Photo by: Bobcat Creative Services
Bobcats Top Big Sky Preseason Polls, Miller Earns Preseason All-Conference Honor
10/14/2026 1:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Montana State enters preseason as conference favorite for the first time in four years
FARMINGTON, Utah – The Montana State men's basketball team was selected as the preseason Big Sky favorite in the league's preseason coaches' and media polls, while fifth-year Jed Miller earned a preseason all-conference nod, the Big Sky Conference announced on Wednesday.
The Bobcats received seven first-place votes from the league's coaches, who could not vote for their own teams, to tally 97 points in the coaches' poll. In the media poll, Montana State received 19 of 32 first-place votes to accumulate 326 points. Montana State will enter the 2026-27 campaign as the preseason No. 1 team in both polls for the first time since the 2022-23 season and for the first time under head coach Matt Logie.
The Bobcats finished second in the Big Sky regular-season standings during the 2025-26 season after compiling an 18-14 overall record and finishing 12-6 in Big Sky play. Four players – Jed Miller (First Team), Patrick McMahon (Second Team), Christian King (Honorable Mention), and Jeremiah Davis (All-Defense) – earning All-Big Sky honors following impressive campaigns, with Miller, King, and Davis set to highlight a group of 11 returning players from last year's team.
Miller earned his first career Preseason All-Big Sky nod and the Bobcats' first since Brian Goracke and Brandon Walker made the all-conference team prior to the 2024-25 season. The fifth-year enjoyed a breakout senior campaign in 2025-26, leading the Bobcats in points (14.9), rebounds (5.7), assists (2.9), steals (1.6), and minutes (34.5) per game en route to earning unanimous First-Team All-Big Sky honors. The Agoura Hills, Calif., native was one of two Bobcats to play in and start all 32 games last season and compiled 26 double-digit scoring efforts, including seven 20-point performances, and led the team in scoring 10 times.
The Blue Ribbon Yearbook also honored Montana State with preseason honors earlier this fall, selecting the Bobcats as the Big Sky preseason favorite and recognizing Miller with a preseason all-conference nod.
Montana State is set to return 11 players from last year's team while adding transfers Isaiah Crane, London Praytor, and Darnez Slater, along with freshmen Hale Hansen and DJ Johnson.
The Bobcats will host a home exhibition game against Denver on Sunday, Oct. 18, at 11:30 a.m. MT, before facing Kansas City on the road on Saturday, Oct. 24, to wrap up the preseason. The Bobcats will open the regular season at Colorado State on Monday, Nov. 2, at 8 p.m., with their first home game to follow against Long Beach State on Saturday, Nov. 7, at 1 p.m. Single-game tickets for all home exhibition and regular-season games are available to purchase here.
2026-27 Big Sky Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll
1: Montana State (7) – 97
2: Northern Colorado – 81
3: Eastern Washington (3) – 79
T4: Montana – 73
T4: Portland State – 73
6: Idaho (1) – 56
7: Utah Tech – 50
8: Weber State – 29
9: Idaho State – 26
10: Southern Utah – 25
11: Northern Arizona – 16
() – Denotes First-Place Votes
2026-27 Big Sky Men's Basketball Preseason Media Poll
1: Montana State (19) – 326
2: Northern Colorado (7) – 295
3: Eastern Washington (5) – 279
4: Montana (1) – 254
5: Portland State – 236
6: Idaho – 183
7: Utah Tech – 161
8: Weber State – 143
9: Idaho State – 93
10: Southern Utah – 85
11: Northern Arizona – 57
() – Denotes First-Place Votes
2026-27 Big Sky Men's Basketball Preseason All-Conference Team
Langston Reynolds, Northern Colorado (MVP)
Jed Miller, Montana State
Ethan Potter, Utah Tech
Andrew Cook, Eastern Washington
Alton Hamilton IV, Eastern Washington
Jaiden Feroah, Southern Utah
Koren Johnson, Portland State
Follow the Bobcats
For the latest news, updates, and behind-the-scenes coverage of the Montana State men's basketball team, follow the Bobcats on Twitter and Instagram at @MSUBobcatsMBB and on Facebook at Montana State Men's Basketball. Information on the Montana State athletic program can be found online at msubobcats.com or by following the Bobcats on Twitter at @MSUBobcats, Instagram at @MontanaStateBobcats, and on Facebook at Montana State Bobcats.
