Wednesday, December 19
Tucson, Ariz.
6:30 PM
Montana
at
Arizona
Photo by: Todd Goodrich
Several Grizzlies back in familiar setting
12/18/2018 8:19:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Montana at Arizona / Wednesday / 6:30 p.m. / Tucson, Ariz. / McKale Center (14,644)
Of Montana's eight primary rotation players, three began their careers at Pac-12 schools. Donaven Dorsey played two seasons at Washington, Kendal Manuel was with Oregon State's program for three years and Ahmaad Rorie was an Oregon Duck for a season. What's more, head coach Travis DeCuire spent six seasons on the sidelines at Cal, while assistant coach Rachi Wortham was Oregon State's director of player personnel from 2014-16.
All three Pac-12 transfers have played at the McKale Center, and all three have not only played against Arizona, but have started against the Wildcats. Manuel had a nine-point performance vs. the Wildcats as a freshman. The year prior, during Rorie's freshman season, he helped the Ducks to the Pac-12 title game against Arizona.
The man leading the Grizzlies into battle with the Wildcats, though, has the most experience – and most success – against Arizona. During his six seasons as an assistant coach at Cal, DeCuire went 5-5 vs. Arizona. The Golden Bears won twice inside the McKale Center and twice beat top-10 teams, including the No. 1 team in the nation in 2013-14, when DeCuire was associate head coach.
The lights will be bright on Wednesday, with Arizona averaging more than 13,600 fans per game in 2018-19. The Grizzlies, though, are used to it, having played in front of more than 17,000 last month at Creighton.
In addition to the trio of transfers, look up and down Montana's roster and there's experience against Pac-12 foes.
In four career games vs. the league, Michael Oguine is averaging 14.5 points per game. Bobby Moorehead has played against the Pac-12 seven times, totaling double figures on five occasions, including 16 last year at Stanford and 14 at Washington.
Timmy Falls averaged 17.0 minutes last year vs. Stanford and Washington, while Sayeed Pridgett has played in five games vs. Pac-12 schools. Jamar Akoh scored 17 points last year at Washington. Rorie, since coming to Montana, has scored at least 19 points against three Pac-12 teams.
Despite the experience, and even with Arizona coming off of its first home non-conference loss since 2011, the Grizzlies have a tall task in front of them. Year in and year out, Arizona produces All-Americans and NBA Draft picks, including the No. 1 overall selection this past summer. Not to mention Arizona's four home losses since the start of the 2013-14 season are the fewest in all of Division-I college basketball.
"I always look forward to these games," DeCuire said. "They're huge and very athletic, so the ability to get loose balls and balls off the rim will be difficult. They play a pack defense, they reach and they force turnovers. It looks like you're one-on-one on an island, and then all of a sudden here comes two hands. We've got to take advantage of the open space and get the ball moving from side to side."
Tipoff is slated for 6:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast on the Pac-12 Networks.
SCOUTING ARIZONA
SERIES VS. THE WILDCATS
Montana and Arizona have met just once before, an 84-66 Wildcat victory in Tucson in 1995-96. While the Griz haven't played Arizona in more than two decades, they have faced a vast amount of Pac-12 opponents.
NO PROBLEM IN NON-CONFERENCE
No matter what Montana does during its two games this week, the team is guaranteed of a winning non-conference record for the second season in a row. Prior to last year (7-5), Montana hadn't posted a winning record through non-conference play since 2011-12.
Since the turn of the century, Montana has had a winning non-conference record five times (2005-06, 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2017-18), advancing to the NCAA tournament in four of those seasons and the CBI in the other.
GRIZ TRACKS
HOT SHOOTING
Montana made at least half of its shots in six consecutive games from Nov. 12 through Dec. 3, and on the season is connecting on 51.2 percent of its attempts. The Grizzlies led the nation in field-goal shooting as of Dec. 9, and still rank in the top 10.
Junior Sayeed Pridgett's is making more than 60 percent of his shots from the floor, the 36th-best shooting percentage in the country. He's not alone, however, as several other Grizzlies are also making at least half of their shots: Jamar Akoh (.654), Michael Oguine (.527), Kelby Kramer (.625) Mack Anderson (.583) and Ben Carter (.667).
OFFENSIVE WEAPONS
Not only does Montana hold one of the nation's top field-goal percentages, but the Grizzlies are also getting production from multiple weapons. Montana is the only school to have four players rank in the top 20 in the Big Sky for scoring: Jamar Akoh (15.0), Ahmaad Rorie (14.3), Michael Oguine (13.8) and Sayeed Pridgett (13.6).
