Griz hoops looks to carry on success
by Trent Makela, MontanaGrizzlies.com |
Head coach Wayne Tinkle |
First-year head coach Wayne Tinkle and company return a number of talented players to the 2006-07 squad. So many players returning, from a back-to-back NCAA tournament program, that Tinkle has a problem that most coaches would love to have.
“One of our main problems is that we really are pretty deep and we’re going to have to find a way to keep everyone happy,” Tinkle said. “Obviously, we’re not going to be able to play 14 or 15 guys.”
Due to that team’s youth and depth, only two players are safely embedded in the Grizzlies’ starting lineup; last year’s starting frontcourt of 6-foot-8 junior Andrew Strait and 6-foot-9 sophomore Jordan Hasquet. The pair were the cogs that turned the Grizzlies’ high-scoring interior game last season and both are clearly the team’s best options at their positions this year. However, the team would be vastly improved if one or both were allowed to slide down a lineup spot and play their natural positions.
While Tinkle is going to do his best to see that change happen, three other players who saw heavy minutes a year ago are likely to round out the team’s starting lineups and provide the leadership needed for the Grizzlies to return to the top of the Big Sky Conference.
Senior high-flyer and crowd-favorite Matt Dlouhy returns after starting 18 games and scoring 7.4 points per game last season as he switched between the post and the wing. Dlouhy could see starter’s minutes if the team looks to go big at scoring guard or could stay on the wing if Hasquet returns to the inside.
Junior Matt Martin started 14 games at the point last year for the Griz, but ended the season as the team’s first option off the bench at either guard spot and finished with averages of 6.7 points in 19 minutes per game. His experience and three-point shooting makes him an option to start at either guard spot.
Senior Bryan Ellis saw his minutes increase at the end of his first season with the team, mostly as a trusty pass-first ball-handler. He has never started a contest, but saw 16.9 minutes per game and proved to be an effective player in the Big Sky Conference, especially on the defensive end. If Martin starts at scoring guard, Ellis will likely pick up the tempo at the point.
While these returning five will take up much of the team’s court time this season, there is still plenty left to spread around the other 11 active members of the team’s roster.
Junior center Andrew Strait |
CENTER
Strait averaged a team-high 16.6 points per game last season, and spent most of the season ranked in the nation’s top 10 in field goal percentage. As an upper classman, Strait will likely lead more by example this year. He was often undersized at the center position last season, though, especially during non-conference games. His team-leading total of a mere 6.4 rebounds per game stand as proof to the potential benefits of a shift to power forward. Unfortunately, Strait is once again the biggest, strongest and most physical player on the roster, and will spend at least one more season as the man in the middle.
Tinkle on Strait: “Andrew has put on some added pounds and strength in the offseason, getting into peak physical condition. We look for him to provide a lot more leadership this year.”
The inexperienced seven-foot Australian freshman Dave Vanderjagt seems to be the team’s only option for a true post in the middle. Vanderjagt brings impressive credentials after winning gold in the youth Olympics with his country’s under-19 national team. He’s thin for his size, though, and will likely need a year of conditioning and experience before he plays meaningful minutes.
Tinkle on Vanderjagt: “Dave’s a seven-footer from Australia who has a world of potential. He is very skilled for his size, having the ability to pass, shoot and put it on the floor. The sky is the limit with Dave.”
POWER FORWARD
Hasquet’s size, speed and ball-handling ability helped him blossom as a tough match-up opposite Strait’s smash-mouth power game. He finished last season contributing well more than his averages of 8.1 points and 4 rebounds per game.
However, Tinkle is considering shifting his sweet-shooting forward to the perimeter after Hasquet dropped some excess weight and improved his three-point shooting over the summer. Aside from Strait, though, Hasquet still provides the scoring, versatility and defense to remain as the team’s best option at the power forward spot.
Tinkle on Hasquet: “Jordan is such a versatile player. He has the ability to shoot the ball from deep and put the ball on the floor. He can pass, post up, hit the glass offensively and defensively.”
If Hasquet makes the shift, Tinkle could go the route of 6-foot-7 sophomore banger Kyle Sharp as the new starter in the post. Sharp saw just 9.2 minutes per game last season, but proved to be an excellent rebounder and tough defender for his size. Sharp’s leaping ability and long arms also help him to play bigger than his height – a factor that will likely push him into backup minutes at the center spot as well.
Tinkle on Sharp: “Kyle’s got some experience under his belt after being thrown into the mix last year. He’s worked his tail off and should be a force off the bench for us this year.”
Gus Chase, a broad-shouldered 6-foot-5 junior college transfer, is the early wild-card in the post for the Grizzlies. He was ranked as one of the nation’s top-five junior college forwards last season by most recruiting web sites, but his ability to bring his hard-nosed style of play to the NCAA’s Division I is still untested.
Tinkle on Chase: “Gus is a junior college All-American out of Sheridan. He’s an undersized post player but has incredible work ethic and an unbelievable personality. He’ll be a crowd favorite.”
Mike Chavez, a 6-foot-7 wing-oriented senior, saw time at numerous positions during his 9.2 minutes per game last seasons, and played some of his best minutes at power forward. Chavez played every spot except the point last year, and should be the team’s utility sub again.
Tinkle on Chavez: “We’re very proud of how far Mike has come. He’s battled back from so much adversity and looks more comfortable than ever. Mike will be a huge contributor for us this season.”
Sophomore forward Jordan Hasquet |
SMALL FORWARD
Hasquet’s shift to small forward could provide veteran help to ease the loss of the 26.2 points, 9 rebounds and 6.4 assists per game contributed by now-graduated wings Kevin Criswell and Virgil Matthews last season. At a solidly-built 6-foot-9, Hasquet could also create match-up problems with his size to help offset our small posts.
