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June 17th,
2006
By Joel
Welser
Broadcast Basketball
Montana
Grizzlies
Overall Rank:
#144
Conference
Rank: #3 Big Sky
2005-06:
24-7, 10-4, 2nd
2005-06
postseason: NCAA
 Montana quietly went 24-7 last season and upended Nevada in the
first round of the NCAA Tournament before being outmatched by
Boston College. The backcourt lacks experience and will have to
depend on Bryan Ellis and Max Martin. Ellis is a speedy guard
who will look to shine after spending last year as a backup.
Martin saw his starts decrease as a sophomore and will need to
regain his freshman form. The frontcourt, on the other hand, is
deep and talented and will be the strength of the Montana team.
Who’s Out:
The loss of starters Virgil Matthews and Kevin Criswell is a big
hit, but it won’t effect the Grizzlies as much as it would
appear. Matthews did a little bit of everything with 10.1
points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.0 assists as a senior. Criswell
averaged 16.1 points and leaves behind a three-point shooting
hole on the roster. John Seyfert didn’t play last season due to
an injury and has decided not to continue his collegiate career.
Who’s In:
Coach Larry
Krystkowiak is bringing in a very good recruiting class led by
junior college transfer Gus Chase. Chase, a 6-4, 245 pound
power forward, has a knack for rebounding. The big man is one
of the top forwards at the juco level and will compete for a
starting job from day one. Incoming freshman Dave Vaderjagt, a
7-0 center, has plenty of experience playing for the youth
Australian national teams. Vanderjagt will need some time to
gain strength, but with his size, he’ll soon become an impact
player for the Grizzlies. Cameron Rundles can score and handle
the ball. The point guard was a finalist for Minnesota’s Mr.
Basketball award and, along with fellow newcomer guard Zach
Graves, will provide some depth to the Montana backcourt.
Who to Watch:
Big
man Andrew Strait will find the ball in his hands quite a bit
during his junior campaign. Last season the 6-8 Yakima, WA
native averaged team highs in points and rebounds with 16.6 and
6.4, respectively. While Strait is the star of Missoula, fellow
frontcourters Jordan Hasquet, Matt Dlouhy, Mike Chavez and Kyle
Sharp aren’t too shabby either. Hasquet averaged 8.1 points and
4.0 rebounds as a freshman and continued to improve with more
experience. Dlouhy started 18 games a season ago averaging 7.4
points and 3.7 boards. Chavez and Sharp didn’t earn many
minutes in the crowded frontcourt last year, but both have the
ability to earn a starting job or at least make a much bigger
impact.
Final
Projection:
The backcourt
has some cause for concerns, which knock the Griz down to 3rd
in the Big Sky. If Ellis and Martin can prove they can be the
leaders Coach K needs them to be, and Rundles can develop into a
solid option off the bench, Montana can make the NCAA Tournament
again and beat a five seed again.
Projected
Post-season Tournament:
none
Projected
Starting Five:
Bryan Ellis,
Senior, Guard, 4.1 points per game
Matt Martin,
Junior, Guard, 6.7 points per game
Matt Dlouhy,
Senior, Forward, 7.4 points per game
Jordan Hasquet,
Sophomore, Forward, 8.1 points per game
Andrew Strait,
Junior, Forward, 16.6 points per game
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