I was having a conversation with a friend today about Montana State basketball … imagine that! One of the things that struck me was how many major questions arose about players and positions next year. With the graduation of only one senior this year, center Divaldo Mbunga, and a team that seemed to really pull it together come the tournament, it is kind of amazing. The following are some of the questions we came up with. Some of these questions the coaches are going to need to answer for themselves, to determine there strategies for the spring recruiting period that start April 15th. Other will have to wait until the fall, but all will have an impact on the coach’s spring recruiting, even if they decide to stand pat.

My major questions

• Is Cody Anderson ready to play major minutes?
• Will a starting front court of Johnson, Howard, and Rush be physical enough to rebound successfully next year? (At this point my projected line up)
• Is Cameroon Henderson an option next year at the power forward?
• Will Henderson even be back? (If this was circa 1999 with Durham as HC my bet would be he would be not)
• Will Michel Swita's knee be healthy? (He has been having persistent problems with it)
• Will Swita even sign wit MSU or go back to France?
• If Swita does sign and is healthy and almost two years away from organized ball will he be able to contribute next year? (Fact he only started playing basketball about 6 years ago)
• Will James Hennessy recover from knee surgery in time to play next year?

• Will Jeff Budinich play or redshirt (Huse seem to indicate that he may play)
• Can redshirt junior guard Larry Swan steal any playing time with Austin Brown and Piepoli backing up the starters?

This is the final in a series of four posts on the Lady Griz basketball team, discussing the past season and a look ahead to next season. Part 1 Season Wrap up, Part 2 Look ahead: Bigs, Part 3 Look Ahead: Wing players and Part 4 Look Ahead: Recruits.

The Recruits

Selvig should have a big recruiting class this year, with at least 5 scholarships to offer. So far he is off to a very good start with the signing last fall of 6-0 Alyssa Smith, 5-11 Kenzie De Boer, and 6-0 Katie Baker. With only 3 of a possible 5 of there scholarships filled so far, this class is already looking like one of Selvig’s best in the past few years. While all three could make immediate impact next year Smith and Baker probably have the best chance, because of the position they play.. Baker brings offence to the table at the power forward spot, and that is something that the Griz will really need next year. Smith is not the offence machine that Baker is but is a much better rebounder and a more athletic option at the power forward spot. De Boer, who is a natural small forward, may find her options more limited beacouse of the depth the Griz will have at her position.. What DeBore will being to the table though is her ablity to score where she excalls, and as I keep repeating like a parrot, this could be an area that she could help them in next year. All three of these players are going to be big time players for the Lady Griz in the future, but there impact next year depends on who puts the work in this summer. They definitely are capable of beating out some of the returnees if they do so.

The other factors on whether they play or not could be who else will Selvig sign this spring. Robin always seems fill all of his scholarships every year so I feel pretty confident that he will sign at least two players this spring. I would have to guess that with only, two true point guards right now on the roster his #1 priority for the spring would be to sign another point guard. The Griz do have a few players that can play the point in a pinch, so it may not be a necessity for next year, but he will need to get someone in the program, who can move up the depth chart, when Johnson graduates next year. With the other scholarship I think Selvig has some options. It would be nice to get another true center in the program, so I would expect that he will be looking there first, but it is really not a necessity. Instead they may also be looking at the proverbial “best athlete available”, although they are pretty stacked at the shooting guard and small forward.

I mentioned above that the in coming freshman will need to put the work in to earn playing time next year, but a good portion of the returnees should also head this warning, because there are some very talented players coming into the program next year, do not assume that your role will automatically increase just because you played next year. Anyone who does so could be find themselves sitting on the bench behind one or more of these freshmen.

This is the third in a series of four posts on the Lady Griz basketball team, discussing the past season and a look ahead to next season. Part 1 Season Wrap up, Part 2 Look ahead: Bigs, Part 3 Look Ahead: Wing players and Part 4 Look Ahead: Recruits.

The Wings

The Griz look to be very deep at the shooting guard, and small forward, but I have serious questions at the point guard. The Griz will lose two time conference MVP point guard Mandy Morales (17 pts, 6rbs, 5asts), and all conference shooting guard Sonja Rogers (14 points, 3 rbs), but will return starting forward/ guard Lauren Beck (7 pts, 5 rbs). Beck should hold down one starting spot at the 2 or 3, but may get some competition. The other shooting guard spot should be an open competition between Stephanie Stender, Misty Atkinson, Tianna Ware and redshirt Alexandra Hurley. Of the lettermen Ware is the player I am most intrigued by, but I think Hurley has the chance to make big waves next year. Hurley has the ability to put up points and think that is something the Griz will really need. At the point, I guess it looks like it is 5-5 Shaunte Nance-Johnson who will, get the starting nod as the only true point guard on the roster with any D-1 experience. Nance-Johnson is a serviceable point but in a league where the most important players are point guard, she could be a weakness for the Lady Griz. Her back up should be redshirt freshman Ashley Ferda, as the only other true point guard on the roster.. I have heard the Griz coaches are extremely high on Ferda as there future star at the point guard position but she is coming off of knee surgery and is just a freshman, so she may need some time to develop. If Shaunte should falter though Ferda could get her chance. I would also expect Robin and his coaches to add another point this spring, with one of there open scholarships. Robin has only signed 1 JC recruit in the past 25 years so any point guard recruit might not be an impact player in 2009-10. The