The Bobcats received seven first-place votes from the league's coaches, who could not vote for their own teams, to tally 97 points in the coaches' poll. In the media poll, Montana State received 19 of 32 first-place votes to accumulate 326 points. Montana State will enter the 2026-27 campaign as the preseason No. 1 team in both polls for the first time since the 2022-23 season and for the first time under head coach Matt Logie.
The Bobcats finished second in the Big Sky regular-season standings during the 2025-26 season after compiling an 18-14 overall record and finishing 12-6 in Big Sky play. Four players – Jed Miller (First Team), Patrick McMahon (Second Team), Christian King (Honorable Mention), and Jeremiah Davis (All-Defense) – earning All-Big Sky honors following impressive campaigns, with Miller, King, and Davis set to highlight a group of 11 returning players from last year's team.
Miller earned his first career Preseason All-Big Sky nod and the Bobcats' first since Brian Goracke and Brandon Walker made the all-conference team prior to the 2024-25 season. The fifth-year enjoyed a breakout senior campaign in 2025-26, leading the Bobcats in points (14.9), rebounds (5.7), assists (2.9), steals (1.6), and minutes (34.5) per game en route to earning unanimous First-Team All-Big Sky honors. The Agoura Hills, Calif., native was one of two Bobcats to play in and start all 32 games last season and compiled 26 double-digit scoring efforts, including seven 20-point performances, and led the team in scoring 10 times.
The Blue Ribbon Yearbook also honored Montana State with preseason honors earlier this fall, selecting the Bobcats as the Big Sky preseason favorite and recognizing Miller with a preseason all-conference nod.
Montana State is set to return 11 players from last year's team while adding transfers Isaiah Crane, London Praytor, and Darnez Slater, along with freshmen Hale Hansen and DJ Johnson.
The Bobcats will host a home exhibition game against Denver on Sunday, Oct. 18, at 11:30 a.m. MT, before facing Kansas City on the road on Saturday, Oct. 24, to wrap up the preseason. The Bobcats will open the regular season at Colorado State on Monday, Nov. 2, at 8 p.m., with their first home game to follow against Long Beach State on Saturday, Nov. 7, at 1 p.m. Single-game tickets for all home exhibition and regular-season games are available to purchase here.
2026-27 Big Sky Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll
1: Montana State (7) – 97
2: Northern Colorado – 81
3: Eastern Washington (3) – 79
T4: Montana – 73
T4: Portland State – 73
6: Idaho (1) – 56
7: Utah Tech – 50
8: Weber State – 29
9: Idaho State – 26
10: Southern Utah – 25
11: Northern Arizona – 16
() – Denotes First-Place Votes
2026-27 Big Sky Men's Basketball Preseason Media Poll
1: Montana State (19) – 326
2: Northern Colorado (7) – 295
3: Eastern Washington (5) – 279
4: Montana (1) – 254
5: Portland State – 236
6: Idaho – 183
7: Utah Tech – 161
8: Weber State – 143
9: Idaho State – 93
10: Southern Utah – 85
11: Northern Arizona – 57
() – Denotes First-Place Votes
2026-27 Big Sky Men's Basketball Preseason All-Conference Team
Langston Reynolds, Northern Colorado (MVP)
Jed Miller, Montana State
Ethan Potter, Utah Tech
Andrew Cook, Eastern Washington
Alton Hamilton IV, Eastern Washington
Jaiden Feroah, Southern Utah
Koren Johnson, Portland State
Follow the Bobcats
For the latest news, updates, and behind-the-scenes coverage of the Montana State men's basketball team, follow the Bobcats on Twitter and Instagram at @MSUBobcatsMBB and on Facebook at Montana State Men's Basketball. Information on the Montana State athletic program can be found online at msubobcats.com or by following the Bobcats on Twitter at @MSUBobcats, Instagram at @MontanaStateBobcats, and on Facebook at Montana State Bobcats.
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