MISSOULA — The Montana males’s basketball staff is coming off its longest layoff of the season because it opens its Massive Sky slate this week after discovering its stride to shut nonconference play.
The Griz final performed on Dec. 20, an 85-75 loss to then-No. 11 Gonzaga. They completed 3-1 of their remaining 4 video games earlier than convention play to put up a 6-6 general document.
UM averaged 79.8 factors, shot 54.9% from the sector and 42.1% on 3-pointers over these 4 video games for the reason that return of its common beginning 5. The Griz are as much as 68.4 factors per sport after they averaged 62.8 over their first eight contests.
They now return to the court docket for the primary time in 9 days after they host Jap Washington 7 p.m. Thursday at Dahlberg Area within the Massive Sky opener for each groups. They then host Idaho 2 p.m. Saturday. Each video games will likely be streamed on ESPN+.
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“It’s the longest break we’ve ever had, so I’m just a little fearful,” Montana coach Travis DeCuire mentioned following the Gonzaga sport. “We’ll problem these guys to situation themselves, stand up photographs and do issues. Then we get again the evening of the twenty sixth and break a sweat, begin preparing for Jap Washington.”
The Eagles come to city with a 6-7 general document, having gone 5-3 since a 1-4 begin. They personal a 50-48 win over California of the Pac-12, however the Golden Bears are the second-lowest-ranked Energy 5 staff within the KenPom rankings at 241st. By comparability, Montana is 182nd.
Jap Washington’s finest win got here in opposition to UC Davis, which is ranked 188th. The Eagles, ranked No. 211, did battle Texas Tech of the Massive 12 to a 77-70 loss.
They share one widespread opponent with UM. EWU posted a 78-70 dwelling win over North Dakota State. The Griz beat the Bison 82-75 on the street.
Jap Washington went into Wednesday with the No. 5 scoring offense (72.5) and No. 5 scoring protection (69.2) amongst Massive Sky groups. The Eagles are capturing 45.8% from the sector, third within the convention, whereas holding groups to 42.1%, the second-best mark. They lead the league in blocks per sport (3.46) and are second in rebounds per sport (37.2).
Steele Venters is EWU’s main scorer at 14.5 factors per sport, which ranks twelfth within the Massive Sky. He’s doing that on 44.8% capturing, seventh within the league, whereas making 2.1 triples per sport.
Venters was named the Massive Sky participant of the week on Dec. 6 after he scored a career-high 33 factors in opposition to NDSU. The redshirt sophomore was tabbed a preseason all-conference choice this 12 months after being a second-team all-league decide final 12 months.
Cedric Coward additionally garnered Massive Sky participant of the week honors on Dec. 27. He posted the second triple-double efficiency in EWU historical past, going for 10 factors, 13 rebounds and 10 assists in opposition to Northwest Indian School, which isn’t an NCAA program.
Coward ranks tenth within the Massive Sky in rebounds per sport. Amongst different notables, Casey Jones is third in steals and seventh in rebounds, Ethan Worth is third in blocks, and Tyreese Davis is eighth and Angelo Allegri ninth in assists.
Frank Gogola is the Senior Sports activities Reporter on the Missoulian. Comply with him on Twitter @FrankGogola or e-mail him at frank.gogola@missoulian.com.