THE SPORTS NETWORK BIGSKY BASKETBALL PREVIEW

Kadeezy · Post by **Kadeezy** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 2:30 pm

College Basketball Preview - Big Sky Conference
The Sports Network

By Ralph Lauro, College Basketball Staff Writer

OUTLOOK: After a second place finish during the regular season, Montana was able to play even better during the Big Sky Tournament and won the league title and an automatic berth in the Big Dance. The Grizzlies figure to be just one of several teams in the hunt for the Big Sky championship this season, as they welcome back a bevy of players from last year's squad. However, hot on their heels is a Sacramento State club that returns four key players from a team that finished 8-6 in league play last season. Montana State welcomes back all five starters from a year ago and could be out for Montana and Sacramento State after finishing in a tie for second place during the regular season last year. Northern Arizona didn't fare well last season, but has the talent to be the dark horse this time around. Weber State could contend for a winning record in league play if everything goes right, while Portland State, Idaho State and Eastern Washington are all in rebuilding years.

CONFERENCE CHAMPION: Sacramento State

PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH:

1. Sacramento State; 2. Montana; 3. Montana State; 4. Northern Arizona; 5. Weber State; 6. Portland State; 7. Idaho State; 8. Eastern Washington

TEAM BY TEAM ANALYSIS:

SACRAMENTO STATE - Once a program that struggled to just stay out of the cellar, the Hornets have shown a great deal of improvement over the last few seasons, including a fourth place finish (8-6) last year. With four starters back in the fold, from a team that went 12-16 overall, Sacramento State could be ready to win its first Big Sky title. Leading the way is 6-4 guard Jason Harris, who burst on the scene last year and earned the Big Sky Newcomer of the Year award. He also earned First-Team all-conference accolades after averaging 17.5 ppg, 4.6 rpg and 2.04 spg. He is certainly one the most versatile players is the league, as is fellow teammate DaShawn Freeman. The 5-11 guard may not be the big time scorer (10.0 ppg) Harris is, but he makes up for it in many other ways, averaging 4.9 apg, 3.3 rpg and 2.9 spg. In the frontcourt, the Hornets return a pair of starters in Alex Bausley and Chris Lange. Bausley turned in 10.4 ppg and 5.3 rpg as a sophomore a year ago, while Lange chipped in with 5.5 ppg. With an abundance of talent and size off the bench, the Hornets should not only contend for a league title, but a winning overall record as well.

MONTANA - The Grizzlies excelled last season under first year head coach Larry Krystkowiak and earned an automatic berth into the Big Dance by winning the Big Sky Tournament championship. The team also posted its best league record (9-5) and overall mark (18-13) since the turn of the century. With four starters back from last year's club Montana could make it two titles in a row under Krystkowiak's care. Kevin Criswell, the 2002-03 Big Sky Freshman of the Year, stepped up in a big way last season and averaged 12.3 ppg and 4.3 rpg in earning all league-honor honors. Sophomore Matt Martin will pair up with Criswell in the backcourt after turning in 9.4 ppg and 3.5 apg as a freshman last season. Up front the Grizzlies hope John Seyfert can finally live up to expectations. The 6-10 senior has great size and good hands, but averaged a mere 5.2 ppg and 3.8 ppg as a starter last season. Joining Seyfert in the frontcourt will be fellow returning starter Matt Doughy, who contributed 9.1 ppg and 4.5 rpg year ago. Andrew Strait is another player the Grizzlies have high expectations for, as he averaged 8.4 ppg and 4.4 rpg as a true freshman. Montana seems to have the right mix of size, experience and talent and that will go along way in its repeat attempt in 2005-06.

MONTANA STATE - The Bobcats were one of the biggest surprises in the Big Sky last season, as they finished in second place with a 9-5 record. The team also posted its second straight 14-win season (14-14) and with all five starters back in the fold, Montana State could be primed for even better things. It all starts with senior guard Ja'Ron Jefferson, who led the Bobcats in scoring (12.9 ppg) in his first year in Bozeman after transferring from the juco ranks. Branden Miller (12.2 ppg) will partner up with Jefferson at the perimeter, giving the Bobcats arguably the best backcourt duo in the league. Things don't tail off in the frontcourt with a strong trio of returning starters in Marvin Moss, Nick Dissly and Al Beye. Moss is a star in the making and earned all-league honors last season after netting 12.2 ppg and finishing fourth in the conference in rebounding with 7.1 rpg. Dissly added 9.4 rpg and 5.0 rpg, while the 6-11 Beye chipped in with 8.5 rpg. Although there is plenty of talent in the frontcourt the Bobcats must do a better job of rebounding, as they ranked second to last in the league in that category last season.

