Big Sky at a glance

1 Northern Arizona Lumberjacks

Coach: Mike Adras, 119-94 (eight seasons), same overall

Players to watch: Ruben Boykin Jr., sr., f; Tyrone Bazy, sr., g; Steve Sir, 6-6, sr., g.

Outlook: The top three teams are pretty equal and a road breakthrough or home stumble could determine the champion. NAU (21-11, 12-2) won by two games last year and only lost one player, though sharp-shooter Kelly Golub was a good one. Sir received a medical redshirt year, which means another sharp-shooter returns. Bazy averaged 11.5 points to be named Newcomer of the Year and freshman PG Josh Wilson was a surprise.

2 Eastern Washington Eagles

Coach: Mike Burns 23-35 (two seasons), same overall

Players to watch: Rodney Stuckey, soph., g; Paul Butorac, sr., c; Matt Penoncello, soph., g; Derek Risper, sr., f.

Outlook: Stuckey is Stuckey but he has solid players around him. Omar Krayem (JC) and Michael Taylor (HS) give different looks at the point as Stuckey moves to the wing. Risper and redshirt freshman Brandon Moore provide muscle in the middle making Butorac a wildcard, and potential matchup problem. Kellen Williams and Matt Penoncello are quietly efficient, which is why the Eags won five of their last six league games to finish third last year.

3 Montana Grizzlies

Coach: Wayne Tinkle, first season

Players to watch: Andrew Straight, jr., f; Matt Dlouhy, sr., f; Jordan Hasquet, soph., f.

Outlook: Under Larry Kystkowiak, the Griz (24-7) played their best at the end, winning two straight league tourney games on the road. The challenge for the new coach, a former Ferris Saxon and Grizzly, is replacing the starting backcourt. Junior Matt Martin and senior Bryan Ellis have the experience, although sophomore Austin Swift is expected to contribute. Sharp-shooting Straight, Dlouhy and Hasquet are a formidable but undersized front court.

4 Sacramento State Hornets

Coach: Jerome Jenkins 65-104 (six seasons), same overall

Players to watch: Alex Bausley, sr., f; Clark Woods, sr., g; Aaron Hargrove, sr., g.

Outlook: The Hornets faded down the stretch last year to finish 15-15, 5-9, just when it appeared they would have their best BSC season ever. The plan is to replace point guard DaShawn Freeman, who set the conference steals record, by committee. Bausley is the leader and one of the top players in the league. The Hornets’ pressure defense can cause a lot of problems.

5 Portland State Vikings

Coach: Ken Bone 12-16 (one season), same overall

Players to watch: Juma Kamara, sr., f; Ryan Sommer, jr., g; Scott Morrison, jr., c.

Outlook: The Vikings overcome a dismal start to play well down the stretch. Only one starter graduated, but 6-9 post Anthony Washington did not return to school. Morrison will have to pick up the slack for a very undersized team, which expects to play a faster-paced game to compensate. Kamara led the league in 3-point shooting (52.7 percent).

6 Montana State Bobcats

Coach: Brad Huse, first season, 184-60 overall

Players to watch: Nick Dissly, sr., f; Casey Durham, jr., g; Ted Morris, sr., c.

Outlook: Huse, a Montana assistant last year after a successful stint in the NAIA ranks and a former MSU assistant, has just two returning starters and only two other players with significant experience. None of the four veterans averaged in double figures. There are seven freshmen and four JC transfers trying to fit in.

7 Idaho State Bengals

Coach: Joe O’Brien, first season, 313-117 overall

Players to watch: Logan Kinghorn, jr., g; David Schroeder, sr., g; John Ofoegbu, sr., c.

Outlook: O’Brien was a successful JC coach who stresses defense and disciplined offense. He inherits six returning players but only two starters and not much size. He will play a lot of four guards and expects his first three players off the bench to be freshmen; he has seven on the roster. Ofoegbu played three years at Texas Tech.

8 Weber State Wildcats

Coach: Randy Rahe, first season

Players to watch: David Patten, sr., f; Dan Henry, sr., w.

Outlook: After missing the league tourney for only the second time ever (10-17, 4-10), there is a new coach who only has three players back, two with experience. Patten averaged 10.8 points and 5.1 rebounds and Henry 5.7 points. Rahe is leaning heavily on transfers with just two true freshmen on the roster. Arturas Valeitka, a 6-9 JC forward, has to fill the middle.

9 Northern Colorado Bears

Coach: Tad Boyle, first season

Players to watch: Kirk Archibeque, 6-9, c; Sean Taibi, jr., g; Dwayne Birden, sr., w.

Outlook: The league newcomer has a new coach who played for Larry Brown at Kansas, but he welcomes back four starters from a team that was 5-24 as an independent. Taibi led the team at 15.3 points a game, setting a school record with 84 3-pointers, including at least one in every game. Arichibeque averaged 12.9 points and 7.1 rebounds. However, there are seven freshmen and a JC transfer to fit in.