Haven't done enough research on the other BSC teams to consider posting a conference prediction thread yet. A few unsubstantiated (with stats or facts at least ...like that gets in the way of most sports based conversation) thoughts about the Big Sky Conference:
* Weber State is always dangerous. Beware the Wildcats......had a great time talking to WSU fans at the Portland tourney last year....this conference rivalry had produced a multitude of tears and sorrow and just a few moments of joy...kudos to WSU for staying consistent
*Idaho State ...sleeper pick....impressed when I saw em in Portland last March and the 1-2 times on Altitude
*Eastern Washington...bummer call on their guard, Deleon, being ineligible for the 1st semester....seems to be typical NCAA hypocrisy ..... don't know if the talent's there but like how hard they play and think Earleywine's gonna be a good coach
*Montana State....once again like what their coach brings but don't think the talent level is quite there yet to win the league
*Montana....Dear Lumberjacks and rest of the Big Sky Conference, Please beat the Grizzlies. If nothing else to make up for that football game. Thank you. Sincerely, A Lumberjacks fan in Montana ..... they're going to be good.....quite an influx of talent....last season was a train wreck and can't see that happening again
*Sacramento State...nowhere to go but up...new coach had a great track record in lower levels of college basketball....California's a treasure trove of hoops talent if only they can start mining it....expect a long season but slightly better than last year
*U of Northern Colorado....always seem to give the Jacks fits....probably know the least about this team but expect a hard fought game from em.....probably improved???
*Portland State.....wow....if their play the end of last year carries over to this season it could get ugly... lotsa talent...good coach....campus/community support not there but that seems to be quite the problem across the Big Sky Conference including Flagstaff....I guess they're my pick to win the league and tourney bid
Jacks will compete. No first place finish. Probably no second place finish. Maybe not even a third place finish but I expect the usual Adras coached team that is in every game and could surprise a few people.
I was initially let down with the non-conference schedule but after looking at it don't think it'll be all that bad. Home and away with NDSU makes me wish I was back living in Fargo again. NDSU's made a habit of taking out top 25 teams over the past few years. Utah Valley State may not offer the glamour factor that some of last year's non-conference schedule did but they seem to consistently put a quality team on the floor and if my memory serves me, can remember a few time they've upset some of the bigger in-state powers - U of Utah, BYU, Utah State and Weber State.
Wichita State and Stanford are tough road games with great homecourt advantage/environments. Maybe not the same teams of the their past but still good gets for the Jacks.
Was sad that AggieJack's prediction of a game against the U of New Mexico never came to fruition. Northern New Mexico has to be considered a bit of a step down.
Could this be the year NAU's able to make the usual 8-12 point loss in Tucson to the U of A just a bit closer? If I could combine last year's NAU team with this year's U of A team/lack of depth/turmoil/chaos/Lute Olson soap opera then I'd say the Jacks actually had a shot at winning. Unlikely but boy would that be fun.
The schedule's a bit quirky. 2 home games between Dec 18th and Jan 18th. Ugh. Not a kind way to ease into conference play.
Stoked to (hopefully) see two NAU games in Flagstaff in early January and the two games here in Montana early January as well.
Spread the word. Maybe Mitch "Voice of the Jacks" Strohman can offer up some free advertising during live broadcast?
This place has been like a mausoleum since the Weber State football game.
Go Jacks!
MTJack
* Weber State is always dangerous. Beware the Wildcats......had a great time talking to WSU fans at the Portland tourney last year....this conference rivalry had produced a multitude of tears and sorrow and just a few moments of joy...kudos to WSU for staying consistent
*Idaho State ...sleeper pick....impressed when I saw em in Portland last March and the 1-2 times on Altitude
*Eastern Washington...bummer call on their guard, Deleon, being ineligible for the 1st semester....seems to be typical NCAA hypocrisy ..... don't know if the talent's there but like how hard they play and think Earleywine's gonna be a good coach
*Montana State....once again like what their coach brings but don't think the talent level is quite there yet to win the league
*Montana....Dear Lumberjacks and rest of the Big Sky Conference, Please beat the Grizzlies. If nothing else to make up for that football game. Thank you. Sincerely, A Lumberjacks fan in Montana ..... they're going to be good.....quite an influx of talent....last season was a train wreck and can't see that happening again
*Sacramento State...nowhere to go but up...new coach had a great track record in lower levels of college basketball....California's a treasure trove of hoops talent if only they can start mining it....expect a long season but slightly better than last year
*U of Northern Colorado....always seem to give the Jacks fits....probably know the least about this team but expect a hard fought game from em.....probably improved???
*Portland State.....wow....if their play the end of last year carries over to this season it could get ugly... lotsa talent...good coach....campus/community support not there but that seems to be quite the problem across the Big Sky Conference including Flagstaff....I guess they're my pick to win the league and tourney bid
Jacks will compete. No first place finish. Probably no second place finish. Maybe not even a third place finish but I expect the usual Adras coached team that is in every game and could surprise a few people.
I was initially let down with the non-conference schedule but after looking at it don't think it'll be all that bad. Home and away with NDSU makes me wish I was back living in Fargo again. NDSU's made a habit of taking out top 25 teams over the past few years. Utah Valley State may not offer the glamour factor that some of last year's non-conference schedule did but they seem to consistently put a quality team on the floor and if my memory serves me, can remember a few time they've upset some of the bigger in-state powers - U of Utah, BYU, Utah State and Weber State.
Wichita State and Stanford are tough road games with great homecourt advantage/environments. Maybe not the same teams of the their past but still good gets for the Jacks.
Was sad that AggieJack's prediction of a game against the U of New Mexico never came to fruition. Northern New Mexico has to be considered a bit of a step down.
Could this be the year NAU's able to make the usual 8-12 point loss in Tucson to the U of A just a bit closer? If I could combine last year's NAU team with this year's U of A team/lack of depth/turmoil/chaos/Lute Olson soap opera then I'd say the Jacks actually had a shot at winning. Unlikely but boy would that be fun.
The schedule's a bit quirky. 2 home games between Dec 18th and Jan 18th. Ugh. Not a kind way to ease into conference play.
Stoked to (hopefully) see two NAU games in Flagstaff in early January and the two games here in Montana early January as well.
Spread the word. Maybe Mitch "Voice of the Jacks" Strohman can offer up some free advertising during live broadcast?
This place has been like a mausoleum since the Weber State football game.
Go Jacks!
MTJack