NORTHERN ARIZONA - The Lumberjacks suffered through several injuries and some growing pains last season and that is why they finished just 4-10 in league play and 11-17 overall. The good news for Northern Arizona is that it returns four starters from last season and with a year of experience under their belt they should be an improved bunch. Kelly Golob leads the way for the Lumberjacks after posting 11.5 ppg a year ago. The 6-5 guard has great range, knocking down 61 three-pointers, and can also get to the hoop in a hurry. He will be joined in the backcourt by Steven Sir, who made his presence felt in his first year in the Big Sky in 2004-05. The 6-6 guard led the team in scoring with 14.0 ppg on the strength of 46.1 percent shooting form long range. DeJuan Stevens, who averaged 12.7 ppg and 3.9 apg off the bench last season, will surely see a significant amount of playing time once again this year. Ruben Boykin and Kyle Landry are the two returning starters up front and their play will go a long way in determining the team's success. Boykin averaged 11.4 ppg and 7.1 rpg as a sophomore last season, while Landry added 8.8 ppg and 5.3 rpg during his rookie campaign. The Lumberjacks possessed one of the league's best offenses last year and that should be true once again in 2005-06.

WEBER STATE - The Wildcats had their share of struggles during the 2004-05 campaign, but the team was still able to put together a late run en route to a Big Sky Tournament championship game. Although the team lost out to Montana in the title game, the appearance alone overshadowed a rather mediocre 7-7 record in league play. Overall, the club went 14-16, but now must find a way to replace 6-11 Lance Allred, who averaged a double-double with 17.7 ppg and 12.0 rpg. Helping fill the void left by one of the top big men to ever play in the Big Sky is three returning starters, including Coric Riggs. The 6-4 guard/forward averaged 10.3 ppg and 4.0 rpg last year and could be primed for a career year this time around. Terrell Stovall is another player that could break out after the guard averaged 9.7 ppg off the bench last season. Guards Brett Cox (6.7 ppg) and Jamaal Jenkins (5.1 ppg) need to increase there scoring and that should be possible after gaining a year of starting experience in 2004-05. The biggest problem for the Wildcats is in the frontcourt where the team lacks size and depth. David Patten averaged 7.4 ppg off the bench last season and will be counted on for even more this year.

PORTLAND STATE - The Vikings had all the tools to make their first-ever trip to the Big Dance last season, but couldn't get the job done. PSU won the regular season title (11-3) with ease, but was upended in the semifinals of the Big Sky Tournament by Weber State. This season, the Vikings boast a completely different look with the departure of three starters, including Big Sky MVP Seamus Boxley. Jake Schroeder is one of the two starters back and is the team's leading returning scorer with an average of 9.5 ppg. He will be joined at the perimeter by juco transfer Ryan Sommer, who should provide instant offense after averaging 25.0 ppg in the juco ranks. Up front, the Vikings will count on Scott Morrison for an increase of production. The 6-11 center is coming off a sub par 2004-05 campaign in which averaged 6.6 ppg and 4.6 rpg. Anthony Washington, a 6-9 transfer from Washington, should add some much needed help to the frontcourt as well.

IDAHO STATE - The Bengals were the worst team in the league (3-11) last season and with the departure of their three main contributors from that club they may find it even harder to avoid a last place finish. Eight new players and one redshirted player (David Schroeder) will be on the roster for Idaho State this season, as it is clearly in a rebuilding mode. On a positive note, the team does welcome back Logan Kinghorn, who was named the 2004-05 Big Sky Freshman of the Year after averaging 10.6 ppg and 3.9 rpg. Slim Millien is the only other returning starter for Idaho State. The 6-7 forward could be primed for a big year after posting 11.8 ppg and 5.2 rpg a season ago. Reserves Kyle Stevens (2.3 ppg) and Nicholas Rhodes (2.5 ppg) don't have much experience, but will need to step up to help bolster the team's inside game.

