Griz hopefully have found their stride
Probably not too many people realize the significance of the road sweep by the Montana Grizzlies last weekend.
They pulled off a nail biter at Northern Colorado Thursday night, then went into high gear in the second half at Flagstaff to bury a hot Northern Arizona team by 20 points Saturday night.
Northern Colorado had not lost a home game all season and still boasts the top overall mark in the Big Sky Conference this season at 18-5. The Bears turned around and outlasted Montana State Sunday afternoon.
Northern Arizona had struggled early this season, but had won seven of its previous nine games prior to being dismantled by the Grizzlies.
Even though the Montana men have fared well in Flagstaff in recent years, winning there is no easy chore for a number of reasons, but primarily because of how well coached the Lumberjacks are under Mike Adras.
The real question that remains, based on some of the ups and downs the Grizzlies have gone through this season (the game at Montana State just over a week ago comes to mind), is whether or not the team can maintain the intensity it has shown at times this season, particularly in the tough road environments of last weekend.
The answer will come sooner rather than later. The Griz take on league leader Weber State at home Friday night, and will play four of their last six conference games in the friendly confines of Dahlberg Arena, where Montana is 10-1 so far this season.
They need to buckle down in all areas to make a final push for a Big Sky tournament berth and have any chance at all to host the post-season event.
It is important to note that Montana’s mental and physical lapses have been fewer and farther between this season than in the previous two or three. They need to become virtually nonexistent as the league schedule winds down.
- Bill Schwanke
Bill: my feeling is that the Griz are playing at a better tempo and with more intensity because of the emergence of Will Cherry to compliment Anthony Johnson in the back court. In my humble opinion, we have a back court to rival that of Weber or for that matter most anyone in the country. I also think that this last home stand (Weber and Idaho State) showed the need to keep the starting line up open for those who earn it in practice and in games. Vassy was a real spark and energizer on the boards and at the defensive end. Loyalty is OK, but need to keep an open mind about who’s contributing the most. And can Selvig pass the ball or what?
Comment by Don Robson — February 8, 2010 @ 1:15 pm