To bring real passion back to Montana basketball. I mean, if it weren't for women's softball, or a new facility at Idaho, or any number of my asinine posts, this forum would be as dead as Bannack, Montana at four in the morning. Meantime, over on the football board, if I'd started a post asking who would be the most improved player or top newcomer next year, they'd be up to five pages right now, and still typing. Over here? Eleven tepid responses.
Here we are, in my opinion, with one of the top up-and-coming coaches in all of college basketball, our very own Travis DeCuire, a guy who treats Montana both in recruiting and scheduling like we were Cal or Washington State. We enter next season with possibly the deepest most talented roster in the history of the basketball program at Montana, one that can compete in size and quickness with any program in the country. (Yes, we've certainly had better individual players, but never an entire roster with this much potential.) Many of us await the new schedule with the eagerness of a kid opening presents for the first time Christmas morning, knowing that one gift is UCLA.
Ho-hum.
So what will it take to stir some excitement on this board, to return Montana basketball to its former glory?
Not a conference championship. We've done that.
Not an NCAA appearance. We've had four the past ten years, with two blowouts, but also one victory, and one very close game. So: Done that. Hardly moved the needle.
Here's the answer.
A Sweet 16 appearance. A low-seed Cinderella underdog actually knocking off a major program or two, while garnering all the attention that goes with that kind of run at the Big Dance. The publicity would be unprecedented at Montana, far more than a championship at the FCB or BCF or whatever level division 1-aa is now called--enough that even some over on the football board would take notice.
Possible?
I believe it is.
But back to Tristin Achenbach. Or Idaho's wood palace. Sheesh.
Here we are, in my opinion, with one of the top up-and-coming coaches in all of college basketball, our very own Travis DeCuire, a guy who treats Montana both in recruiting and scheduling like we were Cal or Washington State. We enter next season with possibly the deepest most talented roster in the history of the basketball program at Montana, one that can compete in size and quickness with any program in the country. (Yes, we've certainly had better individual players, but never an entire roster with this much potential.) Many of us await the new schedule with the eagerness of a kid opening presents for the first time Christmas morning, knowing that one gift is UCLA.
Ho-hum.
So what will it take to stir some excitement on this board, to return Montana basketball to its former glory?
Not a conference championship. We've done that.
Not an NCAA appearance. We've had four the past ten years, with two blowouts, but also one victory, and one very close game. So: Done that. Hardly moved the needle.
Here's the answer.
A Sweet 16 appearance. A low-seed Cinderella underdog actually knocking off a major program or two, while garnering all the attention that goes with that kind of run at the Big Dance. The publicity would be unprecedented at Montana, far more than a championship at the FCB or BCF or whatever level division 1-aa is now called--enough that even some over on the football board would take notice.
Possible?
I believe it is.
But back to Tristin Achenbach. Or Idaho's wood palace. Sheesh.