Marcus Colbert is in year three of what is shaping up to be an interesting career at Montana State. He has started most of the games in his career, and was very good for the first two years.
He established himself as an excellent shooter (he shot 40% on threes as a freshman, and a still good 37% as a sophomore with more attempts. Last season, he turned the corner on his efficiency closer to the rim, shooting 50% inside the arc. He also increased his Assist Rate to 23.2, while keeping his turnover rate steady. In short, he was an average distributor who was extremely efficient when he did shoot the ball.
This year, some things have changed, both for good and bad.
One positive is that his Assist Rate has skyrocketed! It is up to 41.8, which is good for sixth in the nation. In per game numbers, he is averaging 5.5 assists per game, up from 3.0 per game last season. This has come with a slight uptick in his Turnover Rate, but you'll take that for such a big increase in getting baskets for his teammates.
He is also looking to take the ball to the rim a lot more this season, as his rate of drawing fouls is up significantly as well. Already he has taken more two-point shots than he did all of last season, another sign of his increased aggressiveness. In general, this is a good thing.
However, this extra aggression and distributing seems to have come at the expense of his efficiency scoring the basketball. His three-point percentage is way down... He is 13/48 on the year, or 27%. This could be just a random small sample blip (certainly a couple hot games could turn that percentage around), or it could be that he is seeing increased attention from defenses. Inside the arc, that aggression going to the hoop and drawing fouls isn't also giving him easy baskets... his two-point shooting percentage is 40%, down from his big sophomore year jump.
The upshot is this... If Colbert can combine his junior year playmaking and aggression with his sophomore year shooting efficiency, then all of a sudden the Bobcats have an all-conference guy on their hands. It might not happen this year, but obviously the talent is there for him, and he will be a good building block for Brian Fish as a senior next season. There aren't a ton of reasons to watch MSU this year, but Colbert is one of them.
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Showing posts with label Marcus Colbert. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Marcus Colbert. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
Monday, December 22, 2014
Looking at the Bottom Tier
So far this year, we have taken plenty of looks at Eastern Washington and what has made them the favorite, and we have also looked extensively at the middle tier of teams, but today let's took at the four who are presumed to be at the bottom right now.
- Idaho State sits at 3-8, after looking good in a neutral court OT loss to South Dakota State, a road loss to Utah State, and a neutral court loss to Cal State Bakersfield. So far this year they are tenth in the conference in offensive efficiency, but fourth defensively.
Their struggles on offense start with the fact that other than Chris Hansen, they don't have many guys shooting well from the outside. Against DI opponents, they have shot 26% from downtown, which ranks in the bottom 15 nationally. Hansen himself has struggle,d shooting just 29% after hitting 40% of his threes last year. That could be just a random fluke, but it could also be due to the fact that ISU doesn't really have a PG, which allows defense to key in on Hansen.
Jeff Solarin has been excellent again, and Nnamdi Ezenwa has given them good minutes, but they need to find someone other than Hansen that will draw the attention of defenses if they want to compete for a conference tournament spot.
- Montana State also sits at 3-8, and there have been some offensive bright spots in Brian Fish's first season. Junior guard Marcus Colbert has struggled with his shooting, but he is in the top 15 nationally in assist rate while also getting to the line. He is a keeper. Danny Robison has been very solid as well up front, showing a nice outside shot which wasn't there in the past. He is one of the most improved guys in the Big Sky.
To compete for a tournament spot, though, MSU needs to improve on the other end of the floor, where they are ninth in the Big Sky defensively. They haven't been able to force turnovers, but they are sending opponents to the foul line too much, so the aggression is not really paying off. DI teams have an effective FG% of 52.8% against them, which is not a good mark when you're not forcing turnovers. They have had good games on that end, but too many have been like their loss Saturday to Portland, where the Pilots made 23/40 twos and 10/20 threes, while turning it over just 10 times.
The Bobcats are probably a year away from contending for a conference tournament spot, but there are at least some good, positive things happening on the offensive side of the ball.
- North Dakota is 4-6, but two of the wins are against non-DI opponents. One of the best positives has been the play of senior guard Lenny Antwi. He didn't look like much of a Big Sky player his first three years, but he has been shooting the ball very well this year, hitting 12/26 threes. Elsewhere, they have a lot of guys in shooting slumps from the outside.