Griz lost 41 points of offense (60% of their total output), and 18 rebounds (46% of their total output), with the graduation of their 4 seniors. While I feel the rebounds will be problematic, but solvable, with the player coming back, point production could be a real issue. With the exception of Sarah Ena there are simply not a lot of true scorers retuning among the veteran players. The freshman (true and redshirt) though do have some player who can score the ball so it could become interesting to see who emerges as the 2nd and 3rd options to Ena. Unless a couple players emerge to back up Ena I really could see very knock down drag out defensive team that wins games in the low 50’s.

This is the second in a series of four posts on the Lady Griz basketball team, discussing the past season and a look ahead to next season. Part 1 Season Wrap up, Part 2 Look ahead: Bigs, Part 3 Look Ahead: Wing players and Part 4 Look Ahead: Recruits.

Over the year’s I have watched Robin Selvig continually simply retool his teams from year to year. Losing all league players and replacing them as without hardly breaking a sweat. There always seemed to be budding stars just waiting in the wings ready to step right in and keep the lady Griz at the top of the Big Sky. With the big exception of Sarah Ena, though, I am not sure who those players might be. There seems to a lot of very talented very young players who will be freshman next year and then a group of juniors and seniors who look to be more role players than starters. Here are my thoughts.

The Big’s

Bigs might be a misnomer, when referring to the Lady Griz front line. They have only one true Center in the program right now, and that is 6-3 Shandra Robison but I see her filling Gaurdipee’s role next year, not a starter. Instead I see the Griz again going with more of a two power forward front line. The loss of 6-1 Britney Lohman, though will be a huge loss. Lohman averaged 7 points, and 7 rebounds while also contributing close to 2 blocks a game, but where she was huge, was in her ability to defend the other team’s best post player, and I do not see anyone returning on the Griz front line with that ability. Sarah Ena, though will be back at the power forward spot, and should be an all league player for the Griz. The 5-11 Ena is a load to guard underneath and reminds me of a more athletic version of former Griz, Ann Lake. Look for her to improve, big time on her 11 points and 7 rebounds averages from the 2008-09 year. Taking over for Lohman at the other spot should be 6-1 Jessa Loman Linford. Loman-Linford averaged 3 points and 3 rebounds last year. Along with Robison, possibly look for true freshmen 6-0 Alyssa Smith and 6-0 Katie Baker to make an impact next year. Both have star potential, with Smith being more of a physical rebounder, and Baker more of an offensive gifted player. Baker who is a very deep offensive threat could play some at small forward.

This is the first in a series of four posts on the Lady Griz basketball team, discussing the past season and a look ahead to next season. Part 1 Season Wrap up, Part 2 Look ahead: Bigs, Part 3 Look Ahead: Wing players and Part 4 Look Ahead: Recruits.

Part 1 Season Wrap

Of the write ups on the D-1 Montana basketball team, this one on the lady Griz has been the toughest for me to get my head around. Of all of the Lady Griz teams I have observer going back to 1980 this coming team has had a more of a feeling of transition team than any of the other I have watched between seasons. To that extent I purposely went out and started to talk to a lot of basketball savvy folk who are familiar with the Griz to get there opinions and to bounce some of mine off of them. The Lady Griz team 2009-10 fascinates me. The Lady Griz lose a lot of very talented players at the most of the key positions on the floor. On face value. Though, it is unclear who will fill those spots next year. Still though, in my close 30 years of watching Robin Selvig he has NEVER failed to put together a team that did not challenge for the league championship. I find this very interesting.

This past year’s Lady Griz team seems to have the whole package, to be very successful in the Big Sky conference. Nice height, more athleticism and speed than I can ever remember a Selvig team having, a star point guard, a star inside presence, one of the best perimeter shooters in the programs history, and an interior defensive stopper. Also put into the mix some nice role players and great team chemistry and this team was ready to roll. About the only thing this team did not have was true low post center, but they did have former starter 6-2 Tamara Guardipee who they could bring in to give them a physical presence at times, but Tamara slowed down this team quite a bit, and did not play to their strengths. The team actually reminded me of some of the Selvig teams in the late 80’s and 90’s.

