Amazing how good it feels to remove a monkey from your back.
“A slight bit of frustration has moved off of their shoulders,” said Griz basketball coach Wayne Tinkle, whose team notched its first Big Sky Conference victory last Saturday at Sacramento State while winning for just the second time in nine games. “There's also been a little bit of eagerness; they've been a little owly. I think they're looking forward to the league (home) opener here (Thursday) night.”
Tinkle has warned his team that playing a home game is no magic potion.
“That was the first thing we said when we came together as a team on Monday,” Tinkle said. “Home-court advantage is only an advantage if you make it so. You have to do that by playing with energy, a sense of urgency and physical play. If you come out and establish all those things right away, you can get things going.”
The Bengals won their first two league games before falling at home Sunday to Portland State. League play came as a relief to the Bengals, who were beat up during a brutal nonconference schedule that included a 40-point loss at No. 4 UCLA, and 30-point losses to No. 8 Washington State, Washington and Boise State.
Idaho State has struggled at times on the offensive end, scoring 50 or fewer points in five games, although the Bengals have picked up the pace in three league games.
The Bengals have been stronger on the defensive end, where they are tied for third in the league in scoring defense (64.0) in Big Sky play.
“They do a great job defensively,” Tinkle said. “They've played more man-to-man this year, but against some opponents they've played their frustrating zone.”
The Griz might benefit from having just seen a zone defense in their last game against Sacramento State.
“We've worked more on just staying composed and being precise with whatever we do offensively,” said Tinkle, whose team has averaged three more turnovers a game in league play than in the nonconference season.
The Bengals lack a true point guard due to a couple of defections before the season began. Junior Matt Stucki and sophomore Amorrow Morgan split those duties and, along with sophomore Austin Kilpatrick, give ISU a backcourt that ranges in height from 6-foot-5 to 6-6.
“They look to post those guys up a lot offensively,” Tinkle said. “Our perimeter players are going to have to play tough.”
Stucki has been Mr. Versatility for the Bengals, leading the team in scoring six times, in rebounding twice and in assists 10 times.
“He's been their go-to guy,” Tinkle said. “We've got to do a nice job on him, but not allow any of their other guys to go off. Morgan has some potential to score, along with (Logan) Kinghorn.”
Sports editor Bob Meseroll can be reached at 523-5265 or at sportsdesk@missoulian.com.
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