Montana is also the only team to have three individuals rank in the top 15 in the Big Sky for assists, as well as blocked shots.
Complete Match Notes in PDF format, including more notes, charts and player pages
- TV: Pac-12 Networks
- Stream (subscription required)
- Listen / KGVO (1290 AM, 98.3 FM)
- Live Stats
Of Montana's eight primary rotation players, three began their careers at Pac-12 schools. Donaven Dorsey played two seasons at Washington, Kendal Manuel was with Oregon State's program for three years and Ahmaad Rorie was an Oregon Duck for a season. What's more, head coach Travis DeCuire spent six seasons on the sidelines at Cal, while assistant coach Rachi Wortham was Oregon State's director of player personnel from 2014-16.
All three Pac-12 transfers have played at the McKale Center, and all three have not only played against Arizona, but have started against the Wildcats. Manuel had a nine-point performance vs. the Wildcats as a freshman. The year prior, during Rorie's freshman season, he helped the Ducks to the Pac-12 title game against Arizona.
The man leading the Grizzlies into battle with the Wildcats, though, has the most experience – and most success – against Arizona. During his six seasons as an assistant coach at Cal, DeCuire went 5-5 vs. Arizona. The Golden Bears won twice inside the McKale Center and twice beat top-10 teams, including the No. 1 team in the nation in 2013-14, when DeCuire was associate head coach.
The lights will be bright on Wednesday, with Arizona averaging more than 13,600 fans per game in 2018-19. The Grizzlies, though, are used to it, having played in front of more than 17,000 last month at Creighton.
In addition to the trio of transfers, look up and down Montana's roster and there's experience against Pac-12 foes.
In four career games vs. the league, Michael Oguine is averaging 14.5 points per game. Bobby Moorehead has played against the Pac-12 seven times, totaling double figures on five occasions, including 16 last year at Stanford and 14 at Washington.
Timmy Falls averaged 17.0 minutes last year vs. Stanford and Washington, while Sayeed Pridgett has played in five games vs. Pac-12 schools. Jamar Akoh scored 17 points last year at Washington. Rorie, since coming to Montana, has scored at least 19 points against three Pac-12 teams.
Despite the experience, and even with Arizona coming off of its first home non-conference loss since 2011, the Grizzlies have a tall task in front of them. Year in and year out, Arizona produces All-Americans and NBA Draft picks, including the No. 1 overall selection this past summer. Not to mention Arizona's four home losses since the start of the 2013-14 season are the fewest in all of Division-I college basketball.
"I always look forward to these games," DeCuire said. "They're huge and very athletic, so the ability to get loose balls and balls off the rim will be difficult. They play a pack defense, they reach and they force turnovers. It looks like you're one-on-one on an island, and then all of a sudden here comes two hands. We've got to take advantage of the open space and get the ball moving from side to side."
Tipoff is slated for 6:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast on the Pac-12 Networks.
🎞️ We closed our non-conference home slate last night with a win over North Dakota State! #GrizHoops #GoGriz 🎞️ pic.twitter.com/He1CRwkti6
— Montana Griz BB (@MontanaGrizBB) December 18, 2018
SCOUTING ARIZONA
- UA is 7-4 on the season, losing back-to-back games at Alabama and vs. Baylor. The Wildcats' other two losses came against top-10 teams (Gonzaga, Auburn). One of their wins came against common opponent Georgia Southern, 100-70.
- Arizona is 87-4 at home since the start of the 2013-14 season, the best record in college basketball. UA's loss last Saturday to Baylor was its first non-conference home loss since 2011.
- After averaging just 3.7 points per game a year ago as a freshman, sophomore Brandon Randolph now leads the team with 16.9 points per game – the largest improvement throughout the Power 5 this season. He has a team-most 20 three-pointers.
- UA is one of the nation's top free-throw shooting teams, connecting at a 75.2-percent rate (38th in NCAA). Randolph leads the Pac-12 with a .923 success rate, while two other guards are making at least 84 percent.
- Justin Coleman was named to the Maui Jim Maui Invitational all-tournament team, averaging 20.7 points per game. His .415 three-point shooting percentage is a team best.
- Duke transfer Chase Jeter is averaging 11.8 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, recording three double-doubles. The 2015 McDonald's All-American is shooting .650 from the floor.
- The Wildcats turn the ball over just 11.6 times per game (49th in NCAA) and have a +4.0 turnover margin (35th).
- No player averages more than 30.0 minutes per game.
- Arizona was picked to finish fourth in the 2018 Pac-12 preseason poll.
- Arizona's 158 wins since the start of the 2013-14 season rank fourth in Division I.
