OGDEN -- For 10 years, Weber State has not lost to the Montana Grizzlies at the Dee Events Center during the Big Sky regular season. Montana State has won just twice during that span.
As both teams come into Ogden this week, the ’Cats look to establish this year’s home court dominance in conference play. “It really doesn’t matter who we play right now. The next game on our schedule is the biggest game. It just is,” said Weber State head coach Randy Rahe. “That being said, Montana and ourselves have had a really nice rivalry over the last few years. I think both teams get a little more excited, a bit more juice to play against each other. Montana State is the same way.” With both Montana teams now having new head coaches this year -- Travis DeCuire for Montana, and Brian Fish for Montana State -- a new era in basketball for The Treasure State has begun. But Rahe believes some things remain the same. “They’re always tough,” said Rahe. “Both of these teams are always tough, physical teams, and that hasn’t changed at all.” With tipoff scheduled Thursday night at 7 p.m. MDT, the ’Cats will face the 2-0 Montana Grizzlies, who Rahe says are comparable to previous Montana teams under former head coach, Wayne Tinkle, who moved on to take the helm at Oregon State in May of last year. “I think they’re very similar to their past teams more than they are different,” Rahe said. “Montana’s teams have always been typically strong and physical inside, dynamic point guard, shooters on the perimeter, and that’s really who they are right now ... They are legitimately a top two or three level team in our league, there’s no doubt about it.”
Currently leading the way for the Grizzlies down low is the junior forward Martin Breunig, averaging 17.4 points per game while shooting a ninth best in the nation 62 percent from the field, and grabbing a team-high 6.5 rebounds per game. In conference play, he’s upped his scoring output to 20.5 points per game, which is good enough to tie for fifth place in the conference. “(Breunig) is one of the best big guys in the league,” said Rahe of the Washington transfer. “He’s 6-foot 8, 220, he’s very very similar to Venky Jois, in how he plays the game -- tough, physical, aggressive -- so he’s a dynamic guy for them too.”
On the wing is the senior guard Jordan Gregory, who in conference play has averaged 21.5 points per game, placing him fourth overall in the conference in scoring. Gregory takes significantly more shots than the rest his team, making 37 percent of his attempts. “They’ve got two really good shooters on the wings, like they always seem to have,” said Rahe. “Jordan Gregory is one of the better players in the league shooting it, driving it -- he’s just a good scorer.” Michael Weisner is the other scorer outside, but has missed the last five games due to an ankle injury. While no official word has been given on how close he is to returning, Rahe says it’s possible that Weisner will see time against the ’Cats. With the new head coach in Travis Decuire, Rahe says that the biggest difference is in the offense, and that the defense is comparable to before. “They’re running some different sets, some different offenses than they normally run, but defensively it’s a little but similar,” Rahe explained. “They play good man-to-man defense, and they’ll mix in the zone like they always have. I think this year they’re playing a little more man than they do zone. Under Tinkle they played a lot more zone. I think it’s more balanced this year.”
