The University of Idaho returns to the Big Sky Conference, the league where the Vandals called home from 1963-1996. Idaho, which lost in the WAC Championship game in 2014, won Big Sky Conference postseason Championships in 1981, 1982, 1989 and 1990. 

The Vandals are led by coach Don Verlin, who enters his seventh season in Moscow.

The addition of Idaho brings the Big Sky to 12 men’s basketball members. League squads will play 18 conference games. League teams will play seven conference members twice, and the other four members once. Teams will play nine league home games and nine conference road games.

The top eight teams will advance to the 2015 Big Sky Conference Championship, which will be hosted by the regular-season champion.

The No. 1 seed will no longer receive a bye to the semifinals. The first day of the conference tournament will feature four quarterfinal games with the No. 1 seed playing the No. 8 seed, the No. 2 seed taking on the No. 7 seed, the No. 3 seed playing the No. 6 seed, and the No. 4 seed playing the No. 5 seed. There will be no reseeding following the first round.

Both Montana school are under the direction of new coaches.

Former Montana point guard Travis DeCuire has taken over the Grizzly program. DeCuire previously served as an assistant coach at Cal. He replaced Wayne Tinkle, who is now the head coach at Oregon State.

Brian Fish, a former assistant at Oregon, is now in charge at Montana State. Fish replaced Brad Huse, who resigned after eight seasons.

Weber State is the defending league champion. Under the direction of Randy Rahe, the Wildcats have won 106 conference games the past eight seasons, and played for the league championship five times. 

Weber State lost conference MVP Davion Berry, but returns Freshman of the Year Jeremy Senglin and Defensive Player of the Year Joel Bolomboy.

Sacramento State, which advanced to the conference tournament for the first time since 2006 last season, returns all five starters.

Eastern Washington returns four starters, including junior guard Tyler Harvey, who finished eighth in the nation in scoring as a sophomore and was named First Team All-Conference.

Jack Murphy begins his third season at Northern Arizona, and the Lumberjacks figure to contend for the title. Quinton Upshur, a senior guard returns after earning First Team All-Conference honors and the Top Newcomer honor last season.

North Dakota played for the league championship last season, but must replace a trio of outstanding guards - Troy Huff, Aaron Anderson and Jamal Webb. Forward Jaron Nash is the top returning player for the Green & White.

Northern Colorado and Portland State both advanced to the semifinals in 2014. Both squads return two starters. 

Idaho State enters its third season under Bill Evans. Sharp-shooting Chris Hansen returns to lead the Bengals. 

Southern Utah returns all five starters as Nick Robinson hopes to lead the Thunderbirds up the standings.