Coaches and Media Poll & Fan Predictions

[weberwildcat]

http://www.weberhoops.com/index.htm

2008-09 Big Sky Conference Coaches Poll

Team, (First-place votes), Points

1. Portland State (7), 63

2. Montana (2), 56

3. Idaho State, 49

4. Northern Arizona, 41

5. Weber State, 34

6. Northern Colorado, 29

7. Eastern Washington, 22

8. Montana State, 14

9. Sacramento State, 10

2008-09 Big Sky Conference Media Poll

Team, (First-place votes), Points

1. Portland State (23), 230

2. Montana (2), 180

3. Idaho State (1), 169

4. Weber State, 165

5. Northern Arizona, 153

6. Northern Colorado, 104

7. Montana State, 76

8. Eastern Washington, 64

9. Sacramento State, 38

 

[weberwildcat]

From Bobcat Nation:

1. psu - too much talent...decent depth....great coaching
2. um - i'm a cat fan...nothing in my life goes how i want...griz finish 1 or 2. oh ya, they also have the best starting 5 in the conference
3. weber state - well coached and usually one of the most disciplined in the league...not real athletic
4. nau - like psureturns a lot of talent and experience....would not be at all surprised if they finish 2 or 3
5. idaho state - unlike weber, discipline seems to be one of their problems...athletic and talented, but sometimes head cases
6. msu - a young team....defense is the name of the game...will need to make outside shots....only as good as our guards
7. esu - always seem to be in the mix...just not enough experience....potential to win every game they play in conference.....won't be blown out
8. ncu/sac
9.sac/ncu...ok i cheated.....sac has no home court advantage and are young....ncu still getting acclimated...neither are very well coached....not yet at least

 

[weberwildcat]

From what I am "thinking I am seeing" thus far. I think this might be the best year of the Big Sky in the last 4 years.

Lots of new players coming in, some good freshman and of course the JC's and DI flunkies making latteral transfers.

I think other than PSU, WSU/NAU/ISU/UM/UNC will be able to win some games this year. I think those are the 6 in the conf tourney already.

And we won't even know who is good until conf starts because in the OOC our teams play really good DI's and then the DII's and NAIA's.

Especially ISU, anyone see their OOC? They could lose almost all of em and still be really good.

Reasons the following teams could contend/host: WSU/NAU/ISU/UM/UNC

We already know about PSU.

WSU: historically hardly ever dont contend (24 str8 conf tourney appearances until the fall of 2006, my senior yr at WSU, it was very depressing!). Daviin Davis/Kellen McCoy - much will be expected as the only seniors on the roster (and they do produce) - and likely the reason we were picked so low, very young overall. As long as Rahe is the coach WSU will be good. Also, I think its a very good thing we have Davis and McCoy running this year's team.

NAU: 3 str8 Big Sky title appearances, hard to say they won't compete for it this year. Always have great 3pt shooters. Like WSU, as long as they have Coach Adras, you can count on NAU.

ISU: 4 returning starters, lots of height - though we dont really know if all these bigs are any good.

UM: Picked high every year and dont' quite live up to it but they still can win the conf tourney as we all know. They were very talented last year and under performed with a losing record and 5th place. Picked 2nd again, we'll see.

UNC: Unproven newb to the conference and have never been to the post season though I dont think they could even if they would have made it til this year. 4 returning starters like ISU if I remember correctly. I don't see them finishing worse than 6th unless they somehow crumble or have injuries.

Even MSU I wonder about, they have a very good big man - Mbunga...he will need some decent guards though since Carlos Tayler graduated.

In 2007 WSU was picked 6th/7th in the polls and won it all, and in 2008 were picked to finish 1st, and finshed 3rd. PSU was picked 3rd in both polls last year.

The title before that that WSU won was 2003, I think WSU was picked to finish 2nd. Then in 2004 WSU was picked to repeat and finished 3rd or 4th.

http://www.weberhoops.com/standings.htm (scroll down to see the last 2 yrs polls)

Can PSU win back-to-back? A team has won back-to-back regular season titles 9 times (5 were WSU).

I really think WSU/NAU/ISU/UM could stop PSU from hosting....