The thing that was not like the late 80’s is that Selvig could not simply breeze though the conference on his way to winning the league. Back then, it seemed that Selvig’s second team could place in the top ½ of the conference. The Big Sky Conference is much more competitive now than then and Portland State pushed the Griz for all they were worth, but in the end the Griz squeaked out the conference regular season championship, from Portland State on the last day of the season. Then seven days later, in a rematch the Griz won the tournament championship and NCAA tourney berth, with another close win over PSU. In the NCAA’s The Griz really gave Pittsburg all they can handle in the first half by leading much of the first 20 minutes, then Pitt said lets play to our strong points. Pittsburg came out in the second half and played to the Lady Griz weakness, speed and athleticism, and blew the doors off the Griz’s hopes for an upset.

Now there has been a lot of bitching from some about why Selvig did not make an adjustment, or do something to stem the Pittsburg onslaught in the second half, even one Egriz’er who suggested assistant coach Shannon Cate should be given the reigns of the Lady Griz program because somehow, she could have done a better job against Pitt. To the second point, do you think if Shannon had the solution to that press, but she just chose to keep her mouth shut? If she had the solution, Selvig would have used it. Now to the first and major point and that is “players play and coaches coach”. At a certain point there is nothing a coach can do, if players do not make plays. I really hate to say this but athletically the Lady Griz players were simply not even in the same class as the Pitt players. Once Pitt got control of the tempo, that was all she wrote. I will give Selvig critics (all handful of you), that Selvig does take the responsibility for the players on his team and the style of basketball they play, but to that I will say Selvig recruits to win the Big Sky first. If Montana does not win the Big Sky conference there is almost no chance to he get a NCAA tourney invite. Over the past 10 or so years Selvig has recruited more athleticism, than he has ever had but he has not or will not recruit it at the expense of talent.

The lady Griz team once again this year continued their dominance of the Big Sky Conference, by winning their umpteenth conference Championship and their 17th NCAA tourney appearance. While it is easy to recap the past season the real interesting part of this series is going to be trying to get a feel as to what next years team is going to be like.

I mentioned last week that Griz fall signie 6-9 Eric Hutchison was picked to play in a State of Washington senior all-star game last week-end. It took me awhile but I finally found the game results. Hutchison’s red team lost to the white team in a close one 73-74. Hutchison scored 9 points and had 6 rebounds. The red team’s high scorer was Jon DeVries, and then they had four players with 9 points.

The LA Times has an update on Montana State point guard recruit Michael Williams.

Boys' basketball: Interest in Williams heating up

Taft senior guard Michael Williams, one of the best remaining unsigned players in Southern
California, is starting to generate more interest from Division I suitors.

New Mexico State visited Williams on campus today, Taft Coach Derrick Taylor said, and the 6-foot-1 standout has scholarship offers from San Francisco, Cal State Fullerton, Montana State and Cal State Northridge. New Mexico State has not offered a scholarship, Taylor said.

Williams often played his best in the biggest games, scoring 32 points against Westchester in the City Section title game--more than the entire Oakland McClymonds team scored against the Comets in the state Division I title game. He also scored 31 points against Leuzinger, 29 against Etiwanda, 20 against Bishop Montgomery, 27 against Oakland Skyline, 23 against Fairfax and 30 against Ventura.

He averaged 18.7 points and 4.1 assists and made 45% of his three-point attempts.

--Ben Bolch

This is the final in a series of four posts on the Bobcat women’s basketball team, discussing the past season and a look ahead to next season. Part 1 Season Wrap up, Part 2 Look ahead: Bigs, Part 3 Look Ahead: Wing players and Part 4 Look Ahead: Recruits.

The Recruits

Tricia Binford will graduate /lose three players off of this year’s team, but will look to replace them with up to 7 new players. With veteran eight players returning, including redshirt Jannette Jackson it is quite clear that at least 3-4 of the new players will need to be ready to contribute next fall. Of the six player who have signed or committed, the two in my some what novice opinion that look to be freshman ready to go would be 5-9 guard / small forward Latisha Addams and 6-0 power forward Rachel Semansky. I do not know exactly why I feel this way, I get the feeling that these two players could end up being very special in the Bobcat program., in the way Perry was in 06-07, Strand in 07-08 and Bussey was last year. Nipping at their heels are 6-1 forward Ashley Albert and 6-4 center Chelsea Banis, and the only thing that separates these women from Adams and Semansky in my opinion, is that they may have a little bit more of a transition to make to the college game. Albert will be moving from guard to the forward spot in college and may have to adjust to a more physical game. For Banis, I have a built in prejudice, that true big girls usually need a little more time to adjust to college ball. The other two players 5-11 guard / forward Kelsey Roben and 5-7 point guard Ally Schmitt are a little bit of a mystery or wild card for me, because I don’t feel I have a good picture of them. Both come from nationally ranked teams, with multiple D-1 signies, and solid pedigrees, but modest stats if any. Schmitt is a pure point who I think may see playing time next year. She is not the dynamic point Perry is but is more of a floor general who can get everyone involved. Roben is a complete mystery, very modest junior stats on a very powerful team and then had to sit out this year when she blew out her knee. From what I do hear she has a rep as a deadly three point shooter, well coaches and plays solid defense.

