The Bobcat Nation

He said alot of interesting things about Big Sky B-Ball. He told them that if the teams don't improve on there strengh of schedule, we will be in a world of hurt when it comes to the NCAA's. Also said that if anyone but UM or PSU wins the tourny last year, that team would have been in the Play-in game. What do you all think?

I actually thought dUMb was headed for the playin last year before getting the 16th seed...I knew it. Seriously, a few quality OOC preseason wins will cure the strength of schedule rating problems.

Fullerton said there were 4 teams from the Big Sky that were in the bottom 30 in S of S. Were we one of those?

I would assume, even though we didn't lose by much in our OOC games, we still lost all of them except our NAIA games (and still wound up second in conference play.)

SACCAT wrote:...Also said that if anyone but UM or PSU wins the tourny last year, that team would have been in the Play-in game. What do you all think?

This is just his opinion as he would have no real way of knowing unless it actaully happened. If MSU wins the tourney I highly doubt they would have had to play the play-in game. I would have put money against it. Of course I could be just going off on Fullerton who I have little respect for.

as I digress...

Strength of schedule is one thing, but when you finish your pre season with teams well
under 500 with a weak "strength of schedule" you are just screwed. The Big Sky used to
be a nice little mid major conference, but with the likes of Reno, Boise, Idaho, and Northridge
leaving and being replaced by schools who were just admitted to NCAA D-1 the
conference has really taken it in the shorts. Last year was a bad year for the Big Sky (I
am talking basketball), I think in some past years, this years, PSU team would have had a
hard time finishing in the top 2-3 league. I really have been hoping for a much better
showing next year, but in watching the off season I really think it has been a mixed bag,
as to whether teams have actually improved themselves. The Cats will definitely be
better, Weber also should be better. A lot of people speak highly of NAU's chances next
year, but I am not sold on their program. Montana actually might be a little better or little
worse, they lost Davis and a lot of depth (their strong points last year) and replaced them
with an outstanding freshmen recruiting class, but how fast can this class mature? Idaho
State is totally retooling their offense to a motion offense, they have signed some nice
players, but they were not all that good last year, so I could see themselves getting a little
better, or falling flat on their faces. Sac State will be lucky to reach last years marks (but
as usual though, will present the Cat's with fits). Eastern was looking very promising last year with a
core of talented young players coming back, since then 3 of those players transferred, and a
players / coach problems rumors abound, on the bright side they signed a 6-9 center
prospect last fall that would have gone PAC-10 this spring. Portland State has taken it in
the shorts, coach leaving, weak recruiting class, and a lot of quality players leaving.

Overall in my opinion
Better next year:
MSU, NAU, Weber,

About the Same
UM, ISU

Worse
Sac ST. , EWU, PSU,

On the plus side for the established Big Sky schools like WSU, MSU, ISU, and
UM they are just killing the yougner Big Sky schools, including Northern Colorado, on the
recruiting front, with the quality of their facilities. I know one of the things I have heard
when we were recruiting Chawn Johnson was that PSU & Northern Colorado simply
looked bush league when you them to compared MSU's facilities. You had the "have’s", Iowa State,
Nebraska, and Montana States, and the have nots PSU and N. Colorado. In the long run this
will hurt the Big Sky but in the short run it should give these schools a leg up on
recruiting and constantly being in the top half of the league.

Hate to keep harping on the travel our coaches and athletes have to contend with, but this is a limiting factor and given the geographical nightmare involved, we're pretty limited until we either expand or...I think the poor MSU architect forced to exist in the Bitteroot/Clarks Fork area has a pretty good forecast for next year.