Montana Favored To Win Big Sky Race

The defections of Boise State and Idaho to the Big West Conference have left the Big Sky Conference with a new look to its men’s basketball race, but not necessarily at the top.

League coaches and members of the media seem to agree that some familiar names will once again be atop the standings when the conference season - which opens Thursday - sorts itself out in late February.

Montana, one of three teams that tied for second behind Montana State in last year’s regular-season race, is picked to win its fourth title in the past seven seasons.

And Grizzlies coach Blaine Taylor, who has guided UM to two of those championships, thinks such respect shows how solid his program has become. Especially considering Taylor lost three starters from last year’s team, which finished 20-8 overall and 10-4 in the Big Sky.

“I’m proud of the stature that our program holds in people’s minds,” Taylor said. “No matter how many players we lose, very rarely do they leave the Grizzlies out of the mix when they start talking about the upcoming season and the teams that can potentially contend for the championship.”

The Grizzlies should get their biggest challenge from Idaho State, upstart Northern Arizona and defending champion Montana State, with Weber State rated as the leading darkhorse.

Eastern Washington looked like a sure bet to crack the first division, thanks to an exceptional recruiting year by second-year coach Steve Aggers. But point guard Rodrick McClure was killed in an automobile accident over Christmas break and his death, according to Aggers, “took the heart” out of the Eagles, who open conference play at 6:05 Thursday night at NAU.

California State-Sacramento appears to be the best of the three newcomers and could finish ahead of EWU. But look for first-year Big Sky members Cal State-Northridge and Portland State, which is ineligible for the conference title after not having played the sport in 16 years, to finish at the bottom.

Following, in Steve Bergum’s predicted order of finish, are capsule summaries of all nine Big Sky Conference teams. (Coaches’ records are prior to the start of the 1996-97 season):

1. Montana Grizzlies

1995-96 Record: 28-8, no postseason play; 10-4 in Big Sky, tied for 2nd

Coach: Blaine Taylor

Years coaching: Five, all at Montana

Record: 104-41

Top returnees: G Kirk Walker (6-0, Sr.); F Chris Spoja (6-5, Sr.); C Brent Smith (6-10, Sr.).

Top newcomers: C Don Carter (7-1, Fr.); F Dominique Davis (6-10, Fr.).

Quickly: Taylor redshirted six players last season, including J.R. Camel and Bob Olson, who lettered in 1994-95.

Outlook: Despite the loss of three starters, Taylor should have few problems reloading and making a run at his third Big Sky title in six seasons in Missoula.

2. Idaho State

1995-96 Record: 11-15, no postseason; 7-7, 5th

Coach: Herb Williams

Years coaching: Six, all at ISU

Record: 77-91

Top returnees: C Nate Green (6-8, Sr.); G Ron Harwell (6-2, Sr.); F Rob Preston (6-8, Sr.)

Top newcomers: G David Culbreath (6-1, Jr.); G Raphael Fondren (6-2, So.)

Quickly: Green, who averaged 14.6 points and 7 rebounds as a junior, is the Big Sky’s only returning all-conference first-teamer.

Outlook: Some early season disciplinary suspensions have rattled the Bengals, but with everyone back in the fold, Williams has as much talent as anyone in the league.

3. Northern Arizona

1995-96 Record: 6-20, no postseason; 3-11, 7th

Coach: Ben Howland

Years coaching: Two, both at NAU

Record: 14-38

Top returnees: G Charles Thomas (6.0, Sr.); F Scott Taylor (6- 8, 220)

Top newcomers: F Andre Mavis (6-6, Jr.); G Ross Land (6-4, Fr.); C Dan McClintock (7-0, Fr.)

Quickly: The Lumberjacks have finished seventh in the Big Sky four consecutive seasons.

Outlook: With seven new players, including five freshmen, NAU seemed to be in for a season of hard knocks. But the ‘Jacks’ surprising 6-2 start suggests that Howland’s talented rookies are also quick learners.

