Big Sky men’s basketball at a glance: Where things stand before conference play

By BRETT HEIN - Standard-Examiner | Dec 27, 2023

BROOKS NUANEZ, For the Big Sky Conference

In this March 2021 photo, a rack of basketballs sits on the court of Idaho Central Arena during the Big Sky basketball championships in Boise, Idaho.

As Big Sky Conference men’s basketball games are set to begin Thursday, here’s a rundown of some key leaders, metrics and more.

SUPERLATIVES

Best wins and worst losses are as determined by opponents’ Ken Pomeroy rating as of Wednesday night. The list of best wins comprises all of the conference’s wins over top-200 teams.

BEST WINS

1. Weber State at No. 50 Saint Mary’s

2. Weber State neutral over No. 112 Yale

3. Northern Arizona at No. 115 Seattle

4. Portland State at No. 140 UC Santa Barbara

5. Montana State at No. 161 California

6. Montana at No. 162 San Jose State

7. Montana vs. No. 162 San Jose State

8. Portland State at No. 163 Cal Baptist

9. Idaho neutral over No. 168 UC San Diego

WORST LOSSES

1. Montana State at home to NAIA Rocky Mountain College

2. Northern Colorado at No. 301 Texas A&M Commerce

3. Montana State at home to No. 296 Green Bay

4. Sacramento State neutral loss to No. 285 Cal State Bakersfield

5. Northern Colorado at No. 246 New Mexico State

6. Idaho at No. 244 UC Riverside

7. Sacramento State neutral loss to No. 241 Austin Peay

8. Idaho at home to No. 237 Cal State Northridge

9. Idaho State at No. 232 Southern Utah

10. Montana home to No. 231 North Dakota State

SCORING LEADERS

1. Saint Thomas, Northern Colorado, 18.7

2. Dillon Jones, Weber State, 17.8

T3. Brian Goracke, Montana State, 15.5

T3. Trenton McLaughlin, Northern Arizona, 15.5

5. Aanen Moody, Montana, 15.1

REBOUNDING LEADERS

1. Dillon Jones, Weber State, 10.9

2. Saint Thomas, Northern Colorado, 10.3

3. Duncan Powell, Sacramento State, 9.5

4. Laolu Oke, Montana, 8.5

5. Robert Ford III, Montana State, 8.1

ASSIST LEADERS

T1. Dillon Jones, Weber State, 4.2

T1. Liam Lloyd, Northern Arizona, 4.2

T3. D’Angelo Minnis, Idaho, 3.9

T3. Eddie Turner III, Montana State, 3.9

T5. Maleek Arington, Idaho State and Duncan Powell, Sacramento State, 3.6

STEALS LEADERS

1. Robert Ford III, Montana State, 3.1

T2. Dillon Jones, Weber State, 1.8

T2. Maleek Arington, Idaho State, 1.8

T2. Saint Thomas, Northern Colorado, 1.8

T5. Trenton McLaughlin, Northern Arizona, 1.7

STANDINGS/TEAM BREAKDOWN

The order of standings is determined by the average of each team’s NCAA NET rating, Ken Pomeroy rating and ranking on ESPN’s Basketball Power Index.

With the Big Sky-Summit Challenge still ahead (Jan. 3-6), nonconference play so far has separated a fairly clear top four in the Big Sky.

122. WEBER STATE

Record: 7-4

Pomeroy predicted conference record: 13-5

151. PORTLAND STATE

Record: 9-3

Predicted conference record: 11-7

155. MONTANA

Record: 7-4

Predicted conference record: 12-6

165. E. WASHINGTON

Average rating: 165

Record: 4-7

Predicted conference record: 11-7

265. N. COLORADO

Record: 5-6

Predicted conference record: 8-10

272. MONTANA STATE

Record: 5-6

Predicted conference record: 7-11

276. N. ARIZONA

Record: 6-6