An interesting set of shaky exhibition debuts -- including a home-court loss by Northern Arizona -- from several Big Sky Conference teams as they “tuned-up” for the first counting games of the 09-10 season.
The Lumberjacks were dumped 75-65 by visiting Fort Lewis College. The contest was never close, as Fort Lewis jumped to a 13-2 lead and led throughout.
Elsewhere, the Idaho State Bengals, Weber State Wildcats, Montana State Bobcats and Eastern Washington Eagles struggled as well.
The Bengals got a game-tying trey from Broderick Gilchrest before beating UC-Colorado Springs 93-87 in overtime.
"Last year, I think we didn't have as many weapons," said Johnson. "Our fast break we seriously lacked in transition... This year, we're trying to speed things up and get it up and down. We have the personnel to do so."
Montana, which beat Lewis and Clark State by 29, had a challenge as well, struggling to a 34-28 halftime lead before pulling away from the Warriors early in the second half.
Three other Big Sky teams -- Northern Colorado, Sacramento State and Portland State -- won by wide margins.
What’s it all mean? Probably nothing.
Except for the eyebrow-raising loss by the Lumberjacks, whose coach Mike Adras blamed the loss on poor team conditioning. Hmmm.
But Friday all games count, as seven of the nine Big Sky schools tip off the season with the other two in action Saturday.
The toughest opener? Perhaps Weber State against Stew Morrill’s Utah State Aggies, which are picked to win the WAC again this year. But the Wildcats are at home, primed to repeat as Big Sky champs. A win would confirm them as conference favorites and might be a nice early season RPI investment for later in the season.
Other tough tip offs? Montana State travels to Nevada, picked third in the WAC. Idaho State travels to Iowa State, Sac State is at Rice. But early predictions indicate that the Cyclones and Owls are down this year and... perhaps beatable.
Portland State is in Seattle for the four-team Athletes in Action round-robin tourney hosted by the University of Washington (picked first in the PAC 10 and slated as a top-25 team nationally). The Vikings start with Belmont, before facing a tough Wright State squad (picked second in the Horizon League) and the Huskies in a game to be televised on Fox Sports NW. Two wins by the Viks would cast them as conference contenders. Three? Nah.
A win, or even a good game, by Eastern Washington against the visiting Portland Pilots (picked second behind Gonzaga in the WCC) would raise the Eagles’ stock. The Pilots are the same team (now as seniors) tha beat the Griz in Missoula two years ago, and won 19 last season. This is a good early season test for Kirk Earlywine’s jc transfer-loaded squad.
Montana hosts its own four-team round robin tourney in Missoula starting Friday, hosting North Dakota, Boise State and Loyola Marymount. The Fighting Sioux are rebuilding after a 16-win season. Marymount, 3-28 last year, plays intense pressure-D and should be improved, though still slated to finish last in the WCC.
The Broncos, picked to finish in the upper-tier of the tough WAC, return four starters from last year’s 19-win team, and are very well coached. This is a perfectly scheduled early season test for Montana. There’ll be no gimmes. A three-game sweep -- difficult but not out of question -- would cast the Griz as Big Sky contenders in a league whose first conference games are a mere three weeks down the schedule.
Northern Colorado travels to Hawaii for three games in the Rainbow Classic. The Bears face two beatable squads in McNeese State and Southern Utah. Make that three, as the host Rainbow Warriors, picked dead last in the WAC, are experienced, but still vulnerable.
It’s odd to think that Northern Arizona coach Mike Adras will face a must-win game so early in the season. But after last season’s Lumberjack collapse, and an exhibition loss last week to Fort Lewis State, Adras will want his team to solidify in time to beat visiting Southwestern College. It just gets harder from there as the Jacks head to Tucson to face Arizona.
The Lumberjacks were dumped 75-65 by visiting Fort Lewis College. The contest was never close, as Fort Lewis jumped to a 13-2 lead and led throughout.
