2020–21 Montana Grizzlies basketball team
{{short description|American college basketball season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox NCAA team season
|mode=Basketball
|sex=none
|year=2020–21
|team=Montana Grizzlies
|image=Montana Griz logo.svg
|image_size=150
|conference=Big Sky Conference
|division=
|short_conf=Big Sky
|CoachRank=
|APRank=
|record=15–13
|conf_record=7–9
|head_coach=Travis DeCuire
|hc_year=7th
|assoc_coach=Chris Cobb
|asst_coach2=Jay Flores
|asst_coach3=Zach Payne
|stadium=Dahlberg Arena
|champion=
|bowl=
|bowl_result=
}}
{{2020–21 Big Sky men's basketball standings}}
The 2020–21 Montana Grizzlies men's basketball team represented the University of Montana in the 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Grizzlies, led by seventh-year head coach Travis DeCuire, played their home games at Dahlberg Arena in Missoula, Montana as members of the Big Sky Conference. In a season limited due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Grizzlies finished the season 15–3, 7–9 in Big Sky play to finish in sixth place. They defeated Idaho and Weber State in the Big Sky tournament before losing to Eastern Washington in the semifinals.
Previous season
The Grizzlies finished the 2019–20 season 18–13, 14–6 in Big Sky play to finish in third place. They were scheduled to play Idaho State in the quarterfinals of the Big Sky tournament, but due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, all postseason tournaments were canceled, including the remainder of the Big Sky tournament.{{Cite news|url=https://bigskyconf.com/news/2020/3/12/mens-basketball-big-sky-conference-cancels-remainder-of-2020-basketball-championships.aspx|title=BIG SKY CONFERENCE CANCELS REMAINDER OF 2020 BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS|work=Big Sky Conference|date=March 12, 2020|accessdate=January 29, 2021|language=en}}
Offseason
=Departures=
| class="wikitable sortable" border="1"
! Name !! Number !! Pos. !! Height !! Weight !! Year !! Hometown !! class="unsortable" | Reason for departure | |||||||
| Timmy Falls | 1 | G | 6'2" | 170 | Junior | Dublin, California | Left team |
| Kendal Manuel | 2 | G | 6'4" | 190 | RS Senior | Billings, Montana | Graduated |
| Sayeed Pridgett | 4 | G | 6'5" | 201 | Senior | Oakland, California | Graduated |
| Naseem Gaskin | 5 | G | 6'5" | 185 | RS Freshman | Oakland, California | Left team |
| Jett Briceno | 13 | G | 6'4" | 180 | Freshman | Kent, Washington | Transferred to Bellevue College |
| Yagizhan Selcuk | 22 | F | 6'8" | 233 | RS Sophomore | Istanbul, Turkey | Transferred to Missouri Southern |
| Peter Jones | 32 | F | 6'8" | 210 | RS Sophomore | Seattle, Washington | Walk on; didn't return |
| Jared Samuelson | 33 | F | 6'7" | 215 | RS Senior | Billings, Montana | Graduated |
=Incoming transfers=
| class="wikitable sortable" border="1"
! Name !! Number !! Pos. !! Height !! Weight !! Year !! Hometown !! class="unsortable" | Previous School | |||||||
| Cameron Parker | 11 | G | 6'2" | 170 | Junior | Beaverton, Oregon | Transferred from Sacred Heart. Received an eligibility waiver from the NCAA to play immediately. |
=2020 recruiting class=
{{College Athlete Recruit Start|40=no|collapse=yes|year=2020}}
{{College Athlete Recruit Entry
| recruit = Brandon Whitney
| position = PG
| hometown = Mission Hills, CA
| highschool = Bishop Alemany High School
| feet = 6
| inches = 1
| weight = 165
| 40 =
| commitdate =
| scout stars = 0
| rivals stars = 0
| espn grade = NR
}}
{{College Athlete Recruit End
| 40 =
| year = 2020
| rivals ref title = Montana 2020 Basketball Commitments
| scout ref title = 2020 Montana Basketball Commits
| espn ref title = ESPN Recruiting Nation Basketball
| rivals school =
| scout s =
| espn schoolid =
| scout overall =
| rivals overall =
| espn overall =
| accessdate = 2019-01-09
| bball = yes
}}
Roster
{{CBB roster/Header|year=2020|team=Montana Grizzlies|teamcolors=y|high_school=yes}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Kyle|last=Owens|num=0|pos=G|ft=6|in=8|lbs=205|class=so|rs=|home=Calabasas, California|high_school=Crespi Carmelite High School}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Michael|last=Steadman|num=1|pos=F|ft=6|in=11|lbs=215|class=sr|rs=y|home=Union City, California|high_school=San Jose State}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Darius|last=Henderson|num=2|pos=F|ft=6|in=9|lbs=220|class=jr|rs=|home=Pasadena, California|high_school=UMass Lowell}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Josh|last=Vazquez|num=3|pos=G|ft=6|in=3|lbs=180|class=so|rs=|home=Torrance, California|high_school=Bishop Montgomery High School}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Robby|last=Beasley III|num=5|pos=G|ft=6|in=3|lbs=190|class=fr|rs=|home=San Ramon, California|high_school=Dublin High School}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Eddy|last=Egun|num=10|pos=G|ft=6|in=4|lbs=204|class=so|rs=y|home=Woodland Hills, California|high_school=El Camino Real High School}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Cameron|last=Parker|num=11|pos=G|ft=6|in=2|lbs=170|class=jr|rs=|home=Beaverton, Oregon|high_school=Sacred Heart}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Brandon|last=Whitney|num=12|pos=G|ft=6|in=1|lbs=178|class=fr|rs=|home=Mission Hills, California|high_school=Bishop Alemany High School}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Josh|last=Bannan|link=y|num=13|pos=F|ft=6|in=9|lbs=215|class=fr|rs=|home=Melbourne, Australia|high_school=UC Lake Ginninderra}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Mack|last=Anderson|num=23|pos=F|ft=6|in=9|lbs=208|class=jr|rs=|home=Bozeman, Montana|high_school=Bozeman High School}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Freddy|last=Brown III|num=24|pos=G|ft=6|in=2|lbs=178|class=so|rs=y|home=Seattle, Washington|high_school=Nathan Hale High School}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Derrick|last=Carter-Hollinger|num=35|pos=F|ft=6|in=5|lbs=212|class=so|rs=|home=San Diego, California|high_school=Foothills Christian High School}}
{{CBB roster/Footer
|head_coach=
- Travis DeCuire ({{College|Montana}})
|asst_coach=
- Chris Cobb ({{college|Menlo College}})
- Jay Flores ({{college|Chico State}})
- Zach Payne ({{college|Whitworth}})
|roster_url=https://gogriz.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/2020-21
|accessdate=January 29, 2021
}}
==Schedule and results==
{{CBB schedule start|attend=yes}}
|-
!colspan=12 style={{CollegePrimaryStyle|Montana Grizzlies}}| Regular season
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = November 28, 2020
| time = 7:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| opponent = USC
| site_stadium = Galen Center
| site_cityst = Los Angeles, CA
| tv = P12N
| score = 62–76
| attend =
| record = 0–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 3, 2020
| time = 7:00 pm
| away = yes
| opponent = Southern Utah
| site_stadium = America First Event Center
| site_cityst = Cedar City, UT
| tv = Pluto TV
| score = 63–64
| attend =
| record = 0–2
| conference = 0–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 5, 2020
| time = 12:00 pm
| away = yes
| opponent = Southern Utah
| site_stadium = America First Event Center
| site_cityst = Cedar City, UT
| tv = Pluto TV
| score = 74–75
| attend =
| record = 0–3
| conference = 0–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 8, 2020
| time = 5:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| opponent = Georgia
| site_stadium = Stegeman Coliseum
| site_cityst = Athens, GA
| tv = SECN
| score = 50–63
| attend = 1,638
| record = 0–4
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 12, 2020
| time = 2:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| opponent = Yellowstone Christian College
| site_stadium = Dahlberg Arena