As mentioned previously there is a chance that Binford could sign another athlete this spring. This though is not a guarantee, though. I do not think Binford has filled all of her scholarships ever since she has been at MSU. I asked a couple years ago about her 15 scholarships and she said she would fill all 15 if she found the right players, but she did not want to fill the scholarships for the sake of filling them. Once she fills scholarship it is committed for 4 years, she would rather hold the scholarship over until the following year and get the right player. Like I said though if she does sign another player, and again I no particular insight either way, my first guess would be she might look for another big (JC?), and secondly a point (JC?), these are the two areas that the Cats may need the most help next year and we look very solid at the 2 and 3.

The common factors, that almost all of these girls, -and most of Binford’s recruits the past couple of years, for that matter- is that they are very skilled basketball player, who can play multiple positions on the floor, can run the floor, and come from winning programs. Who eventually plays next year is really a crapshoot for me to try to predict, because they are all capable. No matter where they are right now this minute, the main factor that will play the biggest role next year may lay in who works the hardest between now and the start of practice, they are that close.

This is the third in a series of four posts on the Bobcat women’s basketball team, discussing the past season and a look ahead to next season. Part 1 Season Wrap up, Part 2 Look ahead: Bigs, Part 3 Look Ahead: Wing players and Part 4 Look Ahead: Recruits.

The Wings

Loaded. Let’s just start off with that. Binford will have to replace Phippard, who was a do it all guard for the Cats, and needs to find a back up to spell star point guard Erica Perry, but a lot of talent will be filling the point guard, shooting guard, and small forward positions. Binford plays a most of her players at multiple positions, so it is hard to classified one player a this position or that position. Perry is the only true point guard returning next year, but different players have backed her up at different times this season, including Bussey. Freshman point guard Ally Schmitt has a chance to earn some time as Perry’s back up if not it could be back-up by committee. At the two and three there will be a lot of competition for starting roles and playing time. Big Sky freshman of the year 5-9 Katie Bussey should hold down one starting spots and is on the verge of becoming Rebecca Mercer type player. I do not know if she is as tough as Mercer was but she is capable of putting up points from anywhere on the floor. Bobcat, returnees 6-0 Lyndi Seidensticker, and 5-11 Jenny Heringer will be in the mix for the other starting spot. The other player who will push for significant minutes is the very athletic, 5-8 Jannette Jackson who had to sit out last year after transferring from Missouri State. I could see anyone of these three players starting at one time or another next year. The Bobcats will be so deep at the shooting guard / small forward position, that I could really see prize recruit 5-9 Latisha Adams fending off a possible a redshirt year in 2009-10. Adams is a scoring machine, but also is a very athletic defensive wiz who may have the skills to contribute right away but the Cats have so much depth at that position that Binford could redshirt her. It really is a good sign when, Binford is capable of redshirting her top recruits.

This is the second in a series of four posts on the Bobcat women’s basketball team, discussing the past season and a look ahead to next season. Part 1 Season Wrap up, Part 2 Look ahead: Bigs, Part 3 Look Ahead: Wing players and Part 4 Look Ahead: Recruits.

The Bigs

This is the area, that will obviously, be hit hardest with the graduation Garcia (12 pts/ 8 rbs) and Hoefer (6 pts/ 3 rbs). These players would represent 2 of the 3 players on the 2008-09 that could possibly called “bangers”. As I mentioned before Binford is not about having the biggest women on the court but rather to have someone who can hold down the middle defensively. To that extent I think 6-4 senior to be Jamie Thorton should get some looks, as well as incoming 6-4 freshman Chelsea Banis at the center position. Having said that, though, I do not think Binford will hesitate for a minute to go with a quicker line up of 3 guards and 2 forwards. At the 4 spot I think you will be looking at the very skilled 6-1 Sarah Strand. While Strand has the size to play the “power forward” spot, she also has the skills commonly associated with a small forward. Sarah will need to pick up her scoring and rebounding next year to offset the loss of Garcia, but look for another break out year for Strand. Another intriguing prospect for the 4 spot is incoming freshman 6-0 Rachel Semansky. Rachel has all the tools to be a very good power forward in Binford’s system. She is physical, does not shy away from contact, she is athletic and can get up and down the floor. The big question will be how soon will, she be ready. Returning guard / forward and general do it all Rachel Pauli as well as freshman Ashley Albert could also figure into the mix. I also would not be surprised if Binford and here staff did not sign one more big woman with their last scholarship.

