For the second straight year, Eastern Washington beat Montana in the regular season only to lose to the Grizzlies in the Big Sky Tournament championship.
But Eastern Washington's coach, Shantay Legans, is not bitter. He's rooting for his conference brethren in their NCAA Tournament first-round matchup with Michigan on Thursday. But, just like last year, Legans thinks Michigan is a tough matchup for Montana.
Legans spoke to MLive at this time last year and his scouting report was spot-on. He thought Montana would play tough defense, not be afraid of the 3 seed from the Big Ten, and hang around for a while before fading in the second half. That's what happened, and Michigan pulled away for a 61-47 victory.
Michigan and Montana will meet again in Des Moines, Iowa, on Thursday night. Legans, by the way, doesn't like the idea of a rematch. "I can't believe it," he said by phone on Monday. Going to the NCAA Tournament is an experience for small-conference schools like Montana. The Grizzlies deserve to play somebody new, Legans said.
But thanks to the selection committee, it's Michigan-Montana Part II, this time as a 2-15 matchup.
The Grizzlies have been playing small ball since losing 6-foot-8 senior center Jamar Akoh to an injury in early February. A Montana team spokesperson said Akoh hasn’t been ruled out for Thursday but is “doubtful." He has practiced some over hte past few weeks and traveled with the team -- for the first time since his injury -- to the Big Sky tournament. He did not suit up, however.
Eastern Washington beat Montana this season when Akoh was healthy but lost the two games Akoh missed.
Legans said his team didn't take advantage of its superior size. Montana played scrappy, fronting the post and drawing offensive fouls. The Grizzlies switched a bunch of ball screens and Legans expects they'd do so against Michigan.
Montana deploys a three-guard lineup, led by seniors Ahmaad Rorie and Michael Oguine. They combined for 30 points and 14 rebounds against Michigan last year.
Legans used the word "tough" several times to describe them. Another starter, the 6-foot-5 Sayeed Pridgett, shoots a very high percentage inside and outside the arc. Legans said Pridgett was his second choice for Big Sky Player of the Year; Pridgett had to settle for First Team honors along with Rorie.
The only Montana player who appeared in last year's NCAA Tournament who is no longer on the team is Fabijan Krslovic, and it appears Bobby Moorehead has replaced him as the team's "glue guy."
Most of Moorehead's shots come from 3, and he's only hitting 31 percent. "But he makes big shots," Legans said. "Game's on the line, ball gets swung to him -- if he's open he's going to hit it."
Donaven Dorsey has taken on a bigger role in Akoh's absence. He's a pick and pop center who went 4-for-4 from 3 in the Big Sky championship.
Defending the 3-point line has been a strength of Michigan's all season, and it will be important on Thursday. Montana ranks 26th in the country in 3-point shooting percentage at 38 percent.
Much of the talk before last year's matchup focused on Moritz Wagner, who could draw opposing big men away from the basket and shoot as well as any center in the country. Jon Teske stepped into Wagner's shoes, and while he can knock in the occasional 3, Legans doesn't think it will be necessary against Montana.
"You don't need to worry about picking and popping," he said. "He can just go down there and just punish 'em."
Legans believes Michigan's size will bother Montana at the rim. There's a reason the Wolverines are 15-point favorites (they were 10-point favorites in last year's matchup).
“I was hoping for somebody else,” Legans said of Montana’s draw. “Last year I had a little bit more optimism for them. I’m rooting for my boys, but I’m a little worried this year for them.”