4. Montana State

1995-96 Record: 21-8, lost in first round of NCAAs; 11-3, first

Coach: Mick Durham

Years coaching: Six, all at MSU

Record: 93-71

Top returnees: G Danny Sprinkle (6-2, So.); C Nate Holmstadt (6-8, So.)

Top newcomers: F Damon Ollie (6-6, 230); G Kiritan Williams (5-10, So.); G Austin McKellar (6-1, Jr.)

Quickly: Sprinkle was named the MVP of last year’s conference tournament as a freshman.

Outlook: The Bobcats lost four starters, including Big Sky co-player of the year Quadre Lollis, but Durham appears to have patched some holes with solid JC transfers.

5. Weber State

1995-96 Record: 20-10, no postseason; 10-4, tied for 2nd

Coach: Ron Abegglen

Years coaching: Ten, five at WSU

Record: 206-95, 97-50 at WSU

Top returnees: G Ryan Cuff (6-5, Sr.); G Alex Fisher (6-0, Jr.); G Damien Baskerville (6-3, So.).

Top newcomers: F Nathan Miller (6-6, Fr.); F Andy Jensen (6-7, Jr.).

Quickly: The Wildcats list Pepperdine, Nebraska, BYU, Utah, Michigan State and Kansas State among their non-conference opponents.

Outlook: WSU is young, but one of the most challenging nonconference schedules in the Big Sky should toughen Abegglen’s troops for a run at a first-division finish.

6. Cal State-Sacramento

1995-96 Record: 7-20, no postseason; 2-4 in American West Conference

Coach: Don Newman

Years coaching: Four, all at CSS

Record: 17-91

Top returnees: G Damond Edwards (6-4, Sr.); G Eric Carey 6- 4, So.); F Michael Boyd (6-5, Sr.)

Top newcomers: C Sean Houston (6-9, So.); G David Drakeford (6-1, Jr.)

Quickly: As a member of the American West Conference last season, the Hornets went 3-3 against Big Sky opponents, with two wins over Idaho State and another over NAU.

Outlook: Newman has been rebuilding slowly but surely since taking over an awful program five years back. Look for his hard work to start paying dividends in the Hornets’ first season in the Big Sky.

7. Eastern Washington

1995-96 Record: 3-23, no postseason; 0-14, 8th

Coach: Steve Aggers

Years coaching: Sixteen, one at EWU

Record: 267-211, 3-23 at EWU

Top returnees: G Travis King (5-11, Sr.); F Luke Egan (6-6 Sr.); F Mike Sims (6-8, So.)

Top newcomers: Karim Scott (6-6, Jr.); C Kevin Lewis (6-10 Jr.); G Michael Lewis (6-6, Jr.)

Quickly: Egan missed just one free throw last season, hitting 42 of 43 attempts.

Outlook: A tremendous recruiting class had Aggers’ team poised for a first-division finish, but the death of Rodrick McClure has left the Eagles rudderless.

8. Cal State-Northridge

1995-96 Record: 7-20, no postseason; 2-4 in AWC

Coach: Bobby Braswell

Years coaching: First year

Record: First year

Top returnees: F Gerald Rhoden (6-5, Sr.); F Kevin Taylor (6- 7, Jr.)

Top newcomers: F Keith Higgins (6-5, Sr.); G Derrick Higgins (6-3, Jr.)

Quickly: Braswell, who took over when Pete Cassidy stepped down after 25 years, is only the fourth head coach in the 38-year history of the Matadors’ program.

Outlook: Rhoden could become the dominant player in the league, but the supporting cast is far too benign to produce much in the way of expectations for CSN’s inaugural season in the Big Sky.

9. Portland State

1995-96 Record: Has not played since 1981

Coach: Ritchie McKay

Years coaching: First year

Record: First year

Top returnees: None

Top newcomers: G Mike Vanderhoff (6-0, Fr.); F Matt Ambrose (6-6, Jr.); G Tremaine Mayeaux (6-5, Fr.).

Quickly: The PSU program was reinstated this season after being discontinued in 1981.

Outlook: Bleak.

, DataTimes