mtgrizrule
Well-known member
As much i hate to accept it, this season is over. (Now I will be void of GRIZ sports for the next 4 plus months.) Anyway, this is a time to reflect on this season and analyze next season.
This Season: Really was a mixed bag, and if it were Texas Hold EM, The GRIZ hit runner runner on the Turn and the River, and got beat by a slightly better hand, which ended an incredible season. We witnessed the best scoring performance in years, and better yet, by one of our own. We got national attention, and people nationally know who Montana is now. We played toe to toe with a couple Top 10 to 25 programs (WA and NM). We seen a team mature and grow one step at a time. We witnessed a coach and a few young players coming of age and beginning to blossom. We have recruited argueably our most talented class, with 1 scholarship to use still. We got a few more fans back, that will support this team from the get go next season, and few more sitting on the fence. Basically, this year's team is the team that should go down as the team that got the train back on the track and made the right turns.
As for what/who is leaving us, our Sr's deserve recognition and thanks for their time and efforts.
(1) Vassy Banny- This is the 1 guy that was the ultimate team player and most unselfish player I have seen at Montana in years. I will never forget his positive attitude, hustle, and heart. I am a firm believer, every team HS on needs 1 of these guys every year. Banny is a rarity in terms of willingness to sacrifice for the teams that always brought hard work and attitude, which is contagious for team morale. Banny in my eyes, if this program goes to where it should, I really would love to have some team award, game to game, week to week, or year to year to honor your attitude and hustle (I am serious on that). In the future, when Tinkle talks about position and rebounding, you are the example he should use every damn time.
(2) Jack McGillis- This is the hardest one for me to summarize. I should just apply everything stated regarding Banny. From a coaching standpoint, what you brought to the table is hard for the average fan to appreciate or understand. Like Banny, I hope every future GRIZ knows how important heart, hustle, and attitude is in making for a successful team and successful life (which I know you will be successful). FWIW, I feel Jack would have went out much better had he played his natural 3/SF position every minute. He was willing to play 4 out of necessity, but he worked so hard there it took away from his game. I wish we had more depth and health at the 4 and 5 this year, because McGillis would have been seen in a much different and light to end his career.
(3) Ryan Staudacher- On the court, the best pure shooter I have ever seen. A player I think coaches should use in a fundamental shooting video. I just wish the GRIZ would have figured out sooner how to take advanatage of his shooting sooner. I wish his career would have ended with him having a good shooting perimeter game. I hope Tinkle finds more pure shooters, intelligent, and good attitude players like Stauds. I have a feeling Tinkle learned a lot this season in utilizing good 3 point shooters. Defensively, Stauds was often assigned the opposing teams best perimeter shooter, and more often than not, Stauds was always in position and in their jock. Ryan will be the shooter I will measure all future perimeter shooters against. For me he raised the bar for pure shooting. Good luck to Ryan in marriage and a future career. BTW, I would love to see you coach one day.
(4) Anthony Johnson- 1st of all, I wish I could have gotten to know him better away from the court, but I have heard many good things about him and Shaunte off the court. I have feeling this kid will be a story for years to come, not only in GRIZ lore, but an example for many struggling young adults to have hope, thanks to AJ's story. AJ regardless of where basketball takes you, your biggest impact will be off the court by the example you have become. In GRIZ lore, your future will be followed to the likes of Dave Dickenson and Larry Krystkowiak, so be mindful of that, like it or not, you will always be in the spotlight by GRIZNATION and all the BSC now. AJ your leadership and offensive ablilities are off the charts, and thanks in advance for prepping our new leaders (Cherry and Selvig). They have learned all about leadership from you, and with you leaving, I have no doubts we have leaders to follow your footsteps. So unlike when Criswell and Matthews graduated. AJ, you have supplied GRIZNATION with memories that will stick with all us for a lifetime. Too bad we only had you here for 2 years, but what a 2 years they were. The biggest challenge for next year is finding offense with your departure. AJ, I hope you get a chance to give all our young players advice for years to come, no matter where you are at. AJ, I hope you truely embrace being the new ambassador of the new generation of GRIZ basketball. I believe you will.
Finally, to every Sr and their families. You will all be remembered, and "Thank you" for everything.
As for Coach Tinkle, What a turnaround. Some of us had faith in you from the get go, but a few too many were critical of you as the man here. Well Tinks, Congratulations, you have gained much support and many more believe in the program and it's direction again. I have always and always will support you as coach, despite of being critical at times. I am impressed with your willingness to make minor changes with personnel, such as utilization of Cherry and Selvig as the year progressed. The in game strategy were great this year. This year though, you and your staff took charge 100% when things were not looking good, and when times were toughest. I was not there to witness what went on behind the scenes, but I have a feeling collectively everyone had "enough". It appears to me everyone demanded something from everyone and stopped settling.
All I know is throughout the season I was seen things that needed changed in many ways. Every damn one of them, you too seen and changed for the better. FWIW, as minor as it might be to many, the highlight of the season for me was the UNC game, when out of the gates we ran Stauds through 3 screens, combined with disciplinary action on Cherry. From that point on, I had faith the season had just turned around and headed in the right direction. That was the point I had started to believe Tinkle arrived as a coach, and we had hope for a great season.
As it turned out this season turned out to end on a high note, but do hope every returning player realizes it was not NM that ended our season early. It was losses to ISU, EWU, MSU (2x's), and a stolen game at Washington that caused us a much better tourney seeding. We should have had at worse 3 more victories this season. Winning those games would have gotten us a 11 seed at worse. My point being, never ever lose focus or take any team for granted next season. I will soon post my analysis for the future and next season.
