Saturday, January 26
Missoula, Mont.
7:00 PM
Montana
vs
Weber State
Premier showdown in Missoula features league's top teams
1/25/2019 4:10:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Montana vs. Weber State / Saturday / 7 p.m. / Missoula, Mont.
No matter how you look at it, that's what Montana and Weber State are.
Top-two teams for all-time wins? Check.
Conference championships? Check.
NCAA tournament appearances? Check.
All-conference selections. Check.
Attendance? Check.
The 2019 season is no different. Weber State is currently in first place, but a Griz win on Saturday could flip the standings and put Montana on top.
Earlier this week, Travis DeCuire didn't want to talk about the premier matchup, instead focusing on the next game on his team's schedule. Montana took care of Idaho State on Thursday night, while the Wildcats went on the road and shot past the Cats in Bozeman.
The time has come. It's time to talk.
"You've got two programs who expect to win championships," DeCuire said. "You've got a level of expectation with these two programs, and it's always going to be a high-level game."
Weber State has the league's best offense, averaging 84.8 points per game. Montana has the top defense, with opponents mustering just 68.0 points per contest.
The two teams rank No. 1 and No. 2 for scoring margin, field-goal percentage, field-goal defense and rebounding. Weber State is also tops for three-point defense and blocked shots. Montana is No. 1 for rebounding defense and turnover margin.
Eight of the league's top-25 scorers will be on the court Saturday night, four for each team. So will the league's top-two rebounders. And six of the top 15 shooters.
"This is turning into an annual thing," DeCuire said. "They're a good ball club. They score the ball as good as anyone, and our defense is going to be challenged. The good thing about this game is there will be some rhythm to it because both teams will try and get up and down as quickly as possible."
It's still January, but it's a big-time matchup that will go a long way in determining the 2019 Big Sky champion.
WHITE OUT WEBER
Fans are encouraged to wear white on Saturday, with the game being labeled a white out. With a large crowd expected, fans are encouraged to arrive early and buy their tickets in advance.
Like every game, UM students with a valid Griz Card get in free. Additionally, free pizza will be given out prior to the game, as well as white rally towels and up to $1,000 in cash prizes through various contests, courtesy of Coca-Cola.
SCOUTING WEBER STATE
SERIES VS. THE WILDCATS
Everybody remembers the big moments. Anthony Johnson's 42 points in the 2010 title game. Will Cherry vs. Damian Lillard. Jeremy Senglin's step-back three. Jordan Gregory's clutch free throws.
The series between Montana and Weber State has produced some memorable plays, players and moments. The two teams first met during the 1962-63 season – the inaugural year of the Big Sky Conference. Weber State owns a 70-57 advantage, but Montana has the edge in Missoula, 38-23, winning 10 of the past 11.
Under Travis DeCuire, the Griz are 4-4, winning two in a row. Last year's 18-point win to clinch the Big Sky regular-season title was the largest scoring margin for either team since 2013. Before that, the past five games had all been decided by two possessions or less, including two in overtime.
With Montana and Weber State being the league's top-two teams historically, it's no surprise that the Griz and Wildcats have met in the conference tournament in six of the past nine seasons. Overall, Montana the two teams have played 13 times in the Big Sky tournament, including seven times in the title game.
GRIZ TRACKS
- SWX Montana
- Pluto TV (ch. 237) / WatchBigSky.com
- Listen / KGVO (1290 AM, 98.3 FM)
- Live Stats
No matter how you look at it, that's what Montana and Weber State are.
Top-two teams for all-time wins? Check.
Conference championships? Check.
NCAA tournament appearances? Check.
All-conference selections. Check.
Attendance? Check.
The 2019 season is no different. Weber State is currently in first place, but a Griz win on Saturday could flip the standings and put Montana on top.
Earlier this week, Travis DeCuire didn't want to talk about the premier matchup, instead focusing on the next game on his team's schedule. Montana took care of Idaho State on Thursday night, while the Wildcats went on the road and shot past the Cats in Bozeman.
The time has come. It's time to talk.
"You've got two programs who expect to win championships," DeCuire said. "You've got a level of expectation with these two programs, and it's always going to be a high-level game."
Weber State has the league's best offense, averaging 84.8 points per game. Montana has the top defense, with opponents mustering just 68.0 points per contest.
The two teams rank No. 1 and No. 2 for scoring margin, field-goal percentage, field-goal defense and rebounding. Weber State is also tops for three-point defense and blocked shots. Montana is No. 1 for rebounding defense and turnover margin.
Eight of the league's top-25 scorers will be on the court Saturday night, four for each team. So will the league's top-two rebounders. And six of the top 15 shooters.
"This is turning into an annual thing," DeCuire said. "They're a good ball club. They score the ball as good as anyone, and our defense is going to be challenged. The good thing about this game is there will be some rhythm to it because both teams will try and get up and down as quickly as possible."
It's still January, but it's a big-time matchup that will go a long way in determining the 2019 Big Sky champion.
We haven't talked about it all week. Now it's time...#GrizHoops #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/LELHgTVx4i
— Montana Griz BB (@MontanaGrizBB) January 25, 2019
WHITE OUT WEBER
Fans are encouraged to wear white on Saturday, with the game being labeled a white out. With a large crowd expected, fans are encouraged to arrive early and buy their tickets in advance.
Like every game, UM students with a valid Griz Card get in free. Additionally, free pizza will be given out prior to the game, as well as white rally towels and up to $1,000 in cash prizes through various contests, courtesy of Coca-Cola.
