cats griz game thread

[bozbobcat]

I'm going to share a few things on the game tonight, even if they have been shared here already.

1. I'm going to give the Grizzlies some props here. They came out and shot lights out to start and then held on down the stretch. Everytime the Cats had a run, they responded. They also hit free throws and did enough to win.
2. I really want to applaud the Cats character, especially in the second half. The guys showed a lot of guts and heart getting back into it, but they still needed to hit a couple more shots, a couple more free throws, and not settle for the desperation 3 at the end of a possession.
3. I'm glad the Monday Cat-Griz game is a one year deal. Next year, if the Saturday doubleheader can be scheduled again, it would be great. I think more marketing is needed. There's no reason this game shouldn't have 6,000 plus in the stands. More marketing needs to happen here!

I'm not sure what to say about what direction things seem to be going around here, but I'm still planning on going to the games for the rest of this season. I've spent too much time going to these games to give up now.

[wbtfg]

I thought the team played like crap. Too much one on one, selfish play on O. We got killed on the boards by one of the worst rebounding teams in the nation, and our first half defense was terrible.

During one stretch early in the second half, i started counting passes. UM was averaging 11 passes per offensive possession while we averaged 4. Our ball movement stunk.

[MSUcantouchus]

I used to hit every game, cant get exited about it any more. Like Crabtree, Huse is mediocre.

[John K]

I'm quite sure tonight was the smallest Cat-griz crowd in the history of the Fieldhouse. Oh well, time for another contract extension.

Definitely was the smallest crowd I could find in old box scores. 3,424 according to ESPN. Last year's was 4,571. All the others before that which still show up on ESPN's site show 6000+.

Having this game on a Monday night was a dumb decision by the conference. The game in Missoula is also on a Monday night, so I'm sure attendance will suffer from that too.

Only 3,424...wow!! I thought I heard the announcer say 4,000 something, but maybe he said "almost 4,000". Of course, 3,424 is not really even "almost 4,000". That is really sad. We used to average well over that for the season, and now that's all we get for Cat-Griz...

[77matcat]

Was only able to watch the first half. Not really very informed re basketball but I can appreciate intensity. One thing I believe I did notice was a distinct difference in intensity. Griz were always in our face on defense and we seemed to be a step or two away.

For some reason Cat basketball and football coaches appear to ask players to play within themselves and all our opponents are scrambling like crazy. The outcome is it appears the other team has more players on the field/court.

Could be we just have slower athletes but think it's more a question of effort.

Watch Tinkle, he knows how to get 110% out of platers

[[cat_bracket]]

Both teams are mentally lost. They talk a good game at the press conferences, but they're merely biding their time as they wait for something to go wrong. Despite what they say they don't have confidence in their coach, themselves or each other. They can't get passionate about the game, because even if they do five things right one bad thing throws them right back into their doldrums. Even wins are losses (54-52 SUU). When they come from behind it ends on the first negative play.

The only way out is to find two new coaches and start over.

[allcat]

When the losing started this year, Huse said going on the road was hard in the Big Sky. What excuse will he come up with now? Everybody now knows they will suck, and won't even watch. This year it is not a swoon it is a nosedive with a faceplant. Fire Huse, Fire Huse, Fire Huse.

[Catfanatic84]

Does anyone know what's our longest losing streak in MBB against the Griz? Curious how this current streak stacks up.....it's bringing up some bad vibes I haven't had since the FB streak ended in 2002.

[John K]

When the losing started this year, Huse said going on the road was hard in the Big Sky. What excuse will he come up with now? Everybody now knows they will suck, and won't even watch. This year it is not a swoon it is a nosedive with a faceplant. Fire Huse, Fire Huse, Fire Huse.

Something has to change, sooner rather than later. The longer this goes on, the harder it will be for a new coach to turn things around and rekindle interest among the fans. I can't believe Fields signed Huse for two more years.

[[cat_bracket]]

I sure hope Waded Cruzado is paying attention. Fields won't do shiznit, she's our only hope.

