Re: Pilots @ Montana 12/3 6 PM PST

by ShipstadPilot11 on Fri Dec 03, 2010 11:56 pm

Purplegeezer wrote:As they step to the line, you just ask them to spell Nemaja Mitrovic.

throws 'em off every time....

It even threw you off...

by PurpleGeezer on Sat Dec 04, 2010 12:10 am

But I wasn't shooting... Laughing

by **PilotNut** on Sat Dec 04, 2010 12:47 am

Pilots Give Grizzlies First Home Loss, 58-54

MISSOULA, Mont. --- The Portland Pilots dealt the Montana Grizzlies their first home loss of the 2010-11 season with a thrilling 58-54 victory Friday before 3,589 at Dahlberg Arena. Junior guard Nemanja Mitrovic scored a game-high 16 points to pace Portland (7-2), who have now won three games in a row and improve to 2-0 in true road games this year. The Grizzlies had their three-game win streak, all at home, snapped with the loss.

Senior forward Luke Sikma added 13 points and nine rebounds for the Pilots and senior center Kramer Knutson finished with 10 points.

Montana (3-3) overcame an early 12-point deficit to take the lead early in the second half, but the Pilots held the host Grizzlies without a point over a four-minute and nine-second stretch late in regulation to push the team to victory. Montana missed their final nine free throw attempts and finished 8-for-20 at the charity stripe for the game.

The Grizzlies were also held to 4-for-18 from the three-point line and 43 percent shooting from the field by the Pilot defense. Portland, meanwhile, shot 55 percent from the field, made 5-of-8 three-pointers and 9-of-14 free throws.

Sophomore UP guard Derrick Rodgers gave the Pilots a big defensive boost in the second half, holding UM leading scorer Will Cherry to just two points in the period after he scored 13 in the first half.

Portland led by as much as 12 points in the first half, but a tip-in by Brian Qvale at the halftime buzzer cut the Pilot lead to 32-29.

Cherry led the Grizzlies with 15 points and seven assists in the game, while Qvale added 11 points.

Portland will continue their four-game road trip with a trip to Seattle, Wash. to face the No. 22 Washington Huskies on Monday at 7 p.m. The game will be televised live on FSN Northwest and on the airwaves on 800 AM (KPDQ).

by **PilotNut** on Sat Dec 04, 2010 1:09 am

... and the Oregonian Recap.

by PurpleGeezer on Sat Dec 04, 2010 1:38 am

The best game report I saw was this article by Bob Meseroll in the Missoulian.
http://missoulian.com/sports/college/montana/article_3a2161ea-ff72-11df-8c17-001cc4c03286.html

Good interviews with all the players.

by **up7587** on Sat Dec 04, 2010 1:53 am

. . .the Pilots' leading scorer Stohl, who finished with seven points, nine below his average.

So, do we need to ask, what's the matter with Jared? Laughing

by **MesaPilot1** on Sat Dec 04, 2010 5:27 am

I do believe REV has himself a defensive backcourt stopper in the form of Mr Derrick Rodgers developing for WCC play...the only minus is it cuts into playing time for some of the young guys...I guess that happens when your program gets be better...redshirts like John Bailey and limited pt for "future starters" like tanner and other rookies...a price Mesa is willing to sacrifice for success NOW!!!

Mesapilot1 cheers

by onetouchfutbol on Sat Dec 04, 2010 9:33 am

Thanks for the link to that article PG. I think the quote by Sikma really explains the inside-outside game that the guys have gone to the last two games:

"Our offense is kind of predicated on taking whatever they're giving us," said Sikma, the son of former NBA great Jack Sikma. "We knew they were playing the 3-point shooters pretty tight so we had single coverage on the blocks. We all have confidence in each other and the guards were encouraging us to just go for it."

Our inside game has been noticeably improved in the past two games, even Hannibal has been getting into the act. Hopefully, that continues going into WCC play...

by **up7587** on Sat Dec 04, 2010 10:19 am

I did not view or listen. But it looks like Rev really shortened the bench this game. Only 8 players total, and 4 starters played 31 to 36 minutes. Tanner was the only freshman to play, and only 7 minutes. Close game in a difficult road environment drove that, I suppose. But I think we 'll need several of those youngsters to contribute by the time conference games begin.

by **DaTruRochin** on Sat Dec 04, 2010 10:24 am

I think tanner would have played more, but he got a little loose with the ball and was having difficulty defending... I think the shortened bench was a product of Rev wanting to limit freshman mistakes in a winnable game, and with the game coming up next, a little road confidence is a good thing, especially considering what happened at Hec Ed last year...

by onetouchfutbol on Sat Dec 04, 2010 1:38 pm

up7587 wrote:I did not view or listen. But it looks like Rev really shortened the bench this game. Only 8 players total, and 4 starters played 31 to 36 minutes. Tanner was the only freshman to play, and only 7 minutes. Close game in a difficult road environment drove that, I suppose. But I think we 'll need several of those youngsters to contribute by the time conference games begin.

Yeah, I trust Rev to do a good job with it. I think that the rotation and minutes will probably go deeper at home than on the road. Many guys on our team will naturally have better shooting percentages inside of the Chiles Center than outside of it. In addition, the new guys still have to learn Rev's system and the 2-3 zone. It's really a debate among coaches about whether you should let new guys play through mistakes or bench them. Generally, I think Rev lets players play through mistakes and get minutes. Some mistakes are a little bit irritating though like fouling players who are behind the 3 point stripe just a few seconds before halftime (like one freshman did about 2 games ago). Not many of our players were defending Montana's Will Cherry effectively in the first half. He scored 13 of their 29 first half points...

Also, you've got to reward the guys who are playing surprisingly well like Jasonn. He's put in his dues, and he's taking advantage of the additional attention that Stohl and Sikma are receiving because of their success. I can't remember seeing him play as well as he has during the past 2 games in terms of having a high shooting percentage and just being patient and taking what's given to him inside.

by martymoose on Sun Dec 05, 2010 1:24 am

Way to beat them in Missoula. It's a tough place to play. I'm not biased, but I hate, hate, hate the UM. ;-)

Looking forward to the Rose City Rivalry with you guys...