The Bobcat Nation

If anyone is interested, the first game of the Binford era of MSU Women's Basketball kicks off tonight. It's at 7 pm in the Fieldhouse against Carroll College. It will be interesting to see how the girls do, especially after Buckless tore her ACL (poor girl) and there are only 10 players suited up. Come out and see the Bobcats start a new era and put some of the coaching troubles of the past behind them.

I felt terrible to see the article about Buckless this morning. She has proven to be a real player. Now there is a 3 guard rotation with two true freshmen. I wonder if anyone else can fill in at guard.

Any knowledge/guesses/predictions on a starting lineup?

And congratulations to Tricia Binford (and Mick) for better exhibition games. I think it is great to be playing Caroll and MSU-Billings instead of some nameless traveling teams, and it frees up more "real" games on the schedule. This is a great thing for the fans -- it is hard to get excited about the typical exhibition games.

Go 'Cats.

could be a long night, CC, brings a VERY talented group into the Brick?

I am excited about the Binford era. But she will have a tough start this year and possible next... just doesn't have the horses inside. I think Herringer is going to be a great college player... and will surprise a lot of people this year. She is physically and mentally tough... great finisher and shooter... and she plays D and rebounds awfully well too. I wish the best of luck to Coach Binford and the Lady Cats... hope this is the beginning of a long and successful period for the program!

CLUB 126 wrote:could be a long night, CC, brings a VERY talented group into the Brick?

I see that Carroll is ranked in the top 10 of womens NAIA. With a young group, thin bench, new system, new coach... could CC be thinking upset?

Talk about a tough one for TBB to open with.

Cat Pride wrote:

CLUB 126 wrote:could be a long night, CC, brings a VERY talented group into the Brick?

I see that Carroll is ranked in the top 10 of womens NAIA. With a young group, thin bench, new system, new coach... could CC be thinking upset?

Talk about a tough one for TBB to open with.

This isn't meant as an offense against MSU, but given where both programs currently are, would Carroll winning this game count as an upset?

grizband wrote:

Cat Pride wrote:

CLUB 126 wrote:could be a long night, CC, brings a VERY talented group into the Brick?

I see that Carroll is ranked in the top 10 of womens NAIA. With a young group, thin bench, new system, new coach... could CC be thinking upset?

Talk about a tough one for TBB to open with.

This isn't meant as an offense against MSU, but given where both programs currently are, would Carroll winning this game count as an upset?

I understand where you are coming from, but based strictly on the standpoint that CC is NAIA and MSU is D-IA... yes, its an upset no matter where the 2 programs currently stand.

One thing I dont think would stand in this matchup though... if MSU gets the W, regardless of if its 35 points or 1 point, its a good win for Tricia and the girls.

I'm with you guys, I just hope Binford can get some wins and put together some positives in her first season. She is left with the mess Potera created. I wish her the best.

And one other suggestion, if we make a game tying three at the end of regulation, don't run up in the stands and give boosters high fives, as potera did. I couldn't believe she did that.

grizsuck24 wrote:I'm with you guys, I just hope Binford can get some wins and put together some positives in her first season. She is left with the mess Potera created. I wish her the best.

And one other suggestion, if we make a game tying three at the end of regulation, don't run up in the stands and give boosters high fives, as potera did. I couldn't believe she did that.

If MSU losses to Carroll, that will put a serious dent into Tricia's recruiting in Montana. Seems like Carroll's program is definitely on the rise, and after UM, this may be the destination of many of the girls who are "in between" levels.

A win, by no matter how many points, will go a long way in saying MSU is still the bigger better program.

Good luck Lady Cats! We are all behind you win or lose this season.

Carroll College brings in a really excellent team -- and no matter how the contest goes it will be good for Montana basketball. I am overjoyed that MSU has a quality exhibition game rather than the traveling teams that really do no good for the team to play.

This is an "exhibition" game only in that it won't count on the records of either team.

We'll see in a hurry what the 'Cats are made of. I hope to see a team that understands what to do on the court and can relax and play the game.

Go 'Cats!

I do not know a thing about our new coach, but I would love to have Shawn Nelson as our Head Coach.

suckitgriz wrote:I do not know a thing about our new coach, but I would love to have Shawn Nelson as our Head Coach.

We've got a good one in Binford, trust me. Tricia will have this program fighting for conference titles within the next 2-3 years.

I've heard some great things about Nelson too. Was he even considered for the MSU job? Where is he from? He must have some MT connections to upgrade that program so quickly with mostly MT girls.

He played for Carroll and actually married, former MSU Track Standout, Laura Bennett. He has great MT ties and his players love him. Good to here about our coach- thanks.

suckitgriz wrote:He played for Carroll and actually married, former MSU Track Standout, Laura Bennett. He has great MT ties and his players love him. Good to here about our coach- thanks.

Thanks suckit!

Cat Pride wrote:

suckitgriz wrote:I do not know a thing about our new coach, but I would love to have Shawn Nelson as our Head Coach.

We've got a good one in Binford, trust me. Tricia will have this program fighting for conference titles within the next 2-3 years.

I've heard some great things about Nelson too. Was he even considered for the MSU job? Where is he from? He must have some MT connections to upgrade that program so quickly with mostly MT girls.

I'll echo suckit's comments on Nelson. He is a GREAT guy. He's origionally from Sparks, NV and was a star play for Carroll just after the Bill Pilgram era. Also, he did not apply for the MSU job, he's pretty happy at Carroll, and he was also a little leary about applying for a job where there has been nothing but turmoil over the past 10 years or so.

I agree with the posts on playing good exhibition games against quality opponents like Carroll College. But I disagree that losing to them will "seriouslyhurt" MSU's recruiting in state. Tricia Binford will turn things around... believe me... and this is a tough situation and difficult time for the Lady Cats right now... but the NAIA schools will not take the vast majority of the top recruits from D1... MSU or UM.

I just heard that Carroll wiped the floor with the Cats.

Yeah. 69-91. Two freshmen, Heringer and Garcia looked sharp and DeHaan looked pretty good, but there's still a long way to go. Carroll looked very good and they will go far. As for the Cats, this game doesn't count and there's a long road ahead. But we will improve, so there's hope.

CatFamily wrote:I agree with the posts on playing good exhibition games against quality opponents like Carroll College. But I disagree that losing to them will "seriouslyhurt" MSU's recruiting in state. Tricia Binford will turn things around... believe me... and this is a tough situation and difficult time for the Lady Cats right now... but the NAIA schools will not take the vast majority of the top recruits from D1... MSU or UM.

I'm guessing that MSU "passed over" some of the Carroll players when they were recruited.

Yeah it's going to be a long year-lets enjoy the process of watching this team improve and worry about the wins and losses later.

there is at least on ex-griz on the saints team...brooks...and as i recall one or two other d-1 drops...could be wrong on that...

of course an naia team is going to try to make an impression on a d-1 program...it the nature of the game...and some of the athletes probably were passed over by the cats...big deal...if they weren't picked up by carroll they would not be playing b-ball even at naia level...the cats will rebuild and excell under this staff...go cats