Eastern Washington has all but played its way out of the Big Sky Conference Tournament once again, needing wins over Weber State (tonight) and Idaho State (Saturday) and help from those same two opponents against Portland State to end its three-year postseason drought.

I've attached a release from the Big Sky office that deals with all of the different tournament scenarios that could still play out, and I've included this link to league's weekly press release.  In addition, you can see what EWU's sports information department posted about tonigh's game agains Weber State here, and check out the game notes supplied by WSU's sports info folks here.

Please check back later for an early look at the WSU-Eastern game story that will run in Friday morning's S-R.

BIG SKY SCENARIOS

All, below are updated scenarios for each team in regards to the Big Sky Men’s Basketball Championship. PLEASE note that the scenarios I sent out on Monday in my weekly notes contained a mistake in regards to the Northern Colorado-Montana race for the No. 2 seed.

 

 

If both teams are tied at 11-5 (will happen with a Montana victory and a Northern Colorado loss), Northern Colorado will get the No. 2 seed and the bye to the semifinals IF Eastern Washington or Idaho State ends up as the No. 6 seed. Montana will get the No. 2 seed if Portland State is the No. 6 seed.

 

Montana and Northern Colorado would have split regular-season meetings.

 

Both teams would have split with No. 1 Weber State.

 

Both teams would have split with No. 4 Montana State

 

Both teams would have swept No. 5 Northern Arizona.

 

Northern Colorado went 2-0 against Eastern Washington and Idaho State. Montana split with those teams, giving Northern Colorado the tiebreaker if one of those teams finishes sixth.

 

Montana swept Portland State. Northern Colorado split with Portland State. Montana would win the tiebreaker in that case if PSU is sixth.

 

 

Of course, all of these scenarios are up for review upon completion of Friday’s games. We will continue to review through the weekend to make sure the tiebreakers are 100 percent accurate. We still have the potential for a four-way tie at 5-11 for the sixth and final spot. However, it has been determined that Sacramento State could not win that tiebreaker.

 

 

 

 

 

Weber State: Has clinched the No. 1 seed and at least a share of the regular-season title. Will win the title outright with one win or a Northern Colorado loss. Weber State will play in the second semifinal game from the Dee Events Center in Ogden, Utah, on Tuesday, March 9 at 7 p.m.

 

 

Northern Colorado: Will clinch the No. 2 seed with a win over Sacramento State. Will also be the No. 2 with a loss and a Montana loss. If Montana and Northern Colorado tie at 11-5, Northern Colorado will be the No. 2 seed if Idaho State or Eastern Washington is the sixth seed. If NC and UM are tied at 11-5, NC will be the No. 3 seed if Portland State is the No. 6 seed.

 

 

Montana: Can be the No. 2, No. 3 or No. 4 seed. Montana will be the No. 2 seed with a win over Montana State, a loss by Northern Colorado, and if Portland State is the No. 6 seed. Will be the No. 3 seed if tied with Northern Colorado, and Eastern Washington or Idaho State is the No. 6 seed.

 

 

Montana State: Will be the No. 3 seed with a win over Montana, and will be the No. 4 seed with a loss to Montana. Montana State will host a quarterfinal game on Saturday, March 6.

 

Northern Arizona: Has secured the No. 5 seed and will play on the road in a quarterfinal game on Saturday, March 6.

 

 

Portland State: Will clinch the No. 6 seed with a win over Idaho State. Can also clinch the No. 6 seed with a loss to Idaho State, a win over Weber State and an Idaho State loss to Eastern Washington.  Can finish no better than sixth. Will play a quarterfinal game on the road on Saturday, March 6 if it qualifies for the postseason.

 

 

Idaho State: The Bengals are eliminated with a loss to Portland State. Idaho State will earn the No. 6 seed with two victories, or a win over Portland State coupled with Weber State victories over Eastern Washington and over Portland State, and one Sacramento State loss to either Northern Arizona or Northern Colorado.

 

Eastern Washington: Needs two wins and two Portland State losses to gain the No. 6 seed. Can finish no better than sixth. Will play a quarterfinal game on the road on Saturday, March 6 if it qualifies for the postseason.

 

 

Sacramento State: Has been eliminated from postseason contention.

 

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