Pushed in its opener, Stanford may very well be in for an additional check on Saturday at dwelling towards a Montana squad with two lopsided wins underneath its belt.
Cardinal coach Kyle Smith mentioned he expects a spirited effort from the visiting Grizzlies.
“They will be motivated. They’re used to profitable,” Smith mentioned. “Their finest participant (Cash Williams) is from the Bay Space.”
Stanford beat Portland State 89-79 on Tuesday evening, profitable its season opener for the fifteenth consecutive yr.
The Cardinal obtained 26 factors from Ebuka Okorie, probably the most by a real freshman in a Stanford debut in no less than 29 years.
“The key out that he is fairly good,” Smith mentioned. “There might be some tough patches, I am positive, however let’s simply see the place this takes us.”
Chisom Okpara added 21 factors for the Cardinal, with Jeremy Dent-Smith including 14 and Benny Gealer 12.
Montana faces upgraded competitors after comfy triumphs towards Northwest Indian School on Monday and Ottawa (Ariz.) on Wednesday. The Grizzlies are 2-0 for the primary time in seven years.
“We’re nonetheless working kinks out and defensively we proceed to develop,” Montana coach Travis DeCuire mentioned. “I believe our protection was loads additional alongside than it has been at this stage, however our offense is not essentially clicking.”
Cash Williams was the preseason MVP for the Massive Sky Convention. He notched his first profession double-double within the 73-39 romp over Ottawa with 15 factors and 10 rebounds.
DeCuire continues evaluating what personnel will work finest for the Grizzlies’ major rotations. There are as much as 13 gamers who may very well be within the combine.
“It makes it exhausting on me, and I simply cannot play that many guys as a result of it will get folks out of rhythm attempting to get extra guys within the sport,” DeCuire mentioned.
No matter how that pans out, Williams might be on the forefront of these plans.
“I really feel like he will must play huge minutes in these subsequent two video games,” DeCuire mentioned.
Smith mentioned the Cardinal might be tasked with higher perimeter protection after Portland State sank 13 of 27 3-pointers.
That is the second sport in Stanford’s season-opening five-game homestand.
–Subject Stage Media
