Team preview: Montana

Blue Ribbon Illustrated previews the 2004-05 college basketball season, exclusively on Insider.

Updated: October 20, 2004, 5:05 PM ET
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Editor's Note: Insider has teamed with Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook, long known as the Bible of college basketball, to provide a comprehensive look at all 326 Division I teams.

COACH AND PROGRAM

The grand experiment of hiring a big-name coach didn't pay dividends for Montana. Pat Kennedy, former coach at Florida State and DePaul, left after two unsuccessful seasons, compiling a 23-35 record, including a 10-18 mark last season. Kennedy moved back east, taking the Towson State job after last season.

It's difficult for an Easterner to fit into the Rocky Mountain west, let alone in the University of Montana athletic program where the Grizzlies have had the most success hiring from within. Now they go back to the Griz family in hiring the extremely popular Larry Krystkowiak, one of the best players to ever don a UM uniform.

The big man (6-9) can coach, too. He guided the Idaho Stampede to the championship game of the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) last season.


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