If Hasquet plays inside, though, Dlouhy will likely resume his part-time role from last season as the starting small forward. At a lengthy, springy 6-foot-6, Dlouhy was an important bench contributor both inside and outside for Montana last year, but he is most comfortable shooting and slashing from the outside. As one of the team’s best defenders, Dlouhy could also fill Matthews’ shoes by drawing the assignment of the opponent’s best perimeter player. If Hasquet moves outside, the Grizzlies could outsize opponents even further on the wing by playing Dlouhy at scoring guard.
Tinkle on Dlouhy: “Matt is kind of a personal favorite of mine. He’s gone from having a chip on his shoulder because he didn’t think he was recruited that high, to becoming a huge part of our success.”
At 6-foot-5, senior wing Stuart Mayes will also likely see some minutes at both wing positions after seeing his playing time increase at the end of last season. Mayes struggled offensively during his first year with the team, but played stellar defense and is expected to improve into an expanded role this year.
Tinkle on Mayes: “Stuart is that weapon off the bench, an explosive scorer. He became a much better rebounder and defender as the season went on last year.”
The athletic 6-foot-5 sophomore Austin Swift saw his role and playing time shrink after impressing many early in his freshman season. He should compete for much more burn this season, though, after exciting the coaching staff with his improvement over the summer.
Tinkle on Swift: “Austin is another versatile player who can play three positions for us. He had a great offseason and worked hard on his outside shot. We expect big contributions from Austin.”
Jovanni Sims is an explosive 6-foot-4 freshman wing who comes to UM from Genesis One Prep School in Mendenhall, Miss. The depth at the wing positions will likely keep Sims off the court, but his athleticism and potential will likely find him garnering major minutes in the future.
Tinkle on Sims: “Jovanni is very athletic and an extremely hard worker. He’s an absolutely great kid who will lend himself to being a great teammate because of his personality and work ethic.”
Senior swingman Matt Dlouhy |
SHOOTING GUARD
Dlouhy, Mayes and Swift are all likely to see time at the scoring guard, but all are more suited for the wing within UM’s current roster. Many of the Grizzlies’ younger players are more natural fits for the shooting guard position, though not quite ready to fill the slot in the lineup.
Ryan Staudacher is a 6-foot-3 freshman guard from Kirkland, Wash., who is known as a three-point shooting specialist. The Grizzlies recruited him two years ago, but he did not join the team until this spring, and could take a year to get back into the flow of the high-level competition.
Tinkle on Staudacher: “Ryan’s a very intelligent player who is a dead-eye shooter from behind the three point line. We are excited that Ryan is a Grizzly. He’s a tough kid, hard worker.”
Zach Graves is a springy 6-foot-2 combo guard from Sacramento who has the surprising athleticism to play above the rim. Graves also brings the experience of playing against elite-level competition, much like Virgil Matthews did as a freshman, and should adjust quickly to the Division I level.
Tinkle on Graves: “Zach is a very athletic guard with a ton of potential. We’ll try to have him learn the game from a couple different positions. His work ethic goes unquestioned.”
Greg Spurgetis is a 6-foot-4 walk-on guard from Spokane, Wash. He saw limited action last season, but showed sparks of long-range shooting and impressed against the other young guards in the Silver-Maroon Scrimmage.
Tinkle on Spurgetis: “Greg is probably our hardest worker. He’s improved a tremendous amount both offensively and defensively. He’s become a more confident shooter and tough defender.”
POINT GUARD
The Grizzlies are hoping to find a calm, veteran hand at the point guard position this season and they have a pair of options. Their first option is 6-foot junior Matt Martin who has stared in 40-of-61 games over the last two seasons. Known for his breakneck style of play and quick trigger on the perimeter, Martin found his niche last season as the team’s instant offense off the bench. With the loss of Criswell and Matthews, though, Martin may see extended or even starting minutes at shooting guard where he can let his natural offensive game shine.
Tinkle on Martin: “Matt has had a couple of really great years for us. We’re very good with him in the lineup and we are expecting a super year from Matt.”
The other option, senior Bryan Ellis, is listed as a generous 5-foot-10 but played much bigger last year as another hyper-speed option off of the bench. Ellis is more of a traditional, pass-first point guard than Martin, and was second on the team with 3.6 assists per game and third with 1.2 steals per game. His performance was even more impressive because he generally garnered those numbers in a flurry off just a few minutes. Ellis also gained a reputation as the team’s closer last year by sealing games against both Montana State and Northern Arizona with key steals and lay-ups in the games’ final minutes.
Tinkle on Ellis: “Bryan’s a guy that has done wonders. He made the Dean’s List last year while helping us with our tournament run. We’re expecting big things from Bryan in a leadership role. “
Cameron Rundles is a 6-foot-2 freshman point guard from Minneapolis, Minn., who played his high school ball at one of the top programs in his state. He is easily the team’s biggest, most physical point guard, but Rundles split his focus between basketball and football in high school and will likely need time to mature.
Tinkle on Rundles: “Cameron is a hard-nosed point guard who brings a lot of energy and toughness to our freshman class. He’s a natural leader and a winner who has a bright future at UM.”
THE NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
Senior guard Bryan Ellis |
Montana’s home opener features in-state MSU-Northern on Nov. 10. The Griz then take a five-game road swing, starting at Utah State (Nov. 13) and Wyoming (Nov. 15) before heading for the Old Spice Classic in Orlando, Fla.
At the Old Spice Classic, the Grizzlies open with West Virginia (Nov. 23) in a match-up of 2006 NCAA tournament teams, televised nationally on ESPN2. Montana will play two more games against a marquee field including Arkansas, Marist, Minnesota, Southern Illinois, Virginia Tech and Western Michigan in addition to the Griz and Mountaineers. Every game in the Old Spice Classic will be televised on ESPN2 or ESPNU.
