Decade featured unprecedented success for Montana basketball

The first recorded Montana basketball game occurred in 1901. It was an 18-11 loss, against a team simply listed as 'Preps' and featured no coach for the Grizzlies. Montana would not get its first coach until a few years later, when Fred W. Schule led Montana to a 4-2 record in his first of two seasons.

In the 109 seasons since, Montana has won 1,495 games with a winning percentage of .542.

From sports fans to sports writers, we love to debate the best of the best. From the best players to the best teams to the best moments. Those can – and will – be debated throughout Missoula for years to come.

But as another decade comes to a close – the 11^th decade in Montana basketball history – it got us thinking: Just how good do Montana basketball fans have it right now?

There have been countless unforgettable moments and seasons, and decades to remember throughout Griz history.

The team's first all-conference selection was awarded in 1917, with Ernest Prescott being named to the All-Northwest Conference team. Montana had its first All-American in the 1940s, and three more in the 1950s. The 1950s also featured Montana's first ranked win, a 57-6 demolishing of No. 17 Idaho.

The 1970s will be remembered for the awe of Michael Ray Richardson – one of two first-round NBA Draft selections in the 70s – and Montana's first NCAA tournament berth, with the Grizzlies advancing to the Sweet 16 where they nearly took down the UCLA Bruins in the midst of John Wooden's championship dynasty.

The 1980s had the school's best scorer – and arguably its best player – in Larry Krystkowiak, not to mention other high-profile athletes like Derrick Pope and Wayne Tinkle, plus the largest crowd in Dahlberg Arena history in 1981. Montana set a school record with an 18-0 home mark in 1991-92, a decade that featured three NCAA tournament berths and many more great athletes.

Then in the 2000s, Montana returned to the Big Dance three more times, including an historic upset over fifth-seeded Nevada.

There have been many incredible decades that can be debated as the best of the best, but below are facts – not opinions – from the past decade.

From 2010-19, Montana won 220 games, 10 conference titles (five regular-season, five tournament) and played in five NCAA tournaments.

No decade has as many wins. No decade has as many conference titles. No decade has as many NCAA tournament berths.

From Martin Breunig, Will Cherry and Kareem Jamar early on to Jordan Gregory, Michael Oguine, Ahmaad Rorie, and Sayeed Pridgett, the past decade has been filled with all-conference selections, player-of-the-year awards, and 1,000-point scorers at an unprecedented level.

Over the past decade, Montana has never posted a losing season, having played in eight postseason tournaments and receiving invitations to two more. The Grizzlies have won either the Big Sky regular-season or tournament title in six seasons – winning both a league-record four times. In fact, of Montana's 23 total conference championships – combining regular-season and tournament – 10 have come in the past 10 years. Over the past two seasons, with Travis DeCuire at the helm, the Grizzlies have won 52 games, the most ever in a two-year stretch.

Montana isn't just having success relative to its own history, though. Very few programs have had the level of achievement that Montana has enjoyed over the past decade.

Of the 71 western schools in NCAA Division-I basketball – those in the Big Sky, Big West, Mountain West, Pac-12, Summit League, WAC and West Coast conferences – only Gonzaga has won more conference championships during the past decade.

In terms of NCAA tournament berths, Montana only trails Gonzaga, New Mexico State, San Diego State and a trio of Pac-12 schools; the Grizzlies are ahead of the other nine Pac-12 schools. Montana's 220 wins trail only eight schools – Gonzaga, Arizona, Saint Mary's, San Diego State, BYU, Oregon, New Mexico State and South Dakota State.

Debates will continue over the best this and the best that for years to come, but the facts lay it out pretty clearly. Montana just wrapped up its best decade ever.

Here's to 2020, and another great decade of Montana basketball!

University of Montana Athletics

Decade featured unprecedented success for Montana basketball

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Martin Breunig

Jordan Gregory

Michael Oguine

Sayeed Pridgett

Ahmaad Rorie

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