CBB Review prepares you for every conference tournament leading up to Selection Sunday on Mar. 15. Up next: The Big Sky Tournament.
For the first time since 2008, Portland State is your Big Sky regular-season champs. They were in control for the whole season, and even with their late-season slip, they had enough of a cushion to raise the trophy. This conference was filled with star talent; just look at the points per game averages on the first team. Big-time players show up in big-time games, which means that we could have some elite basketball games in Boise.
Starch Madness belongs to the Montana schools. A Montana school has won the last four tournaments and six of the last seven. Montana State won three in a row before Montana broke that streak last year, so it’s safe to say they’ll be looking to start a new one this year.
Don’t automatically hand the trophy to a Montana school, though, because there are plenty of threats to win this tournament. Portland State won the conference, as we know, and the two hottest teams in the conference are Eastern Washington and Northern Colorado. We’ve seen a six seed or lower make the semifinal in seven straight tournaments, so don’t be surprised if a team like Idaho makes a Cinderella run.
This bracket is a bit confusing, especially the seeding, so try to keep up. Let’s take a look at the past, and look forward to the five-day stretch of what should be great basketball.
2025 Big Sky Conference Awards
Player of the Year: Terri Miller Jr., Portland State
Freshman of the Year: Jackson Rasmussen, Idaho
Transfer of the Year: Isaiah Moses, Eastern Washington
Coach of the Year: Jase Coburn, Portland State
First Team:
- G: Jaylin Henderson, Portland State (17.9 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 6.0 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.3 BPG)
- G: Isaiah Moses, Eastern Washington (17.9 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 4.0 APG, 0.8 SPG)
- G: Quinn Denker, Northern Colorado (18.9 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 7.0 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.4 BPG)
- G: Money WIlliams, Montana (19.6 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 5.0 APG, 1.0 SPG)
- F: Terri Miller Jr., Portland State (18.9 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 3.5 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.7 BPG)
Second Team:
- G: Jed Miller, Montana State (14.8 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 2.9 APG, 1.6 SPG)
- G: Tijane Saine Jr., Weber State (17.2 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 4.4 APG, 1.0 SPG)
- G: Prophet Johnson, Sacramento State (18.5 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 3.8 APG, 2.6 SPG, 0.3 BPG)
- F: Alton Hamilton IV, Eastern Washington (13.2 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 2.3 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.6 BPG)
- F: Brock Wisne, Northern Colorado (16.3 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 2.7 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.4 BPG)
2025 Big Sky Tournament Simulation
First Round – Saturday, Mar. 7
9. Idaho State (12-19, 5-13) vs. 10. Northern Arizona (4-14, 3-12) – 5:30 p.m. MT on ESPN+
I never understood why the 9 plays the 10, and the 7 plays the 8. It would make more sense for the 7 to play the 10 and the 8 to play the 9. I don’t make the rules, though.
Northern Arizona went 1-13 away from home this season. Their one win? Against Idaho State. Northern Arizona ended the season ugly, tough, losing three straight games by double digits. Idaho State get in done in Idaho.
Ariel’s Pick: 9. Idaho State
7. Idaho (17-14, 9-9) vs. 8. Sacramento State (10-20, 6-12) – 8 p.m. MT on ESPN+
Sacramento State went 0-16 away from home this season. 0-16! They’re one of four teams in the country to not win away from home this year. Unfortunately, Starch Madness is in Idaho and not Sacramento, which means that year one for Mike Bibby ends on Saturday.
Ariel’s Pick: 7. Idaho
Second Round – Sunday, Mar. 8
1. Portland State (19-10, 13-5) vs. 9. Idaho State – 5:30 p.m. MT on ESPN+
Portland State limped to the finish line, but they still beat Idaho State by 23 in their early February matchup. Jaylin Henderson scored 30 and had 7 assists, and Idaho State just doesn’t have a player even close to that level.
Ariel’s Pick: 1. Portland State
2. Montana State (18-13, 12-6) vs. 7. Idaho – 8 p.m. MT on ESPN+
This game will probably be closer than it should be based on the regular-season results. Idaho needs to win the rebound battle, which they’ve done as of late, and this has led to their success. They did that on the road against Montana State and were able to keep it close because of that. Montana State has made the semifinals or better in every year since 2020, and that streak will continue.
Ariel’s Pick: 2. Montana State
Quarterfinals – Monday, Mar. 9
4. Montana (16-15, 10-8) vs. 5. Northern Colorado (20-11, 10-8) – 5:30 p.m. MT on ESPN+
These are two teams going on completely different trajectories. Montana went 3-5 in February and March, while Northern Colorado went 8-1. This is a battle of star power between Quinn Decker and Money Williams. Both should have great games, but the difference is that Northern Colorado has a Robin in Brock Wisne, while Montana does not.
Ariel’s Pick: 5. Northern Colorado
3. Eastern Washington (13-18, 11-7) vs. 6. Weber State (16-15, 10-8) – 5:30 p.m. MT on ESPN+
Like Northern Colorado, Eastern Washington ended the season red hot, going 8-1, which included an 18-point win over Weber State. Unless Tijane Saine has a career day, EWU moves on.
Ariel’s Pick: 3. Eastern Washington
Semifinals – Tuesday, Mar. 10
1. Portland State vs. 5. Northern Colorado– 7:00 p.m. MT on ESPNU
Another game for Northern Colorado where they’re going in a different direction. This was a true heavyweight battle from the stars last time they played in mid-February. Jaylin Henderson scored 29 points, and Terri Miller added 18. However, it was the play of Quinn Denker, who had 23, 7, and 8, and Brock Wisne, who added 11 points and 10 rebounds to get them the win.
Northern Colorado is actually the higher-ranked team on KenPom, and the way they’ve been playing, it makes sense. They’ll make it to their second straight finals appearance.
Ariel’s Pick: 5. Northern Colorado
2. Montana State vs. 3. Eastern Washington – 9:30 p.m. MT on ESPN2
If this game goes how their last matchup did, we’re in for a treat. These two teams traded buckets the entire second half, and a driving layup by Jojo Anderson with 18 seconds left gave Eastern Washington the lead and the win. Montana State shot just 41% from the field and 36% from three, and it’s hard to imagine them doing so again. Matt Logie and Montana State advance to the championship once again!
Ariel’s Pick: 2. Montana State
Championship – Wednesday, Mar. 11
2. Montana State vs. 5. Northern Colorado– 9:30 p.m. MT on ESPN2
Last year, Northern Colorado beat Montana State in the semifinal to end their streak of three straight conference championships. This year, Montana State looks for revenge. Montana State swept the season series, and the way they did it was by shutting down Quinn Denker. Denker shot 4-15 in their most recent game, and 6-17 in the first one. He made up for it in rebounds and assists, but he is the heart and soul of this team, and if he’s not going, the team’s not going.
Matt Logie is a great coach, and while Steve Smiley is as well, the balance of Montana State and the way they protect the ball will be the recipe for yet another title for the Bobcats.
Ariel’s Pick: 2. Montana State