Saturday, February 2
BOZEMAN
7 p.m.
Montana State University
vs
Montana
GAME #20: Bobcats Host Grizzlies in Worthington Arena on Saturday
1/31/2019 5:07:00 PM | Men's Basketball
MSU sends high-powered offense against stingy Grizzlies defense
BOZEMAN, Montana – Montana State reaches the halfway point of the Big Sky season on Saturday, when the Bobcats host Montana in Worthington Arena. Tipoff is 7 pm.
Both teams face their only game of the week on Saturday, but for Montana State (8-11 overall, 5-4 Big Sky) the Cat-Griz game begins a stretch of four games over an eight-day period. "When you have a week off you have a little extra time to bounce back physically, to get in the gym, to get some extra work on school," said MSU head coach Brian Fish, "but we're looking at four games in eight days (starting Saturday) so we'll make sure we're ready for what's ahead."
What's directly ahead is a Montana (14-6, 7-2) team looking to defend its Big Sky crown, and taking great strides toward that goal. The Grizzlies are one of three Big Sky teams with two losses, but soundly defeated the other two (Weber State and Northern Colorado). UM is a veteran, balanced squad led by the backcourt of reigning Big Sky MVP Ahmaad Rorie (16.0 points per game, team-high 71 assists) and Michael Oguine (13.5 ppg). Bruising forward Jamar Akoh (16.3 ppg, 9.4 rebounds per game) provides inside balance, while wing Sayeed Pridget contributes 12.4 points and 4.4 boards a game.
"They're very well coached, they have great players," Fish said. "You have the chance to see and be around people, and Michael Oguine and Ahmaad are great kids, and I'm very impressed with how they play and how they're coached. They're a formidable opponent."
The Bobcats snapped a three-game skid with Saturday's win against Idaho State, but in fact MSU's four conference losses are by three, four, six and nine points. While Tyler Hall's steady hand leads the team – "Sometimes you can take for granted when he gets you 26, 28 points," Fish said, "because he seems to do it every game" – the Cats have benefited from an offensive surge by Keljin Blevins. Since Fish publicly described a meeting intended to re-focus his senior forward's mindset from perimeter scorer to one who benefits from playing closer to the rim Blevins has scored 56 points in three games while shooting 59.5%.
"Any time you tell a kid something to try to help make them a better player there's got to be a point where success comes so they'll buy into what you're selling," Fish said. "He's had a few good games here, he's guarded better, scored better, rebounded at the same clip, but more importantly he's been more receptive to things and been a good leader in talking and holding people accountable. He's playing at a better clip and we've benefited from that."
Harald Frey has also boosted the Bobcats offense. In addition to ranking as one of the most efficient ballhandlers in the nation (his +3.17 assist-to-turnover ratio is 17th nationally), Frey averages 15.4 points a game. But Fish is most pleased with the variety of ways his talented junior helps the offense. "Any time you have a player that handles the ball and can score in a number of ways – score the three, score at 15 (feet), score at the line, score at the rim – it makes you a better team. Harry has certainly done that in league play quite a bit, and it balances us out and makes us better. He's a really good player."
Fish continues to look for consistency on the defensive end from his squad. The Bobcats have allowed three straight opponents to shoot at least 54%, but he said that can be misleading. "You have to keep in mind that we've been forcing a higher number of turnovers," he said. The but we still need to lower that (opponent) field goal percentage a little bit. We have to get back to limiting (opponents' high-percentage shots)."
After Saturday's game, Montana State heads to Greeley for a Monday night contest vs. Northern Colorado, and then home for a Thursday game against Eastern Washington and a Saturday matinee with Idaho.
#GoCatsGo
Both teams face their only game of the week on Saturday, but for Montana State (8-11 overall, 5-4 Big Sky) the Cat-Griz game begins a stretch of four games over an eight-day period. "When you have a week off you have a little extra time to bounce back physically, to get in the gym, to get some extra work on school," said MSU head coach Brian Fish, "but we're looking at four games in eight days (starting Saturday) so we'll make sure we're ready for what's ahead."
What's directly ahead is a Montana (14-6, 7-2) team looking to defend its Big Sky crown, and taking great strides toward that goal. The Grizzlies are one of three Big Sky teams with two losses, but soundly defeated the other two (Weber State and Northern Colorado). UM is a veteran, balanced squad led by the backcourt of reigning Big Sky MVP Ahmaad Rorie (16.0 points per game, team-high 71 assists) and Michael Oguine (13.5 ppg). Bruising forward Jamar Akoh (16.3 ppg, 9.4 rebounds per game) provides inside balance, while wing Sayeed Pridget contributes 12.4 points and 4.4 boards a game.
"They're very well coached, they have great players," Fish said. "You have the chance to see and be around people, and Michael Oguine and Ahmaad are great kids, and I'm very impressed with how they play and how they're coached. They're a formidable opponent."
The Bobcats snapped a three-game skid with Saturday's win against Idaho State, but in fact MSU's four conference losses are by three, four, six and nine points. While Tyler Hall's steady hand leads the team – "Sometimes you can take for granted when he gets you 26, 28 points," Fish said, "because he seems to do it every game" – the Cats have benefited from an offensive surge by Keljin Blevins. Since Fish publicly described a meeting intended to re-focus his senior forward's mindset from perimeter scorer to one who benefits from playing closer to the rim Blevins has scored 56 points in three games while shooting 59.5%.
"Any time you tell a kid something to try to help make them a better player there's got to be a point where success comes so they'll buy into what you're selling," Fish said. "He's had a few good games here, he's guarded better, scored better, rebounded at the same clip, but more importantly he's been more receptive to things and been a good leader in talking and holding people accountable. He's playing at a better clip and we've benefited from that."
Harald Frey has also boosted the Bobcats offense. In addition to ranking as one of the most efficient ballhandlers in the nation (his +3.17 assist-to-turnover ratio is 17th nationally), Frey averages 15.4 points a game. But Fish is most pleased with the variety of ways his talented junior helps the offense. "Any time you have a player that handles the ball and can score in a number of ways – score the three, score at 15 (feet), score at the line, score at the rim – it makes you a better team. Harry has certainly done that in league play quite a bit, and it balances us out and makes us better. He's a really good player."
Fish continues to look for consistency on the defensive end from his squad. The Bobcats have allowed three straight opponents to shoot at least 54%, but he said that can be misleading. "You have to keep in mind that we've been forcing a higher number of turnovers," he said. The but we still need to lower that (opponent) field goal percentage a little bit. We have to get back to limiting (opponents' high-percentage shots)."
After Saturday's game, Montana State heads to Greeley for a Monday night contest vs. Northern Colorado, and then home for a Thursday game against Eastern Washington and a Saturday matinee with Idaho.
#GoCatsGo
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