[Colter_Nuanez]

Here's my story for the Great Falls Tribune

WIRE TO WIRE: Efficient first half leads Griz past 'Cats in Bozeman
viewtopic.php?f=26&t=32632" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Colter_Nuanez]

I was talking to some buddies today and most the students I talked to didn't even realize that it was Cat-griz tonight. That is a HUGE red flag when it comes to the current status of our basketball program

I have dozens of friends and acquaintances that I went to school with in Missoula. We used to have a huge pack of kids who would go wait early for the games, then sit in the front rows at Dahlberg and go nuts. I remember my freshman and sophomore years (Krystowiak's final two seasons) the arena being consistently packed, including complete sellouts for Stanford, Wisconsin-Milwaukee and both Cat-Griz games, along with the 2010 tournament game where the 'Cats came in and won. I remember driving to Bozeman every year and fighting our way to the front of the student sections.

All those friends of mine would always call me when Cat-Griz was coming around and ask me what the scoop was. They still do for football. I didn't hear from a single person about this year's basketball game. Not one. No one anywhere knew it was Cat-Griz.

Sitting on press row in front of the students last night made me sad. The entire dialogue of the group behind me was about English class. They didn't pay attention to the game whatsoever. There is absolutely no pride behind these teams from any aspect of Montana State.

It's almost like, as you guys always say on here, everyone knows the end of this movie. They attend games knowing, sooner or later, the same thing will play out in front of them. When it does, they stop coming. The men will have a tough time breaking 2,000 fans the rest of the year. That's incredible when you consider when I first got here, they were AVERAGING almost 4,000 and that was for a middle of the pack team as well.

I don't know the answer. I'm not sure any better of a coach would come to MSU for what they pay and the circumstances surrounding the job. All I know is it makes me sad how little anyone in Bobcat Nation seems to care about hoops anymore.

I talked to my old buddy Tom Ferch at the Ridge the other day. Tom is Kral and Shann Ferch's dad. He's one of my idols. He still hoops every day. He's a bad ass. Anyways, he's been going to basketball games at the Brick since before most of us were alive. He said he won't go to another one until things change. That about sums it up.

[John K]

I was talking to some buddies today and most the students I talked to didn't even realize that it was Cat-griz tonight. That is a HUGE red flag when it comes to the current status of our basketball program

I have dozens of friends and acquaintances that I went to school with in Missoula. We used to have a huge pack of kids who would go wait early for the games, then sit in the front rows at Dahlberg and go nuts. I remember my freshman and sophomore years (Krystowiak's final two seasons) the arena being consistently packed, including complete sellouts for Stanford, Wisconsin-Milwaukee and both Cat-Griz games, along with the 2010 tournament game where the 'Cats came in and won. I remember driving to Bozeman every year and fighting our way to the front of the student sections.

All those friends of mine would always call me when Cat-Griz was coming around and ask me what the scoop was. They still do for football. I didn't hear from a single person about this year's basketball game. Not one. No one anywhere knew it was Cat-Griz.

Sitting on press row in front of the students last night made me sad. The entire dialogue of the group behind me was about English class. They didn't pay attention to the game whatsoever. There is absolutely no pride behind these teams from any aspect of Montana State.

It's almost like, as you guys always say on here, everyone knows the end of this movie. They attend games knowing, sooner or later, the same thing will play out in front of them. When it does, they stop coming. The men will have a tough time breaking 2,000 fans the rest of the year. That's incredible when you consider when I first got here, they were AVERAGING almost 4,000 and that was for a middle of the pack team as well.

I don't know the answer. I'm not sure any better of a coach would come to MSU for what they pay and the circumstances surrounding the job. All I know is it makes me sad how little anyone in Bobcat Nation seems to care about hoops anymore.

I talked to my old buddy Tom Ferch at the Ridge the other day. Tom is Kral and Shann Ferch's dad. He's one of my idols. He still hoops every day. He's a bad ass. Anyways, he's been going to basketball games at the Brick since before most of us were alive. He said he won't go to another one until things change. That about sums it up.

