Tag: Montana State

Where Wisconsin basketball stands in KenPom and ESPN BPI after win over Montana State

Wisconsin basketball place in KenPom and ESPN BPI after win over Montana State

Wisconsin basketball improved to 2-0 on the young season with a victory over Montana State on Thursday.

The win was highlighted by the efficiency of Greg Gard’s team, as it shot 45% from the field, 50% from three-point range and 95% from the free-throw line. Those shooting rates helped the team avoid the same slow start it experienced in its opening victory over Holy Cross.

Related: Biggest takeaways from Wisconsin basketball’s win over Montana State

Montana State entered Thursday ranked No. 175 in ESPN BPI and No. 194 in KenPom. While the team is far from the quality of Wisconsin’s upcoming Big Ten opponents, it does boast three consecutive Big Sky tournament titles and NCAA Tournament appearances. The Bobcats have become the class of the conference and a dangerous mid-major foe.

Despite that, Wisconsin’s decisive victory did not do much to improve its place in either ESPN’s Basketball Power Index or KenPom. The Badgers sit at No. 39 nationally in BPI and No. 49 in KenPom after the 2-0 start. Neither of those rankings changed after the latest victory.

BPI specifically ranks the Badgers as the No. 8 team in the Big Ten while KenPom has the group down at No. 12 in the conference.

It is still extremely early in the college basketball season — more than a month remains before the real start of the conference schedule. These ranking updates are a valuable look at were the Badgers project long-term. As is always the case, continued winning in the non-conference schedule will only help that standing.

The Badgers are next on the court on Sunday, Nov. 10 at noon ET, 11 a.m. CT against the Appalachian State Mountaineers. Wisconsin will look for another big step forward en route to a 3-0 start.

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WATCH: Full highlights from Wisconsin basketball’s 79-67 win over Montana State

Highlights from Wisconsin basketball’s 79-67 win over Montana State

Wisconsin basketball added a tally to the win column on Thursday night with a 79-67 triumph over Montana State.

The Badgers’ performance was far more complete than the one from their opening victory over Holy Cross. The team shot well from every level, highlighted by a 50% (11-of-22) mark from three-point range and 95% (20-of-21) from the free-throw line. Unlike in the opener, the Badgers mostly controlled the game throughout.

Related: What Wisconsin basketball coach Greg Gard and players said after win over Montana State

Senior guard Max Klesmit led the effort with a career-high 26 points on 7-of-15 shooting and 6-of-11 from three. Starting guards John Blackwell and John Tonje each added 13 points of their own, while sixth-man Kamari McGee had another big performance with 11 points, three rebounds, three assists and a steal in 27 minutes off the bench.

The Badgers improve to 2-0 with the victory over the Bobcats. The performance and result are important as the team gels, and as Greg Gard works to find an effective rotation with the program’s cast of new faces.

Wisconsin is back on the court on Sunday, Nov. 10 against Appalachian State. Before moving forward to that matchup, here are the full highlights from the Badgers latest win:

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Greg Gard praises Wisconsin guard after big performance vs. Montana State

Greg Gard praises Wisconsin guard after big performance vs. Montana State

Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard highlighted the development and performance of senior guard Kamari McGee when meeting with the media after the Badgers’ 79-67 win over Montana State.

McGee played 27 minutes off the bench in the winning effort, totaling 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting, three rebounds, three assists and a steal. Yet again, he served as a crucial spark plug for the Badgers. His status as the team’s sixth man does not preclude his minutes from being highly productive.

Related: Biggest takeaways from Wisconsin basketball’s win over Montana State

The former UW-Green Bay transfer has developed significantly since transferring to Wisconsin ahead of the 2022-23 season. Gard highlighted that improvement:

“Just his poise and maturity,” Gard began. “I think he’s operating at a very functional speed right now. Two years ago, I think he tried to play everything at a thousand miles an hour. Now, he understands the importance of pace and patience. When to pick your spots, when to step on the gas, when not to. So I think you’re seeing the evolution and the maturity of a player that’s done a really good job for us.”

McGee’s elevated role speaks to that development. Through two games this season he’s averaging 27.5 minutes, 9.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.0 steal per game, all while shooting 54% from the floor and 40% from three-point range.

Here’s more from Gard on what McGee means to the team:

“He’s been a steadying influence. He changes the game with his defense, he changes the game with the pace he comes up with the ball. But I just think the decisions, and the conscious effort to read and feel of the game, when you can go fast and when you can’t. He didn’t understand that two years ago, and it’s taken time for him to learn that and get a good feel. He’s obviously figured out a lot of good things.”

