UM creed: Wait until next year
3/18/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
The results are in, but Pat Kennedy believes the jury is still out on his tenure as men's basketball coach of the Montana Grizzlies.
"We're not happy with the wins and losses," said Kennedy, whose second UM team finished 10-18. "But I think we've turned the corner. Obviously, we'll be judged by next year and the following year. And we should be. By that time, having been here four years, you should be judged accordingly."
The Grizzlies didn't have a successful season by many standards. But a five-game winning streak in February provided a glimmer of light, and Kennedy believes it's at the end of the tunnel.
"We looked at the way we finished in February and felt real good about that," said Kennedy, the former Florida State and DePaul coach with 416 career victories, and a 23-35 record at Montana. "I feel good that we'll make some real progress in the next two years."
Picked third in preseason polls, the Grizzlies floundered much of the year, at one point losing eight straight and nine of 10.
A subsquent six-game slide, after which Kennedy was suspended for one game after making public comments critical of officiating, had the Griz on life support at 2-7 in the league and 5-16 overall. But assistant coach Wayne Tinkle stepped in for his boss and guided his alma mater to a 58-55 victory at Weber State, a triumph that coincided with Kennedy's decision to go with a three-guard starting lineup.
Almost overnight, the Griz started playing better basketball, reeling off five straight victories before an overtime loss at home to Northern Arizona that cost UM a bye into the league tournament semifinals.
The next week, Montana lost a one-point decision at Idaho State in a first-round tourney game.
There is certainly reason to believe that next season will be much better, because the Grizzlies will have many key players returning. Among them is all-Big Sky Conference forward Kamarr Davis, who averaged 14 points and six rebounds and was named league Newcomer of the Year. Davis, a rare combination of strength on the blocks and finesse at the foul line, had five double-doubles and often prospered despite the fact he was UM's only scoring threat in the low post.
Sophomore guard Kevin Criswell (12.2 ppg) and junior guard Roy Booker (9.3 ppg) are also set to return. The talented Criswell slumped early on but finished strong, and Booker provided exceptional play down the stretch following a tumultuous season during which he was plagued by turnovers and benched for a time by academics.
Also slated to return are small forward Matt Dlouhy and athletic center Corey Easley, who flashed potential at times. Center John Seyfert, who lost his starting job before being shelved by an ankle injury, and forward Mike Chavez, who missed the year for health reasons, are also expected to be back.
"Mike's done great job," Kennedy said of the ex-Browning and Heart Butte star. "He's been going to class and doing a good job, so we're very pleased with his development and hope be'll become a great story."
Great Falls native Brian Lynch, a walk-on who performed well in big games down the stretch in relief of senior point guard Derrick Mansell, is already a success story at UM.
"Brian did a terrific job," Kennedy said. "He got a real taste of what it's like to compete at this level and I think he's got a real chance to contribute for us down the road."
The road, of course, wasn't kind to Kennedy's team this year. Montana lost 11 of 14 away from Adams Center, including nonconference games at hostile environments like Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Auburn, UNLV, Gonzaga, Southern Illinois and Cal State Northridge.
"I did not do a good job with the schedule," said Kennedy, who a year ago insisted that a tougher nonleague slate was necessary. "We got way ahead of ourselves and I think that really hurt us."
Next year's schedule won't be nearly as stringent.
"I'd like to get 15 home games and play 12 away," said Kennedy. "Plus I'd like to see a schedule that gives us seven or eight good games here in December and early January, to give our kids a chance to succeed early and get the fans excited. This is a great college sports town, and I think if we can get the thing going again we'll get a really positive response.
"I think people are ready for it, they want it and are waiting to see it develop and I think this upcoming year be a crucial year for us."
Kennedy's recruiting is already complete, with the possible exception of a walk-on addition. The Griz signed guard Lamarr Farr, a 6-3 native of Beloit, Wis., out of Casper (Community) College.
High school stars Jordan Hasquet of Missoula Sentinel, Matt Martin of Spearfish, S.D., and Andrew Straight of Washington state also signed with UM last fall.
"Matt Martin is going to be a big key as a true point guard, and Lamarr Farr is a youngster who can play both guard spots and sometimes the 3," Kennedy said.
Kennedy believes Martin, who picked UM over Marshall, will play right away.
"Matt's good," Kennedy said. "He reminds me of poor man's Bobby Hurley ... He's a winner who can shoot, who can score, and he's tough. ... He reminds me of the little point guard on our women's team, Brooklynn (Lorenzen). It wouldn't surprise me in his senior year if he wouldn't get 12 assists and no turnovers. He's going to be good."
On paper, so are the Grizzlies. Of course, the same was true this season. Although the team rallied in February to finish 6-8 in the Big Sky, few would call it a successful season overall.
"We've got a lot of (talented) guys, that's the good news," said Kennedy. "But now we've got to get guys to surface. We've got to get guys who can show early on that they're capable of getting 15 points, eight rebounds and two blocks.