Elsewhere, the Idaho State Bengals, Weber State Wildcats, Montana State Bobcats and Eastern Washington Eagles struggled as well.
The Wildcats trailed Colorado Christian University 32-21 at halftime before rebounding for a solid second half and a 75-65 win.
PHOTO: Montana senior guard Anthony Johnson will attempt to lead the Grizzlies to their third NCAA post-season of the decade, starting Friday. Johnson says the key will be increased quickness on offense and defense."Last year, I think we didn't have as many weapons," said Johnson. "Our fast break we seriously lacked in transition... This year, we're trying to speed things up and get it up and down. We have the personnel to do so."
The Eagles led Division II Montana State Billings 32-30 at halftime, finally breaking a 50-50 tie before edging MSUB 67-58.
Finally, the Bobcats “cruised” to an 82-68 win over the University of Saskatchewan after trailing Saskatchewan through the first 10 minutes of the second half. The Cats led 39-38 at the half.Montana, which beat Lewis and Clark State by 29, had a challenge as well, struggling to a 34-28 halftime lead before pulling away from the Warriors early in the second half.
Three other Big Sky teams -- Northern Colorado, Sacramento State and Portland State -- won by wide margins.
What’s it all mean? Probably nothing.
Except for the eyebrow-raising loss by the Lumberjacks, whose coach Mike Adras blamed the loss on poor team conditioning. Hmmm.
But Friday all games count, as seven of the nine Big Sky schools tip off the season with the other two in action Saturday.
The toughest opener? Perhaps Weber State against Stew Morrill’s Utah State Aggies, which are picked to win the WAC again this year. But the Wildcats are at home, primed to repeat as Big Sky champs. A win would confirm them as conference favorites and might be a nice early season RPI investment for later in the season.
Other tough tip offs? Montana State travels to Nevada, picked third in the WAC. Idaho State travels to Iowa State, Sac State is at Rice. But early predictions indicate that the Cyclones and Owls are down this year and... perhaps beatable.
Portland State is in Seattle for the four-team Athletes in Action round-robin tourney hosted by the University of Washington (picked first in the PAC 10 and slated as a top-25 team nationally). The Vikings start with Belmont, before facing a tough Wright State squad (picked second in the Horizon League) and the Huskies in a game to be televised on Fox Sports NW. Two wins by the Viks would cast them as conference contenders. Three? Nah.
A win, or even a good game, by Eastern Washington against the visiting Portland Pilots (picked second behind Gonzaga in the WCC) would raise the Eagles’ stock. The Pilots are the same team (now as seniors) tha beat the Griz in Missoula two years ago, and won 19 last season. This is a good early season test for Kirk Earlywine’s jc transfer-loaded squad.
Montana hosts its own four-team round robin tourney in Missoula starting Friday, hosting North Dakota, Boise State and Loyola Marymount. The Fighting Sioux are rebuilding after a 16-win season. Marymount, 3-28 last year, plays intense pressure-D and should be improved, though still slated to finish last in the WCC.
The Broncos, picked to finish in the upper-tier of the tough WAC, return four starters from last year’s 19-win team, and are very well coached. This is a perfectly scheduled early season test for Montana. There’ll be no gimmes. A three-game sweep -- difficult but not out of question -- would cast the Griz as Big Sky contenders in a league whose first conference games are a mere three weeks down the schedule.
Northern Colorado travels to Hawaii for three games in the Rainbow Classic. The Bears face two beatable squads in McNeese State and Southern Utah. Make that three, as the host Rainbow Warriors, picked dead last in the WAC, are experienced, but still vulnerable.
It’s odd to think that Northern Arizona coach Mike Adras will face a must-win game so early in the season. But after last season’s Lumberjack collapse, and an exhibition loss last week to Fort Lewis State, Adras will want his team to solidify in time to beat visiting Southwestern College. It just gets harder from there as the Jacks head to Tucson to face Arizona.
