Montana State Basketball Begins Practice for 2018-19 Season
By Danny Waldo
The first official men’s basketball game for Montana State is over a month away, but it’s never too early to start getting prepared, and so, the Bobcats officially kicked off practices for the 2018-19 season inside Brick Breeden Fieldhouse recently.
MSU returns an experienced squad in head coach Brian Fish’s fifth year at the helm so expectations will be high coming off a dismal 2017-18 campaign. Four starters return, including All-League performer Tyler Hall, who spent the off-season testing the NBA waters before deciding to return for his senior year at MSU. He will presumably be joined in the starting lineup by fellow returning starters Harald Frey, Sam Neuman and Keljin Blevins, with the fifth spot open to a host of newcomers.
The newcomers include junior college transfers Ladan Ricketts and Russell Daniels, as well as former East Carolina center Usman Haruna, who was granted immediate eligibility by the NCAA. In addition, MSU will welcome four freshmen to the mix.
MSU is coming off a disappointing 2017-18 season that saw them lose nine of their last 10 games, including a first-round defeat in the Big Sky Conference tournament. The Bobcats finished the year 13-19 overall and just 6-12 in league play.
Part of MSU’s schedules can be pinned on the shoulders of former Big Sky Conference Freshman of the Year, Tyler Hall. Hall saw his points-per-game average take a dip, and he missed time and was ineffective after suffering an ankle injury in December. After going through the NBA draft process last Spring, the senior seems determined to finish his career at MSU on a high note.
“I thought we had a good summer practice session, and I thought fall conditioning went very well,” Fish said. “Now it’s time to start working together as a team and get ready for the season.”
MSU opens the season at home November 6th versus Utah State
For updates and more information on Bobcat Basketball, log on to www.msubobcats.com
Danny Waldo is a local freelance writer covering Montana State Bobcat athletics.