Much of Gard’s focus was on McGee’s contributions on offense. McGee’s comments postgame, meanwhile, centered around the defensive side of the court

“I know that defense is going to win us a lot of games,” the senior guard said. “I’ve always had the defensive mindset ever since I started playing basketball. That’s winning basketball, is getting defensive stop. We have enough scorers, we have enough guys doing great things at the other end. I make sure I try to lead by example and get my guys engaged as well. Because when it’s crunch time like that and it’s time to close a game out, you’re going to need stops more than scores.”

Gard, McGee and the Badgers are back on the court on Sunday, Nov. 10 at home against Appalachian State. It’s reasonable to predict another high-impact game from the senior guard in his established sixth-man role.

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Greg Gard defends Wisconsin senior forward after strong play vs. Montana State

Greg Gard defends Wisconsin senior forward after strong play vs. Montana State

This story was updated to add new information.

Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard came to the defense of Badgers senior forward Carter Gilmore after the team’s 79-67 win over Montana State on Thursday.

Gilmore, who played 19 minutes off the bench in the Badgers’ victory, again played a big role on both sides of the court. He finished with four points on 2-of-3 shooting, two assists, two rebounds and one highlight block.

Related: Biggest takeaways from Wisconsin basketball’s win over Montana State

Gard highlighted his performance, especially on the defensive side, when speaking postgame.

“[Gilmore] just gives us such a steadying [presence],” Gard began. “And I know he’s taken a lot of s*** over his career here. And it’s, quite frankly, unwarranted. Because if you have you have any idea what you’re looking at, you can see that he really anchors us defensively, he covers up a lot of stuff, he’s really good in the ball screens…He’s just a ballplayer.”

The senior forward has nine total points on 4-of-5 shooting through two games, in addition to four rebounds, two assists and a block. Those totals are all on an early pace to surpass his 2022-23 totals when he averaged 18.8 minutes per game off the bench.

Gard highlighted Gilmore’s versatility in the lineup, pointing to more minutes and more opportunities down the road.

“We can play him at various positions, played him at the three a lot during the preseason,” Gard continued. “He’s covers up mistakes defensively of other guys, Tyler Wahl did that. They’re different. But he has such a good feel for the game and talks the game the right way. The things he’s talking about and asking about — he’s seeing it and talking like a coach…He’s been able to play within his strengths and not get outside of his strengths. He’s very valuable. He’s smart, he’s tough, he covers up mistakes, he knows what we’re doing. He really is a good leader…He’s an unsung important piece to this group.”

Gilmore currently slots into the lineup as a primary backup forward behind starters Nolan Winter and Steven Crowl. He should continue to be a key force off the bench as the team continues to grow throughout the season.

Gard, Gilmore and the Badgers are back on the court on Nov. 10 at home against Appalachian State.

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Wisconsin vs Montana State injury report: Latest updates, news for Thursday’s game

All the latest updates and news on Wisconsin’s injury report ahead the Montana State matchup

Wisconsin basketball (1-0) will play Montana State (0-0) at the Kohl Center in its second game of the 2024-25 non-conference state on Thursday night.

Greg Gard’s crew enters the contest after vanquishing Holy Cross 85-61 in its season opener on Nov. 4. In that game, transfer John Tonje impressed with 23 points and five rebounds in his Badger debut.

Montana State, meanwhile, opens its 2024-25 season against the Badgers. The Bobcats have won three consecutive Big Sky titles — securing three consecutive NCAA Tournament berths. They will look to build off that momentum with a respectable output against one of college basketball’s most consistent programs.

Transfer guard Camren Hunter will make his Wisconsin debut Thursday after missing the season opener with an illness. Hunter averaged 16.9 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 33.9 minutes per game in 2022-23 with Central Arkansas before missing the entire 2023-24 season due to injury. His minutes and role should be worth monitoring against Montana State.

Gard went with starters John Blackwell, John Tonje, Max Klesmit, Steven Crowl and Nolan Winter in the opener vs. Holy Cross, plus leaned on guard Kamari McGee as his top bench asset.

Both teams enter Thursday’s game at full strength. The two will tip off at 7:00 p.m. CT on BTN+.

Wisconsin injury report

No reported injuries

Montana State injury report

No reported injuries

Wisconsin basketball falls in ESPN BPI after opening win over Holy Cross

Wisconsin basketball falls in ESPN BPI after opening win over Holy Cross

Wisconsin basketball began its 2024-25 season with an 85-61 victory over Holy Cross on Monday.

