Big Sky Basketball power rankings: EWU, Montana among teams at the top

8. Montana State Bobcats (6-5) KenPom: 258

Another first-year head coach will be on the bench in Bozeman.  Danny Sprinkle will take over at the school he played so well for twenty years ago.  The Bobcats experienced quite a talent drain after the school letting go coach Brian Fish and the graduation of Tyler Hall and his 20.5 ppg from a team that finished 11-9 in conference play.

Fortunately, Coach Sprinkle is returning 6’1 senior point guard Harald Frey.  Frey is leading the team with 17.5 ppg.  After that, Montana State relies upon a pair JUCO transfers originally from London, England.  6’9 sophomore Jubrile Belo is contributing 11.2 ppg, while 6’4 junior Adin Adamu adds 10.4.

The Bobcats biggest win this season has been a 67-66 victory at #90 UNC Greensboro.  On the other end of the spectrum, MSU was blown out at home by #216 Green Bay, 98-72. An 8-12 finish in the Big Sky should be expected.

7. Weber State Wildcats (4-6) KenPom: 277

Weber State has to be the biggest disappointment so far this year.  Picked as finishing second and third in the Big Sky’s media and coaches preseason poll, respectively, the Wildcats have the ninth best KenPom rating in the league.

Coach Randy Rahe’s club has struggled as three of its four victories have come at the hands of non-Division I opponents.  The only D-I victory was 72-67 at #235 Utah Valley on Dec. 4.  In their defense, the Wildcats worst loss was 71-56 to #181 San Diego.  The rest of their losses have come to more formidable foes.

The Wildcats are led by senior guards 6’1 Jerrick Harding (20.0 ppg) and 6’3 Cody John (11.9 ppg), junior transfer 6’4 Kham Davis (9.0 ppg).  However, they need to see improvement from a young front line and their overall defense to finish in the top half of the Big Sky.  A 9-11 record is realistic.