EASTERN WASHINGTON - After winning the league title in 2003-04 and making their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance, the Eagles fell off completely last season, finishing a dismal 8-20 overall. The team also struggled in league play, going just 5-9 before being bounced in the first round of the Big Sky Tournament. Things could get worse this season, as the Eagles must find a way to replace leading scorer Mark Axton (16.2 ppg). Just two starters are back from last year's team, leaving Eastern Washington a bit depleted. One of those two starters is Jake Beitinger, who turned in 7.3 ppg and 3.3 rpg as a true freshman last season. The 6-8 forward will be joined in the frontcourt by a pair of reserves in Paul Butorac (5.1 ppg) and Henry Bekkering (5.0 ppg), both of whom may be ready to handle a starting role. Deuce Smith will run things at the perimeter after averaging 7.6 ppg in his first season with the Eagles, after transferring from the juco ranks. The team will try out several newcomers to find an adequate running mate for Smith, but that may take some time.

11/01 10:33:52 ET

grizband · Post by **grizband** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 2:35 pm

Up front the Grizzlies hope John Seyfert can finally live up to expectations. The 6-10 senior has great size and good hands, but averaged a mere 5.2 ppg and 3.8 ppg as a starter last season
This might be hard, since he is out for the year. Without Seyfert, someone of our younger guys are going to have to step up.

BozoneCat · Post by **BozoneCat** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 2:38 pm

As usual, the Sports Network doesn't know what they are talking about, while at the same time managing to kiss as much grizzly butt as possible. Sac State - are they serious? The only thing they know how to win is volleyball.

bozbobcat · Post by **bozbobcat** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 2:49 pm

Sac St winning the Big Sky???

Why wouldn't any team that returns 5 starters be the favorite to win the conference? I don't know why Sac St. would be the favorite. They should be decent, but from what I've heard, this team is kind of schizophrenic. They can be good one night and absolutely horrible the next time they step onto the court. They're too inconsistent to be picked first. Oh well. This is only the second prediction that I've seen (out of about

that did not pick the Cats to win the conference title. I'll believe the other 6.

CARDIAC_CATS · Post by **CARDIAC_CATS** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 3:09 pm

BozoneCat wrote:As usual, the Sports Network doesn't know what they are talking about, while at the same time managing to kiss as much grizzly butt as possible. Sac State - are they serious? The only thing they know how to win is volleyball.

Thought the same thing

Doherty writing for Basketball too?

longhorn_22 · Post by **longhorn_22** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 3:24 pm

Does Doherty write for the NY Times or something too?

It's like he has never heard of the BSC.

Kadeezy · Post by **Kadeezy** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 4:46 pm

hahaha, always nice to see a few feathers rufffled...

Kadeezy · Post by **Kadeezy** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 4:48 pm

P.S. A big sky team had a little fun last night....

http://www.hornetsports.com/sports/mbba ... SE_ID=9613

P.P.S. William Jessup (NAIA) 69 UC Davis 64

CatFamily · Post by **CatFamily** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 4:53 pm

Sac St... I like it... having fun like that is great for the program and kids... kudos...

Kadeezy · Post by **Kadeezy** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 5:33 pm

Does MSU have a program like "Hornet Hoopfest"? Maybe ar Midnight Madness thing?

Kadeezy · Post by **Kadeezy** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 2:39 pm

so that's a no?

CelticCat · Post by **CelticCat** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 2:45 pm

We have a midnight madness.

Kadeezy · Post by **Kadeezy** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 9:14 pm

See, I wish we had that here, but even less people would show up... We need some conference titles to shake the curse of the commuter school.... 30,000 students and no support. It's a little sad...

bozbobcat · Post by **bozbobcat** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 10:46 pm

Kadeezy wrote:See, I wish we had that here, but even less people would show up... We need some conference titles to shake the curse of the commuter school.... 30,000 students and no support. It's a little sad...

You guys have a good team down there. Just not a first place team (my pick is the Bobcats, of course

) in my mind. It's too bad that no one shows up to see them play.