Tuesday, November 6
BOZEMAN
7 pm
Montana State University
vs
Utah State
Harald Frey
Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson
Bobcat Men's Basketball Team Hosts Long-Time Rival Utah State to Open 2018-19 Season
11/5/2018 6:28:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Bobcats, Aggies square off in Worthington Arena
BOZEMAN, Montana – Brian Fish knows what the calendar says, but he also knows what he feels.
"For us weirdo coaches this is like Christmas eve," Fish said on the day before his team's 2018-19 season opener, Tuesday against Mountain West foe Utah State in Worthington Arena. ""I'm excited about playing, I think the guys are ready to play. I'm not sure we're ready (as a team), but I like the system the NCAA has in place where we get six weeks to get ready. It gives us a chance to ramp it up. I like opening on a Tuesday night to give us a chance to not battle some things."
The Cats face a long-ago rival to open the new season. Utah State and the Bobcats were Rocky Mountain Conference rivals from 1917 until the mid-1930s, and have met 120 times through the years. USU owns 77 wins in the series, including 21 of the last 27, and Fish knows the task won't be any easier Tuesday than usual.
"They've got a freshman big that's very impressive and it looks to me like he gets a lot done. It looks like he's got a chance to play at the next level. Their two wings can really shoot the basketball, they're very good, they're athletic. They have a new coach (Craig Smith), obviously we played him (when he was) at South Dakota three times so he's familiar with us so they've got an advantage there. I really like this game, I think it's a good game for us, but we'd better be ready to go because it's a team that can come in here and make us look bad in a hurry if we're not."
Center Neemias Queta scored 15 points with eight rebounds in Utah State's exhibition win over Evergreen State last week. Forward Ben Fakira scored 14 points with 10 rebounds. Each of the two are freshman. They form the core of a strong group of 2018-19 Aggie newcomers. Returning perimeter players Crew Ainge, Sam Merrill and Diogo Brito lead the Aggies. Merrill averaged 16.4 points a game a season ago.
The Bobcats also punctuate a strong core of returners with several talented newcomers. Guard Harald Frey, moving from the point to a wing, and forward Tyler Hall combined for 30.6 points a game last season. Their ability to score from the perimeter is accentuated by sharp-shooter Ladan Ricketts, a transfer from Sheridan Junior College, and the inside presence of Devin Kirby (a 6-11 2017-18 redshirt), Usman Haruna (a 6-11 senior who transfers from East Carolina), and 6-9 freshman Maximilian Schuecker.
In addition to Hall and Frey, forwards Sam Neumann and Keljin Blevins return. Fish likes the veteran nature of his team, and the way the returners have meshed with the newcomers. ""I like our leadership," he said. "I like their commitment to the game. Since June 15 when the freshmen got here to July 1 when the veterans got here I've really, really liked how our guys have brought it every single day and focusing on just today. They've stayed really in the moment. Today's young people, it's hard to keep them in the moment, and they've stayed in the moment and tried to get better, and I appreciate that."
Mostly, though, Fish is excited to open the 2018-19 season against a quality opponent in Worthington Arena. "We're getting a chance to get going. I've truly enjoyed every day being around this team. I feel very fortunate to be around a team like this. I'm excited for them, I'm excited for the opportunity Tuesday presents to them, I'm excited to see what they can do. It will be a while before I get to know what this team is truly like, but I think it will be a fun path to take."
Tipoff is 7:05 pm Tuesday.
#GoCatsGo
"For us weirdo coaches this is like Christmas eve," Fish said on the day before his team's 2018-19 season opener, Tuesday against Mountain West foe Utah State in Worthington Arena. ""I'm excited about playing, I think the guys are ready to play. I'm not sure we're ready (as a team), but I like the system the NCAA has in place where we get six weeks to get ready. It gives us a chance to ramp it up. I like opening on a Tuesday night to give us a chance to not battle some things."
The Cats face a long-ago rival to open the new season. Utah State and the Bobcats were Rocky Mountain Conference rivals from 1917 until the mid-1930s, and have met 120 times through the years. USU owns 77 wins in the series, including 21 of the last 27, and Fish knows the task won't be any easier Tuesday than usual.
"They've got a freshman big that's very impressive and it looks to me like he gets a lot done. It looks like he's got a chance to play at the next level. Their two wings can really shoot the basketball, they're very good, they're athletic. They have a new coach (Craig Smith), obviously we played him (when he was) at South Dakota three times so he's familiar with us so they've got an advantage there. I really like this game, I think it's a good game for us, but we'd better be ready to go because it's a team that can come in here and make us look bad in a hurry if we're not."
Center Neemias Queta scored 15 points with eight rebounds in Utah State's exhibition win over Evergreen State last week. Forward Ben Fakira scored 14 points with 10 rebounds. Each of the two are freshman. They form the core of a strong group of 2018-19 Aggie newcomers. Returning perimeter players Crew Ainge, Sam Merrill and Diogo Brito lead the Aggies. Merrill averaged 16.4 points a game a season ago.
The Bobcats also punctuate a strong core of returners with several talented newcomers. Guard Harald Frey, moving from the point to a wing, and forward Tyler Hall combined for 30.6 points a game last season. Their ability to score from the perimeter is accentuated by sharp-shooter Ladan Ricketts, a transfer from Sheridan Junior College, and the inside presence of Devin Kirby (a 6-11 2017-18 redshirt), Usman Haruna (a 6-11 senior who transfers from East Carolina), and 6-9 freshman Maximilian Schuecker.
In addition to Hall and Frey, forwards Sam Neumann and Keljin Blevins return. Fish likes the veteran nature of his team, and the way the returners have meshed with the newcomers. ""I like our leadership," he said. "I like their commitment to the game. Since June 15 when the freshmen got here to July 1 when the veterans got here I've really, really liked how our guys have brought it every single day and focusing on just today. They've stayed really in the moment. Today's young people, it's hard to keep them in the moment, and they've stayed in the moment and tried to get better, and I appreciate that."
Mostly, though, Fish is excited to open the 2018-19 season against a quality opponent in Worthington Arena. "We're getting a chance to get going. I've truly enjoyed every day being around this team. I feel very fortunate to be around a team like this. I'm excited for them, I'm excited for the opportunity Tuesday presents to them, I'm excited to see what they can do. It will be a while before I get to know what this team is truly like, but I think it will be a fun path to take."
Tipoff is 7:05 pm Tuesday.
#GoCatsGo
Players Mentioned
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