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Big Sky Preview

November 18, 2006 Conference Notes No Comments



Big Sky Conference 2006-07 Preview

by Nick Dettmann

Two things happened in the Big Sky Conference last season that made the 2005-06 season one to remember.

One was that Eastern Washington’s Rodney Stuckey became the first freshman to ever win the conference player of the year award. Stuckey averaged 24.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game. He led the Big Sky in scoring and finished eighth in the nation in the same category en route to being an honorable mention All-American. He was also named the Freshman of the Year by collegeinsider.com.

The other: Montana advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament, beating Nevada 87-79. The Griz went on to lose to Boston College in the round of 32. It was the first time a team other than Weber State advanced in the tournament since 1982.

Both of those stories from last year will be ones to watch for this season. Stuckey is back, and if he has another year like the one he had last year, he will more than likely jump ship and head to the NBA.Montana however lost coach Larry Krystkowiak. Krystkowiak, who coached the Griz the last two seasons, took an assistant coaching job with the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks.

Has that opening opened the doors for the rest of the conference as Montana was the Big Sky representative in the NCAA Tournament the past two seasons? Montana does return a lot of talent, but so does Northern Arizona who won the regular season championship last season.

Preseason Awards
1st Team Big Sky
Rodney Stuckey, Soph., Eastern Washington
David Schroeder, Sr., Idaho State
Andrew Strait, Jr., Montana
Ruben Boykin, Jr., sr., Northern Arizona
Alex Bausley, Sr., Sacramento State

2nd Team Big Sky
Paul Butorac, Sr., Eastern Washington
Tyrone Bazy, Sr., Northern Arizona
Juma Kamara, Sr., Portland State
Loren Leath, Soph., Sacramento State
Akbar Abdul-Ahad, Sr., Idaho State

Player of the Year: Rodney Stuckey, Eastern Washington
Newcomer of the Year: Gus Chase, Jr., Montana
Freshman of the Year: Michael Taylor, Eastern Washington
Defensive Player of the Year: Casey Durham, Sr., Montana State
Coach of the Year: Wayne Tinkle, Montana
Most Improved Player: Akbar Abdul-Ahad, Sr., Idaho State
Coach on the Hot Seat: Mike Burns, Eastern Washington

Eastern Washington Eagles (15-15 overall, 9-5 conference)
Projected starters
Rodney Stuckey
Paul Butorac
Kellen Williams
Matt Penoncello
Michael Taylor
Key Non-conference Games
Nov. 24 at Washington
Dec. 15 at Oregon
Dec. 21 vs. Idaho
Feb. 17 ESPN BracketBusters

The Eagles return two of the conference’s best players and four of five starters. The lone starter gone is guard Deuce Smith, who averaged just over eight points per game. Stuckey is back with the Eagles in probably his test run for the NBA draft next April. Butorac is also back after setting a new school record with 51 blocks last season. Burns might be on the hot seat, only because he’s one of three coaches who have coached at least two seasons at their respective school. Plus with one of the most talented teams in recent history, the Eagles’ time to win could be now.

Idaho State Bengals (13-14, 4-10)
Projected starters
David Schroeder
Akbar Abdul-Ahad
Logan Kinghorn
Matt Stucki
Jon Ofoegbu
Key Non-conference Games
Nov. 21 at Washington State
Nov. 25 at Texas A&M
Dec. 2 at Utah State
Dec. 6 vs. Idaho
Dec. 17 at Oregon
Dec. 22 at Illinois

Idaho State is one five schools in the Big Sky with a new coach this season. Taking over for the Bengals is two-time junior college national champion head coach Joe O’Brien. O’Brien coached eight seasons at Southeastern Community College in Iowa, compiling a 213-64 record. O’Brien has earned six national Coach of the Year awards at the junior college level. It’s a first year for the Bengals, but ISU has enough talent to contend right away. Schroeder, a first team All-Conference pick last year, is back for a sixth year. The team does have a good mix of leadership and youth.

