Latovic Leads 'Cats from Ground
2/8/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
rebounder.
Latovic, a junior forward at Montana State, has established himself as a rebonding dynamo,but he spends about as much time in the air as an ostrich. The native of Belgrade, Yugoslavia,is not afraid to use his 225 lbs to his advantage in the paint, yet his game has a distinctlyEuropean flair.
Even with his unusual style, Latovic has left quite a mark on the Big Sky Conference this
season. He leads the league with 7.9 rebounds a game, and his eight games with both
double-figure points and rebounds is the most in the conference. MSU’s 12th-year head coach
Mick Durham has his own opinion as to why Latovic has taken to rebounding. "Damir grew up
playing soccer," Durham says with a grin, "so I think he’s just happy to be playing a sport
where he can use his hands."
Latovic says there’s a more logical explanation to his ability to do what most people think of as
basketball’s dirtiest job. "I think of it as dirty work, too," he said, "but I would rather have a
double-digit rebounding game than anything else. I know a lot of people don’t feel that way,
but I do. By rebounding I’m going to make my teammates better, going to get us more than
one shot in the offense, and with a guy that can rebound the team is probably going to win
games."
While Latovic battles players who are quicker and stronger and physically more gifted than him
for rebounds, he has used one natural trait to his advantage, and it has nothing to do with his
inability to get off the ground. "I’ve got long arms, that’s the tool I use to get a lot of
rebounds," he said. "I know how to box out and everything, so it doesn’t matter how high I
can jump."
Latovic said that his instincts and vision allow him to get in position to snag errant shots. "I
watch the rim. I basically know approximately how the ball’s going to bounce from where it
hits the rim, so I put myself in position where I can get most of the rebounds."
Durham’s wise-crack notwithstanding, Latovic says that soccer did very little to prepare him
for his basketball career. "But that was my first love related to sports," says Latovic, who can
be seen in practice kicking a ball to a teammate or coach. "First of all I wanted to play soccer,
because it’s the most popular sport in my country. But I was about five inches taller than
anyone else playing soccer, so I decided to play basketball."
For the 14-7 Bobcats, who lead the Big Sky Conference with a 7-1 mark, that decision hasbeen fortuitous. Montana State hosts Eastern Washington, in the thick of the Big Sky hunt forthe third straight season, on Friday at 7 pm in Worthington Arena.
Latovic, a junior forward at Montana State, has established himself as a rebonding dynamo,but he spends about as much time in the air as an ostrich. The native of Belgrade, Yugoslavia,is not afraid to use his 225 lbs to his advantage in the paint, yet his game has a distinctlyEuropean flair.
Even with his unusual style, Latovic has left quite a mark on the Big Sky Conference this
season. He leads the league with 7.9 rebounds a game, and his eight games with both
double-figure points and rebounds is the most in the conference. MSU’s 12th-year head coach
Mick Durham has his own opinion as to why Latovic has taken to rebounding. "Damir grew up
playing soccer," Durham says with a grin, "so I think he’s just happy to be playing a sport
where he can use his hands."
Latovic says there’s a more logical explanation to his ability to do what most people think of as
basketball’s dirtiest job. "I think of it as dirty work, too," he said, "but I would rather have a
double-digit rebounding game than anything else. I know a lot of people don’t feel that way,
but I do. By rebounding I’m going to make my teammates better, going to get us more than
one shot in the offense, and with a guy that can rebound the team is probably going to win
games."
While Latovic battles players who are quicker and stronger and physically more gifted than him
for rebounds, he has used one natural trait to his advantage, and it has nothing to do with his
inability to get off the ground. "I’ve got long arms, that’s the tool I use to get a lot of
rebounds," he said. "I know how to box out and everything, so it doesn’t matter how high I
can jump."
Latovic said that his instincts and vision allow him to get in position to snag errant shots. "I
watch the rim. I basically know approximately how the ball’s going to bounce from where it
hits the rim, so I put myself in position where I can get most of the rebounds."
Durham’s wise-crack notwithstanding, Latovic says that soccer did very little to prepare him
for his basketball career. "But that was my first love related to sports," says Latovic, who can
be seen in practice kicking a ball to a teammate or coach. "First of all I wanted to play soccer,
because it’s the most popular sport in my country. But I was about five inches taller than
anyone else playing soccer, so I decided to play basketball."
For the 14-7 Bobcats, who lead the Big Sky Conference with a 7-1 mark, that decision hasbeen fortuitous. Montana State hosts Eastern Washington, in the thick of the Big Sky hunt forthe third straight season, on Friday at 7 pm in Worthington Arena.
Wednesday, June 10
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