Saturday, December 22
Brookings, S.D.
6:00 PM (MT)
Montana
at
South Dakota State
Photo by: Todd Goodrich
Griz close non-conference trying to snap nation's longest home winning streak
12/21/2018 10:14:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Montana at South Dakota State / Saturday / 6 p.m. (MT) / Brookings, S.D. / Frost Arena (6,063)
After playing Arizona on Wednesday – the Wildcats have the nation's best home-court winning percentage over the past six seasons – Montana will travel to South Dakota State, where the Jackrabbits haven't lost in nearly two full calendar years – the nation's longest active home winning streak.
Montana has challenged itself throughout non-conference, playing the favorites to win the Sun Belt (Georgia State) and Big West (UC Irvine), in addition to Arizona (Pac-12), Creighton (BIG EAST) and a handful of solid mid-major teams that currently have winning records. Regardless of Saturday's result, Montana will enter Big Sky play next week with a winning record for the second year in a row and just sixth time since the turn of the century. Without a doubt, though, the Grizzlies would like to straighten out some of their recent offensive woes before conference play begins.
Montana is averaging just 51.0 points per game over the past three contests, including its two lowest shooting percentages of the season in its past two games. Part of that is due to the type of defenses that both North Dakota State and Arizona – in addition to South Dakota State – run, forcing teams to spread the ball out and run at a slower pace.
Despite the recent stagnation, Montana remains one of the top shooting teams in the country and has four players averaging at least 12.0 points per game. And while the offense has slowed, the defense has stepped up.
Over the past four games, no Montana opponent has scored more than 61 points, with all four being held below their season average for points. Overall, Montana is giving up just 56.5 points per game in the month of December.
The defense will be tested in a big way on Saturday, as the Jackrabbits rank in the top 10 nationally for overall shooting, three-point shooting and free-throw shooting. Six of South Dakota State's seven main rotation players shoot better than 50 percent, and two players are averaging at least 20 points per game. Leading the charge is future NBA Draft pick Mike Daum. The senior is averaging a double-double and ranks in the top 10 in the country for scoring (24.7, sixth) rebounding (10.6, 10th) and free throws made.
Tipoff is slated for 6 p.m. MT on ESPN+ and www.GoJacks.com/watch ($).
SCOUTING SOUTH DAKOTA STATE
Montana is 4-1 all-time vs. South Dakota State, including 2-0 in Brookings. Four of the meetings came between 2006-07 and 2013-14, with Montana's only loss coming by one point in double overtime.
GRIZ TRACKS
Regardless of Saturday's result, Montana is guaranteed 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.
DOMINANT DEFENSE
Over the past three games, Montana has allowed its opponents to score just 56.5 points per game, with none of the four scoring more than 61 points. On the season, the Grizzlies rank 78th in the NCAA (top 25 percent), allowing just 67.0 points per game.
HOT SHOOTING
Despite low numbers each of the past two games, Montana remains one of the top shooting teams in the country. The Grizzlies' .481 shooting percentage ranks in the top 15 percent of all Division-I schools (53rd). The Grizzlies made at least half of their shots in six consecutive games from Nov. 12 through Dec. 3 and led the entire nation as late as Dec. 9.
Junior Sayeed Pridgett's is making more than 60 percent of his shots from the floor, the 40th-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 (.519), Kelby Kramer (.667) Mack Anderson (.583) and Ben Carter (.667).
LOOKING AHEAD
The team will break for Christmas before returning after the holiday in Arizona to begin Big Sky competition. The Grizzlies play at Northern Arizona on Dec. 29 and Southern Utah on Dec. 31.
Complete Match Notes in PDF format, including more notes, charts and player pages
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After playing Arizona on Wednesday – the Wildcats have the nation's best home-court winning percentage over the past six seasons – Montana will travel to South Dakota State, where the Jackrabbits haven't lost in nearly two full calendar years – the nation's longest active home winning streak.
Montana has challenged itself throughout non-conference, playing the favorites to win the Sun Belt (Georgia State) and Big West (UC Irvine), in addition to Arizona (Pac-12), Creighton (BIG EAST) and a handful of solid mid-major teams that currently have winning records. Regardless of Saturday's result, Montana will enter Big Sky play next week with a winning record for the second year in a row and just sixth time since the turn of the century. Without a doubt, though, the Grizzlies would like to straighten out some of their recent offensive woes before conference play begins.
Montana is averaging just 51.0 points per game over the past three contests, including its two lowest shooting percentages of the season in its past two games. Part of that is due to the type of defenses that both North Dakota State and Arizona – in addition to South Dakota State – run, forcing teams to spread the ball out and run at a slower pace.
Despite the recent stagnation, Montana remains one of the top shooting teams in the country and has four players averaging at least 12.0 points per game. And while the offense has slowed, the defense has stepped up.
Over the past four games, no Montana opponent has scored more than 61 points, with all four being held below their season average for points. Overall, Montana is giving up just 56.5 points per game in the month of December.