"We can't keep playing by committee. We kind of tried to play that this year and it backfired on us."
"We're not happy with the wins and losses," said Kennedy, whose second UM team finished 10-18. "But I think we've turned the corner. Obviously, we'll be judged by next year and the following year. And we should be. By that time, having been here four years, you should be judged accordingly."
The Grizzlies didn't have a successful season by many standards. But a five-game winning streak in February provided a glimmer of light, and Kennedy believes it's at the end of the tunnel.
"We looked at the way we finished in February and felt real good about that," said Kennedy, the former Florida State and DePaul coach with 416 career victories, and a 23-35 record at Montana. "I feel good that we'll make some real progress in the next two years."
Picked third in preseason polls, the Grizzlies floundered much of the year, at one point losing eight straight and nine of 10.
A subsquent six-game slide, after which Kennedy was suspended for one game after making public comments critical of officiating, had the Griz on life support at 2-7 in the league and 5-16 overall. But assistant coach Wayne Tinkle stepped in for his boss and guided his alma mater to a 58-55 victory at Weber State, a triumph that coincided with Kennedy's decision to go with a three-guard starting lineup.
Almost overnight, the Griz started playing better basketball, reeling off five straight victories before an overtime loss at home to Northern Arizona that cost UM a bye into the league tournament semifinals.
The next week, Montana lost a one-point decision at Idaho State in a first-round tourney game.
There is certainly reason to believe that next season will be much better, because the Grizzlies will have many key players returning. Among them is all-Big Sky Conference forward Kamarr Davis, who averaged 14 points and six rebounds and was named league Newcomer of the Year. Davis, a rare combination of strength on the blocks and finesse at the foul line, had five double-doubles and often prospered despite the fact he was UM's only scoring threat in the low post.
Sophomore guard Kevin Criswell (12.2 ppg) and junior guard Roy Booker (9.3 ppg) are also set to return. The talented Criswell slumped early on but finished strong, and Booker provided exceptional play down the stretch following a tumultuous season during which he was plagued by turnovers and benched for a time by academics.
Also slated to return are small forward Matt Dlouhy and athletic center Corey Easley, who flashed potential at times. Center John Seyfert, who lost his starting job before being shelved by an ankle injury, and forward Mike Chavez, who missed the year for health reasons, are also expected to be back.
"Mike's done great job," Kennedy said of the ex-Browning and Heart Butte star. "He's been going to class and doing a good job, so we're very pleased with his development and hope be'll become a great story."
Great Falls native Brian Lynch, a walk-on who performed well in big games down the stretch in relief of senior point guard Derrick Mansell, is already a success story at UM.
"Brian did a terrific job," Kennedy said. "He got a real taste of what it's like to compete at this level and I think he's got a real chance to contribute for us down the road."
The road, of course, wasn't kind to Kennedy's team this year. Montana lost 11 of 14 away from Adams Center, including nonconference games at hostile environments like Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Auburn, UNLV, Gonzaga, Southern Illinois and Cal State Northridge.
"I did not do a good job with the schedule," said Kennedy, who a year ago insisted that a tougher nonleague slate was necessary. "We got way ahead of ourselves and I think that really hurt us."
Next year's schedule won't be nearly as stringent.
"I'd like to get 15 home games and play 12 away," said Kennedy. "Plus I'd like to see a schedule that gives us seven or eight good games here in December and early January, to give our kids a chance to succeed early and get the fans excited. This is a great college sports town, and I think if we can get the thing going again we'll get a really positive response.
"I think people are ready for it, they want it and are waiting to see it develop and I think this upcoming year be a crucial year for us."
Kennedy's recruiting is already complete, with the possible exception of a walk-on addition. The Griz signed guard Lamarr Farr, a 6-3 native of Beloit, Wis., out of Casper (Community) College.
High school stars Jordan Hasquet of Missoula Sentinel, Matt Martin of Spearfish, S.D., and Andrew Straight of Washington state also signed with UM last fall.
"Matt Martin is going to be a big key as a true point guard, and Lamarr Farr is a youngster who can play both guard spots and sometimes the 3," Kennedy said.
Kennedy believes Martin, who picked UM over Marshall, will play right away.
"Matt's good," Kennedy said. "He reminds me of poor man's Bobby Hurley ... He's a winner who can shoot, who can score, and he's tough. ... He reminds me of the little point guard on our women's team, Brooklynn (Lorenzen). It wouldn't surprise me in his senior year if he wouldn't get 12 assists and no turnovers. He's going to be good."
On paper, so are the Grizzlies. Of course, the same was true this season. Although the team rallied in February to finish 6-8 in the Big Sky, few would call it a successful season overall.
"We've got a lot of (talented) guys, that's the good news," said Kennedy. "But now we've got to get guys to surface. We've got to get guys who can show early on that they're capable of getting 15 points, eight rebounds and two blocks.
"We can't keep playing by committee. We kind of tried to play that this year and it backfired on us."
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