Sam Neumann (left) and Brian Fish
Photo by: MSU Sports Information
Bobcat Basketball Gets Jump on 2017-18 with Canada Trip Starting Thursday
8/10/2017 9:10:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Experienced Bobcats face two games each against pair of Canadian colleges
The road to college basketball's annual spring culmination is long to begin with, but the start is a little earlier and route veers a little further north than usual for Montana State when the Bobcats begin a four-game series in Calgary on Thursday.
The Cats face the University of Calgary on Thursday night at 7 pm, and the University of Alberta on Friday at 7 pm. MSU faces Calgary again Saturday at 3 pm, and closes the weekend against Alberta on Sunday at 1 pm. Audio of all games, called by Jay Sanderson, is available at www.msubobcats.com/watch.
The weekend trip offers the Bobcats the opportunity of four competitions unavailable in most years, but fourth-year head coach Brian Fish was equally enthused about additional practices. "We've had 16 or 17 practices (including the usual summer practice schedule) to work on some things and to get our new players going," Fish said. "We've established that defense is important to us."
A veteran MSU squad makes the trip north, which included a lunch stop in Conrad, Montana. All five starters return from the 2016-17 squad that finished 16-16 overall, and 11-7 in the Big Sky. Sixth man Quinton Everett is the only player missing that played in more than a dozen game, but several key players have joined.
First among those are forwards Keljin Blevins and Konner Frey, who each redshirted with the Cats last season. Blevins was a part-time starter at Southern Mississippi before transferring to MSU a year ago, while Frey was the WAC newcomer of the year at Utah Valley in 2015-16. Both are versatile players who can fit into multiple roles.
"I'm anxious to see how Konner and Keljin look in game situations," Fish said. "Last year was long for both of them, and I know they're excited to play. I want to see what we have in those two."
While freshman guard Lassi Nikkarinen waits for clearance, two other first-year frosh figure into the mix on this trip and going forward. Guard Isaac Bonton has dazzled at times in practice and scrimmage situations, while center Luke Schultz (6-11, 230) adds bulk to the Bobcats' interior.
Regardless of the anticipation for an initial viewing of newcomers, it's the Bobcats core that elevates hopes for the 2017-18 Bobcats. First Team All-Big Sky wing Tyler Hall returns as one of the top scorers in the nation. Fresh off the top scoring season in Bobcat history, Hall enters his junior season with Montana State's career scoring record in his sights. Reigning Big Sky Freshman of the Year Harald Frey manages the manages the Bobcat attack – "He has really changed his body, and he looks great," Fish said – and after emerging as a contributor in all phases during the Big Sky season last year Devonte Klines rounds out the three-man backcourt.
Zach Green enters his fourth year as an unheralded starter, looking to continue to assert himself on the offensive end and the glass. He has quietly enjoyed a terrific career with the Bobcats. Joe Mvuezolo Jr. adds athleticism on the wing, and junior Sam Nuemann, like Green a player known for his willingness to do work not considered glamorous, is likely to hold down the center position. His rebounds-per-minutes rate was among the best in the Big Sky. Benson Osayande is an antidote to the 6-6 Neumann. At 6-8, 190, Osayande's athleticism caused problems for league opponents at times. Add 6-10 sophomore Devin Kirby and Schultz, and the Cats have intriguing interior options.
The Bobcats will play by international rules this weekend. Games are structured in four 10-minute quarters using a 24-second shot clock that is reset to 14 seconds after offensive rebounds. The lane is wider, only coaches are able to call time outs, and several other small structural differences makes the game slightly different for American players. "The difference is more than you think," said Fish, who embraces the opportunity to see his players operate outside their comfort zone.
But he is more interested in seeing from a big-picture perspective how his team operates, how the internal dynamics affect in-game performance, and how the team's mindset has shifted since an exhilarating league season ended with disappointing Big Sky Tournament defeat just five months ago. "We'll play different lineups," he said, "and look at different combinations. There may be a half or a game where we just don't play Tyler or Harry, because we know what they can do. I want to see how different guys play with each other, and I want to see a commitment to defense, to getting back in transition, to getting stops.
