Griz BB practice starts today

TWO-TIME DEFENDING LEAGUE CHAMP GRIZZLIES S BEGIN PRACTICE TODAY

MISSOULA, MONTANA (10/1/13) – The two-time defending Big Sky Conference champion University of Montana Grizzly basketball team begins practice for the 2013-14 season today (Tuesday, Oct. 1) .

The Griz are coming off back-to-back 25-7 regular-season records, and have gone 34-2 in Big Sky games the past two years. Montana has had four straight 20-win seasons and two NCAA tournament berths in a row. UM is 93-35 overall and 56-12 in Big Sky games the past four seasons.

Eighth-year head coach Wayne Tinkle, the league’s coach of the year the past two seasons, returns two-plus starters and nine letterman from his record-setting squad of last season.

Leading the way is 6-5 senior guard-forward Kareem Jamar (32 starts), the Big Sky MVP a year ago and anAssociated Press honorable mention selection. Other returning starters are 6-9 senior center Eric Hutchison (27 starts), and 6-2 junior guard Jordan Gregory (21 starts).

Also back are 6-2 junior guard Keron DeShields, 6-5 sophomore forward Nick Emerson, 7-0 sophomore center Andy Martin, 6-7 junior forward Mike Weisner, 6-7 sophomore forward Jake Wiley, and 6-0 sophomore guard Morgan Young.

The Griz must replace senior veteran starters in guard Will Cherry and forward Mathias Ward. Forward Spencer Coleman will not be returning for his senior season, and he had 18 starts a year ago. Ward (24 starts), who was lost for the season due to an injury, led UM in scoring (14.8 ppg), while Cherry (21 starts) was third (13.3 ppg), and Coleman was fifth (7.6 ppg).

UM’s high school additions are 6-0 guard Mario Dunn Jr. (Salesian HS, Oakland, Calif.), 6-4 guard Brandon Gfeller (Colfax HS, Wash.), 6-5 guard-forward Jack Lopez (Jannali HS, Bankstown Australia), and 6-4 guard-forward Daine Muller (Billings Skyview HS, Mont.).

Chris Kemp, a 6-7, 238-pound JC transfer from Baltimore, who played at West Texas College, should compete for a starting berth. Also back is 6-2 guard Riley Bradshaw (Corvallis HS, Mont.), who redshirted last year after transferring from Utah State.

Also new to the program is 6-8 junior center Martin Breunig from the University of Washington, who will not be able to play until the 2014-15 season due to NCAA transfer rules.

The Griz are schedule to practice from approximately 3:30 p.m.-6:00 p.m. in Dahlberg Arena, Tuesday through Friday (Oct. 1-4).

THE GRIZ POSITION-BY-POSITION

GUARDS:

Riley Bradshaw, 6-2, 180, Fr., RS, 24.1 ppg, 6.1 rpg (prep averages)

Keron DeShields, 6-2, 182, Jr., 2V: 6.6 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 79.4 FT%

Mario Dunn Jr., 6-0, 170, Fr., HS (his high school did not keep individual stats)

Brandon Gfeller, 6-4, 180, Fr., HS, (prep stats NA)

Jordan Gregory, 6-2, 185, Jr., 2V, 8.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 88.1 FT%

Daine Muller, 6-4, 200, Fr., HS, 22.3 ppg, 6.6 rpg (prep stats)

Morgan Young, 6-0, 180, So., 1V, 0.4 ppg, 0.0 rpg (8 games)

FORWARDS:

Kareem Jamar, (G-F), 6-5, 210, Sr., 3V: 14.2 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 4.0 apg, 49.4 FG%

Chris Kemp, 6-7, 238, Jr., JC, 7.7 ppg, 6.2 rpg (JC stats)

Nick Emerson, 6-5, 206, So., 1V, 0.0 ppg, 0.3 rpg (12 games)

Jack Lopez (G-F), 6-5, 210, Fr., HS, (prep stats NA)

Mike Weisner, 6-7, 185, Jr. 2V, 6.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 90.0 FT%

Jake Wiley, 6-7, 190, So., 1V, 1.0 ppg, 0.6 rpg (20 games)

CENTERS

Eric Hutchison, 6-9, 230, Sr., 3V, 3.3 ppg, 2.1 rpg

Andy Martin, 7-0, 223, So., 1V, 2.0 ppg, 1.5 rpg, .75 blk pg (28 games)

Martin Breunig, 6-8, 210, Jr. (Will not play until the 2014-15 season due to NCAA transfer rules)