Barsh Spearheads Bobcat 'D'
2/4/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
If Josh Barsh's senior season has a defining moment, it may have come on the last day in January in the Walkup Skydome.
Aaron Bond, NAU's senior forward who has become the Big Sky's top all-around scoring threat, went into the halftime with 11 points and the game in the palm of his hand. "We just couldn't stop Bond in the first half," said MSU coach Mick Durham. Bond left the locker room with Barsh in his face, and finished with 15 points. NAU won the game, but Barsh won some kudos.
"I thought Josh did a great job on defense that night," Durham said. Barsh was similarly pleased. "I felt good about that. He's a great player."
It's no accident that Barsh has emerged as Montana State's defensive stopper. It's a role he relishes. "That's something I've always loved," he said, "playing defense. It's satisfying when you look up and you've held one of the other's team's best players (in check)."
Thursday night's game will be special for Barsh, who played at Tacoma Community College with three members of the Eastern Washington team that the 'Cats will play on Thursday. "It's always fun, and it's nice to see those guys," said Barsh, who is 0-3 against Eastern as a Bobcat. "It's really no different. You just have to play the game. They don't talk much to me, and I don't talk much to them."
In addition, Eagle assistant coach Carl Howell was Barsh's head coach at TCC. "I love coach Howell," Barsh said. "He's not just a coach, he'll help you out with anything off the court. You can talk to Coach about anything."
Barsh has helped lead Montana State to high ground in this year's Big Sky Conference, as least as it pertains to defense. MSU has led the league in scoring defense, field goal percentage defense, and turnovers forced in conference games through much of the season.
That's no accident, says the senior from Tacoma, Wash. "Most definitely, we take pride in our defense," Barsh says. "We're strong in scoring defense, and we know that's something we have to bring every game. We have to bring our defense, no matter what else happens."
Without question, Barsh grew accustomed to defending himself while growing up as one of eight boys. Barsh is the oldest, but is far from being the only accomplished athlete. One younger brother plays basketball at Central Washington, and another seems destined for big-time college football.
There was always a game to be found in the Barsh household. "We were always playing against each other," Barsh said. "There's not much of a gap in age between any of us, so we're pretty close."
As Barsh enters the home stretch of his career at MSU, he has one goal in mind. "I want to win the Big Sky, and make it to the NCAA Tournament," he says.
And he knows how teams get there. "You have to play good defense."
Aaron Bond, NAU's senior forward who has become the Big Sky's top all-around scoring threat, went into the halftime with 11 points and the game in the palm of his hand. "We just couldn't stop Bond in the first half," said MSU coach Mick Durham. Bond left the locker room with Barsh in his face, and finished with 15 points. NAU won the game, but Barsh won some kudos.
"I thought Josh did a great job on defense that night," Durham said. Barsh was similarly pleased. "I felt good about that. He's a great player."
It's no accident that Barsh has emerged as Montana State's defensive stopper. It's a role he relishes. "That's something I've always loved," he said, "playing defense. It's satisfying when you look up and you've held one of the other's team's best players (in check)."
Thursday night's game will be special for Barsh, who played at Tacoma Community College with three members of the Eastern Washington team that the 'Cats will play on Thursday. "It's always fun, and it's nice to see those guys," said Barsh, who is 0-3 against Eastern as a Bobcat. "It's really no different. You just have to play the game. They don't talk much to me, and I don't talk much to them."
In addition, Eagle assistant coach Carl Howell was Barsh's head coach at TCC. "I love coach Howell," Barsh said. "He's not just a coach, he'll help you out with anything off the court. You can talk to Coach about anything."
Barsh has helped lead Montana State to high ground in this year's Big Sky Conference, as least as it pertains to defense. MSU has led the league in scoring defense, field goal percentage defense, and turnovers forced in conference games through much of the season.
That's no accident, says the senior from Tacoma, Wash. "Most definitely, we take pride in our defense," Barsh says. "We're strong in scoring defense, and we know that's something we have to bring every game. We have to bring our defense, no matter what else happens."
Without question, Barsh grew accustomed to defending himself while growing up as one of eight boys. Barsh is the oldest, but is far from being the only accomplished athlete. One younger brother plays basketball at Central Washington, and another seems destined for big-time college football.
There was always a game to be found in the Barsh household. "We were always playing against each other," Barsh said. "There's not much of a gap in age between any of us, so we're pretty close."
As Barsh enters the home stretch of his career at MSU, he has one goal in mind. "I want to win the Big Sky, and make it to the NCAA Tournament," he says.
And he knows how teams get there. "You have to play good defense."
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