🎥 Last night was fun. What do you say we do it again tomorrow night? #GrizHoops #GoGriz 🎥 pic.twitter.com/D0zvaCan9K
— Montana Griz BB (@MontanaGrizBB) January 25, 2019
SCOUTING WEBER STATE
- Weber State enters Saturday's contest with a 13-6 mark, including a 7-1 record in Big Sky play. The Wildcats' lone conference loss came to Southern Utah, Jan. 5 in overtime.
- WSU has the Big Sky's top scoring offense (27th in NCAA) and has scored at least 76 points in eight consecutive games. The Wildcats have four of the top-25 scorers in the league.
- During Big Sky play, WSU leads the league for scoring offense, field-goal percentage (.512), field-goal defense (.407), three-point defense (.299), rebounding offense (39.5), rebounding margin (+7.0) and blocked shots (5.3). The Wildcats also rank second for scoring margin (+10.2) and free-throw percentage (.780).
- Junior Jerrick Harding, a preseason All-Big Sky selection, averages 21.4 points per game (23rd in NCAA). During league play, he ranks second for scoring, third for minutes played (35.9 per game), fourth for free-throw percentage (.900), seventh for steals (1.5 per game) and 10th for three-pointers made (2.0 per game).
- Senior Zach Braxton is making 65.9 percent of his shots during league play (second). He is one of four Wildcats shooting over 50 percent.
- In addition to his shooting percentage, Braxton ranks seventh in Big Sky play for rebounding (7.1) and fifth for blocked shots (1.4). He had a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds on Thursday at Montana State.
- In addition to ranking ninth for scoring (15.9), senior Brekkott Chapman leads the league with 10.8 rebounds per Big Sky contest (47th in NCAA overall). He and UM's Jamar Akoh are the only two players to average a double-double.
- Randy Rahe is in his 13th season in Ogden. The veteran coach owns more than 260 wins during that time. The Wildcats have been to the postseason in nine of his 12 seasons, including the NCAA tournament three times.
SERIES VS. THE WILDCATS
Everybody remembers the big moments. Anthony Johnson's 42 points in the 2010 title game. Will Cherry vs. Damian Lillard. Jeremy Senglin's step-back three. Jordan Gregory's clutch free throws.
The series between Montana and Weber State has produced some memorable plays, players and moments. The two teams first met during the 1962-63 season – the inaugural year of the Big Sky Conference. Weber State owns a 70-57 advantage, but Montana has the edge in Missoula, 38-23, winning 10 of the past 11.
Under Travis DeCuire, the Griz are 4-4, winning two in a row. Last year's 18-point win to clinch the Big Sky regular-season title was the largest scoring margin for either team since 2013. Before that, the past five games had all been decided by two possessions or less, including two in overtime.
With Montana and Weber State being the league's top-two teams historically, it's no surprise that the Griz and Wildcats have met in the conference tournament in six of the past nine seasons. Overall, Montana the two teams have played 13 times in the Big Sky tournament, including seven times in the title game.
- In three games vs. the Wildcats, Ahmaad Rorie has scored at least 20 points all three times, averaging 21.7.
- Michael Oguine also has a 20-point performance (21 at Weber State in 2016), while totaling at least eight rebounds in each of the past four contests vs. the Wildcats.
- In his first game against Weber State, last March, Jamar Akoh had 12 points, six rebounds and three assists.
- Bobby Moorehead is averaging 7.5 points over the past two meetings.
GRIZ TRACKS
- Thursday's game vs. Idaho State started a stretch of eight home games in an 11-game period.
- Montana has won 21 of its past 22 home games dating back to February 2017.
- Ten of Montana's 13 wins have come by double digits, including five by at least 20 points.
- Montana has held opponents under their season scoring average in 17 of 19 games.
- Montana is shooting .485 on the season (31st in NCAA, 1st in Big Sky) and has made at least half of its shots 10 times.
- Montana is the only Big Sky team to have four players rank in the top 20 for scoring. Five different Grizzlies have scored at least 20 points in a game this season and four have made 10 or more field goals.
- Montana has out-rebounded its opponent in nine consecutive games. During Big Sky play, the Grizzlies rank second for rebounding margin (+5.7) and rebounds per game (37.4).
- With a veteran group, four starters have played in 100 or more career games.
- Montana has made at least eight three-pointers 11 times this season. The Grizzlies hit that number just four times in 2017-18.
- Senior Michael Oguine missed Thursday's game vs. Idaho State (back). He has scored in double figures in every Big Sky game he has played in this season.
- Junior Sayeed Pridgett has at least one steal in six consecutive games.
- In his past two home games, junior Kendal Manuel is averaging 19.0 points per game.
- Senior Ahmaad Rorie posted a career-high nine assists vs. Idaho State. Over the past four games he has a 2.7 assist-to-turnover ratio.
- Senior Jamar Akoh is averaging a double-double in Big Sky play, including a 22-point, 17-rebound performance vs. Idaho State.
- The Grizzlies have recorded fewer assists than their opponent just three times (0-3 in those games).
- Montana began Big Sky play 3-0 for the third time in five seasons under Travis DeCuire and 10th time ever.
- Montana's 7-4 non-conference record was its best since 2010-11, and came against the nation's 43rd-toughest schedule. More impressive, the Grizzlies had their full roster available just twice, most notably being without all-conference forward Jamar Akoh for seven games.
- 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. However, they have used the same lineup in 10 of their past 12 games.
- Montana's 4-0 start was its best since 1995-96.
- Seven players have made their collegiate or Grizzly debuts.
Hey @umontana students .... headband Bob has a message for you. 🐻🏀 #GoGriz #MontanaTough pic.twitter.com/2wsjoktpU7
— Montana Grizzlies (@UMGRIZZLIES) January 25, 2019
Players Mentioned
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