Thursday, February 7
Missoula, Mont.
7:00 PM
Montana
vs
Idaho
Oguine, Rorie sharing the load while etching their names into Griz record book
2/5/2019 6:28:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Montana vs. Idaho / Thursday / 7 p.m. / Missoula, Mont.
Montana basketball has its storied history, including elite athletes who have done remarkable things while donning the Maroon and Silver and afterward in the NBA or across the globe, and incredible teams that have earned championships, won at historic rates and played on the biggest stages.
But could we, right now, be witnessing something historic?
Of course there's the team success. Montana is well on its way to a fourth 20-win season in five years under Travis DeCuire, and when all is said and done will be one of the winningest eras in Griz basketball history. We'll save that for another day, though.
Today, we want to talk about two players: Michael Oguine and Ahmaad Rorie.
Their backgrounds are different, Oguine a California native with Nigerian descent who came to Montana four years ago and hasn't looked back, playing in 113 games and starting all but four of them. Rorie, of Tacoma, Wash., was a highly sought-after prospect who began his collegiate career in the Pac-12 before making his way to Montana.
The similarities? Their success.
In an era of increased scoring, it's easy to watch a game and see a talented scorer. Across the NCAA, more than 200 active players have scored at least 1,000 career points – a benchmark which Oguine and Rorie both reached a year ago.
But two players on the same court at the same time?
"You watch backcourts over the years, and the thing is, they have to coexist," head coach Travis DeCuire said. "They have to be willing to coexist. A lot of times when backcourts don't have success it's because they're fighting, they're combatting with each other."
Not only are these two successful, but they help each other succeed.
Oguine has scored 1,483 career points. Rorie, in his two-plus seasons as a Griz, has totaled 1,471. They both, likely this weekend, will reach the 1,500-point threshold.
When they do so, Montana will join a short list of just three current teams with a pair of 1,500-point scorers at their respective universities.
Buffalo and Marshall are the other two. Montana and Marshall would be the only schools to do it with two guards.
It's never happened before at Montana. There have been 33 1,000-point scorers in Griz history, including several teammates, but never two that have been this good at the same time. Oguine and Rorie currently rank ninth and 10th, respectively, on Montana's all-time scoring list.
This weekend they both should pass Griz legend Will Cherry. Then it's Wayne Tinkle. Then Andrew Strait. At their current pace, they would both finish in the top five in school history.
"What stands out to me is how they help each other and help the team," DeCuire said. "Their numbers could be even higher, but these two want to win. They enjoy each other's successes, and they compete with each other. I think they've done things for each other without knowing it, because they continue to make each other better."
Another thing that makes this duo so special is not just their ability to score, but their versatility.
Oguine and Rorie can be the leading scorer on any given night, but Montana is a team loaded with offensive weapons. Five players have scored at least 20 points in a game this season. Sayeed Pridgett will become the 34th member of the 1,000-point scoring club, possibly as early as this season, and Jamar Akoh, had he played his full career at Montana – or even if he played a full season this year and didn't miss seven games with a wrist injury – would have too.
Oguine averages 13.7 points per game this season, but also is a stats collector across the board, ranking first on the team for blocked shots, third for rebounds, fourth for assists and fourth for steals. A year ago, he was the Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year and Big Sky Championships Most Outstanding Player, helping the Grizzlies advance to the NCAA tournament for the 11th time in school history. In addition to ranking among the all-time great scorers, he will finish in the top five in Griz history for career steals.
Rorie can score at will, either driving or shooting along the perimeter, but he also facilitates the offense. As the team's point guard, he also has 73 assists and a 2.1 assist-to-turnover ratio – both among the leaders in the Big Sky. The 2018 all-conference first-team selection and 2019 Preseason Player of the Year ranks in the top 15 in the Big Sky for scoring, assists, assist-to-turnover ratio, minutes played, steals, field-goal percentage, free-throw percentage and three-pointers made.