Estan Tyler made 43% of his triples as a sophomore at UMKC - he is 6/21 this year. Terrel de Rouen made 36% as a freshman at New Mexico State - he is 6/21 this year. Jaron Nash made 34% last year - he is 4/15 this year. Josiah Coleman came in as a guy that looked like he could do some things offensively - he is 3/18 from downtown and an abominable 10/41 FG overall. Some of these things should normalize and give UND a much better offense than they have shown so far.
Defensively, they still can't stop anyone in the paint. DI teams are shooting over 58% on two-point attempts against UND this year, a rank that is near the bottom of the NCAA. They don't really have a rim protector, and their perimeter defenders can't keep teams out of the lane. More than anything else, this will hold them back as we enter Big Sky play.
- Southern Utah is still at two wins, but as we've mentioned there are signs of life from their offense. AJ Hess continues to play great basketball, shooting the ball well while not turning it over. He has become more of a primary option which they desperately needed. SUU is shooting 40% from the outside against DI teams, a great mark and a huge sign that they will win some Big Sky games this year.
Defensively, however, they are a mess. Teams have been killing them from three, though that will hopefully normalize a bit. SUU hasn't forced turnovers, and as has been an issue for them the last few years, they send teams to the foul line way, way too much. They just can't seem to defend without fouling, and this is year three of what must be considered a trend.
Another issue is that Trey Kennedy, a guy that did some nice things as a true freshman playing a too-big role, has regressed this year. His turnovers are up, assists are done, and he doesn't seem to be getting any easy baskets. The Thunderbirds need these young guys to develop, and his sophomore season has not been promising so far.
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- Idaho State sits at 3-8, after looking good in a neutral court OT loss to South Dakota State, a road loss to Utah State, and a neutral court loss to Cal State Bakersfield. So far this year they are tenth in the conference in offensive efficiency, but fourth defensively.
Their struggles on offense start with the fact that other than Chris Hansen, they don't have many guys shooting well from the outside. Against DI opponents, they have shot 26% from downtown, which ranks in the bottom 15 nationally. Hansen himself has struggle,d shooting just 29% after hitting 40% of his threes last year. That could be just a random fluke, but it could also be due to the fact that ISU doesn't really have a PG, which allows defense to key in on Hansen.
Jeff Solarin has been excellent again, and Nnamdi Ezenwa has given them good minutes, but they need to find someone other than Hansen that will draw the attention of defenses if they want to compete for a conference tournament spot.
- Montana State also sits at 3-8, and there have been some offensive bright spots in Brian Fish's first season. Junior guard Marcus Colbert has struggled with his shooting, but he is in the top 15 nationally in assist rate while also getting to the line. He is a keeper. Danny Robison has been very solid as well up front, showing a nice outside shot which wasn't there in the past. He is one of the most improved guys in the Big Sky.
To compete for a tournament spot, though, MSU needs to improve on the other end of the floor, where they are ninth in the Big Sky defensively. They haven't been able to force turnovers, but they are sending opponents to the foul line too much, so the aggression is not really paying off. DI teams have an effective FG% of 52.8% against them, which is not a good mark when you're not forcing turnovers. They have had good games on that end, but too many have been like their loss Saturday to Portland, where the Pilots made 23/40 twos and 10/20 threes, while turning it over just 10 times.
The Bobcats are probably a year away from contending for a conference tournament spot, but there are at least some good, positive things happening on the offensive side of the ball.
- North Dakota is 4-6, but two of the wins are against non-DI opponents. One of the best positives has been the play of senior guard Lenny Antwi. He didn't look like much of a Big Sky player his first three years, but he has been shooting the ball very well this year, hitting 12/26 threes. Elsewhere, they have a lot of guys in shooting slumps from the outside.
Estan Tyler made 43% of his triples as a sophomore at UMKC - he is 6/21 this year. Terrel de Rouen made 36% as a freshman at New Mexico State - he is 6/21 this year. Jaron Nash made 34% last year - he is 4/15 this year. Josiah Coleman came in as a guy that looked like he could do some things offensively - he is 3/18 from downtown and an abominable 10/41 FG overall. Some of these things should normalize and give UND a much better offense than they have shown so far.
