Big Sky Basketball power rankings: Wild 2 weeks of 2019-20 conference play

Big Sky Basketball has every team with a win and every team with a loss.  Who is the best and how do the rest fall after two weeks into conference play?

Big Sky Basketball conference play began on Dec. 28.  At that time, there were four teams battling at the top.  Since then, a couple teams tried to lay claim to contender status after the first week of games.  However, they have fallen down the rankings back to expectations.

Home teams are now 15-3 in conference play and all three of the road victories were by two points each.  This results in the last-place team still within two games of first place.

The Big Sky is definitely a one-bid league again this year and is currently 19th out of 32 leagues in the current KenPom rankings.  Montana represented in the national tournament the past two years as the Big Sky Champion.

Let’s take a look at the current Big Sky power rankings.

11. Idaho Vandals (5-9, 1-2) NET: 295

The University of Idaho was in the cellar of most preseason polls.  What the first two weeks proved for the Vandals was that the bottom of the league is a lot better than was thought.

Idaho started out the conference play on the road at rival Idaho State and then Weber State.  Although coach Zac Claus’ team came away with two losses, they were by a total of three points.  The Vandals came back home to defeat Portland State 72-61, after the Vikings were trying to lay claim to contender status the week prior.

The Vandals are still led by 6’2 senior guard Trevon Allen.  Allen is averaging 20.3 ppg in conference.  He is not getting any support in an offense ranked #340 in efficiency and is struggling in a three-point range, shooting 28.8%.

Despite their good showing early in conference play, it is not enough to move them up in the rankings. The Vandals host Montana State on Thursday, Jan. 9.