Friday, November 16
Nassau, Bahamas
9:00 AM (MT)
Montana
vs
Incarnate Word
Photo by: Todd Goodrich
Griz in paradise for early-season tournament
11/15/2018 11:32:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Montana vs. Incarnate Word / Friday / 9 a.m. (MT) / Nassau, The Bahamas
Three games in three days. Survive and advance.
In some ways, this week's trip to the Islands of the Bahamas Showcase will be more challenging, as Montana won't have as much familiarity with its opponents. Contrast that to the Big Sky tournament in March, when the Grizzlies will have played each opponent twice already.
Head coach Travis DeCuire knew it would be a challenge, which is part of the reason he liked the idea of playing in this tournament.
"It's an opportunity to fight through adversity," DeCuire said. "It's going to be a roller-coaster ride. Any time you play three games in three days, guys are going to be tired and you've got to make adjustments from one game to the next with no practices in between."
The need for a quick recovery and to adjust on the fly is precisely why a tournament like this is so valuable to a team. DeCuire preaches playing with the desperation of March during early-season games in November, and this will put that to the test.
Montana had originally filled its schedule with the Great Alaska Shootout, but when that tournament folded after three decades, it left the Grizzlies scrambling. They took advantage of another team pulling out of the Islands of the Bahamas Showcase, giving the Grizzlies the chance to face a series of mid-major teams on a neutral court.
"It's an opportunity to get a feel for what March is going to be like," DeCuire said. "Our depth will be challenged and our versatility will be challenged. We'll learn a lot about our team very quickly, and we're excited for that."
First up for the Grizzlies is Incarnate Word (Friday at 9 a.m. MT), a team from the Southland Conference that is off to a 3-1 start to the year, winning three in a row on its home court after losing its opener at Texas Tech.
Should the Grizzlies win, they would advance to play the winner of Miami (Ohio)/North Dakota State (Saturday at 3 p.m. MT). The championship is set for Sunday at 6 p.m. MT against the winner of the bottom half of the bracket (Florida Atlantic, Georgia Southern, Pepperdine or Towson). Each team is guaranteed three games, so the losers of each matchup will continue play in the consolation bracket. Fans can purchase single-game or all-tournament video-stream access through bd Global.
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Three games in three days. Survive and advance.
In some ways, this week's trip to the Islands of the Bahamas Showcase will be more challenging, as Montana won't have as much familiarity with its opponents. Contrast that to the Big Sky tournament in March, when the Grizzlies will have played each opponent twice already.
Head coach Travis DeCuire knew it would be a challenge, which is part of the reason he liked the idea of playing in this tournament.
"It's an opportunity to fight through adversity," DeCuire said. "It's going to be a roller-coaster ride. Any time you play three games in three days, guys are going to be tired and you've got to make adjustments from one game to the next with no practices in between."
The need for a quick recovery and to adjust on the fly is precisely why a tournament like this is so valuable to a team. DeCuire preaches playing with the desperation of March during early-season games in November, and this will put that to the test.
Montana had originally filled its schedule with the Great Alaska Shootout, but when that tournament folded after three decades, it left the Grizzlies scrambling. They took advantage of another team pulling out of the Islands of the Bahamas Showcase, giving the Grizzlies the chance to face a series of mid-major teams on a neutral court.
"It's an opportunity to get a feel for what March is going to be like," DeCuire said. "Our depth will be challenged and our versatility will be challenged. We'll learn a lot about our team very quickly, and we're excited for that."
First up for the Grizzlies is Incarnate Word (Friday at 9 a.m. MT), a team from the Southland Conference that is off to a 3-1 start to the year, winning three in a row on its home court after losing its opener at Texas Tech.
Should the Grizzlies win, they would advance to play the winner of Miami (Ohio)/North Dakota State (Saturday at 3 p.m. MT). The championship is set for Sunday at 6 p.m. MT against the winner of the bottom half of the bracket (Florida Atlantic, Georgia Southern, Pepperdine or Towson). Each team is guaranteed three games, so the losers of each matchup will continue play in the consolation bracket. Fans can purchase single-game or all-tournament video-stream access through bd Global.