Defensively, they still can't stop anyone in the paint. DI teams are shooting over 58% on two-point attempts against UND this year, a rank that is near the bottom of the NCAA. They don't really have a rim protector, and their perimeter defenders can't keep teams out of the lane. More than anything else, this will hold them back as we enter Big Sky play.
- Southern Utah is still at two wins, but as we've mentioned there are signs of life from their offense. AJ Hess continues to play great basketball, shooting the ball well while not turning it over. He has become more of a primary option which they desperately needed. SUU is shooting 40% from the outside against DI teams, a great mark and a huge sign that they will win some Big Sky games this year.
Defensively, however, they are a mess. Teams have been killing them from three, though that will hopefully normalize a bit. SUU hasn't forced turnovers, and as has been an issue for them the last few years, they send teams to the foul line way, way too much. They just can't seem to defend without fouling, and this is year three of what must be considered a trend.
Another issue is that Trey Kennedy, a guy that did some nice things as a true freshman playing a too-big role, has regressed this year. His turnovers are up, assists are done, and he doesn't seem to be getting any easy baskets. The Thunderbirds need these young guys to develop, and his sophomore season has not been promising so far.
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Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Montana State Outlook
It's time to get ready for the Big Sky season again with some overviews of each team this month, and then eventually we'll get into more detailed looks at everything.
What They Lost: The change starts at the top, as head coach Brad Huse is out, and Brian Fish is in. MSU fans had been frustrated at times with Huse, who seemed to have the players to push the pace and force tempo, but they never seemed to put that into practice. I expect that to change under Fish.
The biggest losses will be upfront, where Paul Egwuonwu and Flavien Davis. Egwuonwu was one of the best defensive rebounders in the nation, which was one of the big strengths of MSU. He was solid offensively as well, and will be a big loss. Davis was a skilled player who was a bit inconsistent at times, but was a big part of the offense. A third loss is guard Antonio Biglow. He perhaps never lived up to the big hype, but he was a good passer and pesky defender.
Who Returns: They return some experience and talent in the backcourt. Marcus Colbert will be in his third year of starting, and he's an efficent lead guard that was a lot better in the paint last year, as well as bumping his assist rate. He is a good outside shooter as well, and if he can cut down on some turnovers he can be one of the best point guards in the Big Sky.
Terrell Brown was good for them as a wing last year, and should be even better as a junior. He can shoot a bit, but is mostly an efficient offensive player who doesn't turn the ball over. His free throw shooting suggests he may be able to improve on his 28% from downtown. Michael Dison will be a senior, and can provide offense in spurts for them. Stephan Holm is a guy to watch, as he contributed more as a freshman than I thought he would. He can be an excellent shooter for them, as he made 39% from three last year and should get more playing time.
Eric Norman and Danny Robison return in the frontcourt. Neither was a significant contributor last year, but they were not bad when they did see the court. Production from guys like them will be the key for the Bobcats.
Newcomers: Fish has reportedly been impressed with new guard Joey Frenchwood, who is 6'1'' and hails from Oakland. He averaged 17 points and six assists last year, and should help to make PG a strength for the Bobcats. At 6'4'', Zach Green should provide Fish with an athletic wing after signing this spring. He averaged 17 PPG as a junior, and broke his leg his senior year. Quinn Price should provide some talent up front, averaging 15 and 10 last year. Bradley Fisher is a big man from England who committed to the previous regime, but stayed with his commitment to MSU. He may be a bit raw and not quite ready physically, but could be very good in time. Last, Ryan Shannon redshirted last year, but he is a forward with a ton of skills and versatility. He has the ability to hit from outside, rebounds well, and can block shots. I would expect to see him get some time.
General Outlook: The Bobcats will have a young team in Brian Fish's first season, with three seniors on the roster, though none of them perhaps as centerpieces. This means there will likely be many growing pains, but also the chance to evaluate guys and get them valuable experience. It will at times be a frustrating year for MSU, but I think there will be some seeds for the future planted that will pay dividends later on.
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What They Lost: The change starts at the top, as head coach Brad Huse is out, and Brian Fish is in. MSU fans had been frustrated at times with Huse, who seemed to have the players to push the pace and force tempo, but they never seemed to put that into practice. I expect that to change under Fish.
