1 / 2

Weber State's Viljami Vartiainen (8) drives the basketball against Montana's Kai Johnson (1) on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, at the Dee Events Center in Ogden.

Freddie Lacey, for WSU Athletics

2 / 2

Weber State's Taylor Smith (20) drives into the heart of Montana's defense on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025, at the Dee Events Center in Ogden.

Robert Casey, WSU Athletics

❮ ❯

Weber State men’s basketball opens the Big Sky tournament Saturday evening (5:30 p.m. MST, Utah 16/ESPN+) looking to avenge one of the low points of this season and get back into the win column at the conference tournament.

No. 9 Weber State (11-21) faces No. 10 Sacramento State (7-24) to open the men’s side of the conference tournament, held at Idaho Central Arena in Boise, Idaho. The Wildcats started a seven-game losing streak for the Hornets with a road win on Jan. 25.

One month later, Sac State broke that skid against the Wildcats with a Feb. 20 win in Ogden. Weber State bounced back with wins over Portland State and Eastern Washington but enters the tourney having lost two straight. Sacramento State hasn’t won since, falling in four straight.

That matchup in Ogden helped cap a strong two months for Sac State big man Jacob Holt. He scored 27 points to lead the Hornets to the win, and tallied games of 35 and 32 points earlier in the conference campaign. He’s averaged 16.1 points and 7.5 rebounds per game in league play.

He hit a career-high five 3-pointers against WSU and is the obvious focal point for the Wildcats.

With WSU center Alex Tew’s recent strong play, head coach Eric Duft said the senior will be important in battling Holt, though true freshman Declan Cutler has started the last nine games (averaging 10.6 minutes per game).

“We’ll have to look at it,” Duft said Monday. “There’s no more resting Alex’s knees. … I do like the fact that he’s been playing off the bench, it keeps him out of foul trouble. It’s just given him a lot better rhythm to his game; he doesn’t get that early, quick foul that’s really hampered him throughout his career.”

If Weber State can pick up a win (the Wildcats have just two victories in the last five tournaments), they’ll advance to play No. 1 Northern Colorado (23-8).

At its best, Northern Colorado has featured an unstoppable, downhill offense while limiting 3-point attempts and forcing isolation basketball on defense. The Bears survived several close calls early and returned to blowout wins before squeaking past Weber State 68-63 on Monday.

No. 2 Montana (22-9) has been similarly dominant at times, and the Griz and the Bears are the obvious favorites.

But favorites haven’t won much recently on the men’s side. The No. 1 seed has gone one-and-done for two straight years (Eastern Washington both times) and No. 2 Northern Colorado got bounced in its first game last year.

Who are the likely dark horses? No. 3 Portland State and No. 4 Idaho State are obvious, but there’s No. 5 Montana State perhaps in its element yet again.

MSU has won three straight tournaments and appeared in four straight championship games — twice in those four years as the No. 5 seed. Until proven otherwise, assume the Bobcats will come to play.

PSU features its usual athletic, tough defense and, though sometimes limited offensively, can explode for huge runs at any time. Dylan Darling makes Idaho State dynamic and their relentless rebounding attack could fuel the Bengals to the final day as well.

On the women’s side, Weber State (13-15) has shed six straight years of ninth- and 10th-place finishes to tie for third and take this year’s No. 4 seed. They draw Idaho State on Monday, March 10 (noon MDT, Utah 16/ESPN+). WSU went 2-0 in those matchups this year, but both in physical overtime battles.

A win would put the Wildcats in the tournament semifinals for the first time since 2007 — drawing a likely matchup with the wagon that is No. 1 Montana State (27-3).

It’s hard to imagine a women’s tournament that doesn’t see MSU or No. 2 Northern Arizona (25-6) lift the trophy in the end. The Bobcats beat everyone except one upset loss to Sacramento State, and the Lumberjacks’ only league losses (both by single digits) came to MSU.

If anyone challenges them, No. 3 Idaho (18-11) and Weber State seem like the most likely candidates. The Vandals did play MSU to losses of 3 and 13 points, and NAU to a loss of five points (though Idaho’s other defeat to NAU came by 30 points).

The tournament begins at noon Saturday with two women’s games, followed by the men’s games. It runs Saturday through Wednesday, March 12.

The women’s championship game is at 3 p.m. Wednesday on ESPNU.

The men’s semifinals the night before come at 7 p.m. (ESPNU) and 9:30 p.m. (ESPN2). Wednesday’s men’s championship is at 9:30 p.m. on ESPN2.

Every game from both tournaments will also stream for ESPN+ subscribers on WatchESPN.com and the ESPN mobile/streaming app.

In Utah, every game not on linear TV (ESPN2/ESPNU), and those that conflict with Monday night’s Utah Hockey Club broadcast, will also air on Utah 16.