Big Sky Notebook
by Nicholas Lozito
Eastern Washington
The Eagles added assistant coach Carl Howell to their staff in mid April. Howell coached at Tacoma Community College for the last eleven years, where he compiled a record of 239-83.
Idaho State
It isn’