The Cats face the University of Calgary on Thursday night at 7 pm, and the University of Alberta on Friday at 7 pm. MSU faces Calgary again Saturday at 3 pm, and closes the weekend against Alberta on Sunday at 1 pm. Audio of all games, called by Jay Sanderson, is available at www.msubobcats.com/watch.
The weekend trip offers the Bobcats the opportunity of four competitions unavailable in most years, but fourth-year head coach Brian Fish was equally enthused about additional practices. "We've had 16 or 17 practices (including the usual summer practice schedule) to work on some things and to get our new players going," Fish said. "We've established that defense is important to us."
A veteran MSU squad makes the trip north, which included a lunch stop in Conrad, Montana. All five starters return from the 2016-17 squad that finished 16-16 overall, and 11-7 in the Big Sky. Sixth man Quinton Everett is the only player missing that played in more than a dozen game, but several key players have joined.
First among those are forwards Keljin Blevins and Konner Frey, who each redshirted with the Cats last season. Blevins was a part-time starter at Southern Mississippi before transferring to MSU a year ago, while Frey was the WAC newcomer of the year at Utah Valley in 2015-16. Both are versatile players who can fit into multiple roles.
"I'm anxious to see how Konner and Keljin look in game situations," Fish said. "Last year was long for both of them, and I know they're excited to play. I want to see what we have in those two."
While freshman guard Lassi Nikkarinen waits for clearance, two other first-year frosh figure into the mix on this trip and going forward. Guard Isaac Bonton has dazzled at times in practice and scrimmage situations, while center Luke Schultz (6-11, 230) adds bulk to the Bobcats' interior.
Regardless of the anticipation for an initial viewing of newcomers, it's the Bobcats core that elevates hopes for the 2017-18 Bobcats. First Team All-Big Sky wing Tyler Hall returns as one of the top scorers in the nation. Fresh off the top scoring season in Bobcat history, Hall enters his junior season with Montana State's career scoring record in his sights. Reigning Big Sky Freshman of the Year Harald Frey manages the manages the Bobcat attack – "He has really changed his body, and he looks great," Fish said – and after emerging as a contributor in all phases during the Big Sky season last year Devonte Klines rounds out the three-man backcourt.
Zach Green enters his fourth year as an unheralded starter, looking to continue to assert himself on the offensive end and the glass. He has quietly enjoyed a terrific career with the Bobcats. Joe Mvuezolo Jr. adds athleticism on the wing, and junior Sam Nuemann, like Green a player known for his willingness to do work not considered glamorous, is likely to hold down the center position. His rebounds-per-minutes rate was among the best in the Big Sky. Benson Osayande is an antidote to the 6-6 Neumann. At 6-8, 190, Osayande's athleticism caused problems for league opponents at times. Add 6-10 sophomore Devin Kirby and Schultz, and the Cats have intriguing interior options.
The Bobcats will play by international rules this weekend. Games are structured in four 10-minute quarters using a 24-second shot clock that is reset to 14 seconds after offensive rebounds. The lane is wider, only coaches are able to call time outs, and several other small structural differences makes the game slightly different for American players. "The difference is more than you think," said Fish, who embraces the opportunity to see his players operate outside their comfort zone.
But he is more interested in seeing from a big-picture perspective how his team operates, how the internal dynamics affect in-game performance, and how the team's mindset has shifted since an exhilarating league season ended with disappointing Big Sky Tournament defeat just five months ago. "We'll play different lineups," he said, "and look at different combinations. There may be a half or a game where we just don't play Tyler or Harry, because we know what they can do. I want to see how different guys play with each other, and I want to see a commitment to defense, to getting back in transition, to getting stops.
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