The best thing about Montana's ugly loss to Cal-Santa Barbara on Saturday night is that the Grizzlies don't have much time to dwell on it.
The Griz travel up the California coast Monday to face a University of San Francisco team that has won five straight.
Despite shooting just 31 percent from the field and turning the ball over 15 times in the first half alone, Montana coach Larry Krystkowiak said his team had a chance to beat Santa Barbara right up to the final minutes.
"It was just absolutely one of the ugliest halves I've ben involved in, and yet we're sitting in the locker room down six," Krystkowiak said of the first half against the Gauchos. "It was there for the taking. We shot ourselves in the foot so many times in the second half. We just didn't make plays."
San Francisco, coming off a road win at Pacific on Saturday, is another team that likes to pressure the ball all over the court, something the Griz have seen plenty of this season.
"We watched tape last night and they bring a lot of pressure," Krystkowiak said. "It's not going to catch us by surprise. It's going to be really challenging."
Weighing against the Grizzlies is the fact that San Francisco owns a 72-56 win over Santa Barbara.
"If you do the comparison thing, we have our hands full," Krystkowiak said.
The Griz had a good 90-minute practice Sunday in Santa Barbara.
"We've been stung and our team's been challenged," Krystkowiak said. "The people wearing Griz uniforms need to be taking it a little more seriously."
If they weren't, Krystkowiak got their attention Saturday when Kamarr Davis and Lamarr Farr were benched for the start of the game against the Gauchos. Both were late for the team bus departing Missoula on Friday.
"We just had to show that we're not going to tolerate that," Krystkowiak said.
Both are back in good graces now. Davis, averaging about 12 points a game, played 21 minutes and had just six points on 1-for-6 shooting.
"I think we have an opportunity to get some things done inside if we can get it to him," Krystkowiak said of Davis. "He needs to be more assertive. Whether he likes it or not, we're going to saddle him up and ride him a little bit."
John Cox, a 6-foot-5 senior guard, leads the Dons - and the West Coast Conference - in scoring at 21.5 ppg. He gets help inside from 6-7 junior Tyrone Riley, who averages 15.1 points and 9.4 rebounds a game.
"They play an up-tempo style of game," Krystkowiak said. "They get a lot of points off turnovers. (Cox and Riley) are athletes who will put the ball on the floor and score. Then they have a handful of guys who clean up their misses."
Staying with the Dons throughout the early part of the game could be key for the Grizzlies, Krystkowiak said.
"We will have to handle the pressure and not give them easy shots," Krystkowiak said. "If we can withstand their initial surge, take the early punches and not fall to the canvas, momentum could turn in our favor pretty quick."
Probable starters
Montana
44-Lamarr Farr, 6-4, jr. 4.8 ppg
50-Kamarr Davis, 6-7, sr. 12.4 ppg
33-John Seyfert, 6-10, jr. 3.5 ppg
22-Matt Martin, 6-1, fr. 9.4 ppg
12-Kevin Criswell, 6-2, jr. 12.7 ppg
San Francisco
21-Jerome Gumbs, 6-4, jr. 9.3 ppg
3-Tyrone Riley, 6-7, jr. 15.1 ppg
25-Alan Wiggins Jr., 6-9, so. 8.6 ppg
2-Andre Hazel, 6-0, sr. 5.9 ppg
33-John Cox, 6-5, sr. 21.5 ppg
The Griz travel up the California coast Monday to face a University of San Francisco team that has won five straight.
Despite shooting just 31 percent from the field and turning the ball over 15 times in the first half alone, Montana coach Larry Krystkowiak said his team had a chance to beat Santa Barbara right up to the final minutes.
"It was just absolutely one of the ugliest halves I've ben involved in, and yet we're sitting in the locker room down six," Krystkowiak said of the first half against the Gauchos. "It was there for the taking. We shot ourselves in the foot so many times in the second half. We just didn't make plays."
San Francisco, coming off a road win at Pacific on Saturday, is another team that likes to pressure the ball all over the court, something the Griz have seen plenty of this season.
"We watched tape last night and they bring a lot of pressure," Krystkowiak said. "It's not going to catch us by surprise. It's going to be really challenging."
Weighing against the Grizzlies is the fact that San Francisco owns a 72-56 win over Santa Barbara.
"If you do the comparison thing, we have our hands full," Krystkowiak said.
The Griz had a good 90-minute practice Sunday in Santa Barbara.
"We've been stung and our team's been challenged," Krystkowiak said. "The people wearing Griz uniforms need to be taking it a little more seriously."
If they weren't, Krystkowiak got their attention Saturday when Kamarr Davis and Lamarr Farr were benched for the start of the game against the Gauchos. Both were late for the team bus departing Missoula on Friday.
"We just had to show that we're not going to tolerate that," Krystkowiak said.
Both are back in good graces now. Davis, averaging about 12 points a game, played 21 minutes and had just six points on 1-for-6 shooting.
"I think we have an opportunity to get some things done inside if we can get it to him," Krystkowiak said of Davis. "He needs to be more assertive. Whether he likes it or not, we're going to saddle him up and ride him a little bit."
John Cox, a 6-foot-5 senior guard, leads the Dons - and the West Coast Conference - in scoring at 21.5 ppg. He gets help inside from 6-7 junior Tyrone Riley, who averages 15.1 points and 9.4 rebounds a game.
"They play an up-tempo style of game," Krystkowiak said. "They get a lot of points off turnovers. (Cox and Riley) are athletes who will put the ball on the floor and score. Then they have a handful of guys who clean up their misses."
Staying with the Dons throughout the early part of the game could be key for the Grizzlies, Krystkowiak said.
"We will have to handle the pressure and not give them easy shots," Krystkowiak said. "If we can withstand their initial surge, take the early punches and not fall to the canvas, momentum could turn in our favor pretty quick."
Probable starters
Montana
44-Lamarr Farr, 6-4, jr. 4.8 ppg
50-Kamarr Davis, 6-7, sr. 12.4 ppg
33-John Seyfert, 6-10, jr. 3.5 ppg
22-Matt Martin, 6-1, fr. 9.4 ppg
12-Kevin Criswell, 6-2, jr. 12.7 ppg
San Francisco
21-Jerome Gumbs, 6-4, jr. 9.3 ppg
3-Tyrone Riley, 6-7, jr. 15.1 ppg
25-Alan Wiggins Jr., 6-9, so. 8.6 ppg
2-Andre Hazel, 6-0, sr. 5.9 ppg
33-John Cox, 6-5, sr. 21.5 ppg
