Tyler Hall and the Bobcats host Portland State on Thursday
Photo by: Kelly Gorham
Vengeful Vikings Visit Worthington Arena Thursday
2/16/2017 9:17:00 AM | Men's Basketball
MSU hosts a Portland State team it defeated three weeks ago
Brian Fish knows that an important three-game homestand looms for his Bobcat basketball team. And he knows that fans tend to pick and choose which games are the most important on any
But he knows his team. And he knows that everyone in the program understands that the most important game is the next one. "With this team we've pretty much stayed in the moment," Fish says of his young Bobcats, who host Portland State Thursday at 7 pm in Worthington Arena. "We're just going to try to get better at 1 o'clock today.
The task at hand is severe. Montana State hosts a Portland State (12-10 overall, 5-7 Big Sky) team Thursday that the Cats snuck past in the Rose City three weeks ago. Close games have been PSU's storyline lately. The Vikings sandwiched a three-point overtime loss to league-leading Weber State in its last outing and a six-point triple-overtime loss to Eastern Washington around a five-point win over Idaho State in its last three games.
Portland State (12th) and MSU (9th) are among the Big Sky's lowest-ranked rebounding teams, but Fish doesn't worry about numbers as much as staying competitive in important moments. "It can be misleading," he says of rebounds. "You take the (MSU's game at Southern Utah), there's 3:10 to go in the game and we get three straight offensive rebounds and take that clock from 3:10 all the way down to 1:15. So we lost the battle of the boards (for the game), but we got some key rebounds that actually changed the game."
Fish said MSU's renewed effectiveness on the glass began on the West Coast three weeks ago. "I thought that started with the Portland State-Sac State trip, where we didn't necessarily win the battle of the boards but we got key rebounds."
Portland State is among the nation's top 10 teams in pilfers, and that begins with league leader Calaen Robinson, who averages 2.7 per game in conference play. Zach Gengler chips in 1.7, and De'Sean Parsons 1.4.
While Parsons averages 14.6 points a game to lead the team, Deontae North has sparked the Vikings coming off the bench (until last weekend). He averages 14.0 points a game. "He's impressive," Fish says of North, "and I like how hard (Parsons) plays. I like their team, I like what they do. I think North is very impressive and he's having a big-time year. He certainly presents a problem, he's had games where he's hit four or five threes and stretched the floor and opened things up for them."
Fish says his team's success begins with effort on the defensive end and effectiveness on the glass. "Getting key rebounds, getting charges, getting 50-50 balls is how we've got to play," he said. And for now, Fish is confident that his young squad is focused on Thursday's game. "This team doesn't talk a lot (about games down the schedule) and I'm not sure they would unless I tweeted about it or put a picture on Instagram. They've been pretty good about staying in the moment."
But he knows his team. And he knows that everyone in the program understands that the most important game is the next one. "With this team we've pretty much stayed in the moment," Fish says of his young Bobcats, who host Portland State Thursday at 7 pm in Worthington Arena. "We're just going to try to get better at 1 o'clock today.
The task at hand is severe. Montana State hosts a Portland State (12-10 overall, 5-7 Big Sky) team Thursday that the Cats snuck past in the Rose City three weeks ago. Close games have been PSU's storyline lately. The Vikings sandwiched a three-point overtime loss to league-leading Weber State in its last outing and a six-point triple-overtime loss to Eastern Washington around a five-point win over Idaho State in its last three games.
Portland State (12th) and MSU (9th) are among the Big Sky's lowest-ranked rebounding teams, but Fish doesn't worry about numbers as much as staying competitive in important moments. "It can be misleading," he says of rebounds. "You take the (MSU's game at Southern Utah), there's 3:10 to go in the game and we get three straight offensive rebounds and take that clock from 3:10 all the way down to 1:15. So we lost the battle of the boards (for the game), but we got some key rebounds that actually changed the game."
Fish said MSU's renewed effectiveness on the glass began on the West Coast three weeks ago. "I thought that started with the Portland State-Sac State trip, where we didn't necessarily win the battle of the boards but we got key rebounds."
Portland State is among the nation's top 10 teams in pilfers, and that begins with league leader Calaen Robinson, who averages 2.7 per game in conference play. Zach Gengler chips in 1.7, and De'Sean Parsons 1.4.
While Parsons averages 14.6 points a game to lead the team, Deontae North has sparked the Vikings coming off the bench (until last weekend). He averages 14.0 points a game. "He's impressive," Fish says of North, "and I like how hard (Parsons) plays. I like their team, I like what they do. I think North is very impressive and he's having a big-time year. He certainly presents a problem, he's had games where he's hit four or five threes and stretched the floor and opened things up for them."
Fish says his team's success begins with effort on the defensive end and effectiveness on the glass. "Getting key rebounds, getting charges, getting 50-50 balls is how we've got to play," he said. And for now, Fish is confident that his young squad is focused on Thursday's game. "This team doesn't talk a lot (about games down the schedule) and I'm not sure they would unless I tweeted about it or put a picture on Instagram. They've been pretty good about staying in the moment."
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