FARMINGTON, Utah (Jan. 24, 2024) – Eleven weeks have come and gone in Big Sky Conference men’s basketball, with several still remaining to decide who will represent the league in March Madness.
Below is the most recent news and notes in and around the Big Sky.
#BigSkyMBB Notebook (Week Twelve)
Unbeaten Eastern Washington
The Eastern Washington Eagles are currently on a seven-game winning streak and have started Big Sky Conference play 5-0.
This past weekend the Eagles knocked off Weber State 80-78 in Ogden after deflecting a last-second shot attempt, before making the trip to Pocatello and defeating Idaho State 79-67.
Eastern Washington is currently ranked 112
th in the NCAA NET Rankings, which puts them second in the league for those rankings behind Montana (102).
They are also currently the third-highest ranked Big Sky team in KenPom at 118 behind Montana (113) and Weber State (114).
EWU has not lost to a non-P5 Division I opponent to this point of its campaign. According to KenPom, they played the 13
th-hardest non-conference strength of schedule in NCAA Division I men’s basketball this season.
They will face a big challenge on Thursday as they host the Northern Colorado Bears (4-1 Big Sky) before welcoming in the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks (2-3).
Saint Thomas Still Shining
For the fifth time this season Northern Colorado’s Saint Thomas has been named Big Sky Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Week, the league office announced yesterday.
In a pair of victories over Sacramento State and Portland State, Thomas averaged a double-double as the Bears continued to find success in Big Sky play.
The Omaha, Nebraska native scored 20.0 points per game, and pulled down 11.0 rebounds per contest. Additionally, he dished out 5.0 assists per game and accounted for 2.5 steals per contest.
The junior is in his first season with Northern Colorado after transferring from Loyola Chicago.
He has now matched Weber State’s Dillon Jones for the total number of awards for this individual season.
Big Sky Individual History
Against Eastern Washington last Thursday, Weber State’s Jones hit an incredible individual milestone in league history.
He is now the only player in Big Sky Conference men’s basketball history with at least 1,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, 300 assists, and 150 steals in a career.
Jones was the unanimous pick for Preseason Most Valuable Player.
Standings Breakdown
Eastern Washington sits on top of the Big Sky Conference Men’s Basketball standings at 5-0, with a 3-0 league record on the road.
Northern Colorado is currently second in league standings at 4-1, sitting at 3-0 in Greeley.
Montana and Montana State are tied at 4-2, with the Griz holding a tiebreaker after knocking off the Bobcats last Saturday.
Weber State currently sits alone in the fifth spot at 3-4.
At 2-3, Northern Arizona would currently receive the final BYE to the Third Round of the Big Sky Championship bracket.
With 2-4 records Portland State and Sacramento State sit in a tie for seventh, while Idaho State (2-5) and Idaho (1-4) round out the bottom of the standings.
Individual Stat Leaders
UNC’s Thomas has overtaken in the Big Sky for points per game, as he is currently averaging 19.9 for the season. WSU’s Jones sits second with 19.3 ppg, followed by Montana’s Aanen Moody with 15.6 ppg. NAU’s Trenton McLaughlin (15.5 ppg) and MSU’s Brian Goracke (15.4 ppg) round out the top five.
WSU’s Jones has remained the league’s top rebounder, pulling in 9.8 rebounds per game and 187 total. UNC’s Thomas has the same average, but less total.
Northern Colorado guard Jaron Rillie leads the Big Sky in assists per game with 5.6 on average.
Team Stat Leaders
Northern Colorado leads the Big Sky in total team offense, averaging 81.5 points per game as a unit. They are followed by Eastern Washington (79.1) and Montana (79.0).
Weber State is the top tea defensively, giving up just 64.5 points per game. They are followed by Idaho State (69.0) and Idaho (70.7).
This Week’s Schedule
Thursday, January 25
Montana State at Sacramento State / 7:00 p.m. / ESPN+
Northern Arizona at Idaho / 7:00 p.m. / ESPN+
Northern Colorado at Eastern Washington / 7:00 p.m. / ESPN+
Montana at Portland State / 8:00 p.m. / ESPN+
Saturday, January 27
Northern Arizona at Eastern Washington / 2:00 p.m. / ESPN+
Northern Colorado at Idaho / 3:00 p.m. / ESPN+
Montana State at Portland State / 5:00 p.m. / ESPN+
Montana at Sacramento State / 7:00 p.m. / ESPN+
Idaho State at Weber State / 7:00 p.m. / ESPN+
#BigSkyInBoise
2024 Big Sky Women's Basketball Bracket |
2024 Big Sky Men's Basketball Bracket
Both the Big Sky men's and women's tournaments tip off on Saturday, March 9, with the championship games slated for Wednesday, March 13. Tip-off times for this year’s Basketball Championships will mirror the tournament schedule from 2023, with the women's games slated for the afternoon and the men's contests set for the evening each day. Nearly half of the games – or eight of the 18 total contests – will be held during the championships’ opening weekend, making it convenient for both local and out-of-town fans to attend.
The women's bracket will feature two games each day at 12:00 p.m. MT and 2:30 p.m. MT on Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, before the 3:00 p.m. MT championship game on Wednesday. All games will be streamed on ESPN+, with the championship matchup airing on ESPNU for the second-straight year.
The men's bracket will feature two games each day at 5:30 p.m. MT and 8:00 p.m. MT on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday before a 6:30 p.m. MT and 9:00 p.m. MT semifinal slate on Tuesday, followed by a 9:30 p.m. MT tip-off for the championship game on Wednesday. Tuesday's first semifinal game will air on ESPNU, while the nightcap will be televised on ESPN2. The men's championship final also will air on ESPN2, marking the second-straight year for that game on that network.
Tony Parks and Joe Cravens will serve as the men's basketball TV talent for the ESPN+ games in Boise, while Tracy Warren and Krista Redpath will be the ESPN+ TV talent on the women's side. The linear TV talent will be announced at a later date.
For those wishing to purchase all-session or all-tournament passes for the 2024 Big Sky Men's and Women's Basketball Championships, visit
BigSkyInBoise.com. Tickets can also be purchased by calling 208-331-TIXS, visiting the Idaho Central Arena Box Office in-person or going to
IdahoCentralArena.com to purchase online.
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