coreyschucky
11-08-2004, 12:59 PM
From CBSSPORTSLINE.COM
Big Sky Conference preview
By Gregg Doyel
SportsLine.com Senior Writer
Stock Chart
Team Stock
1. Eastern Washington
2. Montana
3. Portland State
4. Idaho State
5. Weber State
6. Sacramento State
7. Montana State
8. Northern Arizona
The Big Sky has produced some national stories in recent years, from Ben Howland's Northern Arizona resurrection to Weber State-over-North Carolina to Ray Giacoletti's program-building at Eastern Washington.
Marc Axton and Eastern Washington will likely make a return trip to the NCAA Tournament.(Getty Images)
No national stories this season. None. Unless a whole lot of newcomers are a whole lot better than advertised, the league is in for a down year.
And that's compared to last season, when no team won more than 17 games.
Eastern Washington
Top three: F Marc Axton, C Matt Nelson, G Danny Pariseau.
On the decline: The Eagles could slip a lot from last season -- and probably will -- and still be the class of the league. Former Washington State (and Eastern Washington) assistant Mike Burns has replaced Giacoletti, who left for Utah. Giacoletti didn't leave behind a bunch of stars, but he did leave enough talent for the Eagles to make a second consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.
Montana
Top three: F Kamarr Davis, G Kevin Criswell, G Roy Booker.
On the rise: Pat Kennedy underachieved before leaving for Towson -- Towson? -- but the Grizzlies made the most of things, replacing Kennedy with legendary alum Larry Krystkowiak. The inexperienced Krystkowiak is probably a better recruiter than coach -- isn't that what they used to say about Kennedy? -- but in Davis (14.1 ppg, 6.3 rpg) and Criswell (12.3 ppg) he has one of the best inside-outside duos in the league.
Portland State
Top three: F Seamus Boxley, G Blake Walker, F Antone Jarrell.
On the rise: Four starters are back from a team that finished eighth in the league last season. Not sure if that's good news or bad news, but Boxley (14.8 ppg, 9.4 rpg) is as good a candidate as any for preseason player of the year.
Idaho State
Top three: G Jeff Gardner, G Doug D'Amore, G David Schroeder.
On the decline: The Bengals get back Schroeder, a budding star before blowing out his knee during Midnight Madness in October 2003, but they've lost conference scoring leader Marquis Poole and Scott Henry, a duo that combined for 33 points per game last season.
Weber State
Top three: C Lance Allred, G Jamaal Jenkins, F David Patten.
On the decline: The Wildcats have perhaps the best player in the league in the 6-11 Allred (11.7 ppg, 6.0 rpg) but surround him with maybe the worst supporting cast of returning players. Transfers will play a huge role, most notably Patten, a former starting forward at Pepperdine.
Sacramento State
Top three: F Jameel Pugh, G DaShawn Freeman, F Chris Lange.
On the decline: The top three scorers from last season's team are gone, which puts the onus on Pugh (9.3 ppg, 4.9 rpg) -- a potential star -- and an influx of junior college transfers to keep the Hornets competitive in the Big Sky.
Montana State
Top three: G Frank Brown, C Matt Towsley, F Marvin Moss.
On the decline: Stop us if you've heard this before, but here's a Big Sky team that suffered heavy losses last season and will rely on junior college players to keep the program afloat. One of those, the 6-6 Moss, was a 20-and-10 guy in the JC ranks.
Northern Arizona
Top three: G Kelly Golob, G Kyle Feuerbach, F Stephen Garnett.
On the decline: No one in the Big Sky lost more than the Lumberjacks, who must replace four of their top five scorers from a year ago. The one starter back, Golob (13.4 ppg), is an all-league player.
Accolades
First team
F -- Kamarr Davis, Montana
F -- Seamus Boxley, Portland State
C -- Lance Allred, Weber State
G -- Kelly Golob, Northern Arizona
G -- Blake Walker, Portland State
Second team
F -- Marc Axton, Eastern Washington
F -- Jameel Pugh, Sacramento State
C -- Matt Nelson, Eastern Washington
G -- Jeff Gardner, Idaho State
G -- Kevin Criswell, Montana
Player of the year
Seamus Boxley, Portland State
Newcomer of the year
Marvin Moss, Montana State
Breakthrough player
Jameel Pugh, Sacramento State
Idaho State
Big Sky Conference preview
By Gregg Doyel
SportsLine.com Senior Writer
Stock Chart
Team Stock
1. Eastern Washington
2. Montana
3. Portland State
4. Idaho State
5. Weber State
6. Sacramento State
7. Montana State
8. Northern Arizona
The Big Sky has produced some national stories in recent years, from Ben Howland's Northern Arizona resurrection to Weber State-over-North Carolina to Ray Giacoletti's program-building at Eastern Washington.
