Bobcats Prep for Big Sky Tourney
2/26/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Montana State's 85-61 win over Eastern Washington in Worthington Arena on Saturday gives the Bobcats more than just a satisfying ending to a regular season that began with a 1-6 start. Montana State clinched the second seed in the upcoming Big Sky Men's Basketball Championship Tournament in Portland, Ore.
"This (win) feels good now, but it's going to feel really good next Saturday when we're not playing," said Bobcat coach Mick Durham, whose team joins regular season league champion Portland State with first round byes in the tourney.
Four teams play first-round games. Fourth seeded Weber State travels to Sacramento State for the five-versus-four game next Saturday. Montana hosts either Northern Arizona or Eastern Washington in the other.
The first-round winners converge on Portland for Tuesday's semifinal games. Wednesday's title tilt is televised nationally on ESPN2.
While Championship Week catches the attention of college basketball fans nationwide, Durham says he and his team won't forget or underplay all that it has accomplished over the course of the last two months. "The conference tournament is great for fans, but it's a nightmare for coaches, except the ones that win," Durham said. "There are upsets all over the place. The atmosphere is fun and the intensity is great, but the regular season is really a better way to measure a team's success."
Portland State hosts the conference tourney March 8-9 in Memorial Coliseum, where the Trail Blazers played during the franchise's glory years in the '70s. "It will be fun to play there," said Durham, who saw Bill Walton's team play in that building the year after the Blazers won the 1978 NBA Championship.
For ticket information, contact the Bobcat Ticket Office at 406/994-CATS.
"This (win) feels good now, but it's going to feel really good next Saturday when we're not playing," said Bobcat coach Mick Durham, whose team joins regular season league champion Portland State with first round byes in the tourney.
Four teams play first-round games. Fourth seeded Weber State travels to Sacramento State for the five-versus-four game next Saturday. Montana hosts either Northern Arizona or Eastern Washington in the other.
The first-round winners converge on Portland for Tuesday's semifinal games. Wednesday's title tilt is televised nationally on ESPN2.
While Championship Week catches the attention of college basketball fans nationwide, Durham says he and his team won't forget or underplay all that it has accomplished over the course of the last two months. "The conference tournament is great for fans, but it's a nightmare for coaches, except the ones that win," Durham said. "There are upsets all over the place. The atmosphere is fun and the intensity is great, but the regular season is really a better way to measure a team's success."
Portland State hosts the conference tourney March 8-9 in Memorial Coliseum, where the Trail Blazers played during the franchise's glory years in the '70s. "It will be fun to play there," said Durham, who saw Bill Walton's team play in that building the year after the Blazers won the 1978 NBA Championship.
For ticket information, contact the Bobcat Ticket Office at 406/994-CATS.
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