Cagers on the court

Football season coming to an end can only mean one thing: Bobcat basketball is back. That’s right all you basketball fanatics, the Bobcats have returned to the court. Both the men’s and women’s teams enter 2018 with high hopes. Talent-packed transfers have been the talk of the town for the last year as both teams expected the arrival of highly-touted prospects. With hopes and dreams abound, the Cats will have their work cut out for them in the coming seasons.

The Women’s Basketball Team

After the winningest year in school history in 2016-17 (25-7 overall, 15-3 in conference), the Cats followed it up with an average year last year. Even with the down year, the Cats showed great promise as multiple underclassmen showcased their skills leading to another Big Sky Conference Tournament victory. Their only downside is losing seniors Rebekah Hatchard, Delaney Junkermier and Hannah Caudill, who were impact performers during their years at MSU.

But all loss isn’t a bad thing — senior forward Claire Lundberg and junior forward Martha Kurderer transfered to MSU from Seton Hall. Each sat out the 2017-18 campaign per NCAA regulations. Lundberg brings a multitude of talents as a stretch big. At 6’1”, she can handle the tough inside presence of the Big Sky Conference teams but also snap a three from deep. Kurderer adds another sharp-shooter to an already impressive three-point shooting team.

These two additions should make for a stacked roster capable of taking on anything the Big Sky Conference has to offer. In preseason polls, the Cats were picked fifth and sixth in the coaches’ and media polls, respectively. When looking at the group they have assembled and their schedule, I believe the team to start somewhat slow but pick it up by the time conference play hits in December, and will finish strong through the end of the season.

Zuhoski’s Pick: third in conference, possibility to hit a run in the Big Sky Tournament and make noise

Men’s Basketball Team

Coach Brian Fish has developed a no-quit attitude at MSU as exemplified extensively in previous seasons for the Cats. A triple-overtime thriller against Southern Utah in 2017, a down-to-the-wire game against North Dakota in 2018, and countless moments in between have cemented their culture. Granted, the Cats have not won many, but their effort is without a doubt present. Their perseverance will be the driving force behind an impressive squad heading into the 18-19 season.

Senior guard Tyler Hall has already found the national spotlight after his breakout sophomore season (2016-17) where he finished in the top-10 in scoring per game nationally. Knicks and dings took its toll on him throughout his junior year where his production dropped. Nevertheless, Hall is positioned to take an impressive jump in his senior year as his leadership will surely be needed with Cats fans looking at a possible conference championship.

Senior forward Keljin Blevins has already shown great ability to score inside this year as he posted a 26-point, 15-rebound performance against Presentation College early in the season. The Cats added a home-grown talent for this season in Ladan Ricketts. A Livingston native, Ricketts finished his two-year program at Sheridan College, a two-year program, and joined the Bobcats squad this year.

Picked to finish fifth and sixth by the media and coaches’ poll respectively, the Cats will be in for a test this year. As the schedule sits, the Cats will face a tough slate throughout their non-conference schedule as they battle perennial heavyweights like Indiana, Washington State and Arkansas. With most of their starting five remaining from the previous season, the team is poised to play with composure and consistency. A dabble of transfer help and additional freshman energy should lead to a productive season.

Zuhoski’s pick: Fourth in conference, make at least the semi-finals of the Conference Tournament

Tune in throughout the rest of the season to see how Bobcat basketball fares.