UM returns home from Florida for a five-game home stand, with Boise State (Dec. 3), 2006 NIT qualifyer Western Kentucky (Dec. 6), UC Riverside (Dec. 9), South Dakota State (Dec. 10), and Montana Tech (Dec. 13) all making the trip to Missoula.
Montana ends December with trips to Oral Roberts (Dec. 19), a 2006 NCAA Tournament team, and Portland (Dec. 22). The schedule also features a February non-conference home game against a yet to be named opponent as part of ESPN’s BracketBusters event. BracketBusters will feature 13 nationally televised games selected from an expanded pool of 102 teams.
THE BIG SKY CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
Tinkle and company are going to face a handful of veteran teams and even more improving young teams on their road to the Big Sky Conference tournament.
At the top of the list is Northern Arizona who hosted the 2006 Big Sky Tournament as the conference’s top team. The Lumberjacks dropped a tight championship game to UM and return nine players from last year’s team, but also lost their veteran shooting guard in Kelly Golob.
Eastern Washington is also on the rise and look to have a better supporting cast for shooting guard extraordinaire Rodney Stuckey, who became the first freshman to win the Big Sky’s MVP award. Stuckey is considered one of the top ten shooting guards in the entire nation according to most recruiting websites, and is rejoined by all but one teammate from the 2006 squad that won seven of its last nine games.
Overall, the Big Sky Conference finished the 2006 season with the 17th highest RPI among all 32 Division I conferences. The future looks even brighter and 2007 should again see the Big Sky rise among the elite “mid-major” organizations.
A NEW BEGINNING
Kevin Criswell |
The Grizzlies finished the 2005-2006 season with a record of 24-7 overall and 10-4 in the Big Sky. The team qualified for a second-consecutive NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history behind second-year head coach Larry Krystkowiak and senior leaders Kevin Criswell and Virgil Matthews. The team even managed to cap their two-year turnaround with a first-round win against Nevada before falling to Boston College in their next game.
Criswell and Matthews graduated following the season, though, taking their 26.2 points, 9 rebounds and 6.4 assists per game with them. The Griz then endured a coaching change when Krystkowiak exchanged his homecoming success for a contract as an assistant coach with the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks.
The good news for Griz fans, though, is that “Coach K’s” right hand man Wayne Tinkle picked up the reigns as the new head coach. A Montana alum himself, Tinkle ranks among the school’s career-leaders with 1,500 points and 836 rebounds, and has been with the program through the past five years and the accompanying three coaching changes.
Now, as Tinkle puts his own stamp on the program, he hopes to continue the tradition of teamwork and discipline that Krystkowiak established over his brief stay. Of course, he has also found a few areas that could use some tweaks and changes to help incorporate the team’s new personnel.
“We’re not going to change a whole lot x and o wise. (The coaching staff) has learned the game from a lot of the same people and we’ve had some success with it. I’d say that means we don’t need to change a whole lot,” Tinkle said. “Maybe with guys defensively bringing the effort and energy to create a few more opportunities on offense. That’s going to have to be earned by proving that we are a disciplined and intelligent ball club. The guys are excited, and I think they know if they buy into the defensive end, then they’re going to have a little more freedom offensively.”
[Back to the Grizzly Times] |
Lady Griz back to business in 2006-07
by Joel Carlson, UM Sports Information |
Head coach Robin Selvig |
When University of Montana women's basketball coach Robin Selvig sits at his desk this time of year and pores over his 2006-07 roster, he has a just-out-of-the-box jigsaw puzzle at his fingertips. Granted, it is a puzzle that has only 14 pieces and there are probably dozens of easy ways to put it together if his only objective was putting five random players on the floor at a time, but there is only one final pattern that is acceptable to him and his team: one that looks like an NCAA tournament logo.
Like any puzzle-maker, Selvig has the four corner pieces he needs to get things moving toward his goal in lone senior Sara Gale and returning starters junior Dana Conway and sophomore Mandy Morales and Tamara Guardipee.
Katie Edwards and Jody McLeod were lost to graduation, but four other letterwinners return, all of whom made solid contributions in 2005-06 when the Lady Griz went 21-7 and finished second in the Big Sky Conference at 10-4. Call them the edge pieces: Juniors Johanna Closson and Laura Cote and sophomores Britney Lohman and Sonya Rogers. Closson, Cote and Rogers all averaged more than 11 minutes per game last season, while Lohman saw action in 25 games.
And the middle pieces of the puzzle, which brings all the corner and edges together: Junior Jackie DeShazer, sophomore Betsy Snead, redshirt freshmen Lauren Beck and Shadra Robison and incoming freshmen Jessa Linford of Seeley Lake, Mont., and Stephanie Stender of Sheridan, Wyo.
"We've got a lot of things to decide," said Selvig, whose career record of 645-188 (.774) has him among the leaders in Division I women's basketball in both wins and winning percentage. "We return a lot of playing experience, but some new faces have jumped into the picture, so we've got a lot of kids vying for playing time.
"But that is usually the case unless you return everybody. So what kind of look we'll have when we take the floor has yet to be determined."
Morales and Edwards made up Montana's starting backcourt in the Lady Griz' final 20 games last year and notched some impressive accolades. Edwards ended her career as a two-time All-Big Sky Conference selection and the Montana and Big Sky Conference leader in career 3-pointers (236), while Morales was a unanimous selection to the All-BSC team and was named a Kodak/WBCA honorable mention All-American, one of only three freshmen nationally to be recognized along with Courtney Paris of Oklahoma and Candace Parker of Tennessee.
Rogers started the first seven games last season at the point, then became Morales' back-up when she returned from an early-season injury.
Sophomore guard Mandy Morales |
Morales may see more time away from the point, where her play-making ability and athleticism might be better put to use, but Rogers is one of the best outside shooters on the team, something that can go underutilized at the point guard position.