Including his stats at Oregon – 149 points and 66 assists as a freshman in 2014-15 – Rorie is part of the elusive 1,500-350 club. Only 15 active players across the NCAA have scored 1,500 career points and dished out at least 350 assists.
This weekend, Oguine could also join a rare group. In addition to his 1,483 career points, the senior, despite standing 6-2, has collected 596 career rebounds. With 17 more points and four more rebounds, he will become the 19th active member to join the 1,500-600 club, recognizing career points and rebounds.
"They're special because they have the ability to compete on both sides of the ball," DeCuire said. "A lot of times when you have a scorer they can't defend well, but these two can do a lot of things for us. They are two rare players who are prolific scorers, but they choose to share."
Time is running out, but fans still have ample opportunities to watch Oguine and Rorie play. Montana plays six of its next eight games at home, including this week vs. Idaho (Thursday) and Eastern Washington (Saturday).
HALFWAY HOME
Montana has reached the halfway point of Big Sky play, and at the midpoint, the Grizzlies are right where they want to be, sitting in first place.
"You get to halfway and you want to be in first place at that point, and then the second stretch – the back end, which is the tail end of your season – you make a run for it."
The Grizzlies have won five consecutive games, and during that span have trailed for just for just 11 minutes, 59 seconds (less than 6 percent of game action), and haven't fallen behind by more than four points.
DeCuire noted that the biggest area of growth he's seen in his team is playing harder, in addition to getting healthy.
"I like where we're at," DeCuire continued. "There's always room for improvement, but we have to be careful. We constantly communicate about errors and improvement, and we also have to be able to enjoy what we're doing, as well."
At 8-2 overall, Montana is a game up in the loss column over Northern Colorado and Weber State (8-3). Eastern Washington (6-4) and Montana State (6-5) would earn the other first-round byes, if the season ended today, followed by Southern Utah and Northern Arizona (5-6), Portland State (4-6), Idaho State (4-7), Sacramento State (3-7), and Idaho (1-9).
SERIES VS. THE VANDALS
The series between Montana and Idaho dates back more than a century, to the 1915-16 season. The Grizzlies have played Idaho more than any other opponent besides Montana State, and have beaten the Vandals more than any team aside from the Cats and Idaho State. Overall, Montana is 88-110 against Idaho, including 4-5 since the Vandals rejoined the conference in 2014. The Griz snapped a three-game losing streak to the Vandals last month in Moscow, winning 69-51.
In the game, Montana held Idaho without points for at least 5 minutes on three separate occasions, including a 13-0 run late in the game to pull away. Idaho got within three, 49-46, with under 9 minutes to play, before Montana's run. Senior Ahmaad Rorie led all Grizzlies with 20 points, including 10 of Montana's first 19. He shot 8-of-14 overall, including 4-of-7 from three-point range. He was one of four Grizzlies in double figures, including Michael Oguine (13), Jamar Akoh (10) and Sayeed Pridgett (10).
In five career games vs. the Vandals, Rorie is averaging 17.2 points. Oguine has scored in double figures in his last six games vs. Idaho, averaging 15.8 during that span.
Complete Game Notes in PDF format, including more notes, charts and player pages
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Montana basketball has its storied history, including elite athletes who have done remarkable things while donning the Maroon and Silver and afterward in the NBA or across the globe, and incredible teams that have earned championships, won at historic rates and played on the biggest stages.
But could we, right now, be witnessing something historic?
Of course there's the team success. Montana is well on its way to a fourth 20-win season in five years under Travis DeCuire, and when all is said and done will be one of the winningest eras in Griz basketball history. We'll save that for another day, though.
Today, we want to talk about two players: Michael Oguine and Ahmaad Rorie.
Their backgrounds are different, Oguine a California native with Nigerian descent who came to Montana four years ago and hasn't looked back, playing in 113 games and starting all but four of them. Rorie, of Tacoma, Wash., was a highly sought-after prospect who began his collegiate career in the Pac-12 before making his way to Montana.
The similarities? Their success.