Despite the final 24-point margin, the win was far from a wire-to-wire dominant showing. The Badgers trailed 13-3 in the first minutes, 23-7 halfway through the first half and 36-35 at halftime. The team eventually found its form, but could not coast to an easy victory against ESPN BPI’s No. 331 (of 364) team in the sport.

Related: Biggest takeaways from Wisconsin basketball’s opening win over Holy Cross

Those early-game struggles and lack of overall dominance saw the Badgers dip in ESPN’s Basketball Power Index despite the win. The team dropped from its preseason slot of No. 28 down to No. 39, also down to the No. 9-ranked team in the Big Ten.

ESPN BPI now projects the Badgers’ final record at 18.2 — 11.8 (10.4 — 9.6 in Big Ten play), and gives them a 5.5% chance to win the conference.

The good news: early-season rankings updates don’t define a team’s rest-of-season fate. The 2024-25 Badgers may face a predictable slow start with several new faces in the lineup. But the team projects to be one that improves as the season continues, especially as the transfer additions gel in the rotation and top youngsters including Daniel Freitag continue to develop.

Wisconsin’s second-half performance against Holy Cross showed the start of that development, as transfer wing John Tonje and sophomore forward Nolan Winter took over the matchup.

The Badgers are back on the Kohl Center court on Thursday against Montana State (No. 173 in BPI). They then continue with a home matchup with Appalachian State (No. 194) before a high-profile showdown with top-ranked Arizona (No. 5).

Badgers fans should watch for progress from the team through each of these matchups. Steady development from Greg Gard’s group will have it in strong position once Big Ten play heats up in January.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes, and opinion.

Colts sign former Saints backup OL Lewis Kidd to their practice squad

Colts sign former Saints backup OL Lewis Kidd to their practice squad

Another former New Orleans Saints player has landed on his feet: the Indianapolis Colts announced Thursday that they signed Lewis Kidd to their practice squad after the Saints let him go during final roster cuts in August.

Kidd first signed with the Saints last year out of Montana State, and he was the only undrafted free agent to make their initial 53-man roster. He hung around on the depth chart as a backup at left guard, but the Saints moved him back to his college position at left tackle this summer. The Colts are listing him at guard, at least at first.

Good luck to him. Saints fans have harangued the team for its poor offensive line play in Week 1, but the team must feel like they’re in a better spot than last season with guys who made the team on other rosters like Kidd and Calvin Throckmorton (with the Carolina Panthers). There’s a chance Kidd could play against his former team when the Saints visit the Colts in Week 8.

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March Madness: Friday’s best NCAA Tournament first-round upset picks and predictions

Analyzing NCAA Tournament betting odds for Friday’s first round, with predictions and picks for the 4 best underdog bets.

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Day 2 of the NCAA Tournament brings 16 more betting opportunities and an upset or two is likely. Below, we break down Tipico Sportsbook’s NCAA Tournament odds and lines and list Friday’s best first-round upset bets to cash in on among SportbookWire’s expert college basketball picks and predictions.

Cashing in on those opportunities requires a little bit of in-game luck — a turnover here, a 4th foul there, a momentum-swinging 3-pointer made, or a key free throw on the front end of a 1-and-1. However, we can also do our best to make wise assessments when seeking out these upset possibilities. We’re looking for leverage with value plays where the win is more probable than what the public is seeing.

Below are the 4 best bets for Friday upsets.

See Top 25: USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll

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Friday’s NCAA Tournament upset picks

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday at 12:25 p.m. ET. All game times ET; ML = moneyline.

NC STATE +5.5 (-112) vs. Creighton – 4 p.m.

NC State is likely due some positive regression in its defensive numbers. The Wolfpack went on an 11-2 from Dec. 13-Feb. 4, and the Bluejays had a stretch that saw them go 8-0 from Jan. 14-Feb. 11. However, recent skill indicators point to NC State being closer to getting back to that level than Creighton is.

The Bluejays are 0-4 against the spread in their last 4 games against teams playing .600 or better basketball. Both teams have played schedules tilting toward better offensive talent, and the Under is a likable play, so look for the Wolfpack to leverage that kind of game into something quite close down the stretch.

UC SANTA BARBARA +11.5 (-105) vs. Baylor – 1:30 p.m.

UC Santa Barbara swept the regular-season and tournament titles in this season’s Big West Conference play. UCSB sported that conference’s most efficient offense, shooting 49.34% from the field (7th nationally). The Gauchos take care of the ball and frequently get to the free-throw line — and they enter this battle on a 7-game win streak.

Baylor lost its regular-season finale and Big 12 tourney opener — both to Iowa State — and is just 2-4 across its last 6 games.

