Bobcats Take Steps Forward in '07-08
3/25/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
If the 2007 season provided a foundation for Brad Huse’s Montana State basketball program, 2008 allowed the Bobcats to consolidate their gains and the team’s fans to witness thrilling moments and some of the most popular Bobcats in history. Carlos Taylor offered up a season for the ages, leading the Big Sky in scoring and hitting the 30-point mark four times on the season. Casey Durham, a hometown hero if there ever was one, worked his way into Bobcat history, finishing among MSU’s all-time leaders in three-pointers, steals, and assists. The Bobcats finished 15-15, the program’s third break-even season in the last four, and qualified for the Big Sky Tournament for the fourth straight year.
THIS YEAR...
Montana State in 2007-08
RECORD: 15-15
BIG SKY: 7-9, 6th
HEAD COACH: Brad Huse
ALMA MATER/YR: Dee Event Center
OVERALL: Bobcat Network (Jeff Lasky)
AT MSU: BigSkyTV.org
HONORS...
• Carlos Taylor became MSU’s first Big Sky scoring champ since 1996-97
• Carlos Taylor (1st Team) and Divaldo Mbunga (HM) each earned All-Big Sky honors, while Taylor was USBWA All-District VIII and a finalist for the V Foundation Comeback Award
MISCELLANY...
• MSU led the Big Sky in attendance for the third time since 1997-98
• Bobcat opponents outrebounded MSU in the last seven games of the 2007-08 season
• Montana State has finished exactly .500 in three of the last four seasons
ON THE OFFENSE...
• MSU failed to shoot 50% in a league road game this year, and shot only 36% in its last three road games against league foes
• The Bobcats finished the season shooting 74.5% from the free throw line, the best mark in the Big Sky and 25th in the nation
• Montana State shot far better at home (47%) than on the road (41%) during the 2007-08 season
ON THE DEFENSE...
• The Cats blocked only four shots in the last three games of the season
• MSU held Weber State to 46% shooting in the Big Sky Tournament, but Bobcat opponents shot 62% (205-of-342) in the last 7 games of 2008
• MSU’s last three opponents shot 22-for-42 from three-point range
2008 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
-Montana State earned non-conference wins over Wyoming, Oregon State, Boise State and Long Beach State
-Carlos Taylor earned a spot on the U.S. Basketball Writer’s All-District VIII squad, the only Big Sky player so honored
-Carlos Taylor was also named a finalist for the V Foundation Comeback Award, given to a men’s or women’s player who have overcome adversity during his or her career
-The Bobcats led the Big Sky Conference in free throw percentage at 74.5%, which ranks 25th nationally
-Carlos Taylor leads the Big Sky Conference in scoring
-Casey Durham finished his career among Montana State’s all-time leaders in three-point field goals (2nd, 195), assists (337, 7th), and steals (145, 4th)
Sneakin’ a Peak at the ‘Cats...
#1 Carlos Taylor 6-1, 185, Sr, G, Memphis, TN
* MSU’s first Big Sky scoring champion since Nate Holmstadt in 1997
* MSU finished 5-7 in Taylor’s 12 career 20-point games
* Big Sky stats: scoring-1st (18.1), FG% (.458), FT%-4th (.806), 3FG-8th (2.0)
* Honors: Big Sky POW 12/3, 1/7, 2/18; GranTree Inn Classic MVP
#3 Casey Durham 6-0, 171, Sr, G, Bozeman, MT
* Finished with the 8th in MSU history in single-season 3-FGs (64)
* Honors: Big Sky POW 11/20; Sportsmanship Award at Wyo. Shootout
* Honors: Big Sky POW 11/20; Sportsmanship Award at Wyo. Shootout
* MSU records: 2nd in 3FG (195), 4th in steals (145); Big Sky: 12th in 3FG
#4 James Hennessy 6-2, 181, So, G, Williston, ND
* Averaged 4.2 assists per 40 minutes this year, the highest rate on the team
* Finished the season strong, with only 2 turnovers in the last 4 games
* Scored 10 points against EWU at home, his high in a league game
