The Weeks Calendar: 11-30-09

After a week primarily made up of game on the road all four Montana D-1 programs return home this week to play all of their games on their home court. For the men though things get deadly serious as they start Big Sky play also this week hosting Northern Colorado and Northern Arizona. I know it is cache to say it but in the Big Sky you must defend your home court and hope for road break through. As hot as the Griz Men are right now I think this weeks game come at an opportune time. For the Bobcat men, I just do not think this team has gelled yet so it is not as opportune.

This Weeks Calendar

Friday – December 4th

Bobcat Women host Gonzaga
Binford’s crew takes on a Gonzaga team that was rated as a top 40 team in the nation. This should be the toughest test so far the Bobcat women. It will be the opening game of a men’s and women’s double header so hopefully this will encourage a few more of you to get out and check out and support this team.

Bobcat Men host Northern Colorado
In the second game of the double header the Bobcat Men start conference play with the hottest team in the conference the undefeated Northern Colorado Bears. This is going to be a real tough game for the Bobcats, No. Colo. Is not the push over they were a few years back. By the way did I mention the first conference game is in the first week in December?

Grizzly Men host Northern Arizona
The Griz also start their conference season by hosting NAU on Friday. NAU will enter the game with a 2-3 record and projected to finish in lower half of the conference so it will be important for the Griz to defend the home court.

Saturday – December 5th

Bobcat Men host Northern Arizona
This game will go along way to determining if either team has a chance to contend for the conference crown. A home loss for the Bobcats could really put them behind the eight ball early. A win by NAU with the new Friday / Saturday schedule while could give then a rare road win, but could send a message to the rest of the league. I do not think the Bobcats are firing on all cylinders right now so it is not out of the question.

Grizzly Men host Northern Colorado
This could be the biggest game of the first half of the conference season. The two hottest and most highly ranked schools in the Big Sky. A win by N. Colorado could put the Griz in the position of chasing No. Col. all season. The game is set up good for the Griz, with No. Colorado coming in less than 24 hours and 200 miles (by bus) from facing the Bobcats in Bozeman.

Sunday – December 6th

Bobcat Women host Montana State Northern
After facing a possible top 25 team in Gonzaga Friday the Bobcat women take it down a notch and face Montana State – Northern Sunday. Northern is not the same program they were in the Frontierconference 10 years ago but still a good NAIA team. If the Bobcats show up to play it could mean plenty of minutes for everyone.

Lady Griz host Great Falls
The lady Griz are really taking it down a notch also playing a frontier Conference team in perennial door mat Great Falls, who will come into this game 0-8. Normally I would say after the past few weeks playing a NAIA school might be just the ticket for the Lady Griz, but I do not see much benefit from this team. Even a blow out win will not provide much momentum or confidence for the Lady Griz. Anything less than a 20 point blow out will be disappointing.