The Griz will revive a long-dormant rivalry with North Dakota, the first time the Fighting Sioux have come to Dahlberg Arena since 1964.
They bring with them the Princeton offense, a look not often seen in these parts, particularly in the Big Sky Conference. The Princeton offense spreads the floor, utilizes a lot of screening up high and takes advantage of over-zealous defenses with a lot of back-door cuts.
The Griz (2-4) have had a difficult time defending any type of offense so far this season. Montana's previous two opponents have shot 50 percent or better from the field.
“It's not an effort thing, we just have to get our guys better at what we're doing,” Tinkle said of a defense that allowed Santa Clara to make 6-of-7 attempts from 3-point range in the first half of a 71-68 loss on Sunday. “We have great moments when we're doing it the right way. Once we start doing that, we'll turn this thing around.”
The Fighting Sioux are 4-1 in their second season of a transition to Division I. Their only game against a Division I team was a 61-56 win over Missouri-Kansas City.
Daniel Harkins, a 6-foot-3 senior guard, leads the team in scoring at 14.4 ppg while 5-11 guard Travis Bledsoe adds 12.4 ppg off the bench. At 6-5, Travis Mertens, who grabs 7.0 rebounds a game, is the tallest player in the starting lineup.
“Mertens is kind of an undersized guy who works hard, kind of a blue-collar guy who can get things done around the basket,” Tinkle said. “Harkins is really good at driving to the basket. Bledsoe is a real key on the perimeter.”
Utah State transfer O.J. Harrison adds about 10 points a game and “gives them some athletcism,” Tinkle said.
All but two UND players have hit 3-pointers this season and the Fighting Sioux shoot 46 percent from beyond the arc, 52 percent overall.
“We're certainly hoping we can put some pressure on those guys,” Tinkle said. “We have to guard the 3-point line better and we'll work on that (Monday) afternoon. We'll figure out why we're having trouble there and get it corrected.”
At the other end, the Griz will try to take advantage of their size against UND's zone defense.
“We have to attack the paint and not settle for jump shots,” Tinkle said. “We just have to do what we do - pound it inside and convert down there, then when the defense collapses we have to find our shooters.”
The Griz got good production out of senior Jordan Hasquet and junior Anthony Johnson in the loss to Santa Clara. Hasquet is averaging 17.5 ppg over his last four games while Johnson has scored 40 points in the last two games combined. The team, however, has struggled at the free-throw line, converting just 62 percent so far.
“We have to improve there and we've got to go to the glass and get some second-chance points,” Tinkle said.
Sports editor Bob Meseroll can be reached at 523-5265 or at sportsdesk@missoulian.com.
North Dakota at Montana Griz
Tuesday, 7:05 p.m.,
Dahlberg Arena (7,321)
Tickets: $6 for general admission, $10-19 for reserved.
Radio: KXGZ 101.5 FM.
TV: None.
Web: montanagrizzlies.com.
Records: North Dakota, in its second year of a transition to Division I, is 4-1. Montana is 2-4.
Last outing: North Dakota beat host Wisconsin-Parkside 77-74 in the championship game of the Slam Dunk Diabetes Tournament on Saturday. Montana fell to Santa Clara 71-68 on Sunday in Missoula.
Series: North Dakota leads 6-2.
Last meeting: North Dakota won 71-62 in December of 1964 in Missoula.
Up next: Montana hosts Denver on Thursday as part of the Karl Tyler Chevrolet Classic.
Probable starters
North Dakota
21-Travis Mertens, 6-5, jr. 8.0 ppg
30-O.J. Harrison, 6-4, sr. 9.8 ppg
12-Daniel Harkins, 6-3, sr. 14.4 ppg
20-Wes Porter, 6-2, sr. 4.8 ppg
54-Darius Joseph, 6-2, sr. 9.4 ppg
Montana
2-Jordan Hasquet, 6-9, sr. 14.7 ppg
44-Jack McGillis, 6-6, jr. 8.0 ppg
41-Brian Qvale, 6-11, so. 7.7 ppg
3-Ryan Staudacher, 6-4, jr. 10.3 ppg
5-Ceylon Elgin-Taylor, 6-2, sr. 4.5 ppg
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