"We need to figure out who's going to do a bulk of the time at the point, because Mandy can play the two or three as well, as can Sonya," Selvig said. "Or Lauren could play the point for that matter, so we need to figure out who's going to be running the team."
Morales? Rogers? Beck? By committee? You can just picture Selvig putting the puzzle pieces together, taking a second to ponder what he's come up with, then taking them apart and trying it again.
A fourth option, depending on her health, is DeShazer, who gained valuable experience as the backup to Brooklynn Lorenzen during Montana's 2003-04 NCAA tournament season, but who has not seen a minute of action since that season's Louisiana Tech tournament game due to lingering injuries.
Depending on what happens at the point, Morales, Rogers and/or Beck will also see time at the two or three, along with Conway and Cote.
Conway, along with Edwards and Morales, was one of three players to average over 30 minutes per game last season, while the athletic Cote came off the bench to see action in 26 games.
Linford and Stender, both redshirt candidates for 2006-07, could also provide depth at the wing.
Closson, who split time with the graduated McLeod at the four last year, is the natural successor to the starting spot, while Guardipee returns at center, where she started 28 games as a freshman in 2005-06.
Gale (15.9 mpg) and Lohman (7.6 mpg) both saw considerable action off the bench last season. They will be joined in the four-five rotation by sophomore Betsy Snead, who is eligible after sitting out the 2005-06 season after transferring from Xavier, and Shadra Robison, who redshirted last season.
"Obviously Johanna has had a couple of good years, so we're looking for her to emerge at the four," Selvig said. "Tamara had a great freshman year, plus we've got Britney, who finished her freshman season strong, and two redshirts coming into the picture in Betsy and Shadra, and Sara returning as our only senior."
When all is said and done and Selvig can relax and look at the finished puzzle next March, what will he see? Will the pieces form a Big Sky Conference regular-season championship team? Maybe the program's 17th NCAA tournament appearance?
"Last year was a good year," Selvig said. "I felt good about how we played, but you always want a little bit more.
"The team worked very hard this summer and showed me they are motivated. They want to get back to the NCAA tournament this year. That's their goal.
"We had a lot of young kids playing last year, so I think we should be an improved team. I think we have good team speed and quickness. I think we're a good shooting team, but we'll need to have more of an inside game.
"We'll also be looking for more offense and more consistency on offense. I think that's what we didn't have last year, and hopefully it's because we were young.
"I think we should be pretty deep if some kids come through like I think they will.
"Overall, I think the cumulative effect of everything is that we'll be better."
Senior center Sara Gale |
THE SENIOR
Sara Gale (6-2, center, Corvallis, Ore.) saw limited court time as a freshman (2002-03) and sophomore (2004-05) and dealt with injury in 2003-04, when she redshirted. She finally saw some extensive playing time last year, getting on the court in all 28 games, averaging just under 16 minutes per game. She averaged 3.0 points and 4.6 rebounds per game and finished second on the team in blocked shots with 29.
Gale is a true post player with strong back-to-the-basket moves who can step out to 15 feet and hit the perimeter jumper.
"Sara is strong around the basket and is a good post scorer," Selvig said. "She also has the confidence in her perimeter game to spot up and shoot the 15 footer, and she runs the floor well.
"Last year was her first real year of playing, and she's been making great strides. Sara should be a strong contributor to the success of this year's team."
THE JUNIORS
Johanna Closson (6-0, forward, Whitefish, Mont.) is a sweet-shooting forward who has been an impact player since her first collegiate game in 2004-05 when she posted 11 points and nine rebounds. Coming off the bench as a sophomore last year behind McLeod at the four, Closson averaged 7.4 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. She is a career 83.1 percent free throw shooter.
"Johanna worked extremely hard in the off-season, and that's showing up this fall," Selvig said. "She's been beating everyone in pre-season conditioning, and she's in the best shape she's ever been in.
"We're looking for Johanna to emerge this year and grasp the four position. She is a very talented player with a very good pull-up and 3-point shot, and her turnaround jumper is as good as any we've had in this program.
"More minutes will only help her confidence, and I think she has a chance to be a great player when it's all said and done."
Dana Conway (5-10, guard/forward, Billings, Mont.) enters the 2006-07 season as UM's starter at the small forward, but can also move up and play the two due to her solid handling skills. After serving as a role player off the bench in 2004-05, Conway emerged as a threat last season, when she averaged 9.8 points and 4.6 rebounds while playing over 30 minutes per game.
Conway, who was named MVP of last year's Lady Griz Holiday Classic, is one of the team's top shooters, averaging 42.1 percent from the field, 39.0 percent from 3-point range and 80.5 percent from the line.
"Dana is a good all-around player and someone who works hard all the time at both ends of the floor," Selvig said. "Defensively she is extremely intense and aggressive and one of our better defenders. Offensively she is a versatile scorer who can score inside or out.
"We expect a strong year out of her."
Junior guard Laura Cote |
Laura Cote (5-8, guard, Gardiner, Mont.) has been a role player off the bench her first two seasons, but with that experience should see more minutes in 2006-07. She averaged 2.7 points and 1.2 rebounds in 26 games last season but showed flashes of her potential with a 14-point outing against Rocky Mountain and two nine-point efforts.
"Laura is very athletic and has good skills, and she's had some great moments. But now we're looking for her to become a more consistent and more complete player," Selvig said. "Laura is extremely quick with the basketball. Her first step is quick as can be. That quickness also makes her one of our better defenders."
Jackie DeShazer (5-7, guard, Libby, Mont.) has had a career riddled by injury after a promising freshman campaign in 2003-04. She has not seen the floor since the Louisiana Tech NCAA tournament game in March 2004, a season in which DeShazer averaged 8.8 minutes per game and finished fourth on the team with 33 assists and had a sterling 2.1:1 assist-to-turnover ratio.