Montana State recruit Jeff Budinich played this past week end in the Cloud NineAll Star Game. His SPSL North all star team defeated the SPSL South all star team 163 -117, in a game that obviuosly featured very little defense. Jeff scored 16 points and had a 2 blocked shots. Pictured Jeff Budinch in the Cloud Nine all star game

This is the first in a series of four posts on the Bobcat women’s basketball team, discussing the past season and a look ahead to next season. Part 1 Season Wrap up, Part 2 Look ahead: Bigs, Part 3 Look Ahead: Wing players and Part 4 Look Ahead: Recruits.

Part 1 Season Wrap

I will admit strait up I am less comfortable about my knowledge on the women’s team than the men’s. Yet at the same time also feel pretty confident in saying that the women’s program is at least 2 years in it’s building than the men’s. While I feel Binford has put into play the elements of what she and her coaches envision for the women’s basketball program, at this point in time those elements / players are very young.

This year’s team started out the season looking for an identity and struggled though out the preseason. When the conference season started, season started the women had to play the first 6 of 8 games on the road, and came out of the first half of the season with 3 wins. The only good thing about playing 6 of 8 games on the road the first half is that the second half you get 6 of 8 at home. And the women’s manage to still finish strong and take a third place finish in conference. In what has been a hallmark of Binford's teams they always seem to finish the season strong and play their best game at the end of the year. I saw this team in the preseason the first and second Cat / Griz, the Northern Colorado, and then the tournament games and each time I saw this team they looked more mature, and confident.

This year’s team lacked depth at the post, and I think they had a fair amount a trouble with teams that could pound the ball inside. Garcia was all leagues at the center /forward spot but she got things done with quickness and speed, rather than trying to out muscle her competitors. All of that said I do not think Binford will ever be a coach who will boast a bruising front line. Binford seems to more about athleticism, and speed. While I would have liked to see a little more depth also at the 1, 2, and 3 when you had players like Perry, Bussey, Phippard and even Strand occasionally, what Binford lacked in depth she made up with in quality. Binford will have some big holes to fill next year with the loss of Phippard, Hoefer, and Garcia; she will also have a lot of talent coming back next year.

I did not see this article until this morning. It is a feature that appeared in the Great Falls Tribune, last Wednesday about the annual Electric City All-Star tourney. It featured a nice interview of Fairfield’s Chelsea Banis, and the great picture above of the Bobcat women’s future front line, and by the way that future might come sooner than later.

From the Great Falls Tribune with a link to the entire article below:

Over the next two weekends, the top male and female players will play at various invitational events from Havre to Billings and several small towns in between as they take their last shots as high school hoopers.

A few of the top players, like Chelsea Banis of Fairfield and Rachel Semansky of Highwood, must limit their third-season appearances because of NCAA regulations. The 6-4 Banis and the 6-0 Semansky both will attend Montana State on scholarships next year, and NCAA rules allow only two all-star events during their senior year. So both players will skip the Hi-Line Invitational in Havre this week, but will compete at the Treasure State tourney the following weekend in Billings.

"Coach (Tricia) Binford just made sure we were OK on the number of tournaments," said Banis, who scored 10 points Tuesday as her North squad defeated the South team 62-50 before about 500 fans.

"I wasn't going to play in Havre anyway because my senior prom is this week. I'll play at the Treasure State with the other girls from Northern B."

That means Banis and fellow Fairfield stars Megan Anderson and Kassie Barta will merge with their rivals from Malta to compete against other seniors from AA, A, B and C. Banis isn't sure whether she'll get to face off against Missoula Big Sky's gifted 6-3 senior center, Joslyn Tinkle, who has signed to play for Stanford. "

The only time I've played against (Tinkle) was at Griz camp," said Banis. It's likely athletes like Tinkle, Banis and Semansky will be teammates in June in the Montana-Wyoming all-star series, although those high-powered rosters will be announced later. That all-star event doesn't count against NCAA rules because it's played after graduation.

I have heard that Montana Coach Wayne Tinkle has spent a good portion of the last couple day’s recruiting/scouting the National Junior Collage D-1 tourney in Hutchison Kansas. From what I hear he was there to scout player(s) from Salt Lake Junior College (Vassey Banny’s JC), and North Dakota State College of Science. Tinkle was in attendance as North Dakota State College of Science slipped by Southwestern Illinois Community College 50-49and then as Salt Lake Community College beat Shelton State Community College of Alabama 77-59.

