Basketball teams to be celebrated Wednesday, April 17
4/11/2013 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
April 11, 2013
The Montana basketball teams, both of which were Big Sky Conference regular-season and tournament champions, will be honored Wednesday, April 17, in a family-friendly celebration at Dahlberg Arena that is free to the public.
The event will run from 4:30 to 6 p.m., with free parking during that time in Lot P in front of the Adams Center. Fans will have an opportunity to meet the Griz and Lady Griz coaches and players and get autographs, and kids 12 and under can compete in shooting games against the players.
There will be free popcorn and soda available, and a video highlighting the teams' seasons will be shown.
The Griz went 25-7 last winter, the program's fourth consecutive 20-win season, and 19-1 in the Big Sky Conference. Montana hosted and won the league tournament and advanced to its third NCAA tournament in the last four years.
It was the Grizzlies' 10th NCAA tournament appearance overall. Montana lost in the round of 64 to a Syracuse team that would ultimately advance to the Final Four.
Wayne Tinkle was named the Big Sky coach of the year for the second season in a row. Junior Kareem Jamar was named the Big Sky MVP, while senior Will Cherry was a repeat selection as defensive player of the year and first-team All-Big Sky for the third straight season.
The Lady Griz went 24-8 in 2012-13, the program's 28th 20-win season under coach Robin Selvig, who wrapped up his 35th year on the Montana sideline last month. The Lady Griz went 16-4 in league play and hosted and won the Big Sky tournament to advance to their 20th NCAA tournament.
Montana lost in the opening round of the NCAAs to Georgia, a team that would advance to the Elite Eight.
Selvig was named the Big Sky coach of the year, his 20th career conference coach of the year award. Senior Katie Baker was named Big Sky MVP. Baker and fellow senior Kenzie De Boer were both first-team All-Big Sky selections.
