A truly talented team has depth and talent at every position. In the Sky, a team with a great backcourt can win, and does frequently. However, the great teams have great balance between the backcourt and the frontcourt. Even though they didn't win a regular season conference championship, Montana had a truly dynamic frontcourt, anchored by Brian Qvale. Without a doubt, for the past two seasons he was the best big in the conference. However, with Qvale gone now, who takes over his crown?
Right now, the best big in the conference, in my opinion, would have to be Nate Loreazu of PSU. However, I don't think Kyle Tresnak or Darin Mahoney are too far behind. Mahoney is the type of player ever team covets. No, he isn't the flashy scorer, but he does give enough on the offensive end to make huge difference, especially when you have Lillard and Bamforth in the backcourt. Mahoney is a guy that does the little things: dives after balls, plays tenacious defense, and gives it his all when he is on the floor. UNCO's double threat of Addo and Osborne are scary, but right now, not as much as they will be.
PSU has a very strong frontcourt, which could pay dividends during the conference season. The other Big Sky teams either have bigs in the development phase, or are very thin in that area (NAU and MSU). They have Loreazu, Ronaldo Parker, and Chehales Tapscott. Weber, luckily, can counter those three with Tresnak, Mahoney, and Fulton. Hajek is a premier big that can come off the bench. He has been getting a lot better and is improving each game he plays in and once Otis and Bull are cleared to play, Weber will have the deepest frontcourt in the Sky. Yes, PSU has three talented bigs, but they don't have a lot of depth. Cataldo hasn't, at this point, lived up to expectations and there really isn't anyone else on their bench. Nevertheless, when PSU isn't having to go up against Weber, the Vikings should find a lot of success in the paint. No one else in the Sky has a lot to counter with.
UM does have Selvig, Reader, and Ward...but up to this point nobody in Missoula has been able to make up for the loss of Qvale, and without Qvale the UM offense and defense is merely a mirror of its former self. Eastern has a couple of really strong bigs in Ederain and Johnson, but neither are WOW worthy. State has Cloud, who, at times, has really shown some spunk, but isn't a superstar. ISU, UNCO, and SAC each have some talent, especially UNCO in Proctor, Addo, and Osborne; yet, Proctor seems to have taken a step back this season, while Addo and Osborne each have ability, but haven't found a way to really mesh that ability (I think they will...UNCO will be good again, but not this season) Addo is the scorer and Osborne the defender.
For Weber...it just shows how strong the team is. For the rest of the Sky, it shows how important Bigs are, and when you don't have them how much a coach wishes he had them. One reason the Sky is so weak, this season, is because of its lack of developed bigs. Anyway, the below bigs are my top frontcourt players on their respective team. I don't think NAU has a big. Do they? :lol:
1. Nate Loreazu
2. Kyle Tresnak
3. Dereck Selvig (even though he thinks he is a guard)
4. Cliff Ederain
5. Mohammed Cloud
6. Emmanuel Addo
7. Konnor Veteto
8. Abner Moreira
Right now, the best big in the conference, in my opinion, would have to be Nate Loreazu of PSU. However, I don't think Kyle Tresnak or Darin Mahoney are too far behind. Mahoney is the type of player ever team covets. No, he isn't the flashy scorer, but he does give enough on the offensive end to make huge difference, especially when you have Lillard and Bamforth in the backcourt. Mahoney is a guy that does the little things: dives after balls, plays tenacious defense, and gives it his all when he is on the floor. UNCO's double threat of Addo and Osborne are scary, but right now, not as much as they will be.
PSU has a very strong frontcourt, which could pay dividends during the conference season. The other Big Sky teams either have bigs in the development phase, or are very thin in that area (NAU and MSU). They have Loreazu, Ronaldo Parker, and Chehales Tapscott. Weber, luckily, can counter those three with Tresnak, Mahoney, and Fulton. Hajek is a premier big that can come off the bench. He has been getting a lot better and is improving each game he plays in and once Otis and Bull are cleared to play, Weber will have the deepest frontcourt in the Sky. Yes, PSU has three talented bigs, but they don't have a lot of depth. Cataldo hasn't, at this point, lived up to expectations and there really isn't anyone else on their bench. Nevertheless, when PSU isn't having to go up against Weber, the Vikings should find a lot of success in the paint. No one else in the Sky has a lot to counter with.
UM does have Selvig, Reader, and Ward...but up to this point nobody in Missoula has been able to make up for the loss of Qvale, and without Qvale the UM offense and defense is merely a mirror of its former self. Eastern has a couple of really strong bigs in Ederain and Johnson, but neither are WOW worthy. State has Cloud, who, at times, has really shown some spunk, but isn't a superstar. ISU, UNCO, and SAC each have some talent, especially UNCO in Proctor, Addo, and Osborne; yet, Proctor seems to have taken a step back this season, while Addo and Osborne each have ability, but haven't found a way to really mesh that ability (I think they will...UNCO will be good again, but not this season) Addo is the scorer and Osborne the defender.
For Weber...it just shows how strong the team is. For the rest of the Sky, it shows how important Bigs are, and when you don't have them how much a coach wishes he had them. One reason the Sky is so weak, this season, is because of its lack of developed bigs. Anyway, the below bigs are my top frontcourt players on their respective team. I don't think NAU has a big. Do they? :lol:
1. Nate Loreazu
2. Kyle Tresnak
3. Dereck Selvig (even though he thinks he is a guard)
4. Cliff Ederain
5. Mohammed Cloud
6. Emmanuel Addo
7. Konnor Veteto
8. Abner Moreira