"Jackie's been out, so it's hard to say what she can offer us," Selvig said. "The number one thing will be getting cleared to play again, then returning to game shape.
"Jackie was an outstanding shooter who got valuable experience as a freshman, so we're just hoping she can function and have a chance to show what she can do for an extended period of time."
THE SOPHOMORES
Tamara Guardipee (6-2, center, Browning, Mont.) filled an immediate need her freshman season by filling the post void left by Hollie Tyler and Crystal Baird, who both graduated after the 2004-05 season. Guardipee stepped in and started all 28 games at center in 2005-06, averaging 6.3 points and 6.0 rebounds per game and shooting 43.2 percent from the floor.
Following Tyler, UM's top career shot blocker with 297, Guardipee led the Big Sky Conference and was 27th nationally with 60 blocks (2.1 bpg).
"I'm really happy with Tam's play and work in the pre-season," Selvig said. "She's getting to be a better basketball player every day by developing more of a complete game.
"Tam is becoming a much better scorer inside, which is a nice complement to her shot blocking and post passing game. Tam is a force in the game because of the way she can block and change shots."
Sophomore forward Britney Lohman |
Britney Lohman (6-1, forward, Bozeman, Mont.) averaged nearly eight minutes per game as a freshman in 2005-06 because of her defensive abilities and toughness. At 6-1, Lohman was one of UM's better interior defenders, but also showed some offensive spark, including a 10-point outing against New Orleans in the opening round of the 2005 Lady Griz Holiday Classic.
"Britney finished strong last season playing both the four and five for us," Selvig said. "She was that rare freshman who can be a really good defender because she is so fundamentally sound on the defensive end and always playing hard.
"She enters this season as probably our best defender because she can guard quicker people as well as size people.
"We may look for her to play more on the perimeter this year, but she has the feet and is developing the skills to do it. She's a good shooter and becoming a better scorer."
Much was expected of Mandy Morales (5-9, guard, Billings, Mont.) prior to her freshman season in 2005-06, yet Morales still managed to exceed those expectations, capping her year with a unanimous All-Big Sky Conference selection and Kodak/WBCA honorable mention All-America honors.
Sidelined with an injury for the season's opening five games, Morales returned on Dec. 10 and led the Lady Griz to nine straight wins and an 18-5 record over their final 23 games with her in the lineup. She scored in double figures in 20 of the 21 games she started, with six occasions of at least 20 points.
Morales led UM in five statistical categories, including scoring average (15.9 ppg), assists (4.1 apg) and steals (2.2 spg). She also ranked among the Big Sky leaders in nine of the league's 12 statistical categories and had the highest scoring average by a Lady Griz freshman in program history.
"Mandy is as complete a player as we've had here and a big part of what this team does," Selvig said. "She is so versatile. We can use her from the point guard to the three, and she makes all her teammates better because of her ability to penetrate and break defenses down.
"Mandy is also a great leader. She was the one getting the girls into the gym all summer, and she's the one that stayed here and lifted.
"She had a great freshman year, and she has the chance to be a great player if she continues to grow and improve."
Sophomore guard Sonya Rogers |
Sonya Rogers (5-7, guard, Lewistown, Mont.) was thrust into a starting role from her first collegiate game in 2005-06 due to Morales' injury and she delivered immediately, averaging 9.5 points and 5.5 assists in UM's opening two games. Rogers eventually started seven games and saw action in all 28, finishing second on the team with 59 assists and averaging 4.8 points per game, mainly by hitting 38.9 percent of her 3-point shots.
"Sonya worked extremely hard in the off-season and keeps getting better every day," Selvig said. "She's probably our best shooter, and she can play both the one and two for us.
"Sonya has point guard savvy, but she can also shoot the heck out of the ball, so we may be able to get her more shots if she is at the two.
"And she is as competitive as competitive gets, right down to getting upset if she doesn't win conditioning things we do in the fall."
Betsy Snead (6-2, forward/center, Gillette, Wyo.) enters the fray this year after sitting out the 2005-06 season. Snead, a strong, athletic player who was named Wyoming's Miss Basketball as a senior, was recruited out of Campbell County High School by the Lady Griz, but she chose to attend Xavier, where she played sparingly for one year before transferring to UM.
"Betsy is as athletic a player as we have," Selvig said. "She has good size, good speed and good quickness, and to make us the best team, we need to utilize her strength inside.
"Betsy has good perimeter skills, but we'd like to see her continue to expand her game to where she has the ability to score, rebound and defend inside."
THE FRESHMEN
Head coach Robin Selvig |
Lauren Beck (6-0, guard/forward, Great Falls, Mont.) and Shadra Robison (6-3, center, Billings, Mont.) both redshirted in 2005-06 and will enter their freshman seasons with a year's experience under their belts.
"I thought Lauren had a great redshirt season," Selvig said. "She is another very versatile player that can play the one, two or three for us because she can handle, she's a good shooter and she has different ways to get to the basket.
"On defense she can create havoc because she has long arms, so Lauren is definitely going to be in the mix, and I expect a good contribution out of her.
"Shadra is a true post player for us, and I thought she had a good redshirt year. She'll battle Tam and Sara for playing time at the five.
"Shadra is a strong player. She posts up as strong as any girl we've had here recently. When she comes along defensively, I think she could be a great scorer for us."
Incoming freshmen are Jessa Linford (6-1, forward, Seeley Lake, Mont.) and Stephanie Stender (5-11, guard/forward, Sheridan, Wyo.).
Linford led Seeley-Swan High School to a 15-12 record as a senior, averaging 17 points and eight blocked shots per game, which followed the Blackhawks' state runner-up finish in 2005. A talented track and field athlete, Linford won 2006 Montana Class B state titles in the 100-meter hurdles (15.86) and high jump (5-2).
