Big Sky Conference Tournament Brackets Are Set, Can Montana Capture The Title?

It all comes down to the Big Sky Conference Tournament this weekend in Boise, Idaho. In a conference like the Big Sky, the regular season can often be seen as the preseason, because it's a one-bid league to the NCAA Tournament.

Win-or-go-home season starts Saturday in the first round of the Big Sky Tournament, but both Montana teams won't open up tournament play until Tuesday, March 12. Montana Grizzlies Men's Basketball are the 4-seed and will take on archrival 5-seed Montana State. The Montana Lady Griz are the 3-seed and will square off with the Idaho Vandals for the second time in the last week and a half.

Big Sky Men's Basketball Championship

The Griz finished the regular season 21-10 (12-6). According to Sports Information Director Jackson Wagner, it's the most overall wins since 2018-2019 and the most conference wins since 2019-2020. 

Montana will have its work cut out for them as they went 0-4 against the top two seeds Eastern Washington and Northern Colorado.

To me, the top four teams (EWU, UNC, UM, WEB) have a shot to win it all. The rest of the league would be a long shot.

Big Sky Women's Basketball Championship

Analysis: Last year's tournament went to Sacramento State. This year the chances are slim for the 9-seed Hornets. Just like the men's side, Eastern's women will have the best chance at a Big Sky crown. Winners of 10 in a row, the Eagles have lost just twice all conference season and possess the potential player of the conference in Jamie Loera.

The next best chances lie with Northern Arizona and your Montana Lady Griz. Montana closed the regular season with a thrilling 2 point victory over Idaho State and winners of 5 of their last 6 games. The Lady Griz, who haven't won in Boise since the tournament shifted sites in 2019, will draw the Idaho Vandals in the quarterfinals next Monday at 2:30. Montana defeated Idaho in both meetings this year.

Just like the men, the Lady Griz will have a tough slate to win a Conference title. Montana went 1-3 against the top two seeds in EWU & NAU, but both losses to EWU came by a combined 6 points.

To me, three teams on the women's side have a chance to win. EWU, NAU and UM. Montana State is a distant 4th after losing two of the final three games

The men's games can be heard on 98.3 FM KGVO, newstalkkgvo.com and the KGVO mobile app.

The women's games can be caught on 92.7 FM KGRZ, kgrzmissoula.com and the KGRZ mobile app.