The best-kept secret in Missoula?
That might just be the Montana men's basketball team.
The Griz have been piling up frequent-flier and highway miles while playing six of their last eight games on the road. They've played in Missoula just twice since Dec. 30.
Along the way, though, the Griz have compiled a 9-1 record in Big Sky Conference play, the best league start by Montana since Blaine Taylor's 1991-92 club began 12-1 on its way to an NCAA Tournament berth.
The Griz will make a pit stop at Dahlberg Arena for a rare Monday night game against Idaho State, before climbing back aboard a jet for their final two road games at Northern Colorado on Thursday and Sacramento State on Saturday. The game against the Bengals will be the Grizzlies' first at home since classes resumed for second semester.
"This is a pretty fun group," Montana coach Wayne Tinkle said of his Griz. "They play their tails off, they've accomplished some great things and they're hungry, so it would really be nice to see the community support, regardless of what night of the week it is. We're in the hunt for a Big Sky championship and every game is key. They play a huge part when they show up and are vocal. It would be nice to see that."
The Griz are coming off an emotional 67-58 win over rival Montana State on Saturday in Bozeman. But Tinkle doesn't buy into what former Montana State coach Mick Durham once referred to as the "Cat-Griz hangover."
"I think this group is really focused," Tinkle said. "We didn't make that game the end all last night in preparation for it. It was just another game standing in the way of our goal and that's how we'll approach the preparation for this game with Idaho State. It's on the guys how they respond from there."
The Griz overcame foul trouble to starters Will Cherry, Art Steward, Derek Selvig and Mathias Ward to get the win in Bozeman. Emerging star Kareem Jamar, just a sophomore, stepped into the breach and led the Griz with 21 points. Selvig hit a pair of big 3-pointers down the stretch and Cherry returned to the floor just in time to cause havoc on the defensive end.
As improbable as it seemed a month ago when these teams met in Pocatello, they are the two hottest clubs in the league in terms of consecutive games won. The Griz have won five straight and 11 of 12; that's not the surprising part. Idaho State won just two games before the start of league play, then dropped three of their first four - including home losses to Montana State and Montana - once Big Sky games started. But after an 87-86 overtime win at Montana State on Thursday, the Bengals are 6-4 in league and owners of a four-game winning streak.
"I just think they're playing with a new level of confidence, more than anything," Tinkle said. "I think the staff's done a great job, No. 1, of turning it around, and the players have obviously shown a lot of character. They could have just thrown in the towel. They've worked together and put themselves in this position. I don't think they're doing anything different, just with more purpose, with more aggression and more confidence."
Idaho State is led by seniors Chase Grabau and Kenny McGowen, and junior Melvin Morgan, who are all dangerous from beyond the 3-point arc. Abner Moreira and Andre Hatchett give the Bengals an inside threat.
"The big thing again is going to be guarding them at the 3-point line," Tinkle said. "They shot 30 threes at Montana State, so obviously it's a big part of their deal. They score some points and they're a team that's fine with a game that's in the high 50s, low 60s, and also high-scoring affairs. We have to make sure the main focus is playing our tempo here at home."
That might just be the Montana men's basketball team.
The Griz have been piling up frequent-flier and highway miles while playing six of their last eight games on the road. They've played in Missoula just twice since Dec. 30.
Along the way, though, the Griz have compiled a 9-1 record in Big Sky Conference play, the best league start by Montana since Blaine Taylor's 1991-92 club began 12-1 on its way to an NCAA Tournament berth.
The Griz will make a pit stop at Dahlberg Arena for a rare Monday night game against Idaho State, before climbing back aboard a jet for their final two road games at Northern Colorado on Thursday and Sacramento State on Saturday. The game against the Bengals will be the Grizzlies' first at home since classes resumed for second semester.
"This is a pretty fun group," Montana coach Wayne Tinkle said of his Griz. "They play their tails off, they've accomplished some great things and they're hungry, so it would really be nice to see the community support, regardless of what night of the week it is. We're in the hunt for a Big Sky championship and every game is key. They play a huge part when they show up and are vocal. It would be nice to see that."
The Griz are coming off an emotional 67-58 win over rival Montana State on Saturday in Bozeman. But Tinkle doesn't buy into what former Montana State coach Mick Durham once referred to as the "Cat-Griz hangover."
"I think this group is really focused," Tinkle said. "We didn't make that game the end all last night in preparation for it. It was just another game standing in the way of our goal and that's how we'll approach the preparation for this game with Idaho State. It's on the guys how they respond from there."
The Griz overcame foul trouble to starters Will Cherry, Art Steward, Derek Selvig and Mathias Ward to get the win in Bozeman. Emerging star Kareem Jamar, just a sophomore, stepped into the breach and led the Griz with 21 points. Selvig hit a pair of big 3-pointers down the stretch and Cherry returned to the floor just in time to cause havoc on the defensive end.
As improbable as it seemed a month ago when these teams met in Pocatello, they are the two hottest clubs in the league in terms of consecutive games won. The Griz have won five straight and 11 of 12; that's not the surprising part. Idaho State won just two games before the start of league play, then dropped three of their first four - including home losses to Montana State and Montana - once Big Sky games started. But after an 87-86 overtime win at Montana State on Thursday, the Bengals are 6-4 in league and owners of a four-game winning streak.
"I just think they're playing with a new level of confidence, more than anything," Tinkle said. "I think the staff's done a great job, No. 1, of turning it around, and the players have obviously shown a lot of character. They could have just thrown in the towel. They've worked together and put themselves in this position. I don't think they're doing anything different, just with more purpose, with more aggression and more confidence."
Idaho State is led by seniors Chase Grabau and Kenny McGowen, and junior Melvin Morgan, who are all dangerous from beyond the 3-point arc. Abner Moreira and Andre Hatchett give the Bengals an inside threat.
"The big thing again is going to be guarding them at the 3-point line," Tinkle said. "They shot 30 threes at Montana State, so obviously it's a big part of their deal. They score some points and they're a team that's fine with a game that's in the high 50s, low 60s, and also high-scoring affairs. We have to make sure the main focus is playing our tempo here at home."