The defense will be tested in a big way on Saturday, as the Jackrabbits rank in the top 10 nationally for overall shooting, three-point shooting and free-throw shooting. Six of South Dakota State's seven main rotation players shoot better than 50 percent, and two players are averaging at least 20 points per game. Leading the charge is future NBA Draft pick Mike Daum. The senior is averaging a double-double and ranks in the top 10 in the country for scoring (24.7, sixth) rebounding (10.6, 10th) and free throws made.
Tipoff is slated for 6 p.m. MT on ESPN+ and www.GoJacks.com/watch ($).
SCOUTING SOUTH DAKOTA STATE
- SDSU is 10-4 on the year, including 7-2 over the past nine games, with its only losses coming to No. 7 Nevada and Memphis (receiving top-25 votes).
- The Jacks own the nation's longest home winning streak (26), last losing at Frost Arena in January 2017. Since the start of the 2011-12 season, they are 95-5 at home (best in the nation).
- SDSU is the only team in the country to rank in the top 10 nationally for field-goal percentage, three-point percentage and free-throw shooting.
- The Jacks have six players who are making at least half of their shots, and three who are connecting on at least 40 percent of their long-range shots.
- Two-time Summit League Player of the Year Mike Daum leads the nation with nine double-doubles. He leads the country for free throws made, as well, and ranks in the top 10 for both scoring and rebounding.
- David Jenkins leads the Summit League and ranks 47th nationally with 3.15 made three-pointers per game. He averages 20.4 points per game, giving the Jackrabbits two players who rank in the top 40 nationally for scoring.
- Skyler Flatten averages 15.6 points per game and leads the Jacks for minutes played and three-pointers, and ranks second for steals.
- While SDSU ranks highly for most statistical categories, its defense ranks in the bottom 10 percent of the country for blocked shots and turnovers forced, as well as offensive rebounds.
- SDSU has made the NCAA tournament in three consecutive seasons and five times since 2011-12. Last year the Jacks earned a No. 12 seed vs. Ohio State.
Montana is 4-1 all-time vs. South Dakota State, including 2-0 in Brookings. Four of the meetings came between 2006-07 and 2013-14, with Montana's only loss coming by one point in double overtime.
GRIZ TRACKS
- Montana is 6-4 despite having its full roster available for just one game all season. Most notable, the team's leading scorer and rebounder, Jamar Akoh, has missed seven games.
- The Grizzlies are allowing just 56.5 points per game over the past four contests, with no opponent scoring more than 61 points.
- Despite shooting just .355 over the past three games, Montana still ranks among the nation's best for field-goal percentage (.481; 53rd). Montana has made at least half of its shots in six games.
- The Griz are coming off their best night from the charity strip, connecting on 90.0 percent of their free-throw attempts at Arizona.
- Arizona's Chase Jeter was just the third player all season to make more than five shots vs. the Griz.
- Montana's defense is forcing opponents into long possessions, generally meaning they aren't getting the shots they want. Just two schools nationally draw out their opponents for longer lengths. 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. Four players are averaging at least 12.0 points per game.
- Montana's four losses have come to opponents with a combined record of 34-13 (7.23).
- Montana posted its best November record (4-2) since 2011-12 and will have a winning non-conference record for the second year in a row.
- 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 in 2018-19.
- After posting a +4.6 rebounding margin (47th in NCAA) in 2017-18, Montana has been out-rebounded seven times this season. While Montana's 30.6 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 owns the nation's fourth-longest home winning streak, winning 19 consecutive games inside Dahlberg Arena.
- Montana's 4-0 start was its best since 1995-96.
- Seven players have made their collegiate or Grizzly debuts.
Regardless of Saturday's result, Montana is guaranteed 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.
DOMINANT DEFENSE
Over the past three games, Montana has allowed its opponents to score just 56.5 points per game, with none of the four scoring more than 61 points. On the season, the Grizzlies rank 78th in the NCAA (top 25 percent), allowing just 67.0 points per game.
HOT SHOOTING
Despite low numbers each of the past two games, Montana remains one of the top shooting teams in the country. The Grizzlies' .481 shooting percentage ranks in the top 15 percent of all Division-I schools (53rd). The Grizzlies made at least half of their shots in six consecutive games from Nov. 12 through Dec. 3 and led the entire nation as late as Dec. 9.
Junior Sayeed Pridgett's is making more than 60 percent of his shots from the floor, the 40th-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 (.519), Kelby Kramer (.667) Mack Anderson (.583) and Ben Carter (.667).
LOOKING AHEAD
The team will break for Christmas before returning after the holiday in Arizona to begin Big Sky competition. The Grizzlies play at Northern Arizona on Dec. 29 and Southern Utah on Dec. 31.
Complete Match Notes in PDF format, including more notes, charts and player pages
🌵✈️🏔🛩🌾 pic.twitter.com/zv0mRNc2qn
— Montana Griz BB (@MontanaGrizBB) December 20, 2018
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