Both Will Cherry and Eric Hutchison will be playing basketball this week, one player will be playing a Champion finals and the other in an All Star.

Will Cherry and his 21-1 McClymond high school team will take on the USA Today’s No. 2 national team in Westchester (34-2) in a very tough first round game. Here is a preview of the game by MaxPreps.com

Link

Here is a very good profile on Will Cherry by the San Francisco Chronicle

Link

Eric Hutchison will be playing in a Washington all-state boy’s basketball tournament. . Some of the other D-1 bound athletes who will be playing in the game are, Anthony Brown (a Washington State recruit), forward Chris Holmes (Eastern Washington), center David Wink (Northern Illinois) and center Eric Hutchinson (Montana). Here is an article on the Game

Link

I have been told my comment link has not been working, given I rarely leave myself comments it was hard for me to tell. I think I have it working but we will see. If it still is not working please feel free to email at mslacat@bresnan.net .

Now back to the NCAA Tourney!!!

This is the third in a series of four posts on the Bobcat men’s basketball team, discussing the past season and a look ahead to next season. Part 1 Season Wrap up, Part 2 Look ahead: Big men, Part 3 Look Ahead: Wing players and Part 4 Look Ahead: Recruits.

Look at the Wings

With pretty much everyone back at the 1, 2, and 3 positions the ‘Cats should be loaded. I do not see much of a change in the starting line-up, at these positions, with Navarre at the point, Bynum at the shooting guard and Rush at the small forward. The real competition will come for playing minutes behind the starters. Danny Piepoli will need to fight the challenge of Austin Brown who has really come on strong at the end of the season, at the small forward and shooting guard spot. Piepoli can be instant offence from the perimeter, but Brown has a nice combination of inside out side game plus might be the best defender among the guards. Current redshirt Larry Swan will be eligible next year and should provide some additional depth at the shooting guard and some at the point. Swan has decent athleticism and is a very dangerous 3 point shooter so he should be able to create a role for himself off the bench. The one question march will be at the point guard. James Hennessy has once again had some knee issues that limited his availability at the end of the season. I have heard that he may be considering hanging up his sneakers. While Rush can play the point guard spot when pushed, and redshirt point Trevor Hopkins will be coming off a redshirt year, look for the coaches to recruit another piont guard, if Hennessy does decide to hang it up.

This is the second in a series of four posts on the Bobcat men’s basketball team, discussing the past season and a look ahead to next season. Part 1 Season Wrap up, Part 2 Look ahead: Big men, Part 3 Look Ahead: Wing players and Part 4 Look Ahead: Recruits.


Despite loosing only one player big man from the 2008-09 team the loss of 6-7 (lets face it he is a lot closer to 6-7 than 6-9) Divaldo Mbunga will be a big loss. Not only will the Cats lose his 10 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 block a game, but even more so they will loose his quiet leadership in the locker room, that leadership was critical to the Bobcats tournament run. The two starting spots will be a battle between Bobby Howard, Brandon Johnson, and JC transfer Michael Swita. Last I heard, a couple months back Swita was still being bothered by a knee injury, so I am still a little nervous about his availability. The coaches are real excited about sophomore to be center Cody Anderson and I expect him to be a key player off the bench. Senior forward Cameron Henderson, had a hard time getting minutes this year, but could define a role for himself as a tough physical player off the bench, something this team will need. The coaches are also high on incoming freshman Jeff Budinich. His strength will be his offensive game but will need to prove he can defend to get some minutes.

This is the first in a series of four posts on the Bobcat men’s basketball team, discussing the past season and a look ahead to next season. Part 1 Season Wrap up, Part 2 Look ahead: Big men, Part 3 Look Ahead: Wing players and Part 4 Look Ahead: Recruits.


For the Cat’s this year, it seemed that the season that had 2 ½ distinctive parts. The preseason, the conference and the little blurb at the end called the conference tournament. The season started out, as a feeling out process, as this team tried to established individual roles. The team, though, managed to fight through all the bumps of the preseason, and came out with a handful of nice upset wins. When the conference season started, though, the train went off the tracks a little. Losing the Bobcat / Griz game, the first week in January, I think set a bad tone for the rest of the season, and this team just plain struggled. I’ll give the guy’s credit despite the adversity they continued to try to fight though it. If the Bobcat’s struggles started with the Griz it also ended with the Griz, somehow I think that 3rd Bobcat/Griz game of the year, was the best match up they could have asked for in the tournament. Sometimes you just get tired of getting beat and that is even more so when it involves your rivals. What ever the case, the Cat’s decided, that they were not going to simply role over, and went on to take out the #1 and #3 seeds and taking the #2 seed to within 10 seconds of a win. I am told coach Huse took the championship loss very hard, not for the loss itself but because he really felt that this team deserved to win for every thing they went through this season. I have heard from a couple of sources, that the “hard ass” Huse has really fell in love with this team over the last 6 weeks of the season and came to respect the way that team fought through hard times and finished strong. At the end of the season this team was as close as any Bobcat team has been in the past 10-15 years.