The biggest losses will be upfront, where Paul Egwuonwu and Flavien Davis. Egwuonwu was one of the best defensive rebounders in the nation, which was one of the big strengths of MSU. He was solid offensively as well, and will be a big loss. Davis was a skilled player who was a bit inconsistent at times, but was a big part of the offense. A third loss is guard Antonio Biglow. He perhaps never lived up to the big hype, but he was a good passer and pesky defender.
Who Returns: They return some experience and talent in the backcourt. Marcus Colbert will be in his third year of starting, and he's an efficent lead guard that was a lot better in the paint last year, as well as bumping his assist rate. He is a good outside shooter as well, and if he can cut down on some turnovers he can be one of the best point guards in the Big Sky.
Terrell Brown was good for them as a wing last year, and should be even better as a junior. He can shoot a bit, but is mostly an efficient offensive player who doesn't turn the ball over. His free throw shooting suggests he may be able to improve on his 28% from downtown. Michael Dison will be a senior, and can provide offense in spurts for them. Stephan Holm is a guy to watch, as he contributed more as a freshman than I thought he would. He can be an excellent shooter for them, as he made 39% from three last year and should get more playing time.
Eric Norman and Danny Robison return in the frontcourt. Neither was a significant contributor last year, but they were not bad when they did see the court. Production from guys like them will be the key for the Bobcats.
Newcomers: Fish has reportedly been impressed with new guard Joey Frenchwood, who is 6'1'' and hails from Oakland. He averaged 17 points and six assists last year, and should help to make PG a strength for the Bobcats. At 6'4'', Zach Green should provide Fish with an athletic wing after signing this spring. He averaged 17 PPG as a junior, and broke his leg his senior year. Quinn Price should provide some talent up front, averaging 15 and 10 last year. Bradley Fisher is a big man from England who committed to the previous regime, but stayed with his commitment to MSU. He may be a bit raw and not quite ready physically, but could be very good in time. Last, Ryan Shannon redshirted last year, but he is a forward with a ton of skills and versatility. He has the ability to hit from outside, rebounds well, and can block shots. I would expect to see him get some time.
General Outlook: The Bobcats will have a young team in Brian Fish's first season, with three seniors on the roster, though none of them perhaps as centerpieces. This means there will likely be many growing pains, but also the chance to evaluate guys and get them valuable experience. It will at times be a frustrating year for MSU, but I think there will be some seeds for the future planted that will pay dividends later on.
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Monday, September 16, 2013
A Look at Marcus Colbert
Last year, Marcus Colbert was a pleasant surprise for Montana State as a freshman. For the year, he played over half of the team's minutes, and started a fair number of games. He provided steady play in the backcourt for them last season, but will be counted on even more heavily this year. Is he up to the task, and what areas does he need to improve on?
Even though he took pretty good care of the ball, you would like to see the 20.7 TO Rate drop a bit. That is a little bit high for a PG. Similarly, his 19.4 Assist Rate is not bad, but for him to take the next step and become one of the best PGs in the Big Sky, you'd like to see that higher. Those are good numbers for a true freshman, but there is certainly room for improvement there.
He shot a solid 40% from three point range last season, a great number that should make defenses respect his jumpshot. When they start to do that, he needs to be a bit better at finishing at the rim. He shot just 39.1% on twos last season, and only made 32 trips to the free throw line all season. Those are the numbers of a guy settling for mid-range jumpers instead of trying to make it all the way to the rim and getting either a higher percentage shot or a trip to the charity stripe. He needs to make that leap to become a more polished and complete offensive player.
He has the speed and quickness to be an above average PG in the Big Sky, he just needs to add some strength. He has a solid 2.6% steal percentage as a freshman, showcasing his quick hands. He has the ability to be above average both offensively and defensively, which would make him very valuable.
Marcus Colbert had an excellent freshman season in Bozeman, but there is room for him to take the next step and become a top half PG in the conference. His development will be key for MSU, and will be fun to watch as a fan.
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Even though he took pretty good care of the ball, you would like to see the 20.7 TO Rate drop a bit. That is a little bit high for a PG. Similarly, his 19.4 Assist Rate is not bad, but for him to take the next step and become one of the best PGs in the Big Sky, you'd like to see that higher. Those are good numbers for a true freshman, but there is certainly room for improvement there.
