Sacramento State (13-6, 7-1)
The Hornets are 8-1 in the last nine games, and with Montana State as their next opponent, their record will surely improve. Sacramento State has yet to play some of the top teams in the conference, including a Feb. 14 game in Moscow against the Vandals.
Eastern Washington (15-5, 6-1)
The Eagles can score with ease — they are ranked No. 6 in the country, with an average of 82.6 points per game. The team also has the conference’s leading scorer in Tyler Harvey. The sophomore averages 24 points per game. After suffering its first conference loss to Sacramento State Jan. 17, EWU won its last two games in a dominating fashion, including a 102-80 beat down against North Dakota.
Montana (10-8, 6-1)
Montana barely snuck past Southern Utah with a 58-56 win, which was its fifth consecutive victory. While Eastern Washington and Sacramento State look to be the favorites to win the conference, Montana is lurking right behind them. It should be a fun race to watch at the end of the season.
Northern Colorado (9-9, 4-3)
Northern Colorado had a rough trip up to the inland Northwest last week. After winning four consecutive games, the Bears dropped both games against Eastern Washington and Idaho. Before writing them out of the regular season’s championship race, let’s see how the team plays against the Idaho State team.
Northern Arizona (9-11, 4-3)
A trip to play the two Montana schools went as expected, as Northern Arizona came out with one win and one loss — of course the win was over bottom dweller Montana State. Expect this team to keep beating the bad teams and losing to the good ones.
Portland State (10-8, 4-4)
After entering the game as one of the conference’s hottest teams, the Vikings lost a surprising game to Idaho State last Saturday. It will be a rough stretch for PSU over the next five games as they play, in this order, Montana, Montana State, Sacramento State, Idaho and Eastern Washington.
Idaho (8-10, 3-4)
The Vandals are clicking on offense — they rank No. 26 in the country in scoring, with an average of 77.2 points per game. Idaho’s defense has been what has let them down, especially when the team has a big lead. Idaho led by 15 points against North Dakota, but lost in the end, and the team almost blew a 23-point lead against Northern Colorado. The win stopped a four-game losing streak, but it will be tough to stay in the win column with a tough game against Eastern Washington in Cheney this weekend.
Weber State (8-11, 3-5)
The defending champions have now lost three consecutive games and are on the cusp of not making the conference tournament to defend its title. Junior forward Joel Bolomboy is averaging a double-double (13.2 PPG and 10 RPG), but he’ll need some help if Weber State wants to make a late season run.
North Dakota (6-12, 2-5)
The team formally known as the Fighting Sioux, came into Moscow and struggled early, but late in the first half and throughout the second half looked like a completely different team. North Dakota would win the game, but couldn’t carry the momentum into its game against Eastern Washington and lost 102-80. If the team can play like it did against Idaho in the second half, which showcased some impressive pressure defense, NDU could make a late season push.
Southern Utah (5-13, 2-5)
After an upset over instate rival and defending champs Weber State, Southern Utah might have showed its true colors, as the team lost to previously winless Montana State. Don’t see them contending for a conference tournament spot.
Idaho State (5-15, 2-6)
After going 1-10 in their last 11 games, the Bengals snapped a five game losing streak with a win over Portland State. Things still look bleak for Idaho State. Like Southern Utah, they probably won’t be making a push for a conference tournament spot.
Montana State (4-15, 1-5)
Last, but making a push to not be the least anymore, is Montana State. The Bobcats put an end to a nine-game losing streak with their win over Southern Utah. The winning streak stopped at one game, however, as MSU lost its next game to Northern Arizona.
Korbin McDonald can be reached at [email protected]