Brian Qvale

Year:
Senior
Hometown:
Williston, N.D.

BIG SKY DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR CANDIDATE

Quoting Head Coach Wayne Tinkle: "Brian is a guy who we saw grow up right before our eyes in the second half of the season, especially down the stretch. He's carrying himself a lot differently. He's got more pep in his step and he's a lot more confident. He knows that he is the man for us, and needs to be kind of like our enforcer as well as our go-to guy. If he stays comfortable in that role, we look for Brian to have just a huge senior season. A lot of our success will be based around a lot of what he can do on both ends of the floor for us."

Brian at a glance: He will start for the second year in a row and should be one of the premier centers in the West.

Montana: Brian begins his senior season with 85 career games and 50 starts. He is ranked third in school history and eighth in Big Sky Conference history with 152 career blocked shots.

2009-10 (Junior): He was the Grizzlies' leading rebounder (7.1 pg) and second-leading scorer (10.2 ppg)...ranked fourth in the Big Sky Conference in rebounding and 24th in scoring...ranked second in the league and 47th in the nation in blocks (2.0 pg) and fourth in field goal percentage (61.5%)...named co-recipient of UM's John Eaheart Award (Outstanding Defensive Player) with guard Will Cherry...fourth in the conference with five double-doubles...

2008-09 (Sophomore): UM's second (tie) leading rebounder at 5.0 a game...sixth leading scorer (5.6 ppg)...ranked second in the Big Sky at 1.79 blocks per game...given John Eaheart Award...had first career double-double (15 points/10 rebounds) in the season opener at Colorado State...had two or more blocked shots in 15 games, including a career-high six at Northern Colorado.

2007-08 (Freshman): Started eight games as a "true" freshman...led Montana and was ranked second in the Big Sky in blocks at 1.5 a game...shot 55.0% from the field...fourth on the team in rebounding (3.3 pg).

High School: He lettered in four sports, earning a total of 12 at Williston High School: four in both basketball and football, three in baseball, and one in track...team captain in football, basketball, and baseball...a three-time all-state and all-conference selection in hoops for coach Mark Slotsve...named "Mr. Basketball" and "Male Athlete of the Year" in North Dakota as a senior...averaged 21 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 assists a game his senior year...junior basketball team won the conference championship with a 22-4 record.

Personal: His major is health and human performance. Birth date: Nov. 3, 1988. His parents are Sanford and Carol Qvale of Williston. Pronounced: quall-EE.

A PERSONAL LOOK AT QVALE:
Favorite Food: Pizza
Favorite class: Math.
Favorite book: Hatchet.
Favorite TV show: Family Guy.
Favorite musical group: Cold Play.
Favorite movie: Step Brothers.
If a movie were made of my life, I would like the following actor to play me: Will Ferrell.
The person in history I would most like to meet is: Benjamin Franklin.
Favorite sport other than basketball: Football.
Favorite sports figure: Dwight Howard.
Hobbies: Hunting, Xbox 360.
Many people don't know this, but I: Have a farm back in North Dakota.
My greatest moments in sports was: Winning the Big Sky championship.
If I were not playing college hoops, I would be: Playing college football.
The best player I ever faced was: Spencer Hawes.
The thing I like best about Montana basketball is: the winning tradition.
The thing that impresses me about Coach Tinkle: He played my position and is someone I can look to for advice.
My advice to youngsters is: work hard in everything you do.
My future goals are: To continue playing basketball after college.