"Jessa is an exciting athlete," Selvig said. "She can run, she can jump and she has good basketball skills. We're probably looking at her as a perimeter and an inside player, but probably more on the perimeter this season, not only for her own development but also for practice purposes.
"I've been impressed with Jessa so far this fall with what she's done on the basketball floor. You want to have athleticism. Speed and quickness are tough to teach people, so she has a bright future.
Stender averaged 16.7 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.8 steals per game as a senior, leading Sheridan High School to the Wyoming Class 4A state consolation championship. She was named the 4A North Conference Player of the Year as a senior and earned all-conference and all-state honors as a junior and senior.
Stender was also an all-state volleyball player.
"Steph is another really good athlete," Selvig said. "She can play either small forward or big guard, she's a very good shooter and she's as strong a rebounder as we have. I'm excited about her potential.
"Steph is an awesome kid, just bubbly and outgoing, so she's fun to be around. She's always got a smile on her face, but she's also a very good competitor."
A LOOK BACK
Junior guard Dana Conway |
Montana went 21-7 in 2005-06, the team's 24th 20-win season in 28 years under Selvig. The Lady Griz went 10-4 in Big Sky Conference play to finish in second place, then ended their season with a 73-66 semifinal loss to Northern Arizona in the Big Sky tournament.
Another successful season, certainly, but for a program that's been to 16 NCAA tournaments since 1983, has a trip to the Big Dance become the annual measuring stick for the team?
"It was a good year," Selvig said. "The league was very competitive, and the team that was playing its best basketball of the season at tournament time was the team that was going to win it and go to the NCAAs.
"We would have liked to have finished it a little stronger, but I felt good about how the team played. It's just that you always want a little bit more."
Montana opened the season going 3-2, with back-to-back losses at Florida State, 69-56, and at Wyoming, 50-45, though both were teams that would go on to 20-win seasons and get selected to national tournaments (the Seminoles played in the NCAAs while the Cowgirls were picked for the WNIT).
The return of freshman Mandy Morales came in the season's sixth game, which started a nine-game winning streak. That stretch included a tournament championship at the 26th annual Lady Griz Holiday Classic with wins over New Orleans and UNC Asheville.
Montana's eventual second-place finish in the Big Sky instead of its 20th regular-season conference championship probably came down to early-season struggles, when the team opened league play 3-3 with two home losses.
Those three losses came by a grand total of eight points, which meant the Lady Griz were close to putting everything together.
What started a six-game winning streak and got Montana back into the Big Sky race was a record-setting 105-55 home-court victory over Idaho State, which would go on to win the league with an 11-3 record.
The Lady Griz opened a 32-point lead in the game's first 15 minutes against the Bengals and would go 16-for-24 from 3-point range in matching the program record for points in a game.
The winning streak set up a showdown at Idaho State on the regular season's final weekend, with both teams sitting atop the league at 9-3.
Montana would never lead in the game, falling 71-57, but would go on to defeat Weber State by 14 two nights later to secure the No. 2 seed in the BSC tournament.
"We dug a hole early in the conference when we lost a couple of home games early (to Northern Arizona by five and Weber State by one), but we came back and were in the hunt the last weekend," Selvig said.
"And we beat those two teams that got us at home when we went back to their place, but you'd prefer not to have to do that."
Sophomore center Tamara Guardipee |
Though Montana finished second, a closer look at the numbers reveal that the Lady Griz had as good a season as anyone in the league in 2005-06. In league games, UM ranked first in the Big Sky in scoring defense (58.4 ppg), field goal percentage defense (.348), 3-point field goal percentage defense (.294), scoring margin (+14.7 ppg), rebound margin (+6.4 ppg) and blocked shots (6.00 bpg).
If it was the hottest team that would win the Big Sky tournament, then that team was No. 3 seed Northern Arizona, which defeated No. 6 Portland State, No. 2 Montana and No. 5 Weber State (which upset host and No. 1 seed Idaho State in the semifinals) to advance to the NCAA tournament.
NAU, which received a No. 14 seed in the NCAA tournament, fell to No. 3 Baylor in the first round, while Idaho State was selected to play in the WNIT, where the Bengals lost at Kansas State in the opening round.
THE NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
The season opens with Sunday home games against MSU-Billings (18-9 in 2005-06) and Gonzaga (16-14) on Nov. 12 and Nov. 19 before Montana travels to Ohio State's tournament. The Lady Griz will face Davidson (17-12) in one opening-round game, while the host Buckeyes (29-3) will take on Cornell (8-19) in the other.
Ohio State, which is ranked No. 3 nationally in Slam Magazine's preseason poll, earned a No. 1 seed in the Albuquerque Regional at the 2006 NCAA tournament but was upset by Boston College in the tournament's second round. The Buckeyes return 6-5 senior center Jessica Davenport, a two-time Big 10 Player of the Year and two-time Kodak All-American.
"Ohio State was a No. 1 seed in last year's NCAA tournament, and it's a place that draws people (OSU was 19th in the nation in attendance in 2005-06 at 5,261 fans per game), so we'd love to get a chance to play them," Selvig said. "But we're going to have to beat a good Davidson team to get that opportunity."
The Lady Griz follow the OSU tournament with home games against Wyoming (21-9 and WNIT participant), Portland (4-24) and Utah State (3-24) before road games at Washington State (8-20), Idaho (10-19), Cal State Northridge (10-20) and Santa Clara (19-12 and WNIT participant) close out the pre-Christmas schedule.
The 27th Lady Griz Holiday Classic takes place Dec. 28-29. Idaho and Wyoming will square off in one game on opening night, while Montana will host Canisius (18-11) in the other.
THE 2006-07 BIG SKY CONFERENCE
Junior forward Johanna Closson |
Selvig and the Lady Griz will have their hands full if they want to make a run toward the 2007 NCAA tournament. The Big Sky Conference is loaded with returning talent. Nine of the league's top 10 scorers and eight all-conference players from a year ago are back, with Weber State and Montana State returning all five of their starters, and Idaho State, Northern Arizona and Portland State each returning four starters.
