University of Montana VS Portland State 7:05 pm Today feb 26

[BARN BALL]

Portland State starts 4 Seniors. Seniors ruled in the first meeting stealing the ball form Montana 16 times which added up to 26 turnovers. It got so bad it was hard to watch on radio. The game line reads turnover Montana caused by a Will Funn's steal which leads to a slam dunk by Blake Walker assist Will Funn. Portland State is 6th in the nation in field goal percentage and Will Funn leads the conference in assists and Blake Walker and Funn are at the top in steals.

Antone Jarrell 6-6 Sr. 9ppg
Seamus Boxley 6-7 Sr 22ppg 44 minutes thursday
Will Funn 6-2 Sr. Mr assist 44 minutes thursday
Blake Walker 6-5 Sr. 14ppg 21pts thur in 28 min

Scott Morrison 6-11 fr. fouled out thur and at PSU
Jake Schoeder 17 points in 35 min thur did not play at PSU

 

[BARN BALL]

In the last Portland State game Montana had some success if they got the ball over half court. Blake Walker commented after the game if a team is good in the half court we go in and speed them up.

It has the potential to be an exciting game if Montana has found some answers to the three-quarter court trapping defense. I do not think there is an easy solution to the Boxley but it will help if the Griz limit the steals which lead to jams by Walker.

Montana has avalible 9 players who have started games this year. Matt Dlouhy 6-6, Lamarr Farr 6-4, Matt Martin 6-1, John Seyfert 6-10, Virgil Mathews 6-3, Cory Easley 6-9, Andrew Strait 6-8, Kamarr Davis 6-7, Kevin Criswell 6-2.

Krystkowiak is how you spell coach. Be interesting to see if he can solve this puzzle. Griz are Funn to watch.

 

[Ballhog]

The key will be the guard play-cannot turn over the ball. If turnovers can be held down Griz have a shot. Griz can hurt Portland inside if they can get the ball to post. They must do a good job of passing the ball.

 

[TrueGriz]

Here is the latest odds on PSU vs UM:

rank...team........................win odds.....spread
------..-----------------------...------------....--------
#168..Portland St (17-7)...42.163%
#201..Montana (11-12).....57.836%....+1.5191

I like these odds. Now, Griz just need to get on the floor and provide these odds some support.

I think it will be a very close game. Griz had, approximately, a 6 point spread over EWU. But, we all know it was just a two point game.

 

[BARN BALL]

Guards will need help. Criswell is great but has trouble with the trap unless he is close to the basket.

Portland State game at Portland play by play:

18:33 Criswell turnover - Funn steal

18:15 Criswell turnover - Walker steal result Funn three pointer

17:45 Criswell turnover - Funn steal result Funn three pointer

Kevin is motivated.
Kevin Criswell, Matt Martin, Lamarr Farr, Virgil Mathews, Matt Dlouhy should be able to get something going bringing the ball up and defensively.

Cory Easley may match up underneath and is due.

Be Funn to trap the trap.

 

[BARN BALL]

Please update Montana vs Portland State during the game for the out of townies. Radio 1290 at 6:30. I need to go to the game.

PAC 10 University of Washington 91 Arizona 85 four seconds left. If you missed it Arizona won at Washington State by 1 point in overtime Thursday. Washington State won in Arizona earlier in year. uconn over pittsburg at pittsburg.