with matching a 5'10" player on probably a 6'3" SG at best.

There will be stranger combinations throughout the season I am willing to bet though.

Coming off the bench might be a good learning experience for Martin to go through to help check that T.O. type attitude.

 

[Grizbeer]

The problem with bringing Criswell off the bench is that you lose a big part of your defensive intensity, along with matching a 5'10" player on probably a 6'3" SG at best.

Plus by sitting Criswell you lose one of your leading rebounders (which is a statement in itself). If Chavez plays he does have the d-1 experience and skills to back-up Strait without missing a beat. If Chavez doesn't play, Strait is the man, at least until conference starts and the younger kids get a chance.

 

[citygriz]

i would not be at all surprised to see one of our fabulous frosh emerge as a key player. best guess is kyle sharp, since he really blossomed as a senior and fits right in where we most need the help, up front. austin swift could really surprise as it was my opinion seeing him play that he submerged his talent for the benefit of an extremely talented team (four and possibly five d-1 scholarship players.) if he'd been the one star player, i think he could have gone for 30 per easily, so he might really blossom early with the griz. van vliet will probably be a bit rusty after missing a full year with an injury.

one more point: today's high school kids are more prepared to play at the collegiate level than ever before. remember, these kids have been playing nearly year-round for at least the last three years, and they've been up against some great competition in the a.a.u. leagues. their a.a.u. coach, bobby bramlett, is a real taskmaster, straight out of the bobby knight--brad duggan school of coaching. doubt any of these kids will be awed by the collegiate game, especially swift coming off a run to a california high school championship.

 

[Mslacat]

I will say that kids are coming in and playing more and more nowadays, but you were spoiled last year with the surpising excelent play from Martin and Strait. The thing though that has been pretty consistent in my 25 years of watching college basketball. Even the most talented Freshman are inconsistent. Big game or two to be followed up bad games. Even Martin and Strait exhibited that last year. Thats why I like to see even the most talented Freshmen coming off the bench, and keep your starting line up solid.

If Chavez can come back and play at the D-1 level, it will be huge. He will add so much depth, and flexiblity, and passing to the inside game it could really add a lot to the teams potential.

 

[Hamilton Grizzly]

Jordan Hasquet will emerge as the impact player of the Grizzly basketball team. His size and skills will equal major rebounding production and his activity will equal lots of buckets around the hoop.

He is the future of the Griz.

 

[Montana Gym Rat]

It's a very good sign when you have so many different opinions of who the go to guy is going to be.