Men’s Basketball Preseason Polls Released
(10/25/2006) OGDEN, Utah - Just one point separated first and second place in the 2006-07 Big Sky Conference Men’s Basketball preseason media and coaches’ poll. In the coaches’ poll, Northern Arizona is first. In the media poll, Montana is first.
Defending regular-season champion Northern Arizona and defending tournament champion Montana each received four first-place votes in the coaches’ poll. Northern Arizona earned 59 total points, followed by Montana with 58.
In the media poll, Montana received nine first-place votes and 233 total points. Northern Arizona received 13 first-place votes and 232 total point.
Mike Adras’ Northern Arizona squad returns four starters from a club that finished 12-2 in the Big Sky a season ago, 21-11 overall, and advanced to the NIT Tournament. Montana, under the direction of first-year coach Wayne Tinkle, returns three starters from last year’s 24-7 team. Montana beat Northern Arizona 73-60 in the Big Sky Championship game, earning a No. 12 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Grizzlies upset Nevada in the first round, the Big Sky’s first NCAA Tournament victory since 1999.
The media and coaches both selected Eastern Washington third. The Eagles, led by sophomore sensation Rodney Stuckey, received one first-place vote in the coaches’ poll and 54 total points. Seven media members voted the Eagles first, and EWU earned 222 points in that poll. Stuckey became the first freshman in league history to claim MVP honors after averaging 24.2 points per game, and guiding the Eagles to a 9-5 conference record.
Portland State was picked fourth and Sacramento State was picked fifth in both polls. Portland State registered 41 points from the coaches and 149 from the media. The Hornets earned 37 points from the coaches and 143 from the media.
The bottom four teams in the polls are all under the direction of new coaches, and feature a plethora of new players.
Randy Rahe’s Weber State team is picked sixth by the coaches and seventh by the media. The Wildcats return just two players who saw game action last season.
The coaches tabbed Idaho State seventh, while the media has the Bengals eighth. Joe O’Brien, who won three Junior College national titles, is the new head man in Pocatello.
Montana State, under the direction of Brad Huse, was picked eighth by the coaches and sixth by the media. Huse was an assistant at Montana State from 1994-96, before spending eight very successful seasons at NAIA Jamestown College in North Dakota. Huse was an assistant under Larry Krystkowiak at Montana the previous two seasons.
League-newcomer Northern Colorado was picked ninth in both polls. Tad Boyle, who spent the last six seasons on Mark Turgeon’s staff at Wichita State, will lead the Bears in their first season in the Big Sky. Northern Colorado will play a full Big Sky schedule, but because of NCAA reclassification requirements, will not be eligible for the regular-season title, or a trip to the postseason.
The 2006-07 season begins on Friday, Nov. 10.
More than 120 games featuring Big Sky teams will be available at www.bigskytv.org, the Big Sky’s new video streaming web site.
Coaches’ Poll
School (First-place votes) Points
1. Northern Arizona (4) 59; 2. Montana (4) 58; 3. Eastern Washington (1) 54; 4. Portland State 41; 5. Sacramento State 37; 6. Weber State 27; 7. Idaho State 22; 8. Montana State 17; 9. Northern Colorado 8.
Media Poll
School (First-place votes) Points
1. Montana (9) 233; 2. Northern Arizona (13) 232; 3. Eastern Washington (7) 222; 4. Portland State 149; 5. Sacramento State 143; 6. Montana State 109; 7. Weber State 95; 8. Idaho State 93; 9. Northern Colorado 30.
(10/25/2006) OGDEN, Utah - Just one point separated first and second place in the 2006-07 Big Sky Conference Men’s Basketball preseason media and coaches’ poll. In the coaches’ poll, Northern Arizona is first. In the media poll, Montana is first.
Defending regular-season champion Northern Arizona and defending tournament champion Montana each received four first-place votes in the coaches’ poll. Northern Arizona earned 59 total points, followed by Montana with 58.
In the media poll, Montana received nine first-place votes and 233 total points. Northern Arizona received 13 first-place votes and 232 total point.
Mike Adras’ Northern Arizona squad returns four starters from a club that finished 12-2 in the Big Sky a season ago, 21-11 overall, and advanced to the NIT Tournament. Montana, under the direction of first-year coach Wayne Tinkle, returns three starters from last year’s 24-7 team. Montana beat Northern Arizona 73-60 in the Big Sky Championship game, earning a No. 12 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Grizzlies upset Nevada in the first round, the Big Sky’s first NCAA Tournament victory since 1999.
The media and coaches both selected Eastern Washington third. The Eagles, led by sophomore sensation Rodney Stuckey, received one first-place vote in the coaches’ poll and 54 total points. Seven media members voted the Eagles first, and EWU earned 222 points in that poll. Stuckey became the first freshman in league history to claim MVP honors after averaging 24.2 points per game, and guiding the Eagles to a 9-5 conference record.
Portland State was picked fourth and Sacramento State was picked fifth in both polls. Portland State registered 41 points from the coaches and 149 from the media. The Hornets earned 37 points from the coaches and 143 from the media.
The bottom four teams in the polls are all under the direction of new coaches, and feature a plethora of new players.
Randy Rahe’s Weber State team is picked sixth by the coaches and seventh by the media. The Wildcats return just two players who saw game action last season.
The coaches tabbed Idaho State seventh, while the media has the Bengals eighth. Joe O’Brien, who won three Junior College national titles, is the new head man in Pocatello.
Montana State, under the direction of Brad Huse, was picked eighth by the coaches and sixth by the media. Huse was an assistant at Montana State from 1994-96, before spending eight very successful seasons at NAIA Jamestown College in North Dakota. Huse was an assistant under Larry Krystkowiak at Montana the previous two seasons.
League-newcomer Northern Colorado was picked ninth in both polls. Tad Boyle, who spent the last six seasons on Mark Turgeon’s staff at Wichita State, will lead the Bears in their first season in the Big Sky. Northern Colorado will play a full Big Sky schedule, but because of NCAA reclassification requirements, will not be eligible for the regular-season title, or a trip to the postseason.
The 2006-07 season begins on Friday, Nov. 10.
More than 120 games featuring Big Sky teams will be available at www.bigskytv.org, the Big Sky’s new video streaming web site.
Coaches’ Poll
School (First-place votes) Points
1. Northern Arizona (4) 59; 2. Montana (4) 58; 3. Eastern Washington (1) 54; 4. Portland State 41; 5. Sacramento State 37; 6. Weber State 27; 7. Idaho State 22; 8. Montana State 17; 9. Northern Colorado 8.
Media Poll
School (First-place votes) Points
1. Montana (9) 233; 2. Northern Arizona (13) 232; 3. Eastern Washington (7) 222; 4. Portland State 149; 5. Sacramento State 143; 6. Montana State 109; 7. Weber State 95; 8. Idaho State 93; 9. Northern Colorado 30.
