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LOCATION: Bozeman, MT
CONFERENCE: Big Sky
LAST SEASON: 16-13
CONFERENCE RECORD: 9-7 (t-3rd)
STARTERS LOST/RETURNING: 3/2
NICKNAME: Bobcats
COLORS: Blue & Gold
HOMECOURT: Worthington Arena (7,898)
COACH: Mick Durham (Montana State '79)
record at school 129-129 (9 years)
career record 129-129 (9 years)
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ASSISTANTS: Jerry Olson (Minnesota-Morris '81)
Scott Carson (Mesa State '79)
Brian Harrell (Montana State-Billings '91)
TEAM WINS: (last 5 years) 21-21-16-19-16
RPI (last 5 years) 92-72-183-145-162
1998-99 FINISH: Lost in conference semifinal.
ESPN.com Clubhouse
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Montana State caught a glimpse into its future without Nate Holmstadt and Danny Sprinkle, two of the school's all-time leading scorers. Coach Mick Durham liked what he saw. The Bobcats toured Australia for two weeks in May. The timing couldn't have been better for a team searching for new leaders. Holmstadt (20.8 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 70 assists, 20 blocked shots), the physical center who finished his career as Montana State's second all-time scorer, and Sprinke (16.6 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 56 assists, .425 3 PT), the sharp-shooting guard who closed out his career at No. 6 on the school's all-time scoring list, were unquestionably the physical and emotional leaders of last year's Bobcat team. So when the Bobcats lost their first three games on the Australian tour, no one was too surprised. But they rebounded and won their final five games, and might have found their new leader in the process. Senior point guard Jeff Riggs, who begins his second year at MSU after transferring from Oregon State, stepped up Down Under, averaging 19 points.
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Blue Ribbon Analysis |
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BACKCOURT B+ BENCH/DEPTH B
FRONTCOURT C INTANGIBLES B
The Bobcats will be right in the middle of the second echelon of Big Sky teams and could go a little higher if Sigfried Hodge, Jermaine Walton and Germaine Chase live up to coach Mike Durham's expectations. The backcourt looks like the team's strength, and Durham always seems to find a good three-point shooter. That is necessary because the frontcourt could struggle early while Kyle Stirmlinger and Aaron Rich find their footing. The Bobcats lost two go-to guys in Danny Sprinkle and Matt Holmstadt. They need to quickly find out who will play that role this season. Montana State has appeared in the last seven Big Sky postseason tournaments and has five straight winning seasons, its best string since the late '20s. Both streaks look safe for now. |
The 5-10 Riggs (9.0 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 144 assists) started the final 26 games of last season on the point, twice winning games in the final seconds, including Montanta State's Big Sky Tournament opener over Cal State Northridge. Riggs had 15 points in that game as the Bobcats overcame a 22-point deficit. "He won that first game in the tournament for us," said Durham, entering his 10th season as head coach at his alma mater. "He's one of our few seniors and he's in a great position as a senior and the point guard to step up and be our leader. He's definitely our team captain. He's a very athletic, very quick point guard who makes it tough for teams to press us. He needs to look to see how the flow of the game is going to determine if he needs to score or hit the open man." Jamie Hooper, the Bobcats' starting point guard two seasons ago, left after his sophomore year when his playing time dropped dramatically with the emergence of Riggs. Durham recruited junior college transfer Jermaine Walton to back up Riggs. Walton (10 ppg, 6 apg), a 6-0 junior, helped lead Porterville (Calif.) Junior College to a 29-5 record. Durham said he might be tempted to use Walton and Riggs on the floor at the same time, giving the Bobcats a quick look. Sophomore Justin Brown (6.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg) will start fall practice as the shooting guard after an up-and-down freshman year. Brown, 6-4, scored 10, 19 and 18 points during one four-game stretch during conference season, but never had more than six in Montana State's final 10 games. "He was our second-best player in Australia," Durham said. "The off-guard spot is probably his to lose." Redshirt freshman Pete Conway (6-4) will spell Brown. John Lazosky (7.1 ppg, 3.0 rpg) is the typical power forward. The Bobcats' 6-8, 230-pound junior can hit from outside, evidenced by his five three-pointers in Montana State's loss to Minnesota last year. Lazosky shot 57 percent from the floor and scored about 10 points a game in his last five efforts, all while playing with a stress fracture in a foot. "He's obviously a key for us," Durham said of his only other returning starter after Riggs. Here's where it could get tricky for the Bobcats. Holmstadt started 89 straight games over his final three years at MSU at center, and Mike Henry, an athletic small forward, started all but five games at that position for the Bobcats last season before graduating. Sophomore Kyle Stirmlinger (6-10, 245) will try on Holmstadt's shoes in the post, where he showed a propensity for fouling while getting minimal time last season. Stirmlinger (2.8 ppg, 2.7 rpg) had a good spring in Australia, scoring 12 points and grabbing seven rebounds a game. "We need at least 20 minutes a game from him at the center spot," Durham said. Sophomore Aaron Rich (6-6, 205) will step into the spot vacated by Henry. Rich (5.0 ppg, 3.8 rpg) saw extensive action last season and had a career-high 20 points against league champion Weber State. Junior Germaine Chase, 6-7, Virgin Islands native Sigfried Hodge, a 6-6 junior, and senior Rufus Nicholson, 6-8, 235 pounds, will all figure into the mix on the front line. Nicholson (4.5 ppg, 2.3 rpg), who missed five games with a cracked sinus bone last season, gives the Bobcats a good banger down low. Hodge averaged 13.4 points and 7.1 rebounds last season for Mott JC in Flint, Mich. Chase redshirted last season after transferring from Los Angeles Valley JC. "Chase is real versatile," Durham said. "He played anywhere from the point to power forward for us in Australia." There's that mention of Australia again. The trip could well have far-reaching effects. "I was really encouraged coming off the Australia trip, Durham said. "One area that surprised me was scoring. I was wondering where the points were going to come from without Holmstadt and Sprinkle. They all stepped up."
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