* Helped lead Williston to 2006 NJCAA Championship Tournament
#12 Nathan Weidenaar 6-1, 180, Fr, G, Bozeman, MT
* Scored 5 points, including two on a breakaway dunk vs. Alcorn State
* Registered two boards vs. Alcorn and 1 vs. Evergreen
* Played in 9 games this season
* Former center fielder in Atlanta Braves organization
#15 Bobby Howard 6-6, 225, Fr, F, Great Falls, MT
* Career-high 27 points against Boise, most by an MSU frosh since ‘96
* 2-for-16 3FG, 7-for-31 overall in last 9 games
* Hit 28 three-pointers on the season, third-best on the team
* His mother Kathleen is MSU’s career points and rebounds leader
#20 Phil Friesen 6-4, 225, Jr, G, Goleta, CA
* Finished with 64 assists, second-best on team, including career-high 8 at UNC
* 13-to-4 assist-to-turnover ratio with 3 steals and a block in last 5 games
* Started the last 12 games of the season, shooting 46% in that span
* An All-Conference choice at Citrus in 2006-07
#21 Adrian Zamora 6-9, 215, Jr, C, Watsonville, CA
* 2nd on the team with 30 blocks,
* 61 career blocked shots at MSU is 8th in school history
* Finished with 15-for-24 shooting in last 8 games
* Big Sky stats: rebounds-16th (4.4), blocks-7th (1.0)
#24 Mecklen Davis 6-2, 210, Sr, G, Atascadero, CA
* Averaged 10.1 points in last 8 games, with season-high 19 at Montana
* Double-digit scoring in 3 of last 4 games
* Shot 72% from the line on the year, including 28-for-37 (77%) in last 12
* The son of former Cal Poly and Miami Dolphins running back Gary Davis
#34 Marcus Blackshire 6-6, 225, So, F, Mission Viejo, CA
* Sidelined with continuing shoulder injury
* Transfers to MSU from Irvine Valley JC
* 10.6 points and 8.9 boards in his only season in the Irvine varsity
* Father Mike played hoops at Hawaii, two sisters VB at UCSB
#42 Branden Johnson 6-8, 220, So, F, Yakima, WA
* Finished ‘08 9-for-18 shooting over last 3 games, including 5-for-10 3FG
* 22-for-24 from the FT line in the last 16 games
* Has only 5 turnovers in the last 7 games
* Career-high 4 assists vs. Portland State
#44 Divaldo Mbunga 6-9, 250, Jr, C, Luanda, Angola
* Finished with a 26-for-46 shooting stretch over last 6 games
* Averaged 6.1 rebounds a game in the first 22 games, 3.9 in the last 8
* Big Sky stats: Pts-11th (12.3), reb-10th (5.8), FG%-5th (57.0%), FT%-15th (72%), blocks-4th (1.26)
* Honors: Big Sky POW 12/17, 12/31
SCOPING THE BOBCATS
Look Out Below
MSU finished 3-7 against teams ahead of the Bobcats in the Big Sky standings, 4-1 against teams trailing MSU.
Three After Three
MSU has hit at least one three-pointer in its last 405 games. From 1986 to late ‘92-93 MSU rolled up a 197-game streak and has a three in 602 of the last 603.
Watch This
Senior guard Casey Durham continues to move up MSU’s record lists. Here is a look at his current record-chasing status...
Three-point FG 2nd 192 (Danny Sprinkle is 1st, 263)
Assists 7th 325 (Tom Domako is 6th, 345)
Steals 4th 142 (Kwesi Coleman is 3rd, 155)
Free is Good
MSU shoots 74.5% from the free throw line, best in the Big Sky and 25th in DI.
Turning the Turnstiles
A look at MSU’s league-leading attendance seasons since 1990...
1st 2008 4,685
1st 2002 5,012
1st 1998 4,773
Thirty... Something!
Carlos Taylor has scored at least 30 points four times this season, the second-highest total in school history. He is the only Big Sky player with multiple 30-pointers this season. (NOTE-Records unavailable before 1927, and during the ‘40s and ‘50s.)
30-pt games: 70 vs. colleges, 3 vs. independents
Consecutive 30-pointers: 4 times (Nate Holmstadt, 2 straight, 96-97; Tom Domako, 2, 87-88; Willie Weeks, 4, 70-71; Jack Gillespie, 2, 67-68). 30-pointers, season: 5-Tom Storm, 1967. 30-pointers, career: 9-Tom Storm, 1965-67
It’s the Rims
The Bobcats shot 41% from the floor away from Brick Breeden Fieldhouse, 47% at home. Ironically, Bobcat DI foes also shot 47% in the Fieldhouse.
