MISSOULA – Selection Sunday is behind us and the Montana Grizzlies are going to have a rematch of their first-round matchup from 2018 as they’ll be taking on the #2 seed Michigan Wolverines.
The Griz looked like they had a shot at an upset last year before going cold for nearly nine minutes and eventually losing the game 61-47. That Michigan team was no joke, either, as they went on to lose in the national title game.
A year later, the Griz have nearly the same roster, but this time with more experience and some confidence headed into Round 2 with the Wolverines.
“We are one of the programs that have tried to get old and stay old. To have fifth-year guys in the program is huge for us, and typically those are the teams that have success in the tournament, they’re a little older. Hopefully, we’re one of them,” said head coach Travis DeCuire.“We have a lot of guys who have played on the big stage before, so us returners are ready to just help them out and let them know we can play with anybody. I think that’s the main thing. I mean, we play a lot of teams tough, we just blew Weber (State) out, so if we just come out to a good start we’ll be good,” said senior guard Ahmaad Rorie.
That game against Michigan will be played at 7:20 p.m. Thursday. The matchup will be aired nationally on TNT.
-Jack Ginsburg, reporting for MTN Sports