Thank for a great year guys. I am amped for next year already. :thumb:
This Season: Really was a mixed bag, and if it were Texas Hold EM, The GRIZ hit runner runner on the Turn and the River, and got beat by a slightly better hand, which ended an incredible season. We witnessed the best scoring performance in years, and better yet, by one of our own. We got national attention, and people nationally know who Montana is now. We played toe to toe with a couple Top 10 to 25 programs (WA and NM). We seen a team mature and grow one step at a time. We witnessed a coach and a few young players coming of age and beginning to blossom. We have recruited argueably our most talented class, with 1 scholarship to use still. We got a few more fans back, that will support this team from the get go next season, and few more sitting on the fence. Basically, this year's team is the team that should go down as the team that got the train back on the track and made the right turns.
As for what/who is leaving us, our Sr's deserve recognition and thanks for their time and efforts.
(1) Vassy Banny- This is the 1 guy that was the ultimate team player and most unselfish player I have seen at Montana in years. I will never forget his positive attitude, hustle, and heart. I am a firm believer, every team HS on needs 1 of these guys every year. Banny is a rarity in terms of willingness to sacrifice for the teams that always brought hard work and attitude, which is contagious for team morale. Banny in my eyes, if this program goes to where it should, I really would love to have some team award, game to game, week to week, or year to year to honor your attitude and hustle (I am serious on that). In the future, when Tinkle talks about position and rebounding, you are the example he should use every damn time.
(2) Jack McGillis- This is the hardest one for me to summarize. I should just apply everything stated regarding Banny. From a coaching standpoint, what you brought to the table is hard for the average fan to appreciate or understand. Like Banny, I hope every future GRIZ knows how important heart, hustle, and attitude is in making for a successful team and successful life (which I know you will be successful). FWIW, I feel Jack would have went out much better had he played his natural 3/SF position every minute. He was willing to play 4 out of necessity, but he worked so hard there it took away from his game. I wish we had more depth and health at the 4 and 5 this year, because McGillis would have been seen in a much different and light to end his career.
(3) Ryan Staudacher- On the court, the best pure shooter I have ever seen. A player I think coaches should use in a fundamental shooting video. I just wish the GRIZ would have figured out sooner how to take advanatage of his shooting sooner. I wish his career would have ended with him having a good shooting perimeter game. I hope Tinkle finds more pure shooters, intelligent, and good attitude players like Stauds. I have a feeling Tinkle learned a lot this season in utilizing good 3 point shooters. Defensively, Stauds was often assigned the opposing teams best perimeter shooter, and more often than not, Stauds was always in position and in their jock. Ryan will be the shooter I will measure all future perimeter shooters against. For me he raised the bar for pure shooting. Good luck to Ryan in marriage and a future career. BTW, I would love to see you coach one day.
(4) Anthony Johnson- 1st of all, I wish I could have gotten to know him better away from the court, but I have heard many good things about him and Shaunte off the court. I have feeling this kid will be a story for years to come, not only in GRIZ lore, but an example for many struggling young adults to have hope, thanks to AJ's story. AJ regardless of where basketball takes you, your biggest impact will be off the court by the example you have become. In GRIZ lore, your future will be followed to the likes of Dave Dickenson and Larry Krystkowiak, so be mindful of that, like it or not, you will always be in the spotlight by GRIZNATION and all the BSC now. AJ your leadership and offensive ablilities are off the charts, and thanks in advance for prepping our new leaders (Cherry and Selvig). They have learned all about leadership from you, and with you leaving, I have no doubts we have leaders to follow your footsteps. So unlike when Criswell and Matthews graduated. AJ, you have supplied GRIZNATION with memories that will stick with all us for a lifetime. Too bad we only had you here for 2 years, but what a 2 years they were. The biggest challenge for next year is finding offense with your departure. AJ, I hope you get a chance to give all our young players advice for years to come, no matter where you are at. AJ, I hope you truely embrace being the new ambassador of the new generation of GRIZ basketball. I believe you will.
Finally, to every Sr and their families. You will all be remembered, and "Thank you" for everything.
As for Coach Tinkle, What a turnaround. Some of us had faith in you from the get go, but a few too many were critical of you as the man here. Well Tinks, Congratulations, you have gained much support and many more believe in the program and it's direction again. I have always and always will support you as coach, despite of being critical at times. I am impressed with your willingness to make minor changes with personnel, such as utilization of Cherry and Selvig as the year progressed. The in game strategy were great this year. This year though, you and your staff took charge 100% when things were not looking good, and when times were toughest. I was not there to witness what went on behind the scenes, but I have a feeling collectively everyone had "enough". It appears to me everyone demanded something from everyone and stopped settling.
All I know is throughout the season I was seen things that needed changed in many ways. Every damn one of them, you too seen and changed for the better. FWIW, as minor as it might be to many, the highlight of the season for me was the UNC game, when out of the gates we ran Stauds through 3 screens, combined with disciplinary action on Cherry. From that point on, I had faith the season had just turned around and headed in the right direction. That was the point I had started to believe Tinkle arrived as a coach, and we had hope for a great season.
As it turned out this season turned out to end on a high note, but do hope every returning player realizes it was not NM that ended our season early. It was losses to ISU, EWU, MSU (2x's), and a stolen game at Washington that caused us a much better tourney seeding. We should have had at worse 3 more victories this season. Winning those games would have gotten us a 11 seed at worse. My point being, never ever lose focus or take any team for granted next season. I will soon post my analysis for the future and next season.
Thank for a great year guys. I am amped for next year already. :thumb:
