Montana Basketball: In-depth look at Grizzlies star forward Josh Bannan

By Bryan Mauro | Sep 2, 2022

MISSOULA, MT - MARCH 10: Montana Grizzlies mascot Monte and the dance team performn against the Weber State Wildcats in the quarterfinals of the Men's Big Sky Conference Basketball Championships at Idaho Central Arena on March 10, 2022 in Boise, Idaho. Montana lost to Weber State 69-56. (Photo by Tommy Martino/University of Montana via Getty Images) /

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Montana Basketball head coach Travis DeCuire Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /

Expectations for Josh Bannan in 2022-23

The Grizzlies have won at least 15 games and have yet to have a losing record under current coach Decuire. They have finished in the top half of the league every time over the last 8 seasons. The fans in Missoula have grown to expect this out of their program, and that is the expectation every season. The goals are almost always met, and this season with the transfer portal additions that is going to be a reasonable goal again. Many are going to have co-champions in the Big Sky this year with Montana being one of those teams.

The junior big man is a huge reason for those expectations this year as he can be on the first team all-conference. It was a huge surprise last season how Bannan played, and he should have been honored with the first team all-conference, especially considering that he was second in the league in rebounding and shooting percentage. He also averaged near a double-double in conference play. Those are things that should warrant first-team consideration.

This year he is going to get put on that team, Bannan can win the player of the year in the league, but it will be a tall task as the preseason list is stacked with talent. If Bannan repeats his season from last year he will get his dues.

I have mentioned it a few times, but the big man is going to have a lot of extra help this year, especially in the front court. The Grizzlies went shopping in the transfer portal and were able to land former Colorado State Ram Dischon Thomas. Thomas is going to be in a score-first role with the Grizzlies and he is a great shooter from deep and will get many more chances with Montana.

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The other transfer is a familiar face in the big sky as former Southern Utah guard Aanan Moody moved further north to Missoula to finish out his college career. These two players on top of the rest of what Montana has returning are going to take the pressure off Bannan to be the sole source of the offense. The Grizzlies are going to be a force in the Big Sky this year, especially in their front court.

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