This season in the Big Sky Conference was one of surprises, none very good. The Big Sky’s top five teams would probably stand, at best, in the middle of the pack in the Big West, West Coast or Mountain West conferences. The conference is probably most closely comparable to the Western Athletic Conference.
Nonetheless, the year in transition may be somewhat stable, since several coaches are young, with less than three years’ experience, and won’t be going anywhere. Only Sac State’s Jerome Jenkins appears to be a coach on the bubble, and Jenkins could make a case as “Tough-Luck” coach of the year, having lost several players to injury, transfer or academic problems.
If I were an AD looking for a coach, I’d probably consider calling only two Big Sky candidates – Northern Arizona’s Mike Adras or Portland State’s Ken Bone.
The conference has other, more serious issues.
A CONFERENCE CRISIS – The major crisis facing the Big Sky this off-season will not involve coaches, players, schedules or facilities. The Big Sky Commissioner’s office will need to address game officiating or face a dramatic decline in game quality, attendance, and subsequently, the ability of conference schools to attract quality teams from other conferences.
I am not referring to senior official Eric Curry, who is clearly one of a handful of the best referees in the conference, a fact that can be easily proven with an impartial study of this season’s game film.
But the past two seasons have seen an increase in games that have disintegrated because of “puzzling” styles of officiating, usually by younger officials. I personally believe officiating is negatively affecting fan attendance in Missoula, and that means it’s happening elsewhere as well. Unless some major adjustments in game-flow control are addressed soon, conference teams will be unable to draw major non-conference opponents and further controversy will erupt during conference games as well.
The Big Sky officiating problem, by the way, does not extend to women’s games. By far, the most objective, “lightest-handed” and best-paced games I’ve seen this year have been ALL the women’s games. An aside: Grizzly Journal Women’s All-Conference awards will be announced next week.
GRIZZLY JOURNAL ALL-CONFERENCE AWARDS – An MVP is not the best player in the conference, but the best player to get his team to the championship round. The clear choice is Portland State junior Jeremiah Dominguez, although Northern Arizona senior Kyle Landry still has the opportunity to accomplish the task.
MVP: Jeremiah Dominguez, Portland State, junior
Runner up: Kyle Landry, Northern Arizona, senior
However, regardless of conference tournament outcome, Dominguez IS the best player in the Big Sky for 2007-08.
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: Dominguez.
No Runnerup
The most promising freshmen are players with contrasting styles of play. Sacramento State freshman Vinnie McGhee was in the right place at the right time, but Montana freshman center Brian Qvale would be my clear choice had his season not hit an abrupt dead end with a serious high ankle sprain midway through conference play.
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Vinnie McGhee, Sacramento State, freshman
Runner up: Brian Qvale, Montana, freshman
COACH OF THE YEAR: A good friend told me years ago that a head coach is always responsible for 80 percent of a team’s success and/or failure. The marks of a good coach in my book are many. Here are the key attributes of the top coaches in the Big Sky in this season.
• Names a floor general in pre-season and sticks with him.
• Runs an 8-to-10-man rotation (interchangeable, depending upon the opponent) from game one until it’s crunch time.
• Subs his players because of rotation and breathers; never subs a player because of an on-court mistake.
• His teams win because they get demonstrably better with every game.
• His teams win games and championships on defense, not offense.
• His players demonstrate on-court shooter’s confidence.
• Develops offensive plays for every position/player on the floor.
• Never verbally criticizes his players to the media.
• Introduces a new offense for the final two weeks of the season OR, knows how to quickly counter-attack a good opponent’s defensive game plan.
• Demonstrates the ability to change game strategy during a game.
BIG SKY COACH OF THE YEAR: Ken Bone, Portland State
Runnerup: Mike Adras, Northern Arizona
It was an odd year in the Big Sky. It seems to me that many of the top candidates for All-Conference honors are either one-dimensional players or players with still-developing journeyman’s skills.
And so, it was a down year in the Big Sky in my book. Only Dominguez, Montana senior center Andrew Strait and Northern Arizona senior Kyle Landry ranked in multiple statistical categories, and only those three are true All-Conference talents. Strait and Landry were double-teamed all season and still rose to the top.
FIRST TEAM – All-Big Sky
Guard – Jeremiah Dominguez, Portland State, junior
Guard – Carlos Taylor, Montana State, senior
Forward – Deonte Huff, Portland State, senior
Forward/Center – Andrew Strait, Montana, senior
Forward/Center – Kyle Landry, Northern Arizona, senior
SECOND TEAM – All-Big Sky
Guard –Dezmon Harris, Weber State, senior
Guard – Josh Wilson, Northern Arizona, junior
Forward – Jabril Banks, Northern Colorado, junior
Forward – Jordan Hasquet, Montana, junior
Center – Scott Morrison, Portland State, senior
HONORABLE MENTION – All Big Sky
Ceylon Elgin-Taylor, Montana, Junior
Jefferson Mason, Northren Colorado, sophomore
Divaldo Mbunga, Montana State, junior
Kellen McCoy, Weber State, junior
Vinnie McGhee, Sacramento State, freshman
Amorrow Morgan, Idaho State, sophomore
Andre Murray, Portland State, junior
Matt Stucki, Idaho State, junior
Kellen Williams, Eastern Washington, senior
ON THE HORIZON – Promising Talent for 2008-09
The most interesting talents in the Big Sky this season are developing underclassmen. Any of the below-listed players have the talent to emerge as true leaders in the Big Sky in 2008-09.
Zach Filzen, Northern Arizona, freshman
Gary Gibson, Eastern Washington, sophomore
Justynn Hamond, Portland State, freshman
Bobby Howard, Montana State, freshman
Neal Kingman, Northern Colorado, sophomore
Tyrell Mara, Portland State, sophomore
Phil Nelson, Portland State, sophomore
Jack McGillis, Montana, junior
Brandon Moore, Eastern Washington, sophomore
Brian Qvale, Montana, freshman
TEAM ON THE RISE
Northern Colorado – serving notice. If the Bears ever learn how to play defense, the Big Sky had better watch out. Tad Boyle brings a unique Southeastern style of high energy basketball to the Big Sky with this young team.
PHOTOS: Top, Montana senior center Andrew Strait. Second from top, Montana junior forward Jordan Hasquet. Second from bottom, Montana junior guard Ceylon Elgin-Taylor. Bottom, Montana freshman center Brian Qvale.