Montana Grizzlies (24-7, 10-4)
Projected starters
Andrew Strait
Jordan Hasquet
Matt Dlouhy
Matt Martin
Bryan Ellis
Key Non-conference Games
Nov. 23 vs. West Virginia at Old Spice Classic, Orlando, Fla.
Dec. 3 vs. Boise State
Dec. 19 at Oral Roberts
Feb. 17 ESPN BracketBusters

The Grizzlies have a new head coach, but not an unfamiliar one. Wayne Tinkle takes over for Larry Krystkowiak, who left to take an assistant coaching job with the Milwaukee Bucks. Tinkle was an assistant for the past five years under Krystkowiak. Tinkle, like Krystkowiak, once played for the Griz. Montana lost two of its top three scorers from last season, Kevin Criswell and Virgil Matthews, but they do return Strait. Hasquet and Dlouhy are also back to provide a solid attack.

Montana State Bobcats (15-15, 7-7)
Projected starters
Nick Dissly
Casey Durham
Ted Morris
Carson Durr
Mecklen Davis
Key Non-conference Games
Nov. 19 at Idaho
Nov. 26 vs. Oregon State
Dec. 2 vs. Wyoming

Brad Huse, who spent the past two seasons as an assistant at Montana, takes over the reigns for the Bobcats. It is the first time since the 1990-91 season in which the Bobcats will have a new head coach. The Bobcats will be young and inexperienced with four incoming freshman and five transfers. Just four letterwinners return from last season.

Northern Arizona Lumberjacks (21-11, 12-2)
Projected starters
Ruben Boykin, Jr.
Tyrone Bazy
Ryan McCurdy
Josh Wilson
Steve Sir
Key Non-conference Games
Dec. 2 vs. UNLV at St. George
Dec. 5 vs. San Francisco
Dec. 16 at Pepperdine

Northern Arizona had one of its best seasons in school history last season, only to fall one game short of the NCAA Tournament. The Lumberjacks lost to Montana in the Big Sky championship game on their home floor. Four starters return to try to avert last season’s disappointment. Sir, one of the conference’s best sixth-men, is also back.

Northern Colorado Bears (5-24)
Projected starters
Sean Taibi
Kirk Archibeque
Matt Kline
Dwayne Birden
Cory Lowe
Key Non-conference Games
Nov. 24 vs. Oregon State
Nov. 28 at Arizona State
Dec. 2 at Colorado
Dec. 6 at Colorado State
Dec. 23 vs. Air Force

The Bears join the Big Sky Conference this year after being an Independent. Northern Colorado cannot qualify for the Big Sky Tournament at the end of the season because of NCAA reclassification requirements, but the Bears will be eligible for the tournament next season. This year will mark the first time in school history the Bears will play Sacramento State and Weber State.

Portland State Vikings (12-16, 5-9)
Projected starters
Juma Kamara
Ryan Sommer
Scott Morrison
Paul Hafford
Deonte Huff
Key Non-conference Games
Dec. 16 at Washington
Feb. 17 ESPN BracketBusters

Portland State barely got into the conference tournament last year, but don’t be surprised if the Vikings contend for the crown this year. Three starters are back this year and each of them averaged at least nine points per game last season. The Vikings are very good on the perimeter, led by Kamara, who led the conference in 3-point shooting last season at 52.7 percent. Sommer shot 41 percent from 3-point range as well last season. Huff comes in as a junior college transfer averaging 23.2 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. He will be a solid candidate for Newcomer of the Year come season’s end.

Sacramento State Hornets (15-15, 5-9)
Projected starters
Alex Bausley
Haron Hargrave
Clark Woods
Loren Leath
Angel Alamo
Key Non-conference Games
Nov. 19 at Washington
Dec. 2 at Louisville

Despite a .500 record, the Hornets had one of their best seasons in school history. The Hornets set new school records in victories (15), winning streak (5), most wins away from home (8), non-conference victories (9) and 100-point games (3). Sacramento State returns a ton of scoring from last year, including the team’s leading scorer, Alex Bausley (13.6 points per game). But the losses of Jason Harris and DaShawn Freeman will hurt.

Weber State Wildcats (10-17, 4-10)
Projected starters
David Patten
Dan Henry
Arturas Valeika
Eric Turner
Jamaine Nance
Key Non-conference Games
Nov. 16-19 Top of the World Classic, Fairbanks, Alaska
Nov. 25 at Utah State
Nov. 29 at Utah
Dec. 2 vs. BYU
Dec. 22 at Washington

Only two players return to the Wildcats who saw playing time last season – Patten and Henry. Last year’s 4-10 mark in the conference was the worst for the Wildcats since 1986-87. This year’s roster includes eight junior college transfers. Ten of the 13 plyaers, and all three assistant coaches are new to the program. Another tough season could definitely be in the mix for the Wildcats.

     

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