SWSiouxMN Posted January 13, 2017 Posted January 13, 2017 With solid performances by Hooker, Geno and Avants, UND was able to get a decent road win over the Bobcats. Now the attention turns to Missoula, where a critical showdown against the Griz awaits in the only meeting of the season. UND has not fared well against Montana since joining the Big Sky, only going 1-7 against them and they have not get tasted victory in Missoula, going 0-4 over there This Montana team is a bit different than years past, as they are more guard oriented and want to push the tempo a lot more than they have in recent memory. They have a trio of pretty good guards, led by the Oregon transfer (Griz always seem to hit the gold mind with Pac-12 transfers don't they) Ahmaad Rorie. He and Oguine can shoot it from the outside and Wright is deadly from the free throw line (as is the entire team, who shoots 75% as a team). They have also played a rugged non-conference schedule so they are battle-tested for conference play, and it has showed so far. They do not have a dominate big man like they have had in years past. The guy they do have can rebound pretty well (top 5 in the conference for that) UND is going to need a similar performance like against MSU. Hooker and Geno need to play like stars and Avants needs to get touches in the paint. Perhaps Drick can get a little bit more involved. The stakes are high in this game, this is the only matchup between the two so for seeding purposes this is huge. If UND wants to make up for the mis-step in Portland, here is a golden opportunity to do so. Other games: EWU (3-1) @ Weber (3-0) *How for real are you EWU, almost knocked off the Griz at home, can you beat the Cats on the road? Weber looking to defend home court before a big road test next Thursday at UND Idaho (1-3) @ Idaho State (0-3) *Preseason, this would have been a great matchup for two top 5 teams in the conference. Now? Just looking to jump start their seasons SAC (1-3) @ NAU (0-3) *Hornets broke through with win #1, can they get the road sweep? Can NAU finally get on the board PSU (2-1) @ SUU (2-2) *SUU trying to stop the bleeding and not let the losing streak get to 3. PSU got PPD in Arizona, so they will be somewhat rested before playing the make-up game on Monday UNC (3-2) @ MSU (1-4) *MSU not off to the start that they hoped, they need to start getting wins at home to start putting themselves in better position for a good seed. Beating UNC would be a good start. The call: The knock on UND has been their inability to beat Montana and Weber on a consistent basis since joining the Big Sky. After Saturday's game 1/3 of the Big Sky season will be completed for UND, and they can be in a great spot with a win. They have been playing much better, but they are going to need their best here. With that said... this is a game for a Big Sky POY to show his stuff. Hooker shines and gets enough help from his friends to pull the upset and get that statement win on the road. 77-74 UND 2 Quote
hoops44 Posted January 13, 2017 Posted January 13, 2017 Montana opens as a 7 point favorite projected vegas line final score 77-70....Montana has a pair of 3 star recruits and a very rare for the BSC a 4 star recuit Quote
ClarkWGrizwald Posted January 14, 2017 Posted January 14, 2017 Good posts. This should be a very good basketball game. The Griz are tough to beat in Dahlberg, but certainly not invincible as Weber showed. Quote
UND1983 Posted January 14, 2017 Posted January 14, 2017 The combined record of the teams UND has beaten thus far in Big Sky play is 17-49. This game would be a huge step in showing they are a contender. 1 Quote
SWSiouxMN Posted January 14, 2017 Author Posted January 14, 2017 Early update on other Big Sky action Sac gets the road sweep with a 74-62 win over NAU MSU with a 33-20 halftime lead over UNC Quote
SWSiouxMN Posted January 15, 2017 Author Posted January 15, 2017 fast and furious action on both sides. TO Montana UND 10 Mont 9 15:51 1st Quote
SWSiouxMN Posted January 15, 2017 Author Posted January 15, 2017 Montana hitting outside shots, UND turning it over a little too much right now Mont 21 UND 15 11:11 1st Quote
SWSiouxMN Posted January 15, 2017 Author Posted January 15, 2017 sloppy offense. defense starting to come around Quote
Sports94 Posted January 15, 2017 Posted January 15, 2017 How about Drick turning the ball over? I haven't seen this before! Quote
SWSiouxMN Posted January 15, 2017 Author Posted January 15, 2017 turnovers are killing UND right now Griz 25 UND 21 7:38 1st Geno has been awesome, others need to step up Quote
SWSiouxMN Posted January 15, 2017 Author Posted January 15, 2017 Geno is a one man show right now, he has 13 Quote
SWSiouxMN Posted January 15, 2017 Author Posted January 15, 2017 Griz 28 UND 27 3:04 1st UND needs to finish this half strong. 10 turnovers for UND this half, too high and unusual Quote
SWSiouxMN Posted January 15, 2017 Author Posted January 15, 2017 TO UND Griz 30 UND 27 1:34 1st Quote
SWSiouxMN Posted January 15, 2017 Author Posted January 15, 2017 Griz 32 UND 31 Half Decent 1st half, they can win this game if they can keep getting good looks and stop turning the ball over. Keeping the guards quiet so far Quote
Dagger Posted January 15, 2017 Posted January 15, 2017 Good first half of basketball except for a few bad turnovers. For the most part if they keep playing like that they will have a chance to win. Quote
SWSiouxMN Posted January 15, 2017 Author Posted January 15, 2017 In other Big Sky action MSU defeats UNC 68-53 EWU up 35-28 on Weber at the half Idaho up 31-30 on ISU at the half PSU up 64-55 on SUU with 1100 left in the 2nd half Quote
SWSiouxMN Posted January 15, 2017 Author Posted January 15, 2017 Geno is not letting this team die Quote
SWSiouxMN Posted January 15, 2017 Author Posted January 15, 2017 Montana getting on a little run, UND can't make anything outside of Geno Quote
SWSiouxMN Posted January 15, 2017 Author Posted January 15, 2017 Griz 47 UND 41 11:53 2nd Geno is heading to the line for 2. He needs some help Quote
Kab Posted January 15, 2017 Posted January 15, 2017 Why is Bernstein out there We can't guard the 3 we keep losing their 3point shooters jones sucks 1 Quote
SiouxFan100 Posted January 15, 2017 Posted January 15, 2017 Disappointing When can we be proud of UND men's basketball again? Is it right to expect more? Quote
SWSiouxMN Posted January 15, 2017 Author Posted January 15, 2017 Montana's big man is playing out of his head... Quote
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