In an era of increased scoring, it's easy to watch a game and see a talented scorer. Across the NCAA, more than 200 active players have scored at least 1,000 career points – a benchmark which Oguine and Rorie both reached a year ago.
But two players on the same court at the same time?
"You watch backcourts over the years, and the thing is, they have to coexist," head coach Travis DeCuire said. "They have to be willing to coexist. A lot of times when backcourts don't have success it's because they're fighting, they're combatting with each other."
Not only are these two successful, but they help each other succeed.
Oguine has scored 1,483 career points. Rorie, in his two-plus seasons as a Griz, has totaled 1,471. They both, likely this weekend, will reach the 1,500-point threshold.
When they do so, Montana will join a short list of just three current teams with a pair of 1,500-point scorers at their respective universities.
Buffalo and Marshall are the other two. Montana and Marshall would be the only schools to do it with two guards.
It's never happened before at Montana. There have been 33 1,000-point scorers in Griz history, including several teammates, but never two that have been this good at the same time. Oguine and Rorie currently rank ninth and 10th, respectively, on Montana's all-time scoring list.
This weekend they both should pass Griz legend Will Cherry. Then it's Wayne Tinkle. Then Andrew Strait. At their current pace, they would both finish in the top five in school history.
"What stands out to me is how they help each other and help the team," DeCuire said. "Their numbers could be even higher, but these two want to win. They enjoy each other's successes, and they compete with each other. I think they've done things for each other without knowing it, because they continue to make each other better."
Another thing that makes this duo so special is not just their ability to score, but their versatility.
Oguine and Rorie can be the leading scorer on any given night, but Montana is a team loaded with offensive weapons. Five players have scored at least 20 points in a game this season. Sayeed Pridgett will become the 34th member of the 1,000-point scoring club, possibly as early as this season, and Jamar Akoh, had he played his full career at Montana – or even if he played a full season this year and didn't miss seven games with a wrist injury – would have too.
Oguine averages 13.7 points per game this season, but also is a stats collector across the board, ranking first on the team for blocked shots, third for rebounds, fourth for assists and fourth for steals. A year ago, he was the Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year and Big Sky Championships Most Outstanding Player, helping the Grizzlies advance to the NCAA tournament for the 11th time in school history. In addition to ranking among the all-time great scorers, he will finish in the top five in Griz history for career steals.
Rorie can score at will, either driving or shooting along the perimeter, but he also facilitates the offense. As the team's point guard, he also has 73 assists and a 2.1 assist-to-turnover ratio – both among the leaders in the Big Sky. The 2018 all-conference first-team selection and 2019 Preseason Player of the Year ranks in the top 15 in the Big Sky for scoring, assists, assist-to-turnover ratio, minutes played, steals, field-goal percentage, free-throw percentage and three-pointers made.
Including his stats at Oregon – 149 points and 66 assists as a freshman in 2014-15 – Rorie is part of the elusive 1,500-350 club. Only 15 active players across the NCAA have scored 1,500 career points and dished out at least 350 assists.
This weekend, Oguine could also join a rare group. In addition to his 1,483 career points, the senior, despite standing 6-2, has collected 596 career rebounds. With 17 more points and four more rebounds, he will become the 19th active member to join the 1,500-600 club, recognizing career points and rebounds.
"They're special because they have the ability to compete on both sides of the ball," DeCuire said. "A lot of times when you have a scorer they can't defend well, but these two can do a lot of things for us. They are two rare players who are prolific scorers, but they choose to share."
Time is running out, but fans still have ample opportunities to watch Oguine and Rorie play. Montana plays six of its next eight games at home, including this week vs. Idaho (Thursday) and Eastern Washington (Saturday).
HALFWAY HOME
Montana has reached the halfway point of Big Sky play, and at the midpoint, the Grizzlies are right where they want to be, sitting in first place.
"You get to halfway and you want to be in first place at that point, and then the second stretch – the back end, which is the tail end of your season – you make a run for it."
The Grizzlies have won five consecutive games, and during that span have trailed for just for just 11 minutes, 59 seconds (less than 6 percent of game action), and haven't fallen behind by more than four points.