Wow...this makes me think that the situation is apparently even worse than I thought it was, and I didn't think that was possible. Last year our attendance hit a 35-year low, and it's going to be even worse this year. You may be right that a new coach wouldn't be any better than Huse, but sometimes you do have to make a change, just for the sake of making a change. Keeping a coach around for nine years (he has a year left on his current contract) who has presided over gradually worsening mediocrity on the floor, and a complete freefall in fan interest, sends a message to alumni, boosters, and fans that the administration doesn't even care that we suck. Huse wouldn't have lasted more than four seasons in Missoula, with the record that he's compiled at MSU. By all accounts he's a great guy, but we all know that coaching is a results-oriented job, and he just hasn't gotten it done. I hate to say it, but I almost hope that we miss the tourney this year and next, because otherwise I'm afraid that Fields will give him another contract.

[catatac]

Ya, it's pretty sad... and I don't really know what the answer is either. I'm 100% guilty as well. Just not into Bobcat Basketball right now. To be completely honest, I would be much more interested if hoops were set up more like Football in terms of having an upper and lower division playoff system. It's tough for me to get too excited about following the team all year in hopes they make the Big Sky Tourney, perhaps even win it... only to get pasted in the first round. Ya I know there are exceptions to that, but after the Griz dominated the Big Sky last year (19 and 1), got a decent seed, and then got pasted by 40... sounds fun.

[Colter_Nuanez]

Ya, it's pretty sad... and I don't really know what the answer is either. I'm 100% guilty as well. Just not into Bobcat Basketball right now. To be completely honest, I would be much more interested if hoops were set up more like Football in terms of having an upper and lower division playoff system. It's tough for me to get too excited about following the team all year in hopes they make the Big Sky Tourney, perhaps even win it... only to get pasted in the first round. Ya I know there are exceptions to that, but after the Griz dominated the Big Sky last year (19 and 1), got a decent seed, and then got pasted by 40... sounds fun.

I absolutely assure you from my own experience that watching a basketball team, any basketball team, men's or women's, win 90 to 95 percent of their conference games, host the Big Sky tournament and win it is incredibly fun to be a part of. It doesn't matter if you get pasted in the tournament, the road there is thrilling. And if you make consistent appearances in the tournament like the Griz, then every once in a while, you'll get enough special players and the right draw to earn a good seed and maybe spring an upset like UM did in '06 when they beat Nevada as a 12-seed.

In my opinion, there's nothing worse than watching, covering and rooting for mediocre teams. When teams are elite, it's fascinating to see how far they can go. When teams are horrible, at least you can rest on the "we have a lot of young talent" or "we are building". When teams consistently fall apart despite apparent talent and no one has any apparent answers as to why, it's like watching a train wreck. You don't want to, but you can't look away.

[allcat]

Ya, it's pretty sad... and I don't really know what the answer is either. I'm 100% guilty as well. Just not into Bobcat Basketball right now. To be completely honest, I would be much more interested if hoops were set up more like Football in terms of having an upper and lower division playoff system. It's tough for me to get too excited about following the team all year in hopes they make the Big Sky Tourney, perhaps even win it... only to get pasted in the first round. Ya I know there are exceptions to that, but after the Griz dominated the Big Sky last year (19 and 1), got a decent seed, and then got pasted by 40... sounds fun.

I absolutely assure you from my own experience that watching a basketball team, any basketball team, men's or women's, win 90 to 95 percent of their conference games, host the Big Sky tournament and win it is incredibly fun to be a part of. It doesn't matter if you get pasted in the tournament, the road there is thrilling. And if you make consistent appearances in the tournament like the Griz, then every once in a while, you'll get enough special players and the right draw to earn a good seed and maybe spring an upset like UM did in '06 when they beat Nevada as a 12-seed.

