Saturday, January 23
2:05 pm
Montana State University
vs
Idaho
Tyler Hall and the Bobcats host Idaho Saturday
Photo by: Sepp Jannotta
Bobcats Host Vandals Saturday Afternoon
1/22/2016 4:34:00 PM | Men's Basketball
MSU, Idaho each coming off big Thursday wins
The things that worry Montana State coach Brian Fish the most about hosting Idaho on Saturday afternoon don't necessarily show up in box scores or on the scouting report.
"(UI coach Don) Verlin's a very good friend of mine, and one thing he's told me repeatedly over time is that he's got a team that's buying in, that he really likes coaching them, and they don't beat themselves," Fish said as his team prepared to face the red-hot Vandals at 2 pm Saturday in Worthington Arena. "It shows on the film."
As good as the Bobcats are feeling about themselves after beating Eastern Washing 85-71 at home on Thursday, the Vandals have reason to feel better. "They had as good a win as anyone can get, a win at Montana," Fish said of UI's 63-58 triumph in Dahlberg Arena. "They went in and muddied up the game and were able to find a way, so they're doing a heck of a job."
Sophomore guard Victor Sanders led the way for Idaho, as he has since guard Perrion Callendret suffered an injury three games ago. In that span, Sanders has scored 89 points, leading the Vandals to wins over NAU and Montana. The 6-5 guard's aggressive play helps his versatility play up, and that shines through in his ability to get to the free throw line. He has shot 89 free throws this year (making 85%), with 47 of them in Idaho's six league games.
"He's a very ,very good player," Fish says of Sanders. "When you look at this scoring streak he's gone to the line and made 10, 13, 14 free throws in those games. So when you go out and hit two or three jumpers and get 14 points at the line you're at 20 points. He's scoring on the line, and we have to keep him off the line because you can't guard him there."
That trait is team-wide. The Vandals shoot 71% from the line on the season, 76% during conference play. "They're great rebounders and great free throw shooters," Fish said. "They do those things very well. If you make a mistake (and foul) they make the free throws and if you don't block out they get the rebound. When you're plus-10 on the boards and shoot 76% from the line, those are astronomical numbers."
While the Vandals pose plenty of issues, Fish said the quick time between the end of Thursday's game at around 9 pm and Saturday' 2 pm tipoff simplifies things. "On this quick a turnaround you worry way more about youself than you do them. It's a quick turnaround. We'll stay with our principles."
Montana State's formula in beating Eastern Washington Thursday was simple. The Bobcats used aggressive defense, particularly from the three men who guarded the post, and got plenty of points from the backcourt. Tyler Hall scored 24, while Marcus Colbert added 23 points while dishing out three assists. "I liked our energy last night, I liked how we were talking, our close-outs on the ball were way better."
Idaho's win in Missoula boosts the Vandals into third place in the Big Sky, chasing Montana and Weber State. UI is 12-7 overall, 4-2 in the Big Sky, while the Cats stand 8-11 overall, 3-4 in the Big Sky.
"(UI coach Don) Verlin's a very good friend of mine, and one thing he's told me repeatedly over time is that he's got a team that's buying in, that he really likes coaching them, and they don't beat themselves," Fish said as his team prepared to face the red-hot Vandals at 2 pm Saturday in Worthington Arena. "It shows on the film."
As good as the Bobcats are feeling about themselves after beating Eastern Washing 85-71 at home on Thursday, the Vandals have reason to feel better. "They had as good a win as anyone can get, a win at Montana," Fish said of UI's 63-58 triumph in Dahlberg Arena. "They went in and muddied up the game and were able to find a way, so they're doing a heck of a job."
Sophomore guard Victor Sanders led the way for Idaho, as he has since guard Perrion Callendret suffered an injury three games ago. In that span, Sanders has scored 89 points, leading the Vandals to wins over NAU and Montana. The 6-5 guard's aggressive play helps his versatility play up, and that shines through in his ability to get to the free throw line. He has shot 89 free throws this year (making 85%), with 47 of them in Idaho's six league games.
"He's a very ,very good player," Fish says of Sanders. "When you look at this scoring streak he's gone to the line and made 10, 13, 14 free throws in those games. So when you go out and hit two or three jumpers and get 14 points at the line you're at 20 points. He's scoring on the line, and we have to keep him off the line because you can't guard him there."
That trait is team-wide. The Vandals shoot 71% from the line on the season, 76% during conference play. "They're great rebounders and great free throw shooters," Fish said. "They do those things very well. If you make a mistake (and foul) they make the free throws and if you don't block out they get the rebound. When you're plus-10 on the boards and shoot 76% from the line, those are astronomical numbers."
While the Vandals pose plenty of issues, Fish said the quick time between the end of Thursday's game at around 9 pm and Saturday' 2 pm tipoff simplifies things. "On this quick a turnaround you worry way more about youself than you do them. It's a quick turnaround. We'll stay with our principles."
Montana State's formula in beating Eastern Washington Thursday was simple. The Bobcats used aggressive defense, particularly from the three men who guarded the post, and got plenty of points from the backcourt. Tyler Hall scored 24, while Marcus Colbert added 23 points while dishing out three assists. "I liked our energy last night, I liked how we were talking, our close-outs on the ball were way better."
Idaho's win in Missoula boosts the Vandals into third place in the Big Sky, chasing Montana and Weber State. UI is 12-7 overall, 4-2 in the Big Sky, while the Cats stand 8-11 overall, 3-4 in the Big Sky.
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