He shot a solid 40% from three point range last season, a great number that should make defenses respect his jumpshot. When they start to do that, he needs to be a bit better at finishing at the rim. He shot just 39.1% on twos last season, and only made 32 trips to the free throw line all season. Those are the numbers of a guy settling for mid-range jumpers instead of trying to make it all the way to the rim and getting either a higher percentage shot or a trip to the charity stripe. He needs to make that leap to become a more polished and complete offensive player.
He has the speed and quickness to be an above average PG in the Big Sky, he just needs to add some strength. He has a solid 2.6% steal percentage as a freshman, showcasing his quick hands. He has the ability to be above average both offensively and defensively, which would make him very valuable.
Marcus Colbert had an excellent freshman season in Bozeman, but there is room for him to take the next step and become a top half PG in the conference. His development will be key for MSU, and will be fun to watch as a fan.
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Monday, January 21, 2013
Big Sky Freshmen Rankings
Normally, there might be a few freshmen that earn enough time to make a significant impact, and usually they are guards. Last year, the three freshmen with the biggest impact were Dylan Garrity of Sacramento State, James Douglas of Northern Arizona, and Tevin Svihovec of Northern Colorado.
This year, there are four guys that stand out as having a big impact, and two of them are freshmen. What's more, the big men are really good, and at least a couple of the freshmen have a chance to be all-conference players. The top three in particular you could put in any order and be able to make a case. Further, a freshman leads the conference in scoring, rebounding (Jois and Bolomboy are one and two), blocked shots, and second in steals. The guys up top are having great seasons.
Let's rank them.
1. Venky Jois (Eastern Washington) - 13.1 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 2.3 BPG
All he has done so far in his first season is shoot over 50%, score 13 per game, and lead the Big Sky in rebounding and blocked shots. He has a good handle for a big man, which allows EWU to do a lot of things through him. He scores well on the low block, plays a ton of minutes, and looks to me like he will be the emotional leader of the team for his four years. All in all, you can't really ask for a better debut season than what Jois has brought so far.
2. DeWayne Russell (Northern Arizona) - 16.3 PPG, 3.3 APG, 2.4 RPG, 2.0 SPG
After a blistering start, he has cooled down a bit but is still a very productive player. He leads the conference in scoring, as he is already really good at getting to the FT line and shooting 37% from long range. He presses at times, but that is not unexpected for a freshman who is being asked to do as much as Russell is doing. Defensively, he has quick hands, and he is second in the conference in steals. He is a great building block for Jack Murphy.
3. Joel Bolomboy (Weber State) - 7.5 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 1.9 BPG
On a per minute basis, it's tough to argue that Bolomboy has been the best freshman in the Big Sky. He is third in the country in DR% (29.0) and 18th in OR% (15.8). He has simply been incredible on the boards. He is second in the Big Sky in rebounds per game. His block rate is a superb 7.7% as well. So why is he only third? Here is the percentage of their team's minutes played for the top three:
Jois - 84.2%
Russell - 81.5%
Bolomboy - 54.9%
Through no fault of his own, he doesn't get the minutes the guys above him get. That puts him third on the list, though I could see him moving up by the end of the year.
4. Marcus Colbert (Montana State) - 5.5 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 2.1 APG
It's rare to say this about a freshman, but I think he has been a calming influence at the PG spot for the Bobcats. While Antonio Biglow was suspended, Colbert got more playing time, and the team went 4-1 and turned around their season. He is an unselfish player, and I think that rubs off on the rest of the team. He doesn't put up big numbers, but he doesn't take bad shots and has a good grasp of the offense.
Honorable Mention: Thomas Reuter (Eastern Washington), Daniel Hill (Eastern Washington), Greg Tucker (Northern Colorado)
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This year, there are four guys that stand out as having a big impact, and two of them are freshmen. What's more, the big men are really good, and at least a couple of the freshmen have a chance to be all-conference players. The top three in particular you could put in any order and be able to make a case. Further, a freshman leads the conference in scoring, rebounding (Jois and Bolomboy are one and two), blocked shots, and second in steals. The guys up top are having great seasons.
Let's rank them.
