The Grizzoulian : Montana Grizzlies Sports : Football, Basketball, Track & Field, Soccer, Cross Country, Volleyball, Golf, Tennis, Lacrosse : Montana Grizzlies Sports, Football and Basketball : Grizzoulian

Because I'm not gone for the summer, actually write about sports and don't sell Hondas — Pat, I don't want the damn Trucoat — here's an interview with future Griz Sean Watson. Sean played his JC ball at Howard College in Texas where the 6'5" 185 lb guard averaged 13.1 ppg and 5.2 rpg while  shooting 58.6 % from the field.

Grizzoulian: First off, why UM and which one of these factors was the biggest in your decision to become a Griz: the city of Missoula, the coaching staff, or the players?

Sean: well to be honest the players and coaches had alot to do with my decision all the guys were easy to get along with an the coaches were really straight up with me. one of the players that i bonded with really well was cam rundles he was my host on the visit and we basically jus became cool ever since

Grizzoulian: What do you think of your future teammates and the things they've accomplished in the past couple years? Where do you see this team going with you a part of it?

Sean: well the players seem like they are all winners an thats what i want to be apart of they won what about 17 games but they got a couple nice wins like for example the win over minnesota was a good win for the griz basketball.....i think with an addition of me on the team we should do really well because i am a winner and so are all the other guys so i see us having a very successful season coming up

Grizzoulian: What do you think of the players and coaches you've met so far and what do you think your role will be as a Griz?

Sean: the players and coaches i have met so far were all nice guys they were easy to get along with and they were really honest with me so thats all u can really ask for

Grizzoulian: Do you have any specific goals for the upcoming years?

Sean: yes i do my goal this year is to win the conference and get to the tournament and from there we will take it one step at a time

Thanks again to Sean and I wish him luck in his future as a Griz.

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Well, the season is over and it's time to grab the reaction pieces. There's a pretty good one in the Kaimin today that mentions how a few guys went straight to the gym for some hoops only a few hours after getting home from Ogden. Maybe they worked on free throws a bit.

“Basketball is my life and I love it,” said Cam in the article. Who doesn't want to hear what this kid has to say about this and next season? Well, here is my email interview with Cam:

Grizzoulian: When you came to this team it was coming off a 24-7 season where they were a win away from the sweet 16; did the team meet your expectations and did you reach your own goals this season?

Cam: No the team didn't reach my expectations at all, we went to the final 32 and personally I think we were a better team this year even though cris and virg were huge, and we didn't even make it to the big sky ship. Personally I reached some goals but not the ultimate goal. I wanted to play a lot minutes and contribute right away for the griz. but i also personally wanted to make it to the ncaa tourney and that was disappointing that we didnt.

Grizzoulian: I understand you spent a lot of time working on shooting this past offseason (it's definitely shown); what aspects of your game do you hope to improve on during this coming offseason? What other plans do you have for the offseason?

Cam: I plan on focusing on 3 things....ballhandling, getting stronger and quicker, these 3 things take time and consistent hard work so ill be busy...I also plan on going home this summer to play in some leagues and work out with my best friends (Jamar and Treasure).

Grizzoulian: Many Griz fans believe you have the potential to be the leader this team needs. What do you believe your role will be on this team next year?

Cam: I believe my job will continue to be the energy man on the court and the bench and the floor general and an extension on coach Tinks on the floor...I might have to score a little bit next year because we're losing a key scorer in Matt D.

Grizzoulian: Many Griz fans are disappointed at where this year's hoop season ended. Where do you see this team going next season? Any specific goals?

Cam: Well next season is a long time away and right now the griz are just focusing on getting better day by day...But with the tradition U of Montana holds, a goal every year is to host the big sky tourney and advance to post season play.

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About a week ago, Ian Ruder, the publisher of Vikings Blog, approached me with the idea of exchanging a series of questions on our respective teams. Well, not our teams, but you know, the ones we write about.

I've been trying to network a bit more and thought this was an excellent idea. Ian has a very well run blog over at OregonLive.com, which is very up-to-date on the whole blogging scene with a blog for just about every local team.

The interview is after the jump, with questions on their impressive preseason, the return of Anthony Washington and the Cameron Indoor Stadium of the West -- The Stotts Center.

