Busting Brackets
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Big Sky Basketball: Top contenders for the 2018-19 season

By Jason Burgess

GLENDALE, AZ - MARCH 31: An Oregon Ducks player dribbles a Final Four game ball in practice ahead of the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four at University of Phoenix Stadium on March 31, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - MARCH 31: An Oregon Ducks player dribbles a Final Four game ball in practice ahead of the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four at University of Phoenix Stadium on March 31, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NV – MARCH 10: USC Trojans fans (L) and Arizona Wildcats fans react as a USC player shoots a free throw during the championship game of the Pac-12 basketball tournament at T-Mobile Arena on March 10, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Wildcats won 75-61. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – MARCH 10: USC Trojans fans (L) and Arizona Wildcats fans react as a USC player shoots a free throw during the championship game of the Pac-12 basketball tournament at T-Mobile Arena on March 10, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Wildcats won 75-61. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

Weber State

The Wildcats finished their season at 20-11 and as the 4th seed in the conference tournament, they were Northern Colorado in the quarterfinals. Coach Randy Rahe brings back a solid foundation to compete next season.

Five of the top seven scorers return, including the conference’s second-leading scorer, junior guard Jerrick Harding (22) and two other double-digit scorers in 6-9 big men Brekkott Chapman and Zach Braxton who combined for 23.1 points and 13.7 rebounds last season. Joining Harding in the backcourt will be senior Cody John and sophomore Ricky Nelson.

A real impact could be made by the Wildcats who will see their first action in 2018-19. The recruiting class is headed by two guards, 6-2 Caleb Nero and Israel Barnes, a three-star recruit from Wichita, Kansas and two big men, Donatas Kuspas, a 6-8 215lb. forward from Lithuania and Ukrainian, Dima Zdor is 6-10. Also returning are two players signed two years ago but fulfilled LDS missions before arriving on campus.

Next: Preseason Pac-12 Rankings for 2018-19

Both Tim Fuller and Spencer Johnson were talked about as impactful freshmen when they signed and that hasn’t changed. Fuller is a 6-9 forward who can play inside and out, and that fits in well with a team that finished 3rd in the country in three-point percentage (41.0). Johnson is a 6-4 shooting guard that could battle John and Nelson for playing time.

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