"The league is going to be very competitive, as it was last year," Selvig said. "There are going to be a lot of tough games and I think a lot of close games. There could be a handful of different teams that are in the hunt coming down to the last weekend."
With the addition of Northern Colorado to the conference and therefore a nine-team league, the Big Sky Conference schedule will have a different look in 2006-07 from previous years.
"It's a strange set-up, but any time you go to nine teams that's what you're going to be dealing with," Selvig said. "I'm sure every team is going to feel like there are some tough things they have to deal with."
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Grizzly Spotlight: Griz volleyball seniors
by Joel Carlson, UM Sports Information |
Senior outside hitter Claudia Houle |
Montana’s senior volleyball class of Claudia Houle, Emily Sakis and EvaLyn Whitehead have been a major part of a turnaround that has resulted in the Grizzlies rising from the depths of the league standings to an upper-level finish this season and a spot in the 2006 Big Sky Conference Tournament.
Houle is completing her third season with Montana, Sakis her second season and Whitehead her fifth year. The trio took a break from their hectic end-of-the-season schedule to answer a few questions for Grizzly Times.
1. What has first-year coach Jerry Wagner brought to the volleyball program that has allowed the type of positive turnaround that has taken place this fall?
CH: Coach Wagner is someone who demands respect and also gives respect to all. He is consistent with his actions and in his speech. He knows where he wants to go, and it is easy for the team to follow him.
ES: Jerry’s confidence in our program has never wavered. The biggest thing I noticed when I came into this program (prior to the 2005 season) was that nobody, including the coaches, had any confidence in anything about our program. When Jerry came in, his faith in us was so great. The best thing about winning is seeing his face after a game. We just want to make him happy. His coaching style is amazing and definitely works well for this team.
EW: Jerry has high expectations of our team and is unwilling to accept anything less than our very best. He believes in our abilities and does everything in his power to bring out the best in each of us, on and off the court.
2. Talk about your fellow seniors:
CH: Eva is a great person. She is independent and responsible and always wants to help others. She is a very mature woman. Emily is a social person. She has many positive attributes and few negatives. I will miss them both.
Senior middle blocker EvaLyn Whitehead |
ES: EvaLyn is such an amazing person. She never gets too excited or too upset during games. Her level-headedness is hilarious and much needed on the court. Plus she is a powerhouse at the net. Claudia is a very intense player with a lot of power. She is a very smart player and a huge asset to our team.
EW: I can’t say enough about the other seniors on the team. I have complete confidence that every game they are going to show up and leave it all out on the court. They are both leaders in their own right, and they’ve set the bar for the incoming players who will have quite the shoes to fill.
3. What do you want people to say about you when they leave the gym after seeing you play?
CH: She is from Canada, she speaks French and she is weird.
ES: I hope that people would say I was a very good leader and that I will be hard to replace. I back up what I say with my play on the court, and I hope I will be missed because I love everyone on this team so much!
EW: I want people to know that I gave it all I had, and that by being on the court I contributed to the success of our team. Other than that, I don’t care what people say!
4. You are part of a senior class that has gotten the team back to the Big Sky tournament for the first time since 2000. When this season finally comes to a close, how will you look back at that accomplishment?
CH: We had amazing teamwork, and we reached our goals because we worked together as a unit. We all have a passion for the game, and that has taken us far.
ES: I hope that this is not an isolated incident. There is a lot of talent on this team for years to come, and hopefully this is just the first step towards greater things. I am so happy that in my senior year we had one of the most successful seasons since 2000. That is a huge accomplishment, and I cannot explain how happy it makes me.
EW: I am excited about the accomplishment of making it to the tournament. When I look back I will know that our team did what it set out to do this year, and I was a part of that. That will be a great feeling.
Senior middle blocker Emily Sakis |
5. What were your personal goals going into the season, and have you reached those goals?
CH: Going to the NCAA tournament, being the best player that I can be and kicking some butt.
ES: My personal goal was to be a good leader and make people have more confidence in themselves and their teammates regardless of how the season went. I think I accomplished this goal, but of course it was pretty easy since we were so successful.
EW: I had several goals going into this season: To be a leader on the court, to have an impact every game and to make other teams hate playing against me. I think whether or not I have reached those goals speaks for itself.
6. What’s next for you?
CH: Graduate from college, train for the selection camp for the national A team in Canada, make some money, play professional volleyball and enjoy life.
ES: I am looking to do something in the correctional field. I will probably start out being a probation officer. I would like to work with juveniles since they have a higher rate of rehabilitation. Ultimately I want to help integrate criminals back into the community as an integral part of society.
EW: That’s a pretty loaded question. When I know the answer I’ll let you know!
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Putting with UM junior golfer Anna Maria Jaramillo
by Ian Marks, UM Sports Information |
Junior Montana golfer Anna Maria Jaramillo, who finished tied for twenty fifth at the Big Sky championships in 2005, explains the basics of improving your putts.
Setup: feet shoulder width apart, knees bent, eyes over ball, arms hanging like a pendulum with a slight bend, relaxed.
Back swing and follow through: bring the club back as far as you follow through, swing is one fluid motion, arms remain as a pendulum with a slight bend.
Warm-up drill: go to the middle of the green and putt to the edge of the green. This will help you gauge the speed of the green.
How to play the break: go behind your putt and figure out where the break is. Putt to the spot next to the hole where the ball will break. A-line your feet to the break point, not the hole.
Drill to improve your putting: putt from three feet away. Try to make 25 putts in a row. This will help you build confidence and to trust your putt.
Most common beginner mistake: put to much effort into the swing and hit it to hard.
Practice is the best way to improve your putting. Improving your ability to putt is the easiest way to shave strokes off your score.