THIS YEAR...
Montana State in 2007-08
RECORD: 15-15
BIG SKY: 7-9, 6th
HEAD COACH: Brad Huse
ALMA MATER/YR: Dee Event Center
OVERALL: Bobcat Network (Jeff Lasky)
AT MSU: BigSkyTV.org
HONORS...
• Carlos Taylor became MSU’s first Big Sky scoring champ since 1996-97
• Carlos Taylor (1st Team) and Divaldo Mbunga (HM) each earned All-Big Sky honors, while Taylor was USBWA All-District VIII and a finalist for the V Foundation Comeback Award
MISCELLANY...
• MSU led the Big Sky in attendance for the third time since 1997-98
• Bobcat opponents outrebounded MSU in the last seven games of the 2007-08 season
• Montana State has finished exactly .500 in three of the last four seasons
ON THE OFFENSE...
• MSU failed to shoot 50% in a league road game this year, and shot only 36% in its last three road games against league foes
• The Bobcats finished the season shooting 74.5% from the free throw line, the best mark in the Big Sky and 25th in the nation
• Montana State shot far better at home (47%) than on the road (41%) during the 2007-08 season
ON THE DEFENSE...
• The Cats blocked only four shots in the last three games of the season
• MSU held Weber State to 46% shooting in the Big Sky Tournament, but Bobcat opponents shot 62% (205-of-342) in the last 7 games of 2008
• MSU’s last three opponents shot 22-for-42 from three-point range
2008 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
-Montana State earned non-conference wins over Wyoming, Oregon State, Boise State and Long Beach State
-Carlos Taylor earned a spot on the U.S. Basketball Writer’s All-District VIII squad, the only Big Sky player so honored
-Carlos Taylor was also named a finalist for the V Foundation Comeback Award, given to a men’s or women’s player who have overcome adversity during his or her career
-The Bobcats led the Big Sky Conference in free throw percentage at 74.5%, which ranks 25th nationally
-Carlos Taylor leads the Big Sky Conference in scoring
-Casey Durham finished his career among Montana State’s all-time leaders in three-point field goals (2nd, 195), assists (337, 7th), and steals (145, 4th)
Sneakin’ a Peak at the ‘Cats...
#1 Carlos Taylor 6-1, 185, Sr, G, Memphis, TN
* MSU’s first Big Sky scoring champion since Nate Holmstadt in 1997
* MSU finished 5-7 in Taylor’s 12 career 20-point games
* Big Sky stats: scoring-1st (18.1), FG% (.458), FT%-4th (.806), 3FG-8th (2.0)
* Honors: Big Sky POW 12/3, 1/7, 2/18; GranTree Inn Classic MVP
#3 Casey Durham 6-0, 171, Sr, G, Bozeman, MT
* Finished with the 8th in MSU history in single-season 3-FGs (64)
* Honors: Big Sky POW 11/20; Sportsmanship Award at Wyo. Shootout
* Honors: Big Sky POW 11/20; Sportsmanship Award at Wyo. Shootout
* MSU records: 2nd in 3FG (195), 4th in steals (145); Big Sky: 12th in 3FG
#4 James Hennessy 6-2, 181, So, G, Williston, ND
* Averaged 4.2 assists per 40 minutes this year, the highest rate on the team
* Finished the season strong, with only 2 turnovers in the last 4 games
* Scored 10 points against EWU at home, his high in a league game
* Helped lead Williston to 2006 NJCAA Championship Tournament
#12 Nathan Weidenaar 6-1, 180, Fr, G, Bozeman, MT
* Scored 5 points, including two on a breakaway dunk vs. Alcorn State
* Registered two boards vs. Alcorn and 1 vs. Evergreen
* Played in 9 games this season
* Former center fielder in Atlanta Braves organization
#15 Bobby Howard 6-6, 225, Fr, F, Great Falls, MT
* Career-high 27 points against Boise, most by an MSU frosh since ‘96