DeCuire noted that the biggest area of growth he's seen in his team is playing harder, in addition to getting healthy.
"I like where we're at," DeCuire continued. "There's always room for improvement, but we have to be careful. We constantly communicate about errors and improvement, and we also have to be able to enjoy what we're doing, as well."
At 8-2 overall, Montana is a game up in the loss column over Northern Colorado and Weber State (8-3). Eastern Washington (6-4) and Montana State (6-5) would earn the other first-round byes, if the season ended today, followed by Southern Utah and Northern Arizona (5-6), Portland State (4-6), Idaho State (4-7), Sacramento State (3-7), and Idaho (1-9).
SCOUTING IDAHOThe 2nd half of #BigSkyMBB play begins this week. Be part of the action! #GrizHoops #GoGriz
— Montana Griz BB (@MontanaGrizBB) February 5, 2019
🏀 Thursday vs. Idaho
🏀 Saturday vs. Eastern pic.twitter.com/1M7kChcVfl
- Idaho is 4-17 this season, including 1-9 in Big Sky play. The Vandals have lost seven consecutive games and have just one victory (74-71 over Eastern Washington) since Dec. 2.
- Idaho has four players averaging at least 9.6 points per game, led by Trevon Allen, who scored 24 vs. the Griz in Moscow. The junior ranks 10th in the Big Sky with 14.8 points per game. He also shoots .400 from three-point range (eighth) and averages 2.4 assists per game (13th).
- Freshman Cameron Tyson is already Idaho's all-time leader for three-pointers by a freshman. He ranks 32nd nationally with 3.24 makes per game on .428 shooting (34th).
- Freshman Jared Rodriguez had a double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds at Northern Colorado on Jan. 5. He ranks ninth in Big Sky play for rebounding (6.6) and fourth for free-throw shooting (.880
- In Big Sky play, Idaho's .383 three-point shooting percentage ranks second. The Vandals hold opponents to .333 shooting from beyond the arc (fourth).
- Idaho ranks last in Big Sky play for scoring (65.1), scoring margin (-11.3), rebounding (31.5), rebounding margin (-5.9), blocked shots (1.4), assists (11.4), steals (3.6) and turnover margin (-2.7).
- Idaho is the nation's only team to have zero returning starters on its roster. Its lone senior, Nate Sherwood, is expected to miss the entirety of the season.
- Idaho has used nine different starting lineup combinations, with no player starting every game.
- After winning 22 games in 2017-18, Idaho graduated six seniors. The Vandals returned just 6.9 percent of its scoring and 7.0 percent of its rebounding.
SERIES VS. THE VANDALS
The series between Montana and Idaho dates back more than a century, to the 1915-16 season. The Grizzlies have played Idaho more than any other opponent besides Montana State, and have beaten the Vandals more than any team aside from the Cats and Idaho State. Overall, Montana is 88-110 against Idaho, including 4-5 since the Vandals rejoined the conference in 2014. The Griz snapped a three-game losing streak to the Vandals last month in Moscow, winning 69-51.
In the game, Montana held Idaho without points for at least 5 minutes on three separate occasions, including a 13-0 run late in the game to pull away. Idaho got within three, 49-46, with under 9 minutes to play, before Montana's run. Senior Ahmaad Rorie led all Grizzlies with 20 points, including 10 of Montana's first 19. He shot 8-of-14 overall, including 4-of-7 from three-point range. He was one of four Grizzlies in double figures, including Michael Oguine (13), Jamar Akoh (10) and Sayeed Pridgett (10).
In five career games vs. the Vandals, Rorie is averaging 17.2 points. Oguine has scored in double figures in his last six games vs. Idaho, averaging 15.8 during that span.
Complete Game Notes in PDF format, including more notes, charts and player pages
Some of the best plays and calls from last night's #GrizCat victory!#GrizHoops #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/GV0ICntTKn
— Montana Griz BB (@MontanaGrizBB) February 4, 2019
Players Mentioned
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