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Nessland takes over UM's Athletic Performance Center
by Ian Marks, UM Sports Information |
Jared Nessland
Director of Athletic Performance |
Jared Nessland was hired as Montana's Director of Athletic Performance in September 2006. Nessland came to UM from the University of North Dakota, where he was the Director of Strength and Conditioning.
Nessland was UND's Director of Strength and Conditioning for four years (July 2002 to present). He was the assistant director for the Fighting Sioux for one year (July 2001 to May 2002) before moving to University of Nebraska in an assistant position for three months (May 2002 to July 2002).
Nessland left the Cornhuskers to return to North Dakota when the director position became available.
Nessland sat down to discuss his duties as the strength and conditioning coach at Montana as well as a little bit about himself.
How did you first become interested in strength and conditioning?
I first became interested in the profession when I got to college. Coming from a small town high school, I didn’t even know there was such a thing as a strength coach. Before going to college, I intended to major in physical therapy so that I could work with athletes. Once I got to college and started working with our strength coach (I was a thrower) I thought that would be a great profession to go in to. I have always loved being in the weight room.
What do you most like most about your job?
Helping athletes to improve their performance and trying to stay injury free. Learning how the human body works. Just being around the collegiate atmosphere and influencing student athletes and hopefully making their college experience more memorable.
What is difficult or what don’t you like about your job?
Dealing with athletes or coaches who think they know everything because they have lifted weights before. This can be a big problem in the profession, but luckily I’ve been in very good situations were this hasn’t been the case.
You have worked at Nebraska, North Dakota, and Montana, all states that do not have any professional sports. What effect has this had on your job?
All three places are what I truly love about college athletics. Smaller college oriented communities who have unbelievable support for their athletic programs. All of those schools and communities have incredible passion and loyalty that can’t be matched by any community with a professional team. All three situations are very similar, although I didn’t work at Nebraska long enough to have the full experience.
What advantages and disadvantages has working at various positions helped you in your profession?
Advantages: When you switch jobs, it takes you out of your comfort zone, makes you experience new things, such as dealing with different athletes and coaches, new philosophies, which ultimately makes you a better coach.
Disadvantages: Moving around in collegiate athletics can be hard on the family. I am lucky that I have a supportive wife, who understands why it’s good for me to get out of that comfort zone and improve on my profession. Another hard thing with working with varying schools is leaving those places behind you. In my profession I deal with every coach within an athletic department and many friendships are formed, it is hard to leave that, despite knowing you are going to another great program with great people working there as well.
What drew you to the job at Montana?
It was an opportunity to work for a great University with a tradition of excellence. It was a chance to get back to Montana, to live in a great city, and be closer to our families. The opportunity offered a new challenge and chance to improve as a coach.
What are some major trends or new ideas in the field at the moment?
There are several trends going on. Some people believe in the Westside based power lifting approach (a program based on the Westside Barbell powerlifting team using their methodology), there is the “functional” balance and stability philosophy (utilizes swiss balls, balance boards, bosu balls, etc), machine based High Intensity Traininf (HIT – one set to failure on primarily a Hammer Strength piece of equipment), Olympic lifting (Snatch and Clean and Jerk), and Strongman Training. These are some of the current trends and I think ultimately following one philosophy/trend has its faults. The best coaches take ideas from all disciplines and put them into their own programs and develop their own philosophy. I think there is a trend starting back towards free weights though, which is a good thing. A few years ago, coaches got away from lifting weights and making athletes stronger with the influence of “functional” training using balance/stability devices.
Are you a member of any professional organizations?
Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association (CSCCa)
What do you like to do when you are not at work?
Golf, play racquetball, hunt and watch movies.
What is one thing people don’t know about you?
I was engaged and married in two days.
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| UM Athletic Department and GSA announcements |
Selvig, Tinkle sign multi-year contracts
Robin Selvig and Wayne Tinkle have signed multi-year contracts with The University of Montana, announced UM Athletic Director Jim O’Day.
By signing these contracts it makes Selvig and Tinkle the first two coaches to take advantage of a recent Montana Board of Regent policy allowing head coaches in men’s and women’s basketball, as well as football, to have athletics-related agreements longer than one year in the Montana University System. Both contracts are for three years ... MORE
Jason Crebo (1994-97) is one of seven legacy players to have worn No. 37. |
No. 37 Legacy Jersey Program to benefit student-athletes
The Bookstore at The University of Montana and UM Athletics have once again joined forces to help raise money to purchase lettermen's jackets for all of UM's student-athletes in the 14 sponsored Division I varsity sports ... MORE
Griz to observe a moment of silence at UM-MSU football game
The University of Montana Athletic Department will be observing a moment of silence at the game against Montana State on November 18th in memory of Grizzly fans who have passed away throughout this past year. If you would like a loved one to be recognized please contact:
Christie Anderson,
Hoyt Athletic Complex,
32 Campus Drive
Missoula, MT 59812,
406.243.4336,
christie.anderson@mso.umt.edu.
2006 Griz Auction set for Nov. 17
The Grizzly Scholarship Association will be hosting the 2006 Griz Auction on the eve of the 106th Griz-Cat football game. The auction will take place on November 17, 2006 at the Hilton Garden Inn. The event will begin at 6:30 p.m. The evening will include a one hour social, silent auction, dinner, and live auction. All proceeds from the auction will go toward scholarships for the student athletes at The University of Montana. For more information or reservations please call 406-243-6481.
Griz Nation wristbands on sale
All proceeds from the Griz Nation wristband will go to the Grizzly Scholarship Association at The University of Montana. Help Support the Griz by wearing the wristband and showing your pride in being the best fans in the country, which is now known as “Griz Nation." Thanks you for your support! Go Griz!
ORDER
ONLINE AT
THE GRIZ SHOP
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