Zach Green
Photo by: David Moll, U of Calgary
Bobcat Cagers Picked to Finish 4th in Big Sky in 2017-18
10/13/2017 1:22:00 PM | Men's Basketball
That would match MSU's highest finish in more than a decade
OGDEN, Utah – Montana State's men's basketball program has risen steadily during Brian Fish's three seasons as the Bobcats head coach, and the consensus in the Big Sky Conference is that the ascent will continue in 2017-18.
The league's media members picked MSU to finish fourth during the upcoming season, while the coaches see the Bobcats sharing fourth with Northern Colorado. Each group sees Idaho capturing its first Big Sky regular season title since 1993. From 1981 to '93 the Vandals won the league regular season four times. Weber State and Montana check in behind UI in both polls.
After the Bobcats, the polls diverge. Big Sky coaches see North Dakota finishing sixth, Eastern Washington seven, Portland State eighth, Sacramento State ninth, Idaho State 10th, NAU 11th, and Southern Utah 12th. Media members tab North Dakota fifth, Eastern Washington sixth, Northern Colorado seventh, Sacramento State eighth, Portland State ninth, NAU 10th, Idaho State 11th, and Southern Utah 12th.
Montana State finished the 2016-17 campaign 16-16 overall, 11-7 for a fifth-place tie in the conference standings. MSU's only top four finish in the league standings since Mick Durham's tenure as the program's winningest head coach ended in 2006 was a fourth-place tie in 2013.
The league's media members picked MSU to finish fourth during the upcoming season, while the coaches see the Bobcats sharing fourth with Northern Colorado. Each group sees Idaho capturing its first Big Sky regular season title since 1993. From 1981 to '93 the Vandals won the league regular season four times. Weber State and Montana check in behind UI in both polls.
After the Bobcats, the polls diverge. Big Sky coaches see North Dakota finishing sixth, Eastern Washington seven, Portland State eighth, Sacramento State ninth, Idaho State 10th, NAU 11th, and Southern Utah 12th. Media members tab North Dakota fifth, Eastern Washington sixth, Northern Colorado seventh, Sacramento State eighth, Portland State ninth, NAU 10th, Idaho State 11th, and Southern Utah 12th.
Montana State finished the 2016-17 campaign 16-16 overall, 11-7 for a fifth-place tie in the conference standings. MSU's only top four finish in the league standings since Mick Durham's tenure as the program's winningest head coach ended in 2006 was a fourth-place tie in 2013.
| Coaches' Poll | |
| Team | Points |
| 1. Idaho | 117 (10) |
| 2. Weber State | 103 (1) |
| 3. Montana | 101 |
| T-4. Northern Colorado | 83 (1) |
| T-4. Montana State | 83 |
| 6. North Dakota | 71 |
| 7. Eastern Washington | 65 |
| 8. Portland State | 55 |
| 9. Sacramento State | 48 |
| 10. Idaho State | 25 |
| 11. Northern Arizona | 23 |
| 12. Southern Utah | 19 |
| First place votes in parenthesis |
| Media Poll | |
| Team | Points |
| 1. Idaho | 211 (12) |
| 2. Weber State | 195 (3) |
| 3. Montana | 188 (3) |
| 4. Montana State | 180 |
| 5. North Dakota | 146 (1) |
| 6. Eastern Washington | 144 |
| 7. Northern Colorado | 106 |
| 8. Sacramento State | 87 |
| 9. Portland State | 76 |
| 10. Northern Arizona | 59 |
| 11. Idaho State | 52 |
| 12. Southern Utah | 38 |
| First place votes in parenthesis |
Thursday, March 03
Friday, November 05
Monday, November 01
Sunday, October 31
