Thursday, January 21
7:05 pm
Montana State University
vs
Eastern Washington
Zach Green and the Cats face EWU Thursday
Bobcats Host Eastern Washington in Big Sky Matchup Thursday
1/20/2016 4:29:00 PM | Men's Basketball
MSU faces defending league champs in Worthington Arena
Bozeman's weather in January will remind no one of mid-August, but the Bobcat men's basketball team is entering its dog days nonetheless.
"It's a grind" for every team and most players in late January, said Montana State coach Brian Fish. "School's been out at a lot of places, there has been a lot of travel, so it can get monotonous. You just have to keep working hard."
Montana State greets late January with a three-game homestand featuring Eastern Washington on Thursday, Idaho on Saturday afternoon, and Montana a week from Saturday. Those three teams join Weber State at the top of the Big Sky standings.
"It's a tough stretch of games but we've competed with pretty much everybody on our schedule," Fish said. "It's going to take a better effort defensively. We play the three of the top four teams, that's where our schedule is at. At this time of year you focus on one game at a time and see how that goes."
The defending Big Sky Champion Eagles are up first, now running at full speed after injuries plagued the team in December. Returning All-Big Sky choice Venky Jois anchors the Eagles, averaging 16.3 points a game with 8.4 rebounds and 31 blocked shots. Graduate transfer guard Austin McBroom leads the Big Sky in scoring with 19.4 points a game, three others join Jois and McBroom in double-digits. Julian Harrell has joined the mix lately, off an injury, and adds another perimeter scorer.
"They're a well-put-together team," Fish said. "They've got a bull-in-a-china-shop big man with Venky Jois, and they spread it out with four guys that can really shoot. They've got some guys that can really stretch the floor out and keep it spaced. We're going to have to guard them."
In spite of size deficits at nearly every position in nearly every game, the Bobcats have managed to rebound well this season. MSU is at +2.1 in rebound margin, among the Big Sky's leaders, and has grabbed double-digit offensive boards every game this season. Fish said that will be an important factor on Thursday.
"If you give up a second shot they're going to cash that in, so it's very important to get on the boards," he said. "We have to get some stops. We've given up nine uncontested layups off turnovers in the last three games, that's 18 points, and that's hard to chase when we've only got one in return. That's something we've got to address."
Purchase tickets for this weekend's games at http://ticketswest.com/events/msu-mens-basketball/15402/.
"It's a grind" for every team and most players in late January, said Montana State coach Brian Fish. "School's been out at a lot of places, there has been a lot of travel, so it can get monotonous. You just have to keep working hard."
Montana State greets late January with a three-game homestand featuring Eastern Washington on Thursday, Idaho on Saturday afternoon, and Montana a week from Saturday. Those three teams join Weber State at the top of the Big Sky standings.
"It's a tough stretch of games but we've competed with pretty much everybody on our schedule," Fish said. "It's going to take a better effort defensively. We play the three of the top four teams, that's where our schedule is at. At this time of year you focus on one game at a time and see how that goes."
The defending Big Sky Champion Eagles are up first, now running at full speed after injuries plagued the team in December. Returning All-Big Sky choice Venky Jois anchors the Eagles, averaging 16.3 points a game with 8.4 rebounds and 31 blocked shots. Graduate transfer guard Austin McBroom leads the Big Sky in scoring with 19.4 points a game, three others join Jois and McBroom in double-digits. Julian Harrell has joined the mix lately, off an injury, and adds another perimeter scorer.
"They're a well-put-together team," Fish said. "They've got a bull-in-a-china-shop big man with Venky Jois, and they spread it out with four guys that can really shoot. They've got some guys that can really stretch the floor out and keep it spaced. We're going to have to guard them."
In spite of size deficits at nearly every position in nearly every game, the Bobcats have managed to rebound well this season. MSU is at +2.1 in rebound margin, among the Big Sky's leaders, and has grabbed double-digit offensive boards every game this season. Fish said that will be an important factor on Thursday.
"If you give up a second shot they're going to cash that in, so it's very important to get on the boards," he said. "We have to get some stops. We've given up nine uncontested layups off turnovers in the last three games, that's 18 points, and that's hard to chase when we've only got one in return. That's something we've got to address."
Purchase tickets for this weekend's games at http://ticketswest.com/events/msu-mens-basketball/15402/.
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