| site_cityst = Missoula, MT
| tv = Pluto TV
| score = 102–42
| attend =
| record = 1–4
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 16, 2020
| time = 9:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| opponent = Washington
| site_stadium = Alaska Airlines Arena
| site_cityst = Seattle, WA
| tv = P12N
| score = 66–58
| attend =
| record = 2–4
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 18, 2020
| time = 4:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| opponent = Dickinson State
| site_stadium = Dahlberg Arena
| site_cityst = Missoula, MT
| tv = Pluto TV
| score = 78–51
| attend =
| record = 3–4
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 22, 2020
| time = 5:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| opponent = Arizona
| site_stadium = McKale Center
| site_cityst = Tucson, AZ
| tv = P12N
| score = 64–70
| attend =
| record = 3–5
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 2, 2021
| time = 5:00 pm
| opponent = Northern Colorado
| site_stadium = Dahlberg Arena
| site_cityst = Missoula, MT
| tv = SWX MT
| score = 62–64
| attend =
| record = 3–6
| conference = 0–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 4, 2021
| time = 9:00 am
| opponent = Northern Colorado
| site_stadium = Dahlberg Arena
| site_cityst = Missoula, MT
| tv = SWX MT
| score = 56–54
| attend =
| record = 4–6
| conference = 1–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 9, 2021
| time = 2:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| opponent = Whitworth
| site_stadium = Dahlberg Arena
| site_cityst = Missoula, MT
| tv = Pluto TV
| score = 84–67
| attend =
| record = 5–6
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 14, 2021
| time = 5:00 pm
| opponent = Northern Arizona
| site_stadium = Dahlberg Arena
| site_cityst = Missoula, MT
| tv = SWX MT
| score = 67–56
| attend =
| record = 6–6
| conference = 2–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 16, 2021
| time = 11:00 am
| opponent = Northern Arizona
| site_stadium = Dahlberg Arena
| site_cityst = Missoula, MT
| tv = Pluto TV
| score = 58–62
| attend =
| record = 6–7
| conference = 2–4
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 21, 2021
| time = 6:00 pm
| away = yes
| opponent = Sacramento State
| site_stadium = Hornets Nest
| site_cityst = Sacramento, CA
| tv = Pluto TV
| score = 78–66
| attend =
| record = 7–7
| conference = 3–4
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 23, 2021
| time = 12:00 pm
| away = yes
| opponent = Sacramento State
| site_stadium = Hornets Nest
| site_cityst = Sacramento, CA
| tv = Pluto TV
| score = 83–89
| overtime = 2OT
| attend =
| record = 7–8
| conference = 3–5
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 28, 2021
| time = 7:00 pm
| status = c
| opponent = Montana State
| site_stadium = Dahlberg Arena
| site_cityst = Missoula, MT
| tv = SWX MT
| score = Canceled
| attend =
| record =
| conference =
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 30, 2021
| time = 2:00 pm
| away = yes
| status = c
| opponent = Montana State
| site_stadium = Brick Breeden Fieldhouse
| site_cityst = Bozeman, MT
| tv = SWX MT
| score = Canceled
| attend =
| record =
| conference =
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 4, 2021
| time = 8:00 pm
| away = yes
| opponent = Portland State
| site_stadium = Viking Pavilion
| site_cityst = Portland, OR
| tv = Pluto TV
| score = 70–64
| attend =
| record = 8–8
| conference = 4–5
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 6, 2021
| time = 1:00 pm
| away = yes
| opponent = Portland State
| site_stadium = Viking Pavilion
| site_cityst = Portland, OR
| tv = Pluto TV
| score = 56–61
| attend =
| record = 8–9
| conference = 4–6
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 11, 2021
| time = 5:00 pm
| opponent = Weber State
| site_stadium = Dahlberg Arena
| site_cityst = Missoula, MT
| tv = Pluto TV
| score = 80-67
| attend =