We get almost everyone back next year with the major exception of Divaldo, who will be tough to replace. I am hoping the returnees will use the conference tournament to build upon for next season, as some of the really great Bobcat teams have done in the past. I think it is going to be important that player learn how to step up when their team-mates struggle, to be successful next year. From the coaching side I think Huse needs to add some new wrinkles to his offence at the beginning of each swing through the conference to keep the other coaches honest. It appears, that a Brad Huse coached Bobcat teams will always do better than expected in the preseason, on the strength of his coaching, but when conference comes along the Big Sky coaches simply know him too, well and that negates a lot of his coaching advantages. New wrinkles or slight changes in his offense at key times in the Conference, could give him a little of that advantage back.

I thought I might do an update on some former Grizzlies that had left the program.






Austin Swift a 6-5 guard / forward transferred to Cal. Poly Pomona, an NCAA D2 school after the 2006-07 season. He was injured during the 2007-08 year and redshirted that year. This year Swift started out the season as a solid role player fir CPP but has really come on as the season progressed, earning a couple conference player of the week awards in January. Austin started all 27 games for CPP averaging 13 points, 5 rbs, 3 assists, 46% fg and 42% 3fg. Austin has one more year of eligibility remaining.



Eric Van Vliet was a 3 star 6-11 center coming into Montana for the 2005-06 season. Eric, a high school team-mate of Austin Swift, had sat out his high school senior year and his freshman year at Montana, with a knee injury. After redshirting year, he was kicked off the team by then coach Larry Krystowiak, when he and another guy decided to beat the heck out of a kid in the dorms. He transferred to a JC in California, and was getting a lot of attention from some mid majors, until he was arrested for his role in a California drug ring. Last I heard he was in jail waiting trial. You might catch him on MSNBC late night.


Dave Vanderjact from Australia signed with the Griz in 2006 and played sparingly for the Griz in the 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons before transferring to Western Washington Dave has started 10 of 25 games for WWU, and averaged 5 points, 4 rebounds and 48% from the field. I have heard that the injury bug that followed him all during his years with the Griz also affected him this year. Dave has one more year of illegibility.


Sean Watson was a 6-5 small forward from Howard TX JC who signed with the Griz in 2007, but never played for the Griz. Basically, as I hear it, he got home sick for his girl friend, and left Missoula and moved back to Texas. Some how he got another year of eligibility at Howard, and played that year before signing with Binghamton College in New York(yes they are D-1) in 2008. Sean played in the first two games of this season averaging 6 points and 4 rebounds. He did not play again for them and I do not know what happened to him since. Maybe he got home sick again?









Zach Graves redshirted with the Griz in the 06-07 season and played sparingly as a freshman in 2007-08. After that season the 6-2 guard, decided to transfer to NCAA D-2 Cal State Chico in order to get more playing time. This past year Zach started 18 of 27 games while averaged 7 points, and 3 rebounds a game for Cal State Chico. Zach will have two years of eligibility left after this past year.





Cameron Rundles earned the Big Sky Conference freshman player of the year award in 2006-07, but then struggled mightily in his sophomore season for the Griz. After the 2007-08 season he decided to leave the program and transferred to Wofford University a D-1 school in Ohio. This past year Rundles sat out as a redshirt transfer, but will have two years of illegality starting nest year.

Believe it or not this is a request from someone, but as it would happen I was thinking of doing it anyway. This is an update on a few former Bobcats. Most of the players here, where caught up in the Durham / Huse transition, although not all of them, and they decided to leave the program.

Jacques Wilson was point guard recruited by Mick Durham and played for the Bobcat his freshman year in the 2004-05 year. The summer after Huse was hired, Jacques decided to leave MSU and transferred to Southern Utah. Jacques had to sit out the 2006-07 year as a transfer redshirt at SUU. Unfortunately the head coach at SUU fired after that year, and once again Jacques decided to transfer. This time he decided to transfer down to William Jewell College an NAIA school. Jacques played the first semester for William Jewell during the 2007-08, but not the second semester, for what reason I do not know. Jacques finally got a full year of basketball in this past year, ( his junior year) for William Jewell starting 17 of 31 games and averaging 10.5 pts, 3 rbs, and 2 assists. He has one more year of eligibility remaining.