1. Venky Jois (Eastern Washington) - 13.1 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 2.3 BPG
All he has done so far in his first season is shoot over 50%, score 13 per game, and lead the Big Sky in rebounding and blocked shots. He has a good handle for a big man, which allows EWU to do a lot of things through him. He scores well on the low block, plays a ton of minutes, and looks to me like he will be the emotional leader of the team for his four years. All in all, you can't really ask for a better debut season than what Jois has brought so far.
2. DeWayne Russell (Northern Arizona) - 16.3 PPG, 3.3 APG, 2.4 RPG, 2.0 SPG
After a blistering start, he has cooled down a bit but is still a very productive player. He leads the conference in scoring, as he is already really good at getting to the FT line and shooting 37% from long range. He presses at times, but that is not unexpected for a freshman who is being asked to do as much as Russell is doing. Defensively, he has quick hands, and he is second in the conference in steals. He is a great building block for Jack Murphy.
3. Joel Bolomboy (Weber State) - 7.5 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 1.9 BPG
On a per minute basis, it's tough to argue that Bolomboy has been the best freshman in the Big Sky. He is third in the country in DR% (29.0) and 18th in OR% (15.8). He has simply been incredible on the boards. He is second in the Big Sky in rebounds per game. His block rate is a superb 7.7% as well. So why is he only third? Here is the percentage of their team's minutes played for the top three:
Jois - 84.2%
Russell - 81.5%
Bolomboy - 54.9%
Through no fault of his own, he doesn't get the minutes the guys above him get. That puts him third on the list, though I could see him moving up by the end of the year.
4. Marcus Colbert (Montana State) - 5.5 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 2.1 APG
It's rare to say this about a freshman, but I think he has been a calming influence at the PG spot for the Bobcats. While Antonio Biglow was suspended, Colbert got more playing time, and the team went 4-1 and turned around their season. He is an unselfish player, and I think that rubs off on the rest of the team. He doesn't put up big numbers, but he doesn't take bad shots and has a good grasp of the offense.
Honorable Mention: Thomas Reuter (Eastern Washington), Daniel Hill (Eastern Washington), Greg Tucker (Northern Colorado)
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Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Montana Recruit Jake Wiley
Just happened to run across a few articles on Montana recruit Jake Wiley and some his high school games. He certainly has been impressive.
December 4:
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December 4:
Newport 77, Priest River 63: Jake Wiley had 31 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Grizzlies (2-0) to a win over the visiting Spartans (0-3).December 7:
Newport 67, Medical Lake 60: Jake Wiley had 25 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks to lead the Grizzlies (3-0) past the visiting Cardinals (0-3).December 10:
Deer Park 69, Newport 60: Zach Mohr hit five 3-pointers and finished with 24 points as the Stags (3-0) remained unbeaten with a win over the host Grizzlies (3-1). Blake Starbuck added 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Stags. Jake Wiley led Newport with 22 points.Also happened to see a little on Montana State recruit Marcus Colbert:
Post Falls 45, Pullman 37: Michael Hillman had 15 points and eight rebounds to lead the Trojans (2-0) past the host Greyhounds (1-1). Seth Anderson and Marcus Colbert each added 11 points for Post Falls. Austin Drake led Pullman with 15 points and seven boards.There will be some solid talent coming to the state of Montana next season.
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Friday, November 11, 2011
Links From Team Sites
A look at what all of the official sites of the teams have to say heading into the first games of the year...
- Eastern Washington opens on the road at Gonzaga and then at home against South Dakota. EWU is 1-17 all-time against ranked teams... if they get win #2 Jim Hayford will be a hero in Cheney after one game.
- Idaho State travels to Oklahoma for a road test, in what will be Lon Kruger's first game as Sooners coach. What I'll be watching for the Bengals is the play of Melvin Morgan and Jakub Kusmieruk.
- Montana has some unfinished business, and they will start that by traveling to Fort Collins to take on Colorado State. Yours truly will be in attendance and could not be more excited, I think it will be a barnburner!
- Montana State doesn't have an article on the game against Arizona State but rather an article on new recruit Marcus Colbert. He is a PG that will add some nice depth to that position.
- Northern Arizona will play three games in three days, starting with Louisiana, then taking on San Francisco, and ending with North Dakota State. More than anyone else, we will learn about the Lumberjacks this season.
