M: vs Montana

[SDHornet]

M: vs Montana

The Hornets (6-3, 1-0 BSC) host Montana (5-4, 1-0 BSC) in The Nest (assuming the world doesn’t end tonight) for the second half of the opening BSC homestand. UM is fresh off of a good win on the road and at elevation against NAU. UM has been playing well this season and stud point guard (#5) Will Cherry isn’t even at full strength yet.

Team Stats Comparison: http://hornethome.com/sacramento-state-basketball/compare_stats/montana

• • Points/Game: Sac: 74.2, UM: 68.3
  • Points Allowed/Game: Sac: 70.2, UM: 66.6
  • Rebounds/Game: Sac: 37.9, UM: 32.0
  • Assists/Game: Sac: 14.0, UM: 12.8
  • FG%: Sac: 42.5, UM: 45.2
  • 3-PT%: Sac: 37.3, UM: 41.6
  • FT%: Sac: 71.6, UM: 75.5

Individual Stats: http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/team/stats/_/id/149/montana-grizzlies

UM’s top scorers are senior forward (#40) Mathias Ward (14.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg) and junior swingman (#32) Kareem Jamar (14.4 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 4.7 apg). These two have gotten solid support as two others average more than 8 ppg along with Cherry getting back into the swing of things.

UM looks vulnerable inside and if Veteto can follow up with another great game, he will present problems for UM on the offensive side. The Dickson vs. Ward matchup should be fun to watch and hopefully Dickson can get back into his groove following a subpar performance against MSU. It’s going to take a team effort to pull out this win so we’ll see how the Hornets respond to this challenge.

Hornetsports Preview: http://www.hornetsports.com/sports/mbball/release.asp?release_id=10859

Go Hornets!!!

 

[mattman_121]

Montana at Sacramento St Game Notes

Looking back at last game against Montana St I think it is safe to say that Sacramento St. struggled against the zone defense of Montana St at times. The more important part of this struggle is the individual play of John Dickson. I think the zone neutralized his play because he is such a good one on one player and extremely tough to stop in an isolation from 15 feet and in. It will be interesting to see what type of defense Montana plays, the guy who coached the great zone defense they played in the past, Bill Evans, is now the coach at Idaho St.

The other thing about the Montana St game was the refusal of Dylan Garrity to shoot the basketball, if he doesn’t shoot the ball more Sac St is going to struggle, period.

Will Cherry will be playing in just his 3rd game back from breaking his foot and he played 35 minutes Wednesday after just 13 the previous game so it will be interesting to see how he reacts to playing a full toll of minutes in a short turnaround, but he loves to play at the nest with his family in the stands.

Wednesday night in Flagstaff Montana got out of the gate slow against a much improved Northern Arizona ball club, but Montana squeaked out a win that NAU definitely wishes they could have back.

Against NAU on Wednesday night Montana basically played two guys at the center position (Weisner and Hutchison) and they combined for an astounding 3 rebounds in 39 combined minutes. My mind is so boggled I am going to try and unboggle it after reading that stat.

Keys to Game:
1) Pound the Glass: The Hornets have a huge advantage on the glass on both ends of the court, Montana is the second worst offensive rebounding team in the country right now, they aren’t as bad at defensive rebounding but the Hornets need to attack the glass.
2) Run Montana off the 3pt Line: Montana is a very good 3 point shooting team so you can’t let them get easy looks, contest or run off the line.
3) Make FT’s: Montana fouls a lot and the Hornets do not, if the Hornets can continue to draw fouls and make free throws they will have a good chance to win.
4) Ward/Jamar: Shutting these guys down is very tough to do because they have mismatch written all over them. Ward is the best 15 jump shooter in the conference and has a post game and 3 point shot to do with it. Jamar is the most versatile player is the conference because he does everything on the basketball court well. His combination of size and quickness could give the Hornets problems.

-Don’t let Weisner shoot threes when he gets into the game

Injuries: Sparkplug off the bench Keron DeShields, who is a very athletic guard that can get into the paint and shoot the basketball, is expected to be out tonight after rolling his ankle against Northern Arizona.

 

[mattman_121]

SEMO ST now Montana...that is all I have to say after that call.

 

[mattman_121]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBaVZ7gitXI[/youtube]

 

[SactoHornetAlum]

That was a horrible call. Awful!!!!

 

[superhornet]

If I were Katz there, I'd have been double-T'd at that point. Our guy had position, and the Griz guy initiated the contact. That makes it a charge. I'm sick and tired of the pro-Montana officiating in this league....

 

[mattman_121]

If I were Katz there, I'd have been double-T'd at that point. Our guy had position, and the Griz guy initiated the contact. That makes it a charge. I'm sick and tired of the pro-Montana officiating in this league....

I personally thought this was a travel he takes 3 steps, picked up his dribble at the 3 pt line.

 

[SDHornet]

I didn't see any of this one and that call at the end could have gone anyway; and in any case involving a Montana team, it will go their way. It would have been nice to steal a win against one of the better BSC teams, but when the Hornets start the game only making 1 of the first 16 shots it can't end well. There should be some concern about the Hornet offense right now. The shooting really needs to improve if this team wants to contend. The Hornets have a long layoff until the next game which will be at elevation against a tough up-tempo style of play by NAU.

Hornetsports Recap: http://www.hornetsports.com/sports/mbball/release.asp?release_id=10862

Box Score: http://www.hornetsports.com/assets/sports/mbball/SACUM1.HTM

SSS Recap: http://sacstatesports.com/2012/12/21/comeback-falls-short-for-hornet-mens-hoops-against-montana/

HornetHome: http://hornethome.com/sacramento-st...ecap/sacramento-state-nipped-by-montana-61-60