MSU Men off to slow 2018-19 start

by Danny Waldo
A difficult non-conference schedule will help prepare a team for a run through league play.
At least that was Montana State Bobcat head coach Brian Fish’s thinking when he compiled the 2018 non-conference schedule for his men’s basketball team. Through the first three weeks of the season, that non-conference schedule has proved to be downright daunting as MSU has limped out to a 1-4 start that has included blowout losses at home to Utah State (101-71), and on the road at Indiana (80-35).
In between, MSU has a home victory over NAIA member Presentation College, a narrow defeat at Colorado State, and a couple of lopsided losses at UC Santa Barbara and at Arkansas, and the rollercoaster isn’t coming to a stop just yet.
MSU still has road games at Omaha, Washington State and Denver sandwiched around its one home game versus a tough North Dakota team before conference play begins on December 29th at Southern Utah.
In all, the Bobcats will have played nine road games compared to just three home games before they host their first weekend of league play on January 3rd.
So, if difficult non-conference schedules prepare teams for their league play, expect MSU to be fully prepared come the start of Big Sky Conference play. The worry with such a difficult schedule is the toll it can take on the mind and the body. The Bobcats have faced two Power 5 schools (Indiana, Arkansas), as well as a difficult UC Santa Barbara team that went 23-9 last season, and have yet to take on another Power 5 school (Washington State). If MSU can take its lumps in those games, and come out with lessons learned, that could be hugely beneficial in surviving the rigors of a two-month long conference slate. The alternative could be that the Bobcats shut down before the season even begins, extending MSU’s NCAA tournament futility to 23 years.
Senior Tyler Hall is back to lead the Bobcats in scoring, averaging 19.5 points per game through six contests. Senior Keljin Blevins and Juco transfer Ladan Ricketts also average double-figures at 11.3 and 11 points per game.
For a complete schedule of all Montana State Bobcat games, log on to www.msubobcats.com.