If you want to see his questions and my answers, head over to his blog.
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Grizzoulian: Does this PSU basketball season feel a little like the PSU football season? Going into the UM football game PSU was a formidable Big Sky contender but after dropping to UM in Portland and then to MSU things seemed a little out of reach. How confident are you the basketball team will do the opposite?

Vikings Blog: I haven’t gotten that vibe from fans and those around the team. It’s been kind of an odd year with the departure and return of Anthony Washington sandwiched around a stronger than expected preseason. After he left people seemed content with the notion of finishing 4th or 5th and battling it out in the conference tourney. Now, after a 9-4 preseason where no Big Sky teams other than EWU (maybe) stood out, I think people have set their sights higher with some even thinking of hosting. People expect PSU to beat the Montana schools this week but hopefully understand that a loss here isn’t the same as in football. The reality in the BSC is that as long as you make the tourney and are playing well in late February/early march you’re okay. With the 2 or 3 bottom-feeding BSC teams, one loss isn’t the end of the world. That said, I would be shocked if MSU beat PSU Saturday. Also, after watching Montana flounder last Friday at Portland I’ll be interested to see if they bounce back like championship contenders as I’m sure they would have under Krystkowiak.

Grizzoulian: What does it mean getting Anthony Washington back? An imposing force on the low post or just signs with A&W Root Beer references?

Vikings Blog: Assuming he can get into playing shape, it’s huge and could potentially decide the Big Sky tournament. Everyone made him out to be the savior last year after he redshirted after transferring from UW and it never really happened. But, he averaged nearly 18 pts on 60 percent shooting in his final three games and alongside 6-foot-11 center Scott Morrison was easily the best 1-2 big man combo in the conference. Without him this year PSU has faced a lot of mismatches in the post and been forced to play 6-foot-6 Juma Kamara –one of the team’s most versatile and talented players – against bigger players, negating his opportunities. Don’t look for AW to do much this week, or even this month, but come March, if he’s healthy he could be key.

Grizzoulian: The Vikings are 6-0 at the Stott Center this year; is this because it's an intimidating place to play or are the Vikings just more comfortable there?

Vikings Blog: If you’ve never been to the Stott Center, picture your high school gym, then think smaller, think concrete walls, think half-empty and voila! You’ve got the Stott Center. Its easily one of the nation’s worst D-I gyms. Two years ago it was standing room only (1500 capacity) for the last few games of the season but usually it fails to sell out or even come close. When it’s full the Viks have a HUGE advantage because the fans are literally inches from the court and players, but most of the time its just depressing. The Viks strong home record is more a product of good scheduling. I’d expect around 800-1000 for the Montana game (because of UM fans) and less for MSU.

Grizzoulian: PSU won the regular season conference title in 04-05 but went 5-9 in conference play last season. Is their nonconference record an indication that the rebuilding process is complete or is there still work to be done? Or was last season just a fluke?

Vikings Blog: Last year was Ken Bone’s first as head coach and he inherited a team without the strengths he coaches to (ballhandling, speed). Last year’s team also had a lot of new faces and a big part of the late run was the team coming together. One side effect of AW’s departure this season was it accelerated the transition to the scrappier style I think Bone would like to play. I don’t think of the team as rebuilding as much as building towards one in Bone’s ideal mold.

Grizzoulian: Twenty seconds left, Vikings have the ball and are trailing the Griz by 1, what is Head Coach Ken Bone drawing up?

Vikings Blog: Scott Morrison has been the go-to guy so far this season, but he doesn’t match up as favorably against the Griz and isn’t the greatest free throw shooter so I’m not sure he’d be the choice. I would think Bone would draw something up for [Juma] Kamara. He has a deceptively good shot from inside and out and the ability to get it off over a good defender. He also led the league in 3-pt percentage last year.

Grizzoulian: Is Ken Bone looking to give Paul Hafford more minutes and possible a starting job or is this kid just better off the bench?

Vikings Blog: I sense that Bone really likes the firepower Hafford brings off the bench. As good as this guy’s numbers have been, I can tell you from watching him in practice – they can be better. He is the definition of a gunner – fearless and able to make from anywhere. If he can shoot in games like he does in practice (as he has the last two weeks) he is the perfect sixth man and a great switch-up to Deonte Huff, who is more a slasher than a shooter.

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