Pilots vs Montana - Friday, 6PM (PST)

Hey hey! We've got a game today!

Here is the official release from UP, and from Montana, and from (huh?) the Kansas City Star. (It's just a wire report, but I think it's funny that they would put this on their website.)

Montana is a tough match-up for the Pilots due to their size inside. Andrew Strait and Jordan Hasquet are both studs inside, are both upperclassman, and both can score and rebound. Hasquet is their leading scorer and reboudner - 15+ppg and nearly 8 boards. Strait is at 10+ppg and 5+rpg. Kramer, Luke and Robin are going to have their hands full with them tonight, that's for sure. Cameron Randles (8.8ppg) and Matt Martin (13.8ppg) are their top guards - both shoot over 40% from three too, which will help stretch out the Pilot defense. In fact, as a team Montana shoots over 40% from beyond the arc.

Honestly, I'm a bit worried that Montana might be able to use the blueprint that was successful for Portland State: use their big guy (in this case, guys) to collapse the UP defense, and if they can't get a good look than distribute it out to their outside shooters. I think perimiter defense will be a key for this game... I think we can live with them just pounding it in to Hasquet and Strait, but if their guards start bombing a bunch of threes, we'll be in trouble. On the other hand, Hasquet (6'9") and Strait (6'8") don't have the size of Scott Morrison, so maybe our young guys will be able to deal with them better in the paint and try and shut them down.

It's great, great news that we have Ito back. I look forward to having him running the offense again. Sherrard might be able to take advantage of his athleticism in this game... wouldn't surprise me if he put up some points. I'd love to see Luke get some more shots. I also hope that Jared will get the chance to go out there and try and inject some offense. I also think Nik has the chance to have a good game... he will have a size advantage on Randles and Martin at least, and I saw some really good things in his game against Portland State.

Thinking of Montana makes me remember last year's game at the Chiles Center, when Cooper absolutely put the team on his back and carried the Pilots to the win. Here's the recap... he single-handedly brought the Pilots back in this one and got them the win. I remember being inspired watching him play that game... it was one of the few moments during last year's season where Coop was able to do what we all knew he was capable of. I still wonder about last year... if poor Coop hadn't had all those injuries, I wonder just how good of a year he could have had. I truly believe that if he was healthy, he could have averaged over 20+ points and been one of the top players in the WCC. As it was he got named to first team, but I still feel badly for him because I think he could have had a really special season. Speaking of Coop - I saw him at the Portland State game... seemed to be in good spirits. Not sure what's up with the D-League stuff though.

Anyway... no video from Montana, so we'll have to listen to 1410 the Money Station (which, oddly, comes in crystal clear out in SE Portland where I work but is very fuzzy downtown and in NoPo) or the on-line broadcast from UP. I'll probably be home from work in time to listen, so maybe we can get a chat going if people are interested. We'll see if anyone is on here.

Hey Stonehouse,

This should be streaming on the Internet on Big Sky TV.

http://www.bigskytv.org/

Couple of bad things with Big Sky TV

1) No free lunch. They charge per game or as a package deal
2) Audio/Video quality has been suspect since they started this service

Anyways, hope this helps and good luck against the Evil Empire of Missoula.

THANKS!!! Martymoose... you are a peach.

Looks like it can be purchased for $4.95... not bad at all in my book. Even if it's poor quality, I think it's worth a roll of the dice for five bucks.