Tournament Thread Big Sky Tournament

[Cave_Johnson]

Tuesday, March 6 (First Round)
Pluto TV 231 | Watch Big Sky
GAME 1
#8 North Dakota vs. #9 Montana State - 12:05 p.m. (PT)
GAME 2
#5 Northern Colorado vs. #12 Northern Arizona - 2:35 p.m. (PT)
GAME 3
#7 Idaho State vs. #10 Southern Utah - 5:35 p.m. (PT)
GAME 4
#6 Portland State vs. #11 Sacramento State - 8:05 p.m. (PT)

Thursday, March 8 (Quarterfinals)
Eleven Sports | Pluto TV 231 | Watch Big Sky
GAME 5
#1 Montana vs. Game 1 Winner - 12:05 p.m. (PT)
GAME 6
#4 Weber State vs. Game 2 Winner - 2:35 p.m. (PT)
GAME 7
#2 Idaho vs. Game 3 Winner - 5:35 p.m. (PT)
GAME 8
#3 Eastern Washington vs. Game 4 Winner - 8:05 p.m. (PT)

Friday, March 9 (Semifinals)
Eleven Sports | Pluto TV 231 | Watch Big Sky
GAME 9
Game 5 Winner vs. Game 6 Winner - 5:35 p.m. (PT)
GAME 10
Game 7 Winner vs. Game 8 Winner - 8:05 p.m. (PT)

Saturday, March 10 (Championship)
ESPNU
GAME 11
Game 9 Winner vs. Game 10 Winner - 5:05 p.m. (PT)

https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/bigskyconf.com/documents/2018/3/3/2018_BSC_MBB_Bracket.pdf

 

[Cave_Johnson]

Definitely a contrast of styles with some of these teams. Montana and Portland State both play really solid D and rank in the top 20 in forced turnovers (PSU is 2nd, Montana is 17th).

This is also the best 3-point shooting conference in the country. Weber State, Idaho, and Idaho State all rank in the top 15 in 3-point FG percentage (Weber 2nd, Idaho 6th, Idaho State 14th).

Montana has basically blown every team out in conference play this year other than EWU and Idaho who they lost to on the road. I would expect them to take the title most of the time on a neutral court. The Griz are definitely the most well-rounded team.

Idaho and EWU are the only other schools with a shot IMO.

EWU is battle tested but they have to go through Montana in the quarters.

Idaho could go off any given night, but at this point they're basically playing a 7 man rotation. Depth is going to be an issue and honestly I think it's just as likely that they get upset in their first game as it is they win the tournament.

Northern Colorado is my dark horse. Andre Spight is capable of putting that team on his back and willing them to victory. He's trouble if he gets hot.

First round game to watch is probably Montana State vs. UND.

 

[Cave_Johnson]

Kenpom breakdown:

 

[Cave_Johnson]

Portland State vs. Sacramento State coming up now.

Over/Under is 153. I'll take the over assuming we're referring to "points scored" and not "number of people in attendance".

 

[Cave_Johnson]

No really, this is like 5 minutes before tip-off.

 

[Cave_Johnson]

Thursday, March 8 (Quarterfinals)
Eleven Sports | Pluto TV 231 | Watch Big Sky
GAME 5
#1 Montana vs. #9 North Dakota - 12:05 p.m. (PT)
GAME 6
#4 Weber State vs. #5 Northern Colorado - 2:35 p.m. (PT)
GAME 7
#2 Idaho vs. #10 Southern Utah - 5:35 p.m. (PT)
GAME 8
#3 Eastern Washington vs. #6 Portland State - 8:05 p.m. (PT)

I guess I had EWU and Weber's seeds mixed up initially. Looking like a pretty easy ride for Montana to the final.

 

[BoiseStateFan27]

Portland State I recall gave Duke a tough time, surprised they ended up being a 6th seed

 

[BoiseStateFan27]

Thursday, March 8 (Quarterfinals)
Eleven Sports | Pluto TV 231 | Watch Big Sky
GAME 5
#1 Montana vs. #9 North Dakota - 12:05 p.m. (PT)
GAME 6
#4 Weber State vs. #5 Northern Colorado - 2:35 p.m. (PT)
GAME 7
#2 Idaho vs. #10 Southern Utah - 5:35 p.m. (PT)
GAME 8
#3 Eastern Washington vs. #6 Portland State - 8:05 p.m. (PT)

I guess I had EWU and Weber's seeds mixed up initially. Looking like a pretty easy ride for Montana to the final.

Think Idaho has any shot at winning a tournament game if they get in?

 

[Cave_Johnson]

Think Idaho has any shot at winning a tournament game if they get in?

I'm really not thinking that far ahead right now. They have a problem with playing to the level of their competition and struggled to beat a bad SUU team twice already this season. Don Verlin has an awful track record in conference tournaments so I'm just hoping they can avoid getting embarrassed in the first game. After that we'll see what they can do. They're 4-0 against the top teams in the Big Sky.

If they somehow win the conference tournament I don't like their chances in the big dance considering they'll probably be a 15 seed. Would take an incredible shooting performance from 3 for them to beat a team like say Purdue, UNC, Duke, Cincy, etc.

 

[Yo Tee]

Big loss for Idaho. really thought they could win it. Leaves this title wide open for Montana.

 

[Cave_Johnson]

Big loss for Idaho. really thought they could win it. Leaves this title wide open for Montana.

It's not really that surprising given Don Verlin's putrid conference tournament record. I thought they had about 50% chance to win.

EWU already beat Montana this year though and they're still in the mix. UNC (the REAL UNC) is also no pushover.

 

[Cave_Johnson]

Friday, March 9 (Semifinals)
Eleven Sports | Pluto TV 231 | Watch Big Sky
GAME 9
#1 Montana vs. #5 Northern Colorado - 5:35 p.m. (PT)
GAME 10
#3 Eastern Washington vs. #10 Southern Utah - 8:05 p.m. (PT)

Montana/UNC tipping off now. Should be good.

EWU vs. SUU is going to be a blowout.

 

[ericd7633]

Good to see Montana get the win. They would certainly be a viable tournament team as the representative from this conference.