Chawn Johnson’s story is almost identical to Wilson’s, being recruited in the same class. Chawn redshirted his first year after injuring his knee. He also left the same summer as Wilson when Huse took over the program. Chawn continued to have knee problems and had multiple surgeries. He played his freshman year at his home town JC (Antelope JC). Chawn playing time was limited by his knee, but after the season signed with Rocky Mountain College in Billings. Chawn just finished his second year at Rocky and has averaged 3.2 points 3.4 rebounds playing in all 29 games and averaging 11 minutes a game. He has built a reputation at Rocky for being a defensive intimidator. Chawn has one more year of eligibility left.

Cory Davis was Durham’s last signie in the 2006 recruiting class that also included Travis Derochowski. After much wavering back and forth, and hoping to get on with a “bigger school, Davis finally decided to ask for a release from his letter of intent when Huse was hired and he signed JC Carlos Taylor. Davis signed on with a JC in Texas for the 2006 -07 year, but did not get much playing time there. He was then enticed by former Bobcat assistant coach Johnny Brown to transfer to New Mexico JC where Brown was an assistant. Davis joined NMJC for the 2007-08 but Brown took a job at Southern Utah. Davis averaged 13.5 points, 4.1 assists, 2.2 rebounds and 1.2 steals at NMJC and after that season Johnny Brown once again recruited him this time to SUU. This past year Davis averaged 4 points, 2 assists, in 17 minutes of playing time. Davis has one more year of eligibility left at SUU.

Travis Derochowski, again a Durham recruit, left MSU after his freshman year and transferred to Warner Pacific College close to his home town in Oregon. During the 2007-08 (his sophomore year) the 6-9 center averaged 3 points, 4 rebounds while starting 6 games and averaging 12 minutes a game. I believe Travis quit basketball after that season, and did not play for WPC or any other college that I could find.

Shaun Thomas was a redshirt freshman for the Bobcats last season (2007-08). He transferred over the summer to try to find more playing time. He transferred back to his home state of California and played for Yuba Junior College last year. I do not have his exact stats but I believe the 6-4 Thomas averaged 7 points and 3 rebound in a reserve guard for Yuba. I have heard, he intend to play for Yuba next year (his sophomore year) in hopes of improving his chances of getting back with a four year school.

Phil Freizen also transfer last summer, although his departure was a surprise to the coaches. I am told Feizen wanted to play out his senior season closer to his family and transferred to Concordia University in California. Concordia, who plays in the NAIA, just finished their season with a 26-6 record. The 6-4 Freizen started 28 of their 31 games from the small forward spot and averaged 10 points 2.5 assists and 4 rebounds in his final year of eligibility.

That all I have for now.

The following might only interesting for the really hard core recruiting nerds like me, but the start of March not only welcomes in the basketball tournament season but also kicks off the heart of the spring recruiting period. The next couple of weeks will make or break many schools spring recruiting class. Next week (March 16th – 22nd) is what is known as a “contact period”. This is one of a few times during the year when schools coaches can meat or talk with coaches in person out side of a schools campus. This is the key week when the head coach can set up in home meeting with recruits and their families. It can be extremely busy time as you can imagine especially if a coach is recruiting all across the country. It is also a make or break time for coaches, because a lot of recruits and their parents final decision will be based heavily on how this in house meeting goes. Below is the calendar for the spring recruiting period. I have also included some links to the NCAA official basketball recruiting site as well as a nifty color ,pdf recruiting calendar put out by the NCAA

Calendar

Jan- March 15th is an “Evaluation Period”

March 16th – March 22nd is a “Contact Period”

March 23rd- March 31st is an “Evaluation Period”

April 1st is a “Quiet Period”

April 2nd – April 9th until noon is a “Dead period”

April 9th @12:01 pm – April 12th is a “Contact Period”

April 15th - Start of the Spring signing period

April 13th – April 16th is a “Dead period”

April 17th – April 22th is a “Contact Period”

April 23rd – May 20th is a “Quiet Period”

May 25th - End of the Spring signing period

Definitions from the NCAA:

Contact period - permissible for authorized athletic department staff members to make in-person, off-campus recruiting contacts and evaluations.

Dead period - not permissible to make in-person recruiting contacts or evaluations on- or off-campus or permit official or unofficial visits.

Evaluation period - permissible for authorized athletics department staff to be involved in off-campus activities to assess academic qualifications and playing abililties. No in-person, off-campus recruiting contacts with a prospective student-athlete are permitted.

Quiet period - permissible to make in-person recruiting contacts only on the member institution's campus.