Photo by: David Staggs
Montana Basketball season awards
6/19/2019 1:54:00 PM | Men's Basketball
The Montana men's basketball team announced its end-of-season awards earlier this spring, celebrating another historic season that included Big Sky Conference regular-season and tournament titles and a return trip to the NCAA tournament. Montana had one of the nation's top offenses, ranking in the top 10 nationally by making nearly half of its shots on the season. The efficiency, plus a lock-down defense, led to 26 wins, tied for the third-most in school history. Montana's 52 combined victories over the past two seasons had never before been accomplished.
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Captains Award – Bobby Moorehead, Michael Oguine, Ahmaad Rorie
Instead of having season captains, like many teams, Travis DeCuire has his players vote on captains at the end of the season – recognizing those who served in that role, without necessarily the title. The Grizzlies chose to recognize their three senior starters, including Oguine and Rorie for the second year in a row.
For four seasons, Michael Oguine laid it all out for Montana – on the court, in the classroom and the community. The all-around player, who thrived in many categories but often took a backseat to allow others to succeed, finished his illustrious career ranked in the top six in school history for scoring, steals and games started. He was a two-time All-Big Sky honoree and was named the Big Sky tournament MVP in 2018. Off the court, he was a four-time Academic All-Big Sky selection and earned the Grizzly Cup award, given to the athletics department's top senior who best exemplifies the term student-athlete in all facets.
In addition to what he did on the court, ranking in the top 15 in the Big Sky Conference for scoring, field-goal percentage, steals, assists and rebounds, Sayeed Pridgett also was an emotional leader for the Griz, and was often credited with mentoring younger players.
The award for Montana's most-improved player is named after Ryan Dick, a Missoula native who played for the Griz in the mid-1990s and was the team's MVP in both 1997 and 1998. Soon, it may be renamed the Sayeed Pridgett Award, considering the Oakland native has earned the honor all three seasons of his collegiate career. Pridgett continued to transform his game, moving from the sixth man in 2018 to a first-team All-Big Sky selection in 2019, increasing his points-per-game average by 6.7 points. On the season, he averaged 15.1 points per game on .605 shooting – a percentage that ranked 19th in NCAA Division I. He led Montana for scoring a dozen times.
To little surprise, for the second consecutive season, Bobby Moorehead was named the team's top defensive player. The senior recorded 24 steals and blocked a team-most 27 shots, but his biggest impact didn't always show up on the stats sheet. In most matchups, Moorehead was tasked with guarding opponents' top scorers. Overall, Montana held its opponents under their season scoring average 27 times, with Big Sky opponents' top scorers being held in check 15 times.
For just the sixth time, the team's most valuable player award went to two student-athletes, with Montana recognizing both senior Ahmaad Rorie and junior Sayeed Pridgett.
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For Rorie, it was his third MVP honor, joining an exclusive list of Griz greats to earn the honor three times (Michael Ray Richardson, Larry Krystkowiak and Kareem Jamar). Rorie earned first-team All-Big Sky recognition and was named the Big Sky tournament MVP after helping the Grizzlies return to the Big Dance. He ranked in the top 10 in the Big Sky for scoring, assists and minutes played, and led the league with a 3.0 assist-to-turnover ratio. During his three-year career at Montana, he became the fastest player in school history to score 1,500 points.
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Pridgett earned a starting role prior to the season, but emerged as a go-to player in February, when his team needed someone to step up after Jamar Akoh went down with what ended up being a season-ending injury. Over the final 13 games of the season, Pridgett averaged 19.6 points per game on .673 shooting, leading the Griz for scoring eight times. He was named Big Sky Conference player of the Week twice during that span, before earning first-team All-Big Sky recognition.
The coaches' award often goes to a player who works tirelessly and puts the team first, which accurately describes Bobby Moorehead. As a go-to prep shooter in Tacoma, Moorehead transformed into a defensive player, allowing him to see more time on the floor and for his team to see more success. He finished his career playing in more games (134) than any other player in Griz history. In 2019, he ranked eighth in the Big Sky for blocked shots and 20th for rebounding.
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Captains Award – Bobby Moorehead, Michael Oguine, Ahmaad Rorie
Instead of having season captains, like many teams, Travis DeCuire has his players vote on captains at the end of the season – recognizing those who served in that role, without necessarily the title. The Grizzlies chose to recognize their three senior starters, including Oguine and Rorie for the second year in a row.
Allan Nielsen Award – Best Represents Griz Basketball – Michael OguineCongratulations to our 2018-19 captains, voted on by their peers!#GrizHoops #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/7ja9tw0umU
— Montana Griz BB (@MontanaGrizBB) April 29, 2019
For four seasons, Michael Oguine laid it all out for Montana – on the court, in the classroom and the community. The all-around player, who thrived in many categories but often took a backseat to allow others to succeed, finished his illustrious career ranked in the top six in school history for scoring, steals and games started. He was a two-time All-Big Sky honoree and was named the Big Sky tournament MVP in 2018. Off the court, he was a four-time Academic All-Big Sky selection and earned the Grizzly Cup award, given to the athletics department's top senior who best exemplifies the term student-athlete in all facets.
What does it look like to represent #GrizHoops? Look no further than @michaeloguine! #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/ma4YjSvYEv
— Montana Griz BB (@MontanaGrizBB) May 8, 2019
Naseby Rhinehart Award – Most Inspirational Player – Sayeed PridgettYeah, we'd say this is what it means to represent #GrizHoops. Congrats on being named the Allan Nielsen Award winner, @michaeloguine https://t.co/MFILs028au
— Montana Griz BB (@MontanaGrizBB) May 8, 2019
In addition to what he did on the court, ranking in the top 15 in the Big Sky Conference for scoring, field-goal percentage, steals, assists and rebounds, Sayeed Pridgett also was an emotional leader for the Griz, and was often credited with mentoring younger players.
Ryan Dick Award – Most Improved Player – Sayeed PridgettAwards season continues with the Naseby Rhinehart Award, given to the team's most inspirational player! Congrats, @SP4THABOY!#GrizHoops #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/T9aiH1OZYD
— Montana Griz BB (@MontanaGrizBB) May 7, 2019
The award for Montana's most-improved player is named after Ryan Dick, a Missoula native who played for the Griz in the mid-1990s and was the team's MVP in both 1997 and 1998. Soon, it may be renamed the Sayeed Pridgett Award, considering the Oakland native has earned the honor all three seasons of his collegiate career. Pridgett continued to transform his game, moving from the sixth man in 2018 to a first-team All-Big Sky selection in 2019, increasing his points-per-game average by 6.7 points. On the season, he averaged 15.1 points per game on .605 shooting – a percentage that ranked 19th in NCAA Division I. He led Montana for scoring a dozen times.
John Eaheart Memorial – Outstanding Defensive Player – Bobby MooreheadPerhaps it should be renamed the Sayeed Pridgett award. For the third time in as many years, @SP4THABOY is this year's Ryan Dick Award winner.#GrizHoops #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/rNGsq3vKCY
— Montana Griz BB (@MontanaGrizBB) April 30, 2019
To little surprise, for the second consecutive season, Bobby Moorehead was named the team's top defensive player. The senior recorded 24 steals and blocked a team-most 27 shots, but his biggest impact didn't always show up on the stats sheet. In most matchups, Moorehead was tasked with guarding opponents' top scorers. Overall, Montana held its opponents under their season scoring average 27 times, with Big Sky opponents' top scorers being held in check 15 times.
C.R. Dragstedt Award – Most Valuable Player – Sayeed Pridgett and Ahmaad RorieYou've seen it all year, so it should come as no surprise that @Bobbyisabeast is the #GrizHoops defensive player of the year! #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/QwUsKp4Wed
— Montana Griz BB (@MontanaGrizBB) May 1, 2019
For just the sixth time, the team's most valuable player award went to two student-athletes, with Montana recognizing both senior Ahmaad Rorie and junior Sayeed Pridgett.
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For Rorie, it was his third MVP honor, joining an exclusive list of Griz greats to earn the honor three times (Michael Ray Richardson, Larry Krystkowiak and Kareem Jamar). Rorie earned first-team All-Big Sky recognition and was named the Big Sky tournament MVP after helping the Grizzlies return to the Big Dance. He ranked in the top 10 in the Big Sky for scoring, assists and minutes played, and led the league with a 3.0 assist-to-turnover ratio. During his three-year career at Montana, he became the fastest player in school history to score 1,500 points.
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Pridgett earned a starting role prior to the season, but emerged as a go-to player in February, when his team needed someone to step up after Jamar Akoh went down with what ended up being a season-ending injury. Over the final 13 games of the season, Pridgett averaged 19.6 points per game on .673 shooting, leading the Griz for scoring eight times. He was named Big Sky Conference player of the Week twice during that span, before earning first-team All-Big Sky recognition.
Dennis T. Murphy Award Coaches' – Bobby MooreheadA tremendous season is worthy of more than one MVP. Congratulations to both @ahmaadrorie and @SP4THABOY!#GrizHoops #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/f4636d2Tyx
— Montana Griz BB (@MontanaGrizBB) May 10, 2019
The coaches' award often goes to a player who works tirelessly and puts the team first, which accurately describes Bobby Moorehead. As a go-to prep shooter in Tacoma, Moorehead transformed into a defensive player, allowing him to see more time on the floor and for his team to see more success. He finished his career playing in more games (134) than any other player in Griz history. In 2019, he ranked eighth in the Big Sky for blocked shots and 20th for rebounding.
The 2019 Dennis T. Murphy Coaches' Award goes to @Bobbyisabeast!#GrizHoops #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/8QsUKAD47d
— Montana Griz BB (@MontanaGrizBB) May 9, 2019
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