Marc Axton and Eastern Washington will likely make a return trip to the NCAA Tournament.(Getty Images)
No national stories this season. None. Unless a whole lot of newcomers are a whole lot better than advertised, the league is in for a down year.
And that's compared to last season, when no team won more than 17 games.
Eastern Washington
Top three: F Marc Axton, C Matt Nelson, G Danny Pariseau.
On the decline: The Eagles could slip a lot from last season -- and probably will -- and still be the class of the league. Former Washington State (and Eastern Washington) assistant Mike Burns has replaced Giacoletti, who left for Utah. Giacoletti didn't leave behind a bunch of stars, but he did leave enough talent for the Eagles to make a second consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.
Montana
Top three: F Kamarr Davis, G Kevin Criswell, G Roy Booker.
On the rise: Pat Kennedy underachieved before leaving for Towson -- Towson? -- but the Grizzlies made the most of things, replacing Kennedy with legendary alum Larry Krystkowiak. The inexperienced Krystkowiak is probably a better recruiter than coach -- isn't that what they used to say about Kennedy? -- but in Davis (14.1 ppg, 6.3 rpg) and Criswell (12.3 ppg) he has one of the best inside-outside duos in the league.
Portland State
Top three: F Seamus Boxley, G Blake Walker, F Antone Jarrell.
On the rise: Four starters are back from a team that finished eighth in the league last season. Not sure if that's good news or bad news, but Boxley (14.8 ppg, 9.4 rpg) is as good a candidate as any for preseason player of the year.
Idaho State
Top three: G Jeff Gardner, G Doug D'Amore, G David Schroeder.
On the decline: The Bengals get back Schroeder, a budding star before blowing out his knee during Midnight Madness in October 2003, but they've lost conference scoring leader Marquis Poole and Scott Henry, a duo that combined for 33 points per game last season.
Weber State
Top three: C Lance Allred, G Jamaal Jenkins, F David Patten.
On the decline: The Wildcats have perhaps the best player in the league in the 6-11 Allred (11.7 ppg, 6.0 rpg) but surround him with maybe the worst supporting cast of returning players. Transfers will play a huge role, most notably Patten, a former starting forward at Pepperdine.
Sacramento State
Top three: F Jameel Pugh, G DaShawn Freeman, F Chris Lange.
On the decline: The top three scorers from last season's team are gone, which puts the onus on Pugh (9.3 ppg, 4.9 rpg) -- a potential star -- and an influx of junior college transfers to keep the Hornets competitive in the Big Sky.
Montana State
Top three: G Frank Brown, C Matt Towsley, F Marvin Moss.
On the decline: Stop us if you've heard this before, but here's a Big Sky team that suffered heavy losses last season and will rely on junior college players to keep the program afloat. One of those, the 6-6 Moss, was a 20-and-10 guy in the JC ranks.
Northern Arizona
Top three: G Kelly Golob, G Kyle Feuerbach, F Stephen Garnett.
On the decline: No one in the Big Sky lost more than the Lumberjacks, who must replace four of their top five scorers from a year ago. The one starter back, Golob (13.4 ppg), is an all-league player.
Accolades
First team
F -- Kamarr Davis, Montana
F -- Seamus Boxley, Portland State
C -- Lance Allred, Weber State
G -- Kelly Golob, Northern Arizona
G -- Blake Walker, Portland State
Second team
F -- Marc Axton, Eastern Washington
F -- Jameel Pugh, Sacramento State
C -- Matt Nelson, Eastern Washington
G -- Jeff Gardner, Idaho State
G -- Kevin Criswell, Montana
Player of the year
Seamus Boxley, Portland State
Newcomer of the year
Marvin Moss, Montana State
Breakthrough player
Jameel Pugh, Sacramento State
Idaho State