- The Wildcats have won the past two Pac-12 titles, advancing to the NCAA tournament for the seventh year in a row.
- Sean Miller is 254-78 all-time at Arizona, leading the Wildcats to seven NCAA tournament appearances in eight seasons, including three Elite Eights. His teams have averaged 27.4 wins per season.
SERIES VS. THE WILDCATS
Montana and Arizona have met just once before, an 84-66 Wildcat victory in Tucson in 1995-96. While the Griz haven't played Arizona in more than two decades, they have faced a vast amount of Pac-12 opponents.
- UM has played at least one Pac-12 team each year since 2013-14.
- UM is looking for its first win over a Pac-12 team since beating both Oregon State and UCLA in 2010-11. Since, the Grizzlies have lost nine in a row.
- UM is 56-217 all-time against current members of the Pac-12.
- Donaven Dorsey (Washington), Kendal Manuel (Oregon State) and Ahmaad Rorie (Oregon) began their collegiate careers at Pac-12 schools and have all started against Arizona and played at the McKale Center.
- During his six seasons as an assistant coach at California, Travis DeCuire went 5-5 vs. Arizona, including two wins at the McKale Center and a 2014 victory over the No. 1 Wildcats.
NO PROBLEM IN NON-CONFERENCE
No matter what Montana does during its two games this week, the team is guaranteed of a winning non-conference record for the second season in a row. Prior to last year (7-5), Montana hadn't posted a winning record through non-conference play since 2011-12.
Since the turn of the century, Montana has had a winning non-conference record five times (2005-06, 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2017-18), advancing to the NCAA tournament in four of those seasons and the CBI in the other.
GRIZ TRACKS
- Montana's .504 field-goal percentage ranks No. 10 nationally. The Grizzlies have made at least half of their shots in six games.
- Montana has made at least eight three-pointers six times this season. The Grizzlies hit that number just four times in 2017-18.
- Five different players have led Montana for scoring.
- Montana posted its best November record (4-2) since 2011-12.
- Montana leads the Big Sky for shooting, ranks second for scoring defense and third for field-goal defense.
- After being one of two teams to use the same starting lineup for every game in 2017-18, the Grizzlies have used four different combinations through nine games in 2018-19.
- After posting a +4.6 rebounding margin (47th in NCAA) in 2017-18, Montana has been out-rebounded six times this season. While Montana's 30.7 rebounding average is last in the Big Sky, the Grizzlies rank in the upper third for blocked shots, steals, field-goal defense and scoring defense.
- Montana's 4-0 start was its best since 1995-96.
- Montana owns the nation's fourth-longest home winning streak, winning 19 consecutive games inside Dahlberg Arena.
- Seven players have made their collegiate or Grizzly debuts.
- Montana's three losses have come to opponents with a combined record of 23-9 (.719).
HOT SHOOTING
Montana made at least half of its shots in six consecutive games from Nov. 12 through Dec. 3, and on the season is connecting on 51.2 percent of its attempts. The Grizzlies led the nation in field-goal shooting as of Dec. 9, and still rank in the top 10.
Junior Sayeed Pridgett's is making more than 60 percent of his shots from the floor, the 36th-best shooting percentage in the country. He's not alone, however, as several other Grizzlies are also making at least half of their shots: Jamar Akoh (.654), Michael Oguine (.527), Kelby Kramer (.625) Mack Anderson (.583) and Ben Carter (.667).
OFFENSIVE WEAPONS
Not only does Montana hold one of the nation's top field-goal percentages, but the Grizzlies are also getting production from multiple weapons. Montana is the only school to have four players rank in the top 20 in the Big Sky for scoring: Jamar Akoh (15.0), Ahmaad Rorie (14.3), Michael Oguine (13.8) and Sayeed Pridgett (13.6).
Montana is also the only team to have three individuals rank in the top 15 in the Big Sky for assists, as well as blocked shots.
Complete Match Notes in PDF format, including more notes, charts and player pages
Victory over NDSU ✅
— Montana Griz BB (@MontanaGrizBB) December 18, 2018
Home win streak 🆙 to 19 ✅
Winning non-conference record ✅
📰 https://t.co/SBV3P0DECC pic.twitter.com/31usAjrFEx
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
C
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballMarch Madness Denver Pep Rally - 3/19/25
Thursday, March 20
Montana? Yes, Montana!
Wednesday, March 19
Griz Basketball Open Practice [March Madness] - 3/19/25
Wednesday, March 19
Griz Basketball Arrival To Denver [March Madness] - 3/18/25
Tuesday, March 18