- Getting to know the sophomores of North Dakota, the hope for the future of the program.
- Sacramento State opens at home against Menlo College, a game they should win handily. If you knew Menlo College was located in Atherton, CA, you are either an alum or you are a lot more knowledgeable about California schools than me!
- Portland State takes on Denver to start the year, traveling to the Mile High country for Friday's game. The Vikings are 3-8 all-time against Sun Belt members.
- Southern Utah will be headed to San Diego for the Basketball Travelers Classic. They will take on UC Davis on Friday, San Diego State on Saturday night, and Bryant University on Sunday.
- Weber State is staying home to take on Northern New Mexico. The Wildcats scored 101 in their exhibition game, and they should put up a similar high score against an NAIA team. This should be a drama-free game for them.
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- Eastern Washington opens on the road at Gonzaga and then at home against South Dakota. EWU is 1-17 all-time against ranked teams... if they get win #2 Jim Hayford will be a hero in Cheney after one game.
- Idaho State travels to Oklahoma for a road test, in what will be Lon Kruger's first game as Sooners coach. What I'll be watching for the Bengals is the play of Melvin Morgan and Jakub Kusmieruk.
- Montana has some unfinished business, and they will start that by traveling to Fort Collins to take on Colorado State. Yours truly will be in attendance and could not be more excited, I think it will be a barnburner!
- Montana State doesn't have an article on the game against Arizona State but rather an article on new recruit Marcus Colbert. He is a PG that will add some nice depth to that position.
- Northern Arizona will play three games in three days, starting with Louisiana, then taking on San Francisco, and ending with North Dakota State. More than anyone else, we will learn about the Lumberjacks this season.
- Getting to know the sophomores of North Dakota, the hope for the future of the program.
- Sacramento State opens at home against Menlo College, a game they should win handily. If you knew Menlo College was located in Atherton, CA, you are either an alum or you are a lot more knowledgeable about California schools than me!
- Portland State takes on Denver to start the year, traveling to the Mile High country for Friday's game. The Vikings are 3-8 all-time against Sun Belt members.
- Southern Utah will be headed to San Diego for the Basketball Travelers Classic. They will take on UC Davis on Friday, San Diego State on Saturday night, and Bryant University on Sunday.
- Weber State is staying home to take on Northern New Mexico. The Wildcats scored 101 in their exhibition game, and they should put up a similar high score against an NAIA team. This should be a drama-free game for them.
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Friday, October 28, 2011
Montana State Interviews with Marcus Colbert and Brad Huse
Gidal Kaiser at Blue & Gold has a couple good interviews, one with new recruit Marcus Colbert, another with head coach Brad Huse.
Good nuggets, including Marcus Colbert saying the presence of Shaun Reid being in Bozeman helped him. Also, interesting to note also that he said there was interest from Idaho State and Montana.
Brad Huse talked about instilling an expectation for the team, starting with getting into good practice habits. Huse also notes he likes his talent base a lot and the camaraderie of the team.
Follow me on Twitter @bigskybball
Good nuggets, including Marcus Colbert saying the presence of Shaun Reid being in Bozeman helped him. Also, interesting to note also that he said there was interest from Idaho State and Montana.
Brad Huse talked about instilling an expectation for the team, starting with getting into good practice habits. Huse also notes he likes his talent base a lot and the camaraderie of the team.
Follow me on Twitter @bigskybball
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Montana and Montana State Visitors Last Weekend
From the Twitter feed of mslacat:
Visitors this past weekend: @msubobcats MBB 5-11 Marcus Colbert (ID) & 6-8 Ty Egbert (WA) @UMGRIZZLIES_BB 7-0 Andy Martin (WY)It was previously reported that Montana State has offered Colbert a scholarship. The Egbert visited was initially reported by Sea Town Sports a couple weeks ago.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Update on Marcus Colbert
Link via Blue & Gold to an article on future MSU Bobcat Marcus Colbert, who was named the Couer d'Alene Inn-vitational Tournament MVP:
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But the night belonged to Colbert, who hit five 3-pointers on his way to a second straight tournament MVP award.
“It feels good right now,” Colbert said. “We really didn’t expect anything less. We came into the game on a mission. A lot of people doubted us, but we came out and fought.”
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