MISSOULA - Montana men's basketball coach Larry Krystkowiak has worn out the tape of the Grizzlies' first game against Montana State this season.
''I've only watched it about six times this week," said Krystkowiak, whose Griz take on the Cats in round two Sunday in what is expected to be a sold-out Worthington Arena.
The game film has no alternate endings. It ends the same way every time: Ja'Ron Jefferson buries a 3-pointer with less than a second to play to give the Bobcats a 62-60 win on the Grizzlies' home floor. It was a game in which the Griz battled back from deficits in both halves, only to be denied.
Krystkowiak's conclusion?
''We just weren't very good," Krystkowiak said. "I'd like to think we're better right now after watching that tape."
The numbers bear Krystkowiak out. The Griz rank in the top three in no fewer than eight statistical categories in league play. The bottom line: five wins in their last six games.
''We're better at taking care of the ball," Krystkowiak said. "It was really a struggle, and I'll take a fair amount of the blame. We were trying to run a power motion offense that didn't really say, 'OK, Matt Martin, here's your chance to shine, or Kevin Criswell, here's your chance to shine, or post players, here's your chance to shine.' It was a real generic movement kind of offense.
"We've gotten a little more set specific where guys are finding a place to hang their hat. That's helped us out a lot ... and I'd like to think we've figured some stuff out defensively.''
The cast of characters has been altered slightly since the first meeting. Montana State is without 7-foot backup center Matt Towsley, who will probably miss the rest of the season with chronic back problems. The Grizzlies, too, have lost their tallest player in 6-11 Chris McKay, who is out for the remainder of the season after having surgery on his left shoulder.
The biggest change, however, is that the Griz have Kamarr Davis back in the lineup and playing well. After missing 10 games with academic troubles, Davis is averaging 21.5 ppg over the last four games.
"You've got one of the best players in the league playing this time,'' Montana State coach Mick Durham said. "Kamarr Davis and Kevin Criswell gave us fits last year.''
Krystkowiak said he'd be surprised if Davis didn't see double teams when he touches the ball in the low post.
Guards Branden Miller (11.8 ppg), Jefferson (12.5 ppg) and forward Marvin Moss (13.0 ppg) still account for the bulk of MSU's offense, but the Cats are getting significant contributions from more of the supporting cast than the first time the teams met. Sophomore Nick Dissly, in particular, is playing better.
"He does so much for us," Durham said of the Bozeman product who had 28 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and seven steals in two games last week. "We felt all along he'd be another big option."
Unlike recent years when one or the other team - or both - was fighting for its playoff life at this time of the season, today's game has more positive implications. The second-place Cats, who have already sewn up a league tourney berth, could nearly lock up one of the two byes into the semifinals with a win. It would also keep them on the heels of first-place Portland State in the hunt for the right to host the tournament.
A win by the Griz would throw them into a tie for second with the Cats and into the middle of the title chase.
''I would like to have it this way every year, and I think Larry would agree," Durham said. ''Let's get both programs at the top of the Big Sky."
Turns out Krystkowiak does agree.
''If you're writing a book, it makes it a little more saleable," Krystkowiak said. ''It has implications as to where people might be packing their bags to go to the tournament."
''I've only watched it about six times this week," said Krystkowiak, whose Griz take on the Cats in round two Sunday in what is expected to be a sold-out Worthington Arena.
The game film has no alternate endings. It ends the same way every time: Ja'Ron Jefferson buries a 3-pointer with less than a second to play to give the Bobcats a 62-60 win on the Grizzlies' home floor. It was a game in which the Griz battled back from deficits in both halves, only to be denied.
Krystkowiak's conclusion?
''We just weren't very good," Krystkowiak said. "I'd like to think we're better right now after watching that tape."
The numbers bear Krystkowiak out. The Griz rank in the top three in no fewer than eight statistical categories in league play. The bottom line: five wins in their last six games.
''We're better at taking care of the ball," Krystkowiak said. "It was really a struggle, and I'll take a fair amount of the blame. We were trying to run a power motion offense that didn't really say, 'OK, Matt Martin, here's your chance to shine, or Kevin Criswell, here's your chance to shine, or post players, here's your chance to shine.' It was a real generic movement kind of offense.
"We've gotten a little more set specific where guys are finding a place to hang their hat. That's helped us out a lot ... and I'd like to think we've figured some stuff out defensively.''
The cast of characters has been altered slightly since the first meeting. Montana State is without 7-foot backup center Matt Towsley, who will probably miss the rest of the season with chronic back problems. The Grizzlies, too, have lost their tallest player in 6-11 Chris McKay, who is out for the remainder of the season after having surgery on his left shoulder.
The biggest change, however, is that the Griz have Kamarr Davis back in the lineup and playing well. After missing 10 games with academic troubles, Davis is averaging 21.5 ppg over the last four games.
"You've got one of the best players in the league playing this time,'' Montana State coach Mick Durham said. "Kamarr Davis and Kevin Criswell gave us fits last year.''
Krystkowiak said he'd be surprised if Davis didn't see double teams when he touches the ball in the low post.
Guards Branden Miller (11.8 ppg), Jefferson (12.5 ppg) and forward Marvin Moss (13.0 ppg) still account for the bulk of MSU's offense, but the Cats are getting significant contributions from more of the supporting cast than the first time the teams met. Sophomore Nick Dissly, in particular, is playing better.
"He does so much for us," Durham said of the Bozeman product who had 28 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and seven steals in two games last week. "We felt all along he'd be another big option."
Unlike recent years when one or the other team - or both - was fighting for its playoff life at this time of the season, today's game has more positive implications. The second-place Cats, who have already sewn up a league tourney berth, could nearly lock up one of the two byes into the semifinals with a win. It would also keep them on the heels of first-place Portland State in the hunt for the right to host the tournament.
A win by the Griz would throw them into a tie for second with the Cats and into the middle of the title chase.
''I would like to have it this way every year, and I think Larry would agree," Durham said. ''Let's get both programs at the top of the Big Sky."
Turns out Krystkowiak does agree.
''If you're writing a book, it makes it a little more saleable," Krystkowiak said. ''It has implications as to where people might be packing their bags to go to the tournament."