UCSB was a profitable 20-10-1 ATS this season, and while an outright win is unlikely, this double-digit point spread makes the Gauchos a solid underdog play.

DRAKE (+110 ML) vs. Miami – 7:25 p.m.

This contest is a 12-5 (DU-UM) Midwest Region battle in Albany. A 12-seed has won 53 first-round games since the field expanded to 64 teams in 1985.

Miami may be getting a little too much credit coming out of a weaker-than-usual ACC. The Hurricanes are 2-5 ATS under coach Jim Larrañaga in their last 7 NCAA tourney games.

Drake is 13-1 over their last 14 games and has outscored foes by an average of 14.7 points while shooting 40.9% from distance over that stretch. DU is an experienced bunch and one that plays responsible ball at both ends of the floor. Miami can sometimes struggle against teams that defend the perimeter well, and that’s a Drake strength (30.6% 3-point defense, 28th).

MONTANA STATE +8.5 (-110) vs. Kansas State – 9:40 p.m.

Peg this game as more of a “wild opportunity for a bracket run” than just a 1-time upset. There are some weak spots in the potential 2nd and 3rd games should Montana State advance here.

Kansas State has logged back-to-back flat performances, and the Wildcats are just a few weeks removed from a similar stretch in February. Montana State gets to the line a ton (23.4 free throws per game, 9th), and the Bobcats enter the East Region brackets having won 8 consecutive games.

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Saints OL Lewis Kidd talks ‘whirlwind’ rookie year, what he learned from Zach Strief

Saints offensive lineman Lewis Kidd looked back on his ‘whirlwind’ rookie season and what he learned from his former position coach Zach Strief:

It’s been a busy year for Lewis Kidd. The former Montana State Bobcat made the jump from FCS to the NFL as the only undrafted rookie to be selected for the New Orleans Saints’ opening-day roster in 2022, and he wound up playing some really important snaps for an offense that needed all the help it could get.

“But I’ve enjoyed the process,” Kidd told 406 Sports’ Victor Flores. “It’s been a whirlwind of a year. It’s been really fun. It’s gone really quick, but excited and glad I made it through my first year, and excited to get back for more.”

Kidd ultimately appeared in nine games for the Saints as a reserve, helping to fill in at three different line spots and taking reps on special teams to boot. It was a valuable experience and he’s eager to build off of it in 2023. But some of his most important lessons came from someone who isn’t with the organization anymore: assistant offensive line coach Zach Strief, who has since left for a promotion on Sean Payton’s staff with the Denver Broncos.

“Coach Strief was a big believer of, ‘Every rep you take has to be 100% full speed.’ Even when you’re doing a walkthrough, if you’re just out there kind of BSing and taking 50% sets, that’s not going to help you for the game.” As Strief warned him, there would be no opportunities to take things at half-speed during games: “You get to Sunday, and those dudes are not going half speed. It’s 100 miles an hour the whole time, and you do not want to be that guy who takes a bad set or is late off the ball or is doing something that you shouldn’t be and causes the quarterback to get hit.”

Flexibility is the name of Kidd’s game. He mainly played left tackle in college at Montana State but switched to the right side in preseason, and logged more minutes inside at left guard than anywhere else during the regular season. He’s said his coaches didn’t want him overcommitting to one spot over another, saying: “I think they want me to be the guy that can play multiple positions. I’m working a lot of guard stuff, still working a lot of tackle stuff and obviously still working on some center stuff, too.”

It’s easy to see why Kidd made it through roster cuts last year, and why the Saints trusted him in some high-leverage moments. He comes off as an intelligent young man who understands the game and his role on offense at a high level. He’ll have more opportunities to show his coaches what he’s capable of in 2023, and if this interview is any indication, he’s eager to get back to work.

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New Orleans Saints rookie review: OL Lewis Kidd

New Orleans Saints 2022 rookie review: Former Montana State Bobcats guard Lewis Kidd held down his role as a reserve along the offensive line

Raise your hand if you picked Lewis Kidd as the lone undrafted free agent to make the New Orleans Saints’ opening-day roster in 2022. The former Montana State Bobcat played left tackle and right guard in college before flipping to right tackle during the Saints’ preseason games, though he primarily lined up at left guard in a couple of games during the regular season, also seeing a handful of snaps as an extra blocker.

Not bad for someone who only received $10,000 in guaranteed money when he signed with the Saints last summer. Should he factor into New Orleans’ plans for 2023? We’ll spend the days ahead recapping each of the Saints’ rookies, starting with the former undrafted free agents and working up to the top draft picks. Let’s start by reviewing Kidd’s rookie season in black and gold: