Former ‘Baler Kyle Sharp Recounts What Life is Like Playing
Division I Basketball
Santa Clara – This has been a night that Kyle Sharp has been looking forward to for quite some time.
In his first year at the University of Montana, Sharp circled Dec. 22 as soon as the Grizzlies’ basketball schedule was released. Sharp and his new team, a Montana squad that has run off nine consecutive victories, are about to take the court at the Leavey Center.
Set to face the Santa Clara University Broncos on their home court, Montana knew it would have its work cut out tonight.
But for Sharp, the Grizzlies’ freshman forward, the game has added significance. He knows a large contingent of his friends and family will be in attendance. After all, he’s one of Hollister’s own.
Anticipation, nerves, excitement … they’re all part of the package as Sharp steps out of the locker room. Here’s how his night unfolded.
PREGAME
Sharp takes the court with his Montana teammates and as they begin their pregame shootaround, Sharp makes eye contact and exchanges pleasantries with a few friends.
“It was really exciting as I was shooting,” said Sharp, “just seeing all my friends, everyone I knew.”
FIRST HALF
20:00 – Sharp takes his place on the bench with his warm-up top on, ready to watch the action attentively. The teams battle back and forth, with neither taking a lead greater than four points in the early going.
13:37 – With Montana trailing 12-11, Sharp gets the call from head coach Larry Krystkowiak that he’s going in. Calmly walking to the scorer’s table, he takes a seat on the ground next to teammate Matt Dlouhy. Waiting for a stoppage of play, Sharp ties his shorts.
13:15 – When a timeout is called on the floor, Sharp takes a seat next to the starters for directions from the coaching staff. Leaning right in his face, Krystkowiak tells him, “Go in there and play your @#$ off.”
“He knew I needed to go in there and get a few minutes,” said Sharp.
As the timeout ends, the voice comes booming over the PA system.
“CHECKING IN FOR THE GRIZZLIES … NO. 40 … KYLE SHARP!”
“My blood was flowing,” said Sharp. “It made me smile. It was fun, exciting.”
As he steps on the court, he spots the man he’s set to defend, Santa Clara star Travis Niesen.
“I didn’t want him to score,” said Sharp, who remembered matching up against Niesen in open gym games in the past.
13:07 – The Broncos immediately get Niesen the ball and the chance to go at his freshman defender. Taking the ball to the hoop, Niesen swoops in for his signature shot, a lefty hook. With Sharp on his every move, Niesen shoots the ball long and Montana grabs the rebound.
“I just wanted to shut him down,” said Sharp.
12:35 – At the other end of the court, Sharp gets a bit too aggressive in pursuing an offensive rebound and picks up a foul.
11:59 – Santa Clara tries a pick and roll with guard Brody Angley and Niesen, but Sharp steps out to ‘show’ on Angley and then quickly retreats to follow Niesen through the paint. Niesen’s shot is again off the mark.
11:42 – Sharp battles for perfect position to collect a rebound on teammate Andrew Strait’s shot, but the jumper is good, pulling Montana within 15-13.
11:16 – Back on the defensive end, Sharp is matched up against Okechukwu Mbanugo, who forcefully pulls down an offensive rebound. Pressured by Sharp after securing the ball, Mbanugo is called for traveling, a turnover that gives Montana possession.
10:52 – After a miss by a Grizzlies’ teammate, Sharp comes down with a rebound just outside the key and sees his opening.
“I saw the lane,” said Sharp, who dribbled toward the hoop for the lay-up.
As Sharp releases the ball, Santa Clara’s Domineek Daniel times his leap perfectly and swats away the shot.
“I just wanted to go strong to the hoop,” shrugged Sharp. “Tried to get some points.”
9:56 – Niesen finally gets the best of Sharp, driving by his defender and converting a hook shot five feet from the basket. Sharp isn’t the first Grizzly Niesen will score on. The Broncos star goes on to pump in 14 points in the first half, double what anyone else on either team could manage.
9:10 – The sure sign of a true competitor, Sharp’s jersey comes untucked as he runs down to get position on defense.
8:29 – With Santa Clara leading 20-18, Krystkowiak lifts Sharp in favor of Mike Chavez. Just as Sharp gets comfortable on the bench and grabs a cup of water, Niesen drains a three-pointer to give the Broncos a 23-18 lead, their largest of the night. But with its starters back, Montana gradually climbs back in the game.
6:44 – Two Grizzlies assistant coaches take the seats next to Sharp and start talking with him about the action as Montana takes a 24-23 lead.
0:00 – It’s halftime and Montana battled the host Broncos to take a 32-30 lead at the break.
SECOND HALF
20:00 – The tight contest means Krystkowiak is intent on getting his starters as many minutes as possible. As the game stays close, Sharp knows his night on the court may be done, but that his importance to the team is far from over.
Sitting alongside the rest of the substitutes, Sharp is now the first one off the bench to offer his teammates encouragement.
“I’ve just got to give ’em support,” said Sharp. “I’m a person who tries to help ’em get better, to pick ’em up a little.”
10:05 – With Montana in front 53-47, Krystkowiak walks right in front of Sharp and blurts out, “We need to box out more. We can’t give up these offensive rebounds.”
Sharp says Krystkowiak isn’t talking to anyone in particular, just voicing his frustrations.
“He’s just got to get it out of his system,” said Sharp.
2:35 – Montana’s Jordan Hasquet drives to the hoop and puts up an acrobatic lay-up as he’s fouled. Once the ball rolls in, Sharp explodes off the bench with the rest of the Grizzlies’ bench. Hasquet’s free throw puts the Grizzlies up 62-54 and essentially clinches the win for Montana.
1:36 – Hasquet commits his fifth foul. As Hasquet leaves the court, Sharp is the first one to step up and give his teammate a high-five, an embrace for a job well done.
0:00 – The final buzzer sounds and Montana players gather to celebrate their 67-56 win. As he leaves the court, Sharp sees a large fan base waiting by the entrance to the visitors’ locker room, just hoping to congratulate their hero.
Sharp has something to say to all of his fans which made the trek to see him and his new team.
“I want to thank them for all their support,” said Sharp.
POSTGAME
Asked to assess his performance in his first trip back to the Bay Area as a collegiate player, Sharp smiled,
“I think I did all right,” said Sharp. “I just tried to go out there and play hard. I go in there and try to get rebounds, play some defense for right now. We’ll see what happens in the future.”
Though he would have enjoyed having the chance to play a few more minutes in front of his hometown fans, Sharp says the victory was the most important thing.
“That’s what I wanted,” said Sharp of Montana running its record to 10-1. “I wanted to show everyone what kind of team I’m on.”