SCOUTING INCARNATE WORDBefore departing for paradise, the @VoiceoftheGriz caught up with @SP4THABOY to talk about the team's trip to the Bahamas!#GrizHoops #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/nACaFoigVw
— Montana Griz BB (@MontanaGrizBB) November 15, 2018
- Following a 50-point loss at Texas Tech to open the season, UIW has won three consecutive home games against St. Francis-Illinois, Texas at Tyler and Texas Lutheran.
- The Cardinals are led by freshman Morgan Taylor, who averages 15.5 points per game. He is connecting on 43 percent of his three-point attempts.
- Four of UIW's main starters have been freshmen. The other is a sophomore. In UIW's win over Texas Lutheran earlier this week, freshmen accounted for 51 of the Cardinals' 70 points.
- Freshman Antoine Smith Jr. ranks second on the team for scoring (9.8) and first for rebounding (6.8). He has also made all nine of his free-throw attempts and is shooting 56.0 percent for the floor.
- While its offense has struggled (59.0 points per game), UIW's defense (62.3 points per game, 68th; .371 field-goal defense, 68th) are among the nation's best.
- UIW has connected on 81.7 percent of its free-throw attempts (17th in NCAA).
- As a team, UIW has made just seven three-pointers in four games.
- UIW returned three starters and six letterwinners from last year's squad that went 7-21.
- Carson Cunningham is in his first season at UIW. He spent the five previous seasons at Carroll College, earning 2017-18 Frontier Coach of the Year honors.
- Incarnate Word moved up to the Division-I level prior to the 2013-14 basketball season and earned a CIT postseason invite just one year later.
SERIES VS. THE FIELD
Montana is 9-7 all-time against the seven other teams in the tournament. The Grizzlies are 6-3 vs. North Dakota State, 1-0 vs. Georgia Southern and 2-4 vs. Pepperdine. Montana has never played Florida Atlantic, Incarnate Word, Miami (Ohio) or Towson.
STARTING STRONG
Montana is off to a 2-0 start for the second consecutive season. A victory over Incarnate Word on Friday would be the team's best start since 2009-10 (3-0). Overall, it would be tied for the 11th-best start to a season in the last century.
HIGHLIGHTS VS. TECH
Montana is 9-7 all-time against the seven other teams in the tournament. The Grizzlies are 6-3 vs. North Dakota State, 1-0 vs. Georgia Southern and 2-4 vs. Pepperdine. Montana has never played Florida Atlantic, Incarnate Word, Miami (Ohio) or Towson.
STARTING STRONG
Montana is off to a 2-0 start for the second consecutive season. A victory over Incarnate Word on Friday would be the team's best start since 2009-10 (3-0). Overall, it would be tied for the 11th-best start to a season in the last century.
HIGHLIGHTS VS. TECH
- Montana improved to 2-0 on the young season with a 79-55 win over Montana Tech (Nov. 12).
- Five players scored in double figures, led by Ahmaad Rorie's 20 points.
- The Grizzlies used a 19-4 run to close the first half, and extended it to 29-6 in the opening minutes of the second half. During that stretch, Montana Tech went without a field goal for more than 10 minutes.
- Montana's 20 turnovers led to 27 points off turnover, including 13 fast-break points.
- Sophomore guard Timmy Falls (10 points) earned his first career start. The Grizzlies used an all-guard starting lineup.
- Three days after a trio of players made their Griz debuts, three more saw their first collegiate action: freshman Freddy Brown, freshman Ben Carter and redshirt freshman Peter Jones. Carter scored two points and grabbed a rebound in seven minutes of action. Jones had a rebound.
- After playing one minute on Friday night vs. Georgia State, redshirt freshman Kelby Kramer saw his first significant time on the court, logging 16 minutes. The 6-10 big man had a two-handed dunk in the first half – his first career points – in addition to four rebounds, a blocked shot and an assist.
TOUGH D🎞️ #GrizHoops shot better than 50 percent while forcing 20 turnovers in a 79-55 win over Montana Tech #GoGriz 🎞️ pic.twitter.com/BmdySbdK0f
— Montana Griz BB (@MontanaGrizBB) November 13, 2018
Montana ranked among the nation's leaders for multiple statistical categories in 2017-18, and the Grizzlies are continuing that trend to begin 2018-19. Neither of Montana's first two opponents have shot better than 40 percent, with the Grizzlies allowing 64.5 points per game on 38.2 percent shooting.
Complete Match Notes in PDF format, including more notes, charts and player pages
Players Mentioned
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