CBB Review prepares you for every conference tournament leading up to Selection Sunday on Mar. 17. Up next: The Big Sky Tournament.
The Big Sky was all Eastern Washington this season, as the Eagles would go on to win the conference by three games. However, that doesn’t mean this tournament will lack excitement. Three teams tied for second in conference play, and Eastern Washington hasn’t looked dominant since mid-February. Will Montana State three-peat? Will Northern Colorado win their first Big Sky championship? Will EWU continue to take care of business? We’ll find out shortly.
2024 Big Sky Conference Awards
Player of the Year: Dillon Jones, Weber State
Freshman of the Year: LeJuan Watts, Eastern Washington
Transfer of the Year: Saint Thomas, Northern Colorado
Coach of the Year: Steve Smiley, Northern Colorado
First Team:
- G: Aanen Moody, Montana (16.6 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 2.1 APG, 0.9 SPG, 48.4 FG%, 38.9 3P%)
- G: Robert Ford III, Montana State (15.3 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 2.9 APG, 2.9 SPG, 46.6 FG%, 42.2 3P%)
- F: Cedric Coward, Eastern Washington (15.2 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.9 BPG, 56.8 FG%)
- F: Saint Thomas, Northern Colorado (20.0 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 4.0 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.9 BPG, 47.4 FG%)
- F: Dillon Jones, Weber State (20.8 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 5.2 APG, 2.0 SPG, 48.9 FG%)
Second Team:
- G: Dejour Reaves, Northern Colorado (14.7 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 1.4 APG, 1.3 SPG, 46.7 FG%)
- G: Trent McLaughlin, Northern Arizona (16.7 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.4 SPG, 40.2 FG%)
- F: Ethan Price, Eastern Washington (12.2 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 2.2 APG, 0.8 BPG, 52.2 FG%)
- F: KJ Allen, Portland State (13.0 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 1.3 APG, 1.1 SPG, 43.1 FG%)
- C: Brayden Parker, Idaho State (14.8 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 1.5 APG, 1.0 SPG, 1.5 BPG, 53.9 FG%)
Big Sky Tournament Simulation
First Round – Sat., Mar. 9
9. Idaho (11-20, 5-13) vs. 10. Sacramento State (8-23, 4-14) – 5:30 p.m MT on ESPN+
Side note, the 9 playing the 10 and the 7 playing the 8 never made sense to me. Anyway, the last time these two played, the final score was 61-45 Idaho. Sacramento State has actually played well for their standards as of late, losing by just three to Eastern Washington, five to Northern Colorado, and beat Montana State on the road. Don’t expect this to be the best game of all time, but ride the “hot” hand here.
Ariel’s pick: 10. Sacramento State
7. Northern Arizona (14-18, 7-11) vs. 8. Idaho State (12-19, 7-11) – 8:00 p.m MT on ESPN+
Although I don’t understand the 7 vs 8 matchup instead of 7 vs 10 and 8 vs 9, this should actually be one of the best matchups of the whole Big Sky Tournament. In the first matchup between them, Idaho State knocked off NAU on the road after Brayden Parker knocked down a game winning free throw with 9 seconds left. Then, later that month, NAU needed two overtimes, but they were the ones who finished on top this time.
This game is a toss up, but I trust Trent McLaughlin to hit the big shot when needed, and expect him to do that in this one. Tough opening night for the two Idaho teams, who are hosting the tournament.
Ariel’s pick: 7. Northern Arizona
First Round – Sun., Mar. 10
1. Eastern Washington (21-10, 15-3) vs. 10. Sacramento State – 5:30 p.m on ESPN+
These two teams played in the final regular season game, and the result was very close, with Eastern Washington winning by just three. EWU have struggled of late, especially with weaker opponents. However, the depth of this team outweighs Sacramento’s talents, and they should win this one by 7+.
Ariel’s pick: 1. Eastern Washington
2. Northern Colorado (19-12, 12-6) vs. 7. Northern Arizona – 8:00 p.m on ESPN+
Northern Colorado snuck into the two spot on the last day of the regular season thanks to a win and a Weber State loss. They now play Northern Arizona instead of Sacramento State, who beat them by 10 this season. It’s not much of an upgrade though, as it still looks to be a competitive game.
Saint Thomas played well in both games, and there’s no way he’ll let his team lose this early in the tournament.
Ariel’s pick: 2. Northern Colorado
Quarterfinals – Mon., Mar. 11
4. Weber State (20-11, 11-7) vs. 5. Montana State (14-17, 9-9) – 5:30 p.m on ESPN+
Even though Montana State won the season finale by 12 points between the two, Weber State is the better team. This will probably be a close one, but Montana State really struggled away from home this year.
Ariel’s pick: 4: Weber State
3. Montana (21-10, 12-6) vs. 6. Portland State (17-14, 8-10) – 8:00 p.m on ESPN+
First off, shoutout to Last Chance U Star KJ Allen for being in this spot. He’s been a great story and hopefully he continues to have success in his basketball career. The first time these two teams played, Portland State won 72-46! However, Montana has two explosive guards in Aanen Moody and Money Williams that will advance Montana to yet another Big Sky tournament semifinal.
Ariel’s pick: 3: Montana
Semifinals – Tue., Mar. 12
1. Eastern Washington vs. 4. Weber State – 6:30 p.m on ESPNU
The first time these two teams played, Dillon Jones scored just 14 points on 5-15 shooting. Eastern Washington won by 2. The second time, Jones scored 30 and added 8 rebounds and 8 assists. Weber State won by 6. If Jones gets to 25, Weber State wins this game. It’s a big ask, but we’ve seen him do it time and time again in his career. Eastern Washington has really struggled in the Big Sky Tournament since Shantay Legans left, and this will make it three straight years without a finals appearance.
Ariel’s pick: 4. Weber State
2. Northern Colorado vs. 3. Montana – 9:00 p.m on ESPN2
Northern Colorado swept the season series against Montana, and Montana had no answers for Saint Thomas in both games. Aanen Moody ended the season red hot, and if he can continue this into the tournament then they have a shot. However, like Eastern Washington, this Montana team has failed to make a finals appearance since the pandemic, and that will continue this season.
Ariel’s pick: 2. Northern Colorado
Championship – Wed., Mar. 13
2. Northern Colorado vs. 4. Weber State – 9:30 p.m on ESPN2
Finally, after five days we will have a Big Sky Tournament champion. Fun fact, a top two seed has won every year since 2010. Can Weber State break the streak?
The biggest storyline will be Dillon Jones vs Saint Thomas. The two best players in the conference battling it out for a chance to dance. Round 1 went to Weber State by TKO. Dillon Jones had 21 points and 11 rebounds, and Saitn Thomas added 29 and 10, but Weber State cruised to a 19 point win.
Round 2 was more of a decision. Dillon Jones had one of the best games of his career, going for 30 points, 23 rebounds, and 9 assists, while Saint Thomas added 17 and 12. Weber State won by 4 in overtime.
This time around, expect another close one. Saint Thomas and Dillon Jones will go back and forth all night, but as we saw in the previous matchups, Northern Colorado doesn’t have anyone who can stop Dillon Jones, and that’ll be the difference maker that sends Weber State dancing.
Ariel’s pick: 4. Weber State