Big Sky Basketball power rankings: Wild two weeks of conference play

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

DES MOINES, IOWA - MARCH 21: Head coach Travis DeCuire of the Montana Grizzlies looks on against the Michigan Wolverines in the first half during the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena on March 21, 2019 in Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

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SAN DIEGO, CA – MARCH 21: The Weber State Wildcats (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images) /

10. Weber State Wildcats (5-9, 1-2) NET: 291

Okay, I am finally going to move Weber State down a few notches. Injuries have just mounted too high for the Wildcats.

After missing Bouki Diakite and Donatas Kupsas for most of the season, leading scorer Jerrick Harding (19.9 ppg) and leading rebounder Kham Davis (4.9 rpg) both went down at the end of the Eastern Washington game on Dec. 28 with leg injuries. The Wildcats managed to get by Idaho at home 69-68 without Harding and Davis on Dec. 30.

Harding was able to come back to play at Northern Arizona on Jan. 4. However, he only played 26 minutes, scoring six points in the 72-64 loss. Davis has yet to return.

Picked as finishing second and third in the Big Sky’s media and coaches preseason poll, respectively, the Coach Randy Rahe’s club has been a disappointment all season. If the Wildcats can get healthy, they can still come back and win some games. They face a tough foe at home next, as Northern Colorado comes to town on Thursday, Jan. 9.

9. Idaho State Bengals (5-7, 2-1) NET: 245

The Bengals started conference play 2-0 with wins at home over rival Idaho and a conference champion favorite, Eastern Washington. After that, Idaho State came crashing to earth on the road at Sacramento State 68-49.

Idaho State guard play was exposed and their offense was nonexistent in the first half against Sac State, suffering a 26-4 run and trailed 39-19 at the half. The Bengals badly miss three-point shooter, 6’3 Balint Mocsan. Mocsan averaged 11.3 last year and has been unavailable all season due to off-season shoulder surgery.

Coach Ryan Looney’s squad was fired up winning the first two at home. However, the Bengals offense adjusted efficiency is rated #279 by KenPom and #342 in turnover percentage. On the defensive side, they are ranked #325 in field goal percentage allowed.

It will be a struggle for ISU to move up to the middle of the pack by season’s end. The Vandals will host the Thunderbirds of Southern Utah on Thursday, Jan. 9.

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