The Bobcat Nation

The games can be heard on
100.7 FM in Bozeman, and on the internet at:

http://www.sportsjuice.com/providers2/i ... tanastateu


There was an article in the Chronicle today about Miller coming off the bench and Holmes starting at point:

http://bozemandailychronicle.com/articl ... 3hoops.txt

It was a good article. It's nice to have a great group of people playing basketball for us as well as a bunch of talented players.

Cats lose 69-64.

What happened? I thought MSU would take this game by 10 or so? What's the word?

Kadeezy wrote:What happened? I thought MSU would take this game by 10 or so? What's the word?

The cats suck...

Hahaha, just kidding. I have no clue, I'm just sitting here on my cpu, watching Sportscenter, waiting for my son to get tired. Jumped onto Bcatnation and saw the thread. Didn't mean to talk smack, just messing with ya!

Not a good way to jump-start the BSC's RPI.

MSU men fall in opener

By JEFF WELSCH, Chronicle Sports Editor

FAIRBANKS, Alaska - Montana State came all the way back Thursday night, then saw victory slip away in the final three minutes in the first game of the Top of the World Classic basketball tournament.

MSU, which fell behind by as many as 15 points in the first half before rallying, mostly in the second half, saw Illinois-Chicago score 10 straight points in the final 2:39 for a 69-64 victory at the Carlson Center in the season opener for both teams.

The Bobcats led 62-59 on a three-point play by senior guard Branden Miller before the Flames rallied on a rebound basket by Robert Bush, a 3-pointer by Bush and five free throws.

The Bobcats trailed 34-22 at halftime but chipped away early in the second half, taking advantage of the Flames' 1-for-9 shooting start.

They moved within 38-33 at 14:57 on a 3-point shot by Miller and were at 47-43 on a layup by senior center Al Beye at 11:45.

UIC quickly moved the lead to 53-43, getting a four-point play of sorts when guard Othyus Jeffers scored, was fouled, missed his free throw and rebounded it uncontested for a dunk at 9:44.

But MSU came back again, tying it 54-54 on a 3-point shot by Nick Dissly with 7:13 to play and taking a 56-54 lead on a layup by Dissly off a feed from Beye at 6:26.

The Bobcats suffered through a miserable first half and trailed 34-22 at intermission.

They were as icy as the Fairbanks streets (39.1 percent), handled the ball as if they had the paws of the giant polar bear encased in glass behind one basket (12 turnovers), and couldn't avoid foul trouble (8) against the tireless Flames.

Illinois-Chicago led by as much as 15 and led by double digits for the final 10 minutes.

MSU was 1-for-9 from behind the experimental 3-point line in the first half, and on the one they did hit, Marvin Moss was whistled for a technical foul for taunting his defender.

The Bobcats, who didn't score their 10th point until 9:10 remained, had at least one turnover from eight of their 11 players in the first half.

They seemed flustered by UIC's tireless pressure and struggled to control the ball.

Moss was MSU's top scorer with 13 points as Beye had 10 to go with a team-high eight rebounds. Dissly (11) and Ja'Ron Jefferson (10) also scored in double figures.

Montana State made just five of 17 3-point shots and committed 20 turnovers.

The game's leading scorer was UIC's Justin Bowen, who netted 19 points. Bush was next with 16.

The Bobcats play Alaska-Fairbanks Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

A guard oriented lineup that can't hit the three and turns it over? Not so good. Fortunately they have a lot of season to work on it I guess.

It seems mick's shoot a million 3's theory, even when you have a team that can win without doing it approach, didn't work again last night.

Maybe now we can get back to the hard nosed hustle bball that brought them so far last year.
It's tough when the leading assist man is Beye and leading in turnovers is Moss. Yikes!

Although it's just one game of many to come.

IMO, 17 three-pointers is not excessive for any team.

It's obvious after all these years that Durham will NOT change his attack, regardless of how hot/cold his shooters are.

What is the "experimental" 3 point line? Did they move it back this season or for this game/tournament?

17 3's is most definitely not excessive. Still, I am a little disappointed the Cats didnt pull this one out. What happened to their defense in the final 3 minutes? sheesh, I thought this team was hungry. Hungry teams dont let their defense slide in the final 3 minutes. Hopefully this was just a brain fart and the real Cats will show up tonight against AK-Fairbanks. I really expected the Cats to be playing in the championship of this tourney if not win it.

The 3-point line is at the international level for preseason play. IMO, college basketball should abopt the international 3-point line as their new standard.

Cat Pride wrote:17 3's is most definitely not excessive. Still, I am a little disappointed the Cats didnt pull this one out. What happened to their defense in the final 3 minutes? sheesh, I thought this team was hungry. Hungry teams dont let their defense slide in the final 3 minutes. Hopefully this was just a brain fart and the real Cats will show up tonight against AK-Fairbanks. I really expected the Cats to be playing in the championship of this tourney if not win it.

The 3-point line is at the international level for preseason play. IMO, college basketball should abopt the international 3-point line as their new standard.

it's excessive when you make one of your first thirteen, and you are shooting them when you are down 2, with a minute and a half left, and 2 guys in your face. the amount of threes doesn't bother me. but the amount of bad shots taken at bad times does.

whitetrashgriz wrote:

Cat Pride wrote:17 3's is most definitely not excessive. Still, I am a little disappointed the Cats didnt pull this one out. What happened to their defense in the final 3 minutes? sheesh, I thought this team was hungry. Hungry teams dont let their defense slide in the final 3 minutes. Hopefully this was just a brain fart and the real Cats will show up tonight against AK-Fairbanks. I really expected the Cats to be playing in the championship of this tourney if not win it.

The 3-point line is at the international level for preseason play. IMO, college basketball should abopt the international 3-point line as their new standard.

it's excessive when you make one of your first thirteen, and you are shooting them when you are down 2, with a minute and a half left, and 2 guys in your face. the amount of threes doesn't bother me. but the amount of bad shots taken at bad times does.

Bad shots at bad times... now that is something that Durham has to start harping on. I know you dont want kids afraid to shoot, but for crying out loud, the only Cat with a conscience out there is Dissly... but that is a problem of a whole different kind.

[quote="

it's excessive when you make one of your first thirteen, and you are shooting them when you are down 2, with a minute and a half left, and 2 guys in your face. the amount of threes doesn't bother me. but the amount of bad shots taken at bad times does.[/quote]


Yeah - that 3-ball by Miller was pathetic... Illinois-Chi. lost a ton of their top players this year are are in a definite rebuilding year if you look at their reviews, etc.

We should have beat them by 10-15 with that talent we have. It was good they came back and took the lead but Ill. just took the game over with 5 min. to play. Bad loss.

Man, that is a remote place to play a tourney

We wont win many close games if we are up by 3 in the final 2 minutes and start casting three's. This is where you pound it in to a great big man - Moss - and make them foul you.

Hells, I guess your question of not if but when we underachieve has been answered.