There seems to be a game today

[rtb]

Sadly, the fantastically named UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs play in Division II.

Why is that sad? You think we would beat them or something? D II sounds like a great challenge these days! Let's add them to the schedule and see what damage they can do.

[John K]

How many Cal State teams are there? Has anybody ever lost to all of them in a single year? I think the Cats should try to do it one of these seasons.

http://www.calstate.edu/search_find/cam ... e=homepage" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Fresno State and San Diego State are also considered part of the Cal State schools. I didn't realize Cal Poly also falls under the scope of the Cal State system.

I presume San Jose State is also part of the Cal State system?

[John K]

For those of you who have followed the MBB team more closely than I have, do you sense any reason for optimism? Or is it likely to be the "same old...same old" again this season?

[Colter_Nuanez]

For those of you who have followed the MBB team more closely than I have, do you sense any reason for optimism? Or is it likely to be the "same old...same old" again this season?

There was a moment in the Cal State-Northridge win in which Marcus Colbert had hit three of four 3-pointers. The Bobcats were on a secondary fast break and Colbert could have easily pulled up for a 4th 3-pointer and it would have been a good shot. He was red-hot. Instead, he dribbled rapidly to the line, shot faked and whizzed a beautiful chest pass to Stephan Holm in the corner for a nothing-but-net triple. That moment was one that I never saw from a Bobcat team the last three seasons.

This team is better. They have more chemistry. They have more depth. They need to learn to play defense. And they need to learn that no one man is bigger than the team, especially on a squad with like 7 honorable mention all-conference performers at best on it. That's a good and bad thing. They don't have a Will Cherry or Damian Lilliard to carry them. But if they can learn to play as a team, they could be the most versatile offensive team in the conference with 7 or 8 different players who could lead them in scoring on a given night. Huse is already sending that message by not starting Egwuonwu and Davis the last few outings. The non-conference doesn't matter. It's tough when you have to be on the road the entire first month of the season while also trying to manage finals, school, holidays etc. In the Big Sky, the only thing that matters is conference play. I think this team will be right in the thick of things come conference.

The Griz have Jamar and DeShields, but I think the Cats have more overall talent. UND is going to be right in the mix to host when it's all said and done as well. Weber State is deep and if Joel Bolomboy has developed like some say he has, they could be really good too. But I think Montana State will be right there if they can continue to hone their continuity.

So, to answer your question, yes there is reason for optimism. This team has a chance to be much more competitive and consistent than the last two seasons' worth of men's hoops I've covered in Bozeman.

[John K]

For those of you who have followed the MBB team more closely than I have, do you sense any reason for optimism? Or is it likely to be the "same old...same old" again this season?

There was a moment in the Cal State-Northridge win in which Marcus Colbert had hit three of four 3-pointers. The Bobcats were on a secondary fast break and Colbert could have easily pulled up for a 4th 3-pointer and it would have been a good shot. He was red-hot. Instead, he dribbled rapidly to the line, shot faked and whizzed a beautiful chest pass to Stephan Holm in the corner for a nothing-but-net triple. That moment was one that I never saw from a Bobcat team the last three seasons.

This team is better. They have more chemistry. They have more depth. They need to learn to play defense. And they need to learn that no one man is bigger than the team, especially on a squad with like 7 honorable mention all-conference performers at best on it. That's a good and bad thing. They don't have a Will Cherry or Damian Lilliard to carry them. But if they can learn to play as a team, they could be the most versatile offensive team in the conference with 7 or 8 different players who could lead them in scoring on a given night. Huse is already sending that message by not starting Egwuonwu and Davis the last few outings. The non-conference doesn't matter. It's tough when you have to be on the road the entire first month of the season while also trying to manage finals, school, holidays etc. In the Big Sky, the only thing that matters is conference play. I think this team will be right in the thick of things come conference.

The Griz have Jamar and DeShields, but I think the Cats have more overall talent. UND is going to be right in the mix to host when it's all said and done as well. Weber State is deep and if Joel Bolomboy has developed like some say he has, they could be really good too. But I think Montana State will be right there if they can continue to hone their continuity.

So, to answer your question, yes there is reason for optimism. This team has a chance to be much more competitive and consistent than the last two seasons' worth of men's hoops I've covered in Bozeman.

Thanks for the thoughtful and in-depth response. I sure hope you're right. As several others have posted, it would be fun to have a reason to be excited about MSU hoops again. It wouldn't take that much to re-ignite some enthusiasm among the fanbase.

[duelalumnicat]

Thanks, Colter. I hope you are correct. It would be nice to have competitive men's and women's basketball teams to follow this winter.