Cherry leads Grizzlies to victory

Missed this from Saturday night: Will Cherry scored 16 points and passed for seven assists in Montana's 62-55 victory over Portland State.

Montana handles Eastern Washington

Montana took down visiting Eastern Washington 81-66 with Will Cherry collecting eight points, nine assists and a pair of steals in 33 minutes. He was 8-10 from the foul line as he didn't connect on any shots from the floor. In his first game back from a leave, Collin Chiverton posted 15 points in 18 minutes of court time for EW.

Montana falls to South Dakota State

It went to two overtimes before South Dakota State got by host Montana 68-67. Will Cherry played 13 minutes in his initial game back, scoring two points and grabbing four rebounds.

Much more on Will Cherry's debut today

This is all from Jeff Goodman, with apologies for excerpting so much:

I had this one circled on my schedule before the start of the season: South Dakota State's Nate Wolters going up against another one of the top mid-major point guards in the nation, Montana's Will Cherry. 

For a while, it didn't look as though it would happen. Cherry broke his foot in the preseason and was expected to miss anywhere from 2-3 months, but the 6-foot senior told CBSSports.com he intends to make his season debut on Saturday night at 9 p.m. against Wolters and the Jackrabbits. 

Wolters is one of the nation's most prolific offensive players, averaging 20.4 points, 6.1 assists and 6.0 rebounds. He missed a couple games earlier this month with an ankle sprain, but returned in a victory against Cal State Bakersfield and finished with 18 points, seven boards and six assists. 

Cherry said he was able to go full-contact, five-on-five in practice for the first time on Tuesday and his foot felt great. Montana coach Wayne Tinkle could limit Cherry's minutes, but the Oakland native said he was cleared and intends to play as long as he can on Saturday. 

"Unless something else happens, or they tell me I have to sit out, I'm going to play Saturday," Cherry said. 

While Cherry won't be at full-strength, it'll still be a barometer for both guards -- who are on the radar of NBA execs. Cherry is considered one of the elite perimeter defenders in the country, and both he and Wolters have made major strides with their perimeter shot over the course of their college careers. Cherry said he feels as though he's right there with Ohio State's Aaron Craft and Louisville's Russ Smith as one of the top defensive guards in the nation, but just doesn't get an opportunity to showcase it in front of the country. 

"I watch him [Craft] all the time," Cherry said. "He's a ball-hawking guard. I love watching him. He's so good at putting all that pressure and not fouling. I have taken what he does and tried to use it. He gets his hands straight up when guys are shooting and doesn't foul."

Cherry to play on Saturday

Will Cherry will be back on the court for Montana on Saturday.

Will Cherry is back

Montana Do-Everything guard Will Cherry will suit up for the first time this season per this Shaun Rainey tweet: "#Griz HC Tinkle "Will Cherry will be in uniform Sat and will be a game time decision against Carroll" ..cherry full participant at practice"

The former McClymonds High star suffered a broken foot back in September. It's too bad he couldn't play the other night at USF.

Praise for Will Cherry

Jonathan Reed really, really likes Will Cherry talents at the point.

What's interesting and promising is that Cherry's shooting statistics improved as the season went along:

* 44% shooting overall versus 50% in league play
* 37% shooting from long distance versus 41% in league play
* 78% free throw shooting versus 83% in league play

However, his assist-to-turnover ratio does need upgrading -- 105/90 overall, 50/43 in league play.

It's worth noting that Cherry will be transitioning from being his team's leading scorer to probably the fourth or fifth if he becomes a pro starter a la Lillard. He won't need to put the ball in the basket often, just consistently when he shoots.

Nor Cal talents in the Big Sky Conference

Jonathan Reed was a participant in the recent conference call of Big Sky coaches and these Nor Cal-related tidbits appeared in his post:

"...When asked about Collin Chiverton, he [Eastern Washington Coach Jim Hayford] said he is a lot healthier, and that he is looking for more consistency from him. He said when Chiverton is good, he is really good, and when he is bad, he is really bad. More consistency will help the whole team..."

"...He [Montana Coach Wayne Tinkle] talked about the decision for Will Cherry not to have surgery, and said it was the safer route for his future. He will be getting the cast off this week, and they are hoping he can return by early December..."

"...He [Sacramento State Coach Brian Katz] said that three guys have really shown they can step up and be contributors off the bench, and they are Mikh McKinney, Cody Demps..."

Listings for Cherry & Dellavedova

Will Cherry comes in at #27 in CBSSports' Top 50 Point Guards.

Matthew Dellavedova is numero ocho.

Gary Parrish/CBSSports looks at the Big Sky Conference -- "Now it's Will Cherry's league" -- and also has Collin Chiverton on his all-league squad.

Nor Cal talents among Big Sky Conference pre-season honorees

In Jeff Eisenberg's Big Sky Conference preview, he lists Will Cherry has the Player of the Year and has Cherry plus Eastern Washington's Colin Chiverton as First Team selections.

Sacramento State's Dylan Garrity gets the nod as Best Playmaker while Cherry is noted as Best Defender.

Cherry suffers broken foot

Will Cherry has broken his foot.

Here's more.

Robert Robinson adds a bit.

Cherry-picking Montana

Actually the headline, such as it is, displays as three years out of date as senior Will Cherry has been repping the Big Sky State for a trio of seasons now and will be the 'name' in the Big Sky Conference this coming season.

Coming out of McClymonds High, some thought Cherry would drop the end of the earth when he chose to attend Montana. Opinions have been reconsidered after the Grizzlies earned Big Dance invites in two out of the last three years and are favored to make a third appearance this coming season.

Cherry put up 15.8 points per game in 2011-12 on 45% overall shooting, 37% from long distance. He went to the foul line 169 times, sinking 78%, while nabbing 83 steals and corralling 3.9 rebounds a contest.

Here's a June 30, 2012 feature on him.

Will Cherry receiving national press

Jeff Eisenberg offers some press to Will Cherry as next season is the latter's turn to blow up.

More honors for Will Cherry

Will Cherry garners a couple of team awards at Montana.

The season for Will Cherry

Montana finished the season as the Big Sky Conference champions (25-7 and 15-1) and senior-to-be Will Cherry was the force behind the Grizzly success. Cherry averaged 15.8 points per game, shooting 44%, 37% and 78% respectively. He went to the foul line a remarkable 169 times. Cherry also corralled 3.9 rebounds a game, passed for 105 assists and led his team with 83 steals.

Wisconsin 73, Montana 49

Wisconsin took apart Montana 73-49 -- it was 39-29 at half time -- as junior Will Cherry went for nine points, two rebounds and a pair of steals. The loss ends Montana's season.

Here's an interview with Will Cherry

Head here to check out a Will Cherry interview.

Montana tops Weber State

Despite 29 points, 10 boards and seven assists from Damian Lillard, it was Montana winning the Big Sky Conference tournament 85-66 and thus an invite to the Big Dance. Will Cherry totaled 13 points, six assists, four rebounds and a trio of steals for the victors. Weber was ahead 36-31 at the half.

Cherry paces Montana into title game

Will Cherry scored 16 points, nabbed three steals and passed for a pair of assists in Montana's 74-66 win over Eastern Washington. It will be Montana versus Weber State for the Big Sky Conference championship tonight and it's on ESPN2.