* 2-for-16 3FG, 7-for-31 overall in last 9 games
* Hit 28 three-pointers on the season, third-best on the team
* His mother Kathleen is MSU’s career points and rebounds leader
#20 Phil Friesen 6-4, 225, Jr, G, Goleta, CA
* Finished with 64 assists, second-best on team, including career-high 8 at UNC
* 13-to-4 assist-to-turnover ratio with 3 steals and a block in last 5 games
* Started the last 12 games of the season, shooting 46% in that span
* An All-Conference choice at Citrus in 2006-07
#21 Adrian Zamora 6-9, 215, Jr, C, Watsonville, CA
* 2nd on the team with 30 blocks,
* 61 career blocked shots at MSU is 8th in school history
* Finished with 15-for-24 shooting in last 8 games
* Big Sky stats: rebounds-16th (4.4), blocks-7th (1.0)
#24 Mecklen Davis 6-2, 210, Sr, G, Atascadero, CA
* Averaged 10.1 points in last 8 games, with season-high 19 at Montana
* Double-digit scoring in 3 of last 4 games
* Shot 72% from the line on the year, including 28-for-37 (77%) in last 12
* The son of former Cal Poly and Miami Dolphins running back Gary Davis
#34 Marcus Blackshire 6-6, 225, So, F, Mission Viejo, CA
* Sidelined with continuing shoulder injury
* Transfers to MSU from Irvine Valley JC
* 10.6 points and 8.9 boards in his only season in the Irvine varsity
* Father Mike played hoops at Hawaii, two sisters VB at UCSB
#42 Branden Johnson 6-8, 220, So, F, Yakima, WA
* Finished ‘08 9-for-18 shooting over last 3 games, including 5-for-10 3FG
* 22-for-24 from the FT line in the last 16 games
* Has only 5 turnovers in the last 7 games
* Career-high 4 assists vs. Portland State
#44 Divaldo Mbunga 6-9, 250, Jr, C, Luanda, Angola
* Finished with a 26-for-46 shooting stretch over last 6 games
* Averaged 6.1 rebounds a game in the first 22 games, 3.9 in the last 8
* Big Sky stats: Pts-11th (12.3), reb-10th (5.8), FG%-5th (57.0%), FT%-15th (72%), blocks-4th (1.26)
* Honors: Big Sky POW 12/17, 12/31
SCOPING THE BOBCATS
Look Out Below
MSU finished 3-7 against teams ahead of the Bobcats in the Big Sky standings, 4-1 against teams trailing MSU.
Three After Three
MSU has hit at least one three-pointer in its last 405 games. From 1986 to late ‘92-93 MSU rolled up a 197-game streak and has a three in 602 of the last 603.
Watch This
Senior guard Casey Durham continues to move up MSU’s record lists. Here is a look at his current record-chasing status...
Three-point FG 2nd 192 (Danny Sprinkle is 1st, 263)
Assists 7th 325 (Tom Domako is 6th, 345)
Steals 4th 142 (Kwesi Coleman is 3rd, 155)
Free is Good
MSU shoots 74.5% from the free throw line, best in the Big Sky and 25th in DI.
Turning the Turnstiles
A look at MSU’s league-leading attendance seasons since 1990...
1st 2008 4,685
1st 2002 5,012
1st 1998 4,773
Thirty... Something!
Carlos Taylor has scored at least 30 points four times this season, the second-highest total in school history. He is the only Big Sky player with multiple 30-pointers this season. (NOTE-Records unavailable before 1927, and during the ‘40s and ‘50s.)
30-pt games: 70 vs. colleges, 3 vs. independents
Consecutive 30-pointers: 4 times (Nate Holmstadt, 2 straight, 96-97; Tom Domako, 2, 87-88; Willie Weeks, 4, 70-71; Jack Gillespie, 2, 67-68). 30-pointers, season: 5-Tom Storm, 1967. 30-pointers, career: 9-Tom Storm, 1965-67
It’s the Rims
The Bobcats shot 41% from the floor away from Brick Breeden Fieldhouse, 47% at home. Ironically, Bobcat DI foes also shot 47% in the Fieldhouse.
Wednesday, August 19
Wednesday, June 10
Monday, March 23
Friday, March 13
