Friday, November 4
BOZEMAN
7 p.m.
Montana State University
vs
Montana Western
Zach Green
Photo by: Todd Goodrich
Bobcat Men's Basketball Debuts in Worthington Arena Friday
11/4/2016 9:34:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Cats host high-scoring Montana Western
Brian Fish knows that questions remain. Friday night in Worthington Arena he hopes that answers begin to present themselves.
Montana State hosts UM Western at 7 pm in the team's only public exhibition game before opening the season next Friday at Washington State. "The guys have worked hard," MSU's third-year coach said, "but when the lights are on and you're playing live for the first things are always different. It's always interesting."
Three starters return from last year's 14-17 team which doubled its win total from the 2014-15 squad. Reigning Big Sky Freshman of the Year Tyler Hall set a school record with 96 three-pointers starts at one guard slot, and the forwards are likely to third-year starter Zach Green, who has been slowed by injury recently, and Quinton Everett. Those three have at least one season of starting experience.
Freshman Harald Frey has impressed since arriving from Norway in June, and is likely to enter the season as MSU's point guard. Frey played as an amateur in a European professional league the last two seasons, and Fish said that experience shows. "He has a different level of poise, he understands what we're trying to do," he said. While sophomore forward Sam Neumann is likely to round out the starting lineup Friday, Fish said the quest to nail down the starting spot on the interior is likely to continue. "I'm really looking for consistency," he said.
Along with the four possible starters who return, plus sharp-shooting Sarp Gobeloglu, Fish looks to integrate a handful of new players into the mix. While Harald Frey likely starts, sophomore transfer Devonte Klines also becomes a key member of the backcourt. The 6-2 guard flashes the ability to attack the basket offensively while emerging as a top defensive player on the perimeter. Joe Mvuezolo Jr., a 6-6 wing, is a versatile offensive player who figures to be one of the team's top rebounders, while junior Benson Osayande, a 6-9 interior player, is a rim protector who could provide rebounding punch and offensive versatility.
Another inside player with great physical skills counted on to develop throughout the non-conference season, Devin Kirby is a skilled 6-10 freshman center. Redshirts Mandrell Worthy, competing for backup point guard duties, and wings Cooper Olson and Dallas Lussier are competing for roles on the Bobcats bench.
But it's the core of returners – led by Hall, but also featuring Neumann, Green, Gobeloglu and Everett – on whom Fish relies early. "Last year I said it was my second first year here because of all the new players we had," Fish said. "Now it feels like my second year two because we have some veterans who we need to lead and need to fight through things, but also a lot of new guys. This is another step for us."
The Cats play a Montana Western squad that brings splashy numbers to Bozeman. The 3-0 Bulldogs topped Salish Kootenai 116-71 and raced past Northwest Indian 135-60 and 121-61. Hall is looking forward to the challenge. "It's a measuring stick to see where we are," he said. "They've played really well."
Fish will pay particular attention to his team's work on the defensive end Friday, the phase that often takes more time to evolve. "It's not a complicated system but it takes communication and using the right terminology," Fish said. "That can take some time to pick up."
After Friday, Montana State's next home game is November 14 against Louisiana Lafayette.
Montana State hosts UM Western at 7 pm in the team's only public exhibition game before opening the season next Friday at Washington State. "The guys have worked hard," MSU's third-year coach said, "but when the lights are on and you're playing live for the first things are always different. It's always interesting."
Three starters return from last year's 14-17 team which doubled its win total from the 2014-15 squad. Reigning Big Sky Freshman of the Year Tyler Hall set a school record with 96 three-pointers starts at one guard slot, and the forwards are likely to third-year starter Zach Green, who has been slowed by injury recently, and Quinton Everett. Those three have at least one season of starting experience.
Freshman Harald Frey has impressed since arriving from Norway in June, and is likely to enter the season as MSU's point guard. Frey played as an amateur in a European professional league the last two seasons, and Fish said that experience shows. "He has a different level of poise, he understands what we're trying to do," he said. While sophomore forward Sam Neumann is likely to round out the starting lineup Friday, Fish said the quest to nail down the starting spot on the interior is likely to continue. "I'm really looking for consistency," he said.
Along with the four possible starters who return, plus sharp-shooting Sarp Gobeloglu, Fish looks to integrate a handful of new players into the mix. While Harald Frey likely starts, sophomore transfer Devonte Klines also becomes a key member of the backcourt. The 6-2 guard flashes the ability to attack the basket offensively while emerging as a top defensive player on the perimeter. Joe Mvuezolo Jr., a 6-6 wing, is a versatile offensive player who figures to be one of the team's top rebounders, while junior Benson Osayande, a 6-9 interior player, is a rim protector who could provide rebounding punch and offensive versatility.
Another inside player with great physical skills counted on to develop throughout the non-conference season, Devin Kirby is a skilled 6-10 freshman center. Redshirts Mandrell Worthy, competing for backup point guard duties, and wings Cooper Olson and Dallas Lussier are competing for roles on the Bobcats bench.
But it's the core of returners – led by Hall, but also featuring Neumann, Green, Gobeloglu and Everett – on whom Fish relies early. "Last year I said it was my second first year here because of all the new players we had," Fish said. "Now it feels like my second year two because we have some veterans who we need to lead and need to fight through things, but also a lot of new guys. This is another step for us."
The Cats play a Montana Western squad that brings splashy numbers to Bozeman. The 3-0 Bulldogs topped Salish Kootenai 116-71 and raced past Northwest Indian 135-60 and 121-61. Hall is looking forward to the challenge. "It's a measuring stick to see where we are," he said. "They've played really well."
Fish will pay particular attention to his team's work on the defensive end Friday, the phase that often takes more time to evolve. "It's not a complicated system but it takes communication and using the right terminology," Fish said. "That can take some time to pick up."
After Friday, Montana State's next home game is November 14 against Louisiana Lafayette.
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