Jason Spencer is the RTC correspondent for the Big Sky Conference.

First off Merry Christmas to all the Big Sky Conference fans out there!  After we all get done opening presents, we get to open up the conference season.  It should be one of the most competitive in years.

A Look Back

• One of the most bizarre free throw shots ever captured on video was from Idaho State’s own Kamil Gawrzydek.  The ball seemed to just sit down right on the rim after bouncing high into the air.  What was it waiting for?  Forget everything that you think you know about physics and take a look for yourself.

• Northern Arizona is becoming a force not only within the Big Sky Conference, but is scaring the heck out of the big boys.  In back to back games on the road against USC and Arizona, the Lumberjacks came within single digits of both of these behemoths.  Northern Arizona is looking more and more the team to beat in the Big Sky Conference.
• The term “Road Warriors” is usually a positive statement made about a team that racks up “Ws” on the road.  Northern Colorado fans cringe when they hear that term.  The Bears have only played one game at home since November 16!  It is safe to say they will be looking forward to playing in their home gym.  Only problem is that they still have to wait until January 6!

Power Rankings

1. Northern Arizona: (8-4)

Recent Games:  60-52 Loss at USC 12/11, 63-58 Loss at Arizona 12/16, 74-63 Win vs. Air Force 12/22

Upcoming Games:  at Montana 12/29, at Montana State 12/31, vs. Idaho State 1/6

2. Weber State: (6-5)

Recent Games:  77-71 Win at Southern Utah 12/11, 81-79 Loss at Tulsa 12/16, 94-54 Win vs. Southwest 12/18, 72-66 Loss vs. BYU 12/21

Upcoming Games:  at Montana State 12/29, at Montana 12/31, at Northern Arizona 1/8

3. Montana: (8-4)

Recent Games:  50-48 Loss at San Francisco 12/12, 71-66 Win vs. Oregon State 12/15, 64-63 Win at Idaho 12/18, 71-57 Win at Cal State Fullerton 12/22

Upcoming Games:  vs. Northern Arizona 12/29, vs. Weber State 12/31, at Northern Colorado 1/6, at Sacramento State 1/8

4. Portland State: (6-5)

Recent Games:  93-89 Win vs. Cal State Fullerton 12/12, 92-77 Loss at Cal State Bakersfield 12/15, 78-67 Loss vs. Portland 12/18, 79-73 Loss at Nevada 12/20, 73-53 Win vs. Utah Valley 12/23

Upcoming Games:  vs. Northern Colorado 12/29, at Idaho State 1/2, vs. Eastern Washington 1/8

5. Northern Colorado: (4-7)

Recent Games:  86-76 Loss at Illinois 12/12, 71-68 Loss at Denver 12/18, 75-61 Loss at Colorado State 12/20, 78-75 Loss at Louisiana-Monroe 12/22

Upcoming Games:  at Portland State 12/29, at Eastern Washington 12/31, vs. Montana 1/6, vs. Montana State 1/8

6. Montana State: (6-6)

Recent Games:  94-60 Win vs. Johnson and Wales 12/10, 78-67 Loss at UC Riverside 12/19, 75-59 Loss at UCLA 12/21

Upcoming Games:  vs. Weber State 12/29, vs. Northern Arizona 12/31, at Sacramento State 1/6, at Northern Colorado 1/8

7. Eastern Washington: (3-8)

Recent Games:  70-69 Loss at San Jose State 12/12, 95-91 Win vs. Seattle 12/15, 72-42 Loss at Nebraska 12/18, 78-72 Loss at South Dakota 12/20

Upcoming Games:  vs. Sacramento State 12/29, vs. Northern Colorado 12/31, at Seattle 1/6, at Portland State 1/8

8. Idaho State: (4-8)

Recent Games:  78-57 Win vs. UMKC 12/11, 66-60 Loss at Creighton 12/18, 71-48 Loss at Utah State 12/21, 77-73 Win vs. Troy 12/22, 63-60 Loss vs. Western Michigan 12/23

Upcoming Games:  vs. Sacramento State 12/31, vs. Portland State 1/2, at Northern Arizona 1/6

9. Sacramento State: (3-8)

Recent Games:  65-54 Win vs. William Jessup 12/10, 65-63 Win at McNeese State 12/19, 66-53 Loss at Oklahoma 12/21

Upcoming Games:  at Eastern Washington 12/29, at Idaho State 12/31, vs. Montana State 1/6, vs. Montana 1/8

A Look Ahead to Conference Play

Predicted Conference Order of Finish

1. Northern Arizona
2. Weber State
3. Montana
4. Portland State
5. Northern Colorado
6. Montana State
7. Eastern Washington
8. Idaho State
9. Sacramento State

The conference season is going to be one of the most competitive in years.  However the returning fire power of Northern Arizona is going to be too much for this conference to handle.  However, as last year’s Big Sky Conference has shown, anybody can win the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.  This year’s Big Sky Conference representative will be…

• Weber State Wildcats

The Big Sky Conference tournament is going to be a showcase for NBA scouts as Damian Lillard will put his team on his back and into the NCAA tournament.  The question for Weber State fans is can something like this happen? I wonder what size slipper Lillard wears?  The most interesting development will be does the committee consider Northern Arizona as an at-large team?  They have been very competitive against the big boys and will have quite a good resume come March.