In my opinion, there's nothing worse than watching, covering and rooting for mediocre teams. When teams are elite, it's fascinating to see how far they can go. When teams are horrible, at least you can rest on the "we have a lot of young talent" or "we are building". When teams consistently fall apart despite apparent talent and no one has any apparent answers as to why, it's like watching a train wreck. You don't want to, but you can't look away.

The analogy to a train wreck does not work, as it would seem nobody is having trouble loking away.

[BelgradeBobcat]

I'm not sure any better of a coach would come to MSU for what they pay and the circumstances surrounding the job.

With all due respect, that's a load of crap! And even if you might be right, what's the risk? We could be worse? So what? I couldn't feel lower about the program right now. Heck I'd trade places with Southern Utah. Sure they're terrible and only have one win, but at least their team is showing signs of improvement. Huse's teams do not improve, they get worse as the season goes on. Season after season.

I think Huse needs go watch his son play for the Hawks for a while and then find himself a nice assistant job or a Frontier head coach job. Pay him the rest of this season and all of next for not coaching and turn the team over to Haslam and Dirden. If they don't get it done (or show some improvement) clean house and start over. There's no risk in doing this, because I don't think Bobcat fans can feel worse about this team even if they lose more.

[DicTater]

A couple of things I have seen from decades (yes, I'm old) of watching both Cat and Griz basketball. Two things have really hurt the atmosphere at both schools. First, is the semester system. There aren't many students around for half the season. It's tough to build any excitement when nobody's around to see it. Secondly, the moving of the student sections away from the court. That has been the single worst thing for Griz basketball.

I'm old enough to remember the very dark days of Cat basketball when Rich Juarez was coach, and a few dozen students would show up, mostly friends of the players. The good part was, if you yelled something witty, the whole place could hear. In those days, the court literally sat on dirt. Then, of course, came a golden age of Cat Bball with the Ferch bros and almost beating a St. John's team with Walter Berry in the NCAAs. Then there was Quadre Lollis, Tom Damako, Craig Finberg, Mick Durham, etc.

Now, through the Huse era, there is no excitement, no exciting players, Huse slows everything down, and doesn't let the good players play. If Kral Ferch was on today's Cat team, he'd score about 4 points a game. I am not sure how he does it, but every year, Huse seems to suck the enthusiasm out of the players. If the players lack enthusiasm, the fans can tell.

[ilovethecats]

should have never sent durham packing in the first place. but I've beat that drum to death. but there is not a single aspect of the program right now that is better than when mick was here. and honestly, one could make a case that very few aspects are even the same as when mick was here. he's at Alaska-Fairbanks now coaching the Nanooks and unlike huse....his teams have improved every year. he's won big games. and he rarely loses at home. maybe he'd accept our apology and come back.

[wbtfg]

I'm not sure any better of a coach would come to MSU for what they pay and the circumstances surrounding the job.

With all due respect, that's a load of crap! And even if you might be right, what's the risk? We could be worse? So what? I couldn't feel lower about the program right now. Heck I'd trade places with Southern Utah. Sure they're terrible and only have one win, but at least their team is showing signs of improvement. Huse's teams do not improve, they get worse as the season goes on. Season after season.

I think Huse needs go watch his son play for the Hawks for a while and then find himself a nice assistant job or a Frontier head coach job. Pay him the rest of this season and all of next for not coaching and turn the team over to Haslam and Dirden. If they don't get it done (or show some improvement) clean house and start over. There's no risk in doing this, because I don't think Bobcat fans can feel worse about this team even if they lose more.

I might be reading too much in between the lines and could be wrong, but I think what Colter is saying is that Huse (like Ash and Binford) is the epitome of a Peter Fields hire. Peter would never hire someone like Kramer, Hauck, Van Diest, or even Kryskowiak (sp?), because they don't fit the mold of politician who says the right things in front of a camera, graduates players, wins enough games to keep fans happy, and not rock the boat. Whether or not we COULD find someone better than Huse isn't necessarily the issue, compared to whether or not Fields would hire someone better than Huse.

But yeah....I'd love to see what Dirden could do. I really like that guy.