Thursday, January 2
Bozeman, MT
7:05 pm
Montana State University
vs
SACRAMENTO STATE
Marcus Colbert and the Bobcats face Sacramento State Thursday
Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson
Bobcats Host Sacramento State to Open Big Sky Play
12/31/2013 4:20:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Hornets ride backcourt tandem into Worthington Arena
Brad Huse has seen his Montana State men's basketball team in a wide range of situations during the early weeks of the 2013-14 season, and the New Year dawns he knows his team's calling card.
MSU Game Notes vs. Sacramento State
"One thing that has come to the surface is that we have depth," Huse said of a squad which has received major contributions from fully one dozen players. "I think that's our greatest strength."
Huse and the Bobcats look to employ that depth this weekend, when MSU opens Big Sky Conference play the same way it closed the 2013 regular season – by hosting Sacrament State. Tipoff is 7:05 pm on Thursday. Huse likes the way the team's pre-conference schedule prepared his team for the rigors of conference play.
"I thought we had some good moments," he said. "The last month was interesting. After a wild start with a lot of games in a short period of time we had more time to practice. We had only one what you'd consider one like opponent in Portland, and a couple non-Division I games along with Wyoming and UTEP, which were tough matchups for us. We ironed some things out."
Sacramento State's attack on both ends of the floor with its junior backcourt tandem of Dylan Garrity and Mikh McKinney. The two combine for 27 points and six rebounds a game, and pace the league's second-ranked defense which allows just 66.4 points a game.
"We're playing a veteran team with veteran guards," Huse said. " They have nice balance although they know where their bread is buttered with those two guards. They are very efficient, they are defending well, and they're coming in on a high after a really nice win against Riverside so they should have some confidence. To me, it seems like they have a nice team concept. This will present a challenge for us."
While Sacramento State won at home against UC Riverside on Sunday, MSU has been idle since a 70-55 defeat at UTEP on December 23. The layoff offered a physical and mental break, and Huse said his team has responded favorably.
"I think they're excited," he said. "They're geared up. Everybody is. It's a clean slate. There's a lot at stake, of course, but it's a 20-game season so you're not going to win it or lose it coming out of the chutes, but every game is so important, especially playing league opponents this early in the season here at home."
After Thursday's league opener, MSU remains at home to face Northern Arizona on Saturday at 7 pm.
MSU Game Notes vs. Sacramento State
"One thing that has come to the surface is that we have depth," Huse said of a squad which has received major contributions from fully one dozen players. "I think that's our greatest strength."
Huse and the Bobcats look to employ that depth this weekend, when MSU opens Big Sky Conference play the same way it closed the 2013 regular season – by hosting Sacrament State. Tipoff is 7:05 pm on Thursday. Huse likes the way the team's pre-conference schedule prepared his team for the rigors of conference play.
"I thought we had some good moments," he said. "The last month was interesting. After a wild start with a lot of games in a short period of time we had more time to practice. We had only one what you'd consider one like opponent in Portland, and a couple non-Division I games along with Wyoming and UTEP, which were tough matchups for us. We ironed some things out."
Sacramento State's attack on both ends of the floor with its junior backcourt tandem of Dylan Garrity and Mikh McKinney. The two combine for 27 points and six rebounds a game, and pace the league's second-ranked defense which allows just 66.4 points a game.
"We're playing a veteran team with veteran guards," Huse said. " They have nice balance although they know where their bread is buttered with those two guards. They are very efficient, they are defending well, and they're coming in on a high after a really nice win against Riverside so they should have some confidence. To me, it seems like they have a nice team concept. This will present a challenge for us."
While Sacramento State won at home against UC Riverside on Sunday, MSU has been idle since a 70-55 defeat at UTEP on December 23. The layoff offered a physical and mental break, and Huse said his team has responded favorably.
"I think they're excited," he said. "They're geared up. Everybody is. It's a clean slate. There's a lot at stake, of course, but it's a 20-game season so you're not going to win it or lose it coming out of the chutes, but every game is so important, especially playing league opponents this early in the season here at home."
After Thursday's league opener, MSU remains at home to face Northern Arizona on Saturday at 7 pm.
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