Big Sky Appears To Be In A ‘State’ Idaho, Ewu Draw Leading Contenders At Home For Opening Weekend Of League Play

For Idaho and Eastern Washington, the nice thing about the beginning of the Big Sky Conference men’s basketball season is that after this weekend, it should get easier.

The Vandals open Sky action in the Kibbie Dome with Idaho State on Friday and Boise State on Saturday. That twosome also visits EWU in Cheney, flip-flopping nights. Game times are 7:05 p.m.

Boise State and Idaho State each are 9-2 and were dubbed preseason Sky favorites by the media and coaches.

“We’ve got a real breather to start off with,” said UI coach Joe Cravens, gallows humor dripping from his tongue.

Forecasting the Big Sky race would be simple if ISU and BSU were without credible challengers.

They’re not.

Montana State has won 12 straight, including victories over Texas A&M, Texas Tech and Colorado. MSU beat Eastern Michigan by 38 points, a team that defeated Washington State.

Weber State, co-champion with Idaho State last year, whipped Brigham Young and led Purdue by double-digits on the road before falling.

Want to pick the Big Sky champ? Go for any school with a State in its name. BSU, ISU, MSU and WSU are strong.

Montana’s a conundrum, Idaho must find a road map with victory instructions, Northern Arizona appears weak, and EWU is hoping to avoid a repeat of last year’s winless Sky campaign.

“We’ve been pretty darn good,” MSU coach Mick Durham acknowledged. “But I’m wondering when is the lull going to come? Will we handle it better than last year or will we fall on our face?”

He’s referring to MSU’s 8-2 conference start and 0-4 finish last season. The Big Sky has a way of instigating lulls.”I think it will be an even better conference race,” concedes BSU’s Bobby Dye, who guided the Broncos to the tournament title last year for the second straight season.

The secret, as always, is who can win on the road. Big Sky clubs are 41-6 at home thus far.

UI is 5-1 at home, 0-5 away. EWU is 3-7, all the wins coming at Reese Court.

“I think there’s five pretty good teams (Montana, MSU, ISU, BSU and WSU) that can get road wins at any time,” Durham predicted.

He’ll find out soon enough. MSU tips off the Sky season Thursday at Weber State.

MEMO: This sidebar ran with story: Big Sky outlook Predicted order of finish in Big Sky Conference men’s basketball: 1. Boise State 2. Idaho State 3. Montana State 4. Weber State 5. Montana 6. Idaho 7. Northern Arizona 8. Eastern Washington