| record = 9-9
| conference = 5-6
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 13, 2021
| time = 12:00 pm
| opponent = Weber State
| site_stadium = Dahlberg Arena
| site_cityst = Missoula, MT
| tv = SWX MT
| score = 82–91
| attend =
| record = 9–10
| conference = 5–7
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 18, 2021
| time = 7:00 pm
| away = yes
| opponent = Eastern Washington
| site_stadium = Reese Court
| site_cityst = Cheney, WA
| tv = SWX MT
| score = 76–90
| attend =
| record = 9–11
| conference = 5–8
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 20, 2021
| time = 12:00 pm
| opponent = Eastern Washington
| site_stadium = Dahlberg Arena
| site_cityst = Missoula, MT
| tv = SWX MT
| score = 76–90
| attend =
| record = 9–12
| conference = 5–9
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 25, 2021
| time = 7:00 pm
| away = yes
| opponent = Idaho State
| site_stadium = Reed Gym
| site_cityst = Pocatello, ID
| tv = Pluto TV
| score = 64–58
| attend = 40
| record = 10–12
| conference = 6–9
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 27, 2021
| time = 11:00 am
| away = yes
| opponent = Idaho State
| site_stadium = Reed Gym
| site_cityst = Pocatello, ID
| tv = Pluto TV
| score = 59–58
| attend = 50
| record = 11–12
| conference = 7–9
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 28, 2021
| time = 7:30 pm
| nonconf = yes
| status = c
| opponent = Yellowstone Christian College
| site_stadium = Dahlberg Arena
| site_cityst = Missoula, MT
| tv = Pluto TV
| score = Canceled
| attend =
| record =
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = March 4, 2021
| time = 5:00 pm
| status = c
| opponent = Idaho
| site_stadium = Dahlberg Arena
| site_cityst = Missoula, MT
| tv = SWX MT
| score = Canceled
| attend =
| record =
| conference =
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = March 5, 2021
| time = 5:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| opponent = Warner Pacific
| site_stadium = Dahlberg Arena
| site_cityst = Missoula, MT
| tv = Pluto TV
| score = 92–61
| attend =
| record = 12–12
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = March 6, 2021
| time = 12:00 pm
| status = c
| opponent = Idaho
| site_stadium = Dahlberg Arena
| site_cityst = Missoula, MT
| tv = Pluto TV
| score = Canceled
| attend =
| record =
| conference =
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = March 6, 2021
| time = 2:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| opponent = Warner Pacific
| site_stadium = Dahlberg Arena
| site_cityst = Missoula, MT
| tv = Pluto TV
| score = 80–62
| attend =
| record = 13–12
}}
|-
!colspan=12 style={{CollegePrimaryStyle|Montana Grizzlies}}| 2021 Big Sky Conference men's basketball tournament
|-
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = March 10, 2021
| time = 3:00 pm
| opponent = Idaho
| oppseed = 11
| seed = 6
| neutral = yes
| site_stadium = Idaho Central Arena
| site_cityst = Boise, ID
| gamename = First round
| tv = Pluto TV
| score = 69–64
| attend =
| record = 14–12
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = March 11, 2021
| time = 8:00 pm
| opponent = Weber State
| oppseed = 3
| seed = 6
| neutral = yes
| site_stadium = Idaho Central Arena
| site_cityst = Boise, ID
| gamename = Quarterfinals
| tv = Pluto TV
| score = 80–75
| attend =
| record = 15–12
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = March 12, 2021
| time = 8:00 pm
| opponent = Eastern Washington
| oppseed = 2
| seed = 6
| neutral = yes
| site_stadium = Idaho Central Arena
| site_cityst = Boise, ID
| gamename = Semifinals
| tv = Pluto TV
| score = 50–78
| attend =
| record = 15–13
}}
|-
{{CBB schedule end|rank=| poll=AP Poll|region=|regionname=|timezone=Mountain}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Montana Grizzlies basketball navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:2020-21 Montana Grizzlies basketball team}}