Monday, November 4
Missoula, Mont.
7:00 PM
Montana
vs
Hawaii Hilo
Photo by: Tommy Martino/University of Montana
Griz open regular season at home on Monday
11/3/2024 11:45:00 AM | Men's Basketball
MONTANA VS. HAWAI'I HILO
Monday, Nov. 4 / 7:00 PM / Watch / Live Stats / Tickets
The season begins in earnest for the Montana men's basketball team this Monday night as they welcome Hawai'I Hilo to Dahlberg Arena. The game tips off at 7:00 p.m.
The new-look Grizzlies have hosted an exhibition, but this will be the first real chance for fans to watch head coach Travis DeCuire's new squad. Montana has nine newcomers on the roster, but a solid returning core that led to them being named the preseason Big Sky favorites by the league's coaches.
The Vulcans are a D-II team from Hilo, Hawai'I. It's the second-ever meeting between the two schools. Montana played in the Big Island Classic in Hilo in 1997, beating the hosts 82-76 while also playing against Valparaiso and Wisconsin.
DeCuire and company will look to make it eight straight wins in home openers dating back to 2016.
The Grizzlies return just one starter, Brandon Whitney, from last year's team that reached the Big Sky Championship game and won a postseason game for the first time since 2006. Whitney was a preseason All-Big Sky pick after being an honorable mention in 2024 and an All-Tournament team member.
He enters his final season in Missoula with 1,296 points, 350 assists, and 290 rebounds and will likely start more games in his career than any other player in Big Sky history.
The Griz also get Money Williams back. The sophomore star guard has been practicing with the team and is expected to make his return to action. In just 12 games last year, he showed himself to be one of the top players in the Big Sky as a true freshman, and could have a breakout year if he stays healthy.
Also returning for Montana is big man Te'Jon Sawyer, who provided a lot of offense off the bench last season. Sawyer was one of the top reserves in the Big Sky, averaging 8.5 points per game in just over 16 minutes per contest.
Then, there is a whole slew of newcomers that are looking to make their mark on the program. DeCuire added eight transfers over the offseason, the largest number in program history, and also brought in one freshman in Tyler Thompson.
The success of this season will likely come down to how well all of the new pieces fit together for DeCuire and his staff.
After the opener against the Vulcans, Montana will take a repeat trip to Eugene, Ore. to play against the Ducks in their road opener. It's the second straight year that they will start the away schedule against Oregon. Montana led in the second half of last year's contest before falling behind late in a 75-61 loss.
HOME OPENER HISTORY
Montana has won seven straight home openers under DeCuire. The head coach is 9-1 in home openers in his 10 years at his alma mater with the only loss coming in a one-point contest to Wyoming in 2016-17.
The Grizzlies are also 18-2 in the previous 20 years under DeCuire, Wayne Tinkle, and Larry Krystkowiak. Overall, Montana is 90-26 in home openers in program history.
In season openers, Montana is 5-5 under DeCuire. The Grizzlies have run the gamut on opponents during that time with some incredibly difficult road trips to kick off campaigns, including Stanford, USC, and Duquesne, to go along with several non-D-I opponents.
They started last season 1-0 with a 107-59 win over Northwest Indian.
SCOUTING HAWAI'I HILO
SERIES HISTORY VS. THE VULCANS
This is the second all-time meeting between the two schools. Montana defeated Hawai' Hilo 82-76 at the 1997 Big Island Classic, a tournament that also featured Valparaiso and Wisconsin.
Ryan Dick, father of current Grizzly Connor Dick, led Montana in that game with an 18-point, 12-rebound double-double.
GRIZ TABBED AS FAVORITES
The coaches in the Big Sky Conference picked Montana as the favorites for the 2024-25 season in the league's preseason polls. Montana received seven of nine possible first-place votes.
The Grizzlies were second in the league's Media Poll, coming in behind Montana State. The Griz picked up 11 of 33 possible first-place votes from the league's media members.
WHITNEY NAMED PRESEASON ALL-BIG SKY
Graduate guard Brandon Whitney was named one of six members of the Preseason All-Big Sky Conference team as voted on by the league's coaches and media. Whitney has averaged at least 10.0 points per game all four seasons at Montana and has 116 career starts.
The Mission Hills, Calif. product will have a chance to break his head coach's program record for career assists this season and should enter the top 10 in career scoring as well.
DeCUIRE CHASES DAHLBERG
Head coach Travis DeCuire enters the season with 201 career wins, the most by any active Big Sky Conference coach. This season he will seek Montana history as he chases down the career win total of George "Jiggs" Dahlberg, the man the arena that the Grizzlies play in was named after.
In two stints at Montana (1937-42; 1944-55) won 221 total games. If DeCuire's team can win 20 games this season, he will match the Griz legend's program record. In 10 years as head coach, DeCuire has had five 20-win seasons.
NAVIGATING NOVEMBER
Historically speaking, November has been the most challenging month of the season for Montana under Coach DeCuire. It's no surprise, as Montana typically loads up with Power-4 games during the first month of the season, and this year is no different.
Montana will play eight games in November this year. They play on the road against Oregon, #12 Tennessee, and Utah State, all three of which were NCAA Tournament teams last season.
The Griz are 25-34 under DeCuire in November. It's truly been a tale of two teams at home and away. The Grizzlies are 19-4 at home in the month, but 2-26 on the road under DeCuire. They have also played eight neutral site games, going 4-4.
50th ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST BIG SKY CHAMPS
The 2024-25 season will be the 50th anniversary of one of the greatest teams in Griz history. The 1974-75 men's basketball team is the only team in program history that has been enshrined in the Grizzly Sports Hall of Fame, and for good reason.
Head coach Jud Heathcote's team won the first-ever NCAA Tournament game, beating Utah State 69-63 in the first round. The win moved them onto the "Sweet 16" in the 32-team version of the tournament.
Once there, Montana nearly did the impossible, pushing a UCLA team that had won nine of the previous 11 national championships to the brink. The Griz fell 67-64, and the Bruins would proceed to win their 10th title in 12 years, and the last under John Wooden.
They went 21-8 overall and 13-1 in Big Sky play to win the team's first league title. Heathcote's team featured several notable players in program history including Ken McKenzie, Eric Hays, Michael Ray Richardson, and Tom Peck.
THE .500 STREAK
Montana is one of just 14 teams in the entire country that has been .500 or better in 16 straight seasons. It's a remarkable accomplishment and shows the consistency and greatness in the program.
The Grizzlies have reached 20 wins nine times in the previous 15 years, and have reached the 20 win mark 25 times in program history.
Montana has had just one losing season in the last 20 years, and they have also had just five losing seasons in the previous half century. Since 1970, Montana has gone .500 or better 48 times.
SUCCESS FROM THE STRIPE
Montana has been historically good from the free throw line over the previous four seasons. The Grizzlies broke the school record for single season free throw percentage in 2020-21, and have proceeded to improve upon the number every year since.
Last season's team shot 79.2 percent from the stripe, which ranked 7th in the NCAA. They shot 78.7 percent in 2021-22, which was 6th best in all of college basketball. The 2020-21 Grizzlies shot 78.5 percent, which ranked 10th.
Over the last five years, Montana ranks second nationally by shooting 77.6 percent from the free throw line. Villanova (79.9 percent) is the only team better than the Grizzlies during the stretch.
Montana is shooting 74.1 percent from the free throw line in 10 years under DeCuire, which is the 13th best mark in all of college basketball.
MONTANA NOTES
Monday, Nov. 4 / 7:00 PM / Watch / Live Stats / Tickets
The season begins in earnest for the Montana men's basketball team this Monday night as they welcome Hawai'I Hilo to Dahlberg Arena. The game tips off at 7:00 p.m.
The new-look Grizzlies have hosted an exhibition, but this will be the first real chance for fans to watch head coach Travis DeCuire's new squad. Montana has nine newcomers on the roster, but a solid returning core that led to them being named the preseason Big Sky favorites by the league's coaches.
The Vulcans are a D-II team from Hilo, Hawai'I. It's the second-ever meeting between the two schools. Montana played in the Big Island Classic in Hilo in 1997, beating the hosts 82-76 while also playing against Valparaiso and Wisconsin.
DeCuire and company will look to make it eight straight wins in home openers dating back to 2016.
The Grizzlies return just one starter, Brandon Whitney, from last year's team that reached the Big Sky Championship game and won a postseason game for the first time since 2006. Whitney was a preseason All-Big Sky pick after being an honorable mention in 2024 and an All-Tournament team member.
He enters his final season in Missoula with 1,296 points, 350 assists, and 290 rebounds and will likely start more games in his career than any other player in Big Sky history.
The Griz also get Money Williams back. The sophomore star guard has been practicing with the team and is expected to make his return to action. In just 12 games last year, he showed himself to be one of the top players in the Big Sky as a true freshman, and could have a breakout year if he stays healthy.
Also returning for Montana is big man Te'Jon Sawyer, who provided a lot of offense off the bench last season. Sawyer was one of the top reserves in the Big Sky, averaging 8.5 points per game in just over 16 minutes per contest.
Then, there is a whole slew of newcomers that are looking to make their mark on the program. DeCuire added eight transfers over the offseason, the largest number in program history, and also brought in one freshman in Tyler Thompson.
The success of this season will likely come down to how well all of the new pieces fit together for DeCuire and his staff.
After the opener against the Vulcans, Montana will take a repeat trip to Eugene, Ore. to play against the Ducks in their road opener. It's the second straight year that they will start the away schedule against Oregon. Montana led in the second half of last year's contest before falling behind late in a 75-61 loss.
HOME OPENER HISTORY
Montana has won seven straight home openers under DeCuire. The head coach is 9-1 in home openers in his 10 years at his alma mater with the only loss coming in a one-point contest to Wyoming in 2016-17.
The Grizzlies are also 18-2 in the previous 20 years under DeCuire, Wayne Tinkle, and Larry Krystkowiak. Overall, Montana is 90-26 in home openers in program history.
In season openers, Montana is 5-5 under DeCuire. The Grizzlies have run the gamut on opponents during that time with some incredibly difficult road trips to kick off campaigns, including Stanford, USC, and Duquesne, to go along with several non-D-I opponents.
They started last season 1-0 with a 107-59 win over Northwest Indian.
SCOUTING HAWAI'I HILO
- The Vulcans play in the PacWest Conference of NCAA Division II basketball. They finished 19-12 last season and 12-8 in conference play, reaching the semifinals of the PacWest Tournament.
- Hawaii Hilo opened the season at the CCA Canadian Tip-Off Classic in Langley, B.C. They won their first two games of the tournament and have a third against Saint Martin's, a team Montana defeated in an exhibition, on Sunday.
- The Vulcans took the D-I Hawai'I Rainbow Warriors to the final possession in an exhibition game on Oct. 25. Hawai'I scored an and-1 basket with four seconds left to win by three.
- Head coach Kaniela Aiona is in his fifth season at Hawaii Hilo, and has had a winning record every year in charge.
- They return five players, and three starters, from last year's team. They also have 10 newcomers on this year's squad.
- They will be playing their fourth game in four days when they take on Montana. They averaged 78.0 points per game through the first two contests in Canada, winning by an average margin of 13.5 points.
- The game will count as an exhibition for Hawai'I Hilo, and won't count against their season long record. It will be a regular season game for Montana.
SERIES HISTORY VS. THE VULCANS
This is the second all-time meeting between the two schools. Montana defeated Hawai' Hilo 82-76 at the 1997 Big Island Classic, a tournament that also featured Valparaiso and Wisconsin.
Ryan Dick, father of current Grizzly Connor Dick, led Montana in that game with an 18-point, 12-rebound double-double.
GRIZ TABBED AS FAVORITES
The coaches in the Big Sky Conference picked Montana as the favorites for the 2024-25 season in the league's preseason polls. Montana received seven of nine possible first-place votes.
The Grizzlies were second in the league's Media Poll, coming in behind Montana State. The Griz picked up 11 of 33 possible first-place votes from the league's media members.
WHITNEY NAMED PRESEASON ALL-BIG SKY
Graduate guard Brandon Whitney was named one of six members of the Preseason All-Big Sky Conference team as voted on by the league's coaches and media. Whitney has averaged at least 10.0 points per game all four seasons at Montana and has 116 career starts.
The Mission Hills, Calif. product will have a chance to break his head coach's program record for career assists this season and should enter the top 10 in career scoring as well.
DeCUIRE CHASES DAHLBERG
Head coach Travis DeCuire enters the season with 201 career wins, the most by any active Big Sky Conference coach. This season he will seek Montana history as he chases down the career win total of George "Jiggs" Dahlberg, the man the arena that the Grizzlies play in was named after.
In two stints at Montana (1937-42; 1944-55) won 221 total games. If DeCuire's team can win 20 games this season, he will match the Griz legend's program record. In 10 years as head coach, DeCuire has had five 20-win seasons.
NAVIGATING NOVEMBER
Historically speaking, November has been the most challenging month of the season for Montana under Coach DeCuire. It's no surprise, as Montana typically loads up with Power-4 games during the first month of the season, and this year is no different.
Montana will play eight games in November this year. They play on the road against Oregon, #12 Tennessee, and Utah State, all three of which were NCAA Tournament teams last season.
The Griz are 25-34 under DeCuire in November. It's truly been a tale of two teams at home and away. The Grizzlies are 19-4 at home in the month, but 2-26 on the road under DeCuire. They have also played eight neutral site games, going 4-4.
50th ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST BIG SKY CHAMPS
The 2024-25 season will be the 50th anniversary of one of the greatest teams in Griz history. The 1974-75 men's basketball team is the only team in program history that has been enshrined in the Grizzly Sports Hall of Fame, and for good reason.
Head coach Jud Heathcote's team won the first-ever NCAA Tournament game, beating Utah State 69-63 in the first round. The win moved them onto the "Sweet 16" in the 32-team version of the tournament.
Once there, Montana nearly did the impossible, pushing a UCLA team that had won nine of the previous 11 national championships to the brink. The Griz fell 67-64, and the Bruins would proceed to win their 10th title in 12 years, and the last under John Wooden.
They went 21-8 overall and 13-1 in Big Sky play to win the team's first league title. Heathcote's team featured several notable players in program history including Ken McKenzie, Eric Hays, Michael Ray Richardson, and Tom Peck.
THE .500 STREAK
Montana is one of just 14 teams in the entire country that has been .500 or better in 16 straight seasons. It's a remarkable accomplishment and shows the consistency and greatness in the program.
The Grizzlies have reached 20 wins nine times in the previous 15 years, and have reached the 20 win mark 25 times in program history.
Montana has had just one losing season in the last 20 years, and they have also had just five losing seasons in the previous half century. Since 1970, Montana has gone .500 or better 48 times.
SUCCESS FROM THE STRIPE
Montana has been historically good from the free throw line over the previous four seasons. The Grizzlies broke the school record for single season free throw percentage in 2020-21, and have proceeded to improve upon the number every year since.
Last season's team shot 79.2 percent from the stripe, which ranked 7th in the NCAA. They shot 78.7 percent in 2021-22, which was 6th best in all of college basketball. The 2020-21 Grizzlies shot 78.5 percent, which ranked 10th.
Over the last five years, Montana ranks second nationally by shooting 77.6 percent from the free throw line. Villanova (79.9 percent) is the only team better than the Grizzlies during the stretch.
Montana is shooting 74.1 percent from the free throw line in 10 years under DeCuire, which is the 13th best mark in all of college basketball.
MONTANA NOTES
- There are plenty of new faces for Montana basketball in 2024-25. The Grizzlies brought in eight transfers and nine total newcomers. It's the largest transfer class in program history.
- Montana was picked as the favorites in the Big Sky Conference one year after reaching the Big Sky Championship game. It was head coach Travis DeCuire's 5th appearance in the title game in 10 seasons in charge.
- There are three 1,000-point scorers on Montana's roster this season. Brandon Whitney has 1,296 points in his four years at Montana, and is joined by Kai Johnson (1,133 points in three season) and Joe Pridgen (1,031 points in four seasons) in the exclusive club.
- The Montana coaching staff had no change this offseason. DeCuire is joined, as he has been for all 11 seasons, by associate head coach Chris Cobb. Jay Flores is in his 9th season with Montana, Anderson Clarke his 7th, DJ Broome his 4th, and Reuben Williams his 2nd.
- In the preseason Pomeroy College Basketball Ratings, Montana sit at 178th. They are the second ranked team in the Big Sky, according to the ratings, trailing Weber State (175). The Griz finished 163rd in last year's ratings, third in the league.
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