Friday, November 18
BOZEMAN
7 p.m.
Montana State University
vs
James Madison
Tyler Hall and the Bobcats host James Madison Friday
Photo by: Adrian Sanchez-Gonzalez
Bobcat Cagers Close Homestand Hosting James Madison
11/17/2016 4:48:00 PM | Men's Basketball
MSU faces big, physical Dukes squad
Two games into Montana State's early season three-game homestand, Brian Fish likes what he's seen. But he is quick to point out that the tallest task remains.
Literally.
The Bobcats host the big and physical Dukes on Friday at 7 pm in Worthington in the second game of this year's Pepsi Classic Presented by Town & Country Foods. MSU basketball fans receive a ticket to Friday's game for $5 (a 50% discount) with a donation of canned or boxed food to the Can The Griz Food Drive, which benefits the Gallatin Valley Food Bank, at the door.
"Their size strikes you," Bobcat coach Brian Fish of a James Madison squad that finished 2015-16 with a 21-11 record. "They have a new head coach so they're finding their way. They won a lot of games last year so they're making adjustments and I'm sure with three or four days off (before Friday's game) they'll clean things up and be ready to go. The most impressive thing is their size and their overall girth."
Junior guard Joey McClean leads the Dukes at 15.0 points per game, but after the six-footer JMU lines up four starters at 6-6 or taller. Each of those four would be MSU's tallest starter and heaviest player. Fish says James Madison uses that size to its advantage.
"They're kind of a mix," he said of JMU's tempo. "They're playing fast through the point guard, but at the end of the day they want to pound it in the paint and use their size. That's certainly what I'd want to do against us."
Fish has liked what he's seen of the Bobcats through three games. The team's early-season schedule – five games in the first 11 days – has left the team experience rich, if not somewhat practice poor. "We need some practice time, but it doesn't fall that way right now," Fish said. "Playing every other day is getting us ready for what we'll face in conference play and certainly playing Louisiana (Monday) and James Madison (Friday), these teams would certainly be at the top of our conference."
MSU's experienced core has led the Cats early, with sophomore Tyler Hall (25.3 points per game) accounting for 76 of the team's 242 points. Junior forward Zach Green has chipped in 10.3 points and 5.0 boards, along with his usual solid defense. Seniors Sarp Gobeloglu 9.7 points, 4.0 rebounds) and Quinton Everett (7.3 points, 4.3 boards) have rounded their games to move from being role players a year ago to consistent contributors.
Freshman point guard Harald Frey has added a new dimension to the team. The Norwegian averages 11.3 points, second on the team, while dishing out 15 assists. He has a 2.5-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio, and has either scored (10) or assisted on (15) nearly 20% of the team's baskets.
After Friday's game, the Cats play at Rice on Monday night before returning to Bozeman for a well-deserved four days off from competition.
Literally.
The Bobcats host the big and physical Dukes on Friday at 7 pm in Worthington in the second game of this year's Pepsi Classic Presented by Town & Country Foods. MSU basketball fans receive a ticket to Friday's game for $5 (a 50% discount) with a donation of canned or boxed food to the Can The Griz Food Drive, which benefits the Gallatin Valley Food Bank, at the door.
"Their size strikes you," Bobcat coach Brian Fish of a James Madison squad that finished 2015-16 with a 21-11 record. "They have a new head coach so they're finding their way. They won a lot of games last year so they're making adjustments and I'm sure with three or four days off (before Friday's game) they'll clean things up and be ready to go. The most impressive thing is their size and their overall girth."
Junior guard Joey McClean leads the Dukes at 15.0 points per game, but after the six-footer JMU lines up four starters at 6-6 or taller. Each of those four would be MSU's tallest starter and heaviest player. Fish says James Madison uses that size to its advantage.
"They're kind of a mix," he said of JMU's tempo. "They're playing fast through the point guard, but at the end of the day they want to pound it in the paint and use their size. That's certainly what I'd want to do against us."
Fish has liked what he's seen of the Bobcats through three games. The team's early-season schedule – five games in the first 11 days – has left the team experience rich, if not somewhat practice poor. "We need some practice time, but it doesn't fall that way right now," Fish said. "Playing every other day is getting us ready for what we'll face in conference play and certainly playing Louisiana (Monday) and James Madison (Friday), these teams would certainly be at the top of our conference."
MSU's experienced core has led the Cats early, with sophomore Tyler Hall (25.3 points per game) accounting for 76 of the team's 242 points. Junior forward Zach Green has chipped in 10.3 points and 5.0 boards, along with his usual solid defense. Seniors Sarp Gobeloglu 9.7 points, 4.0 rebounds) and Quinton Everett (7.3 points, 4.3 boards) have rounded their games to move from being role players a year ago to consistent contributors.
Freshman point guard Harald Frey has added a new dimension to the team. The Norwegian averages 11.3 points, second on the team, while dishing out 15 assists. He has a 2.5-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio, and has either scored (10) or assisted on (15) nearly 20% of the team's baskets.
After Friday's game, the Cats play at Rice on Monday night before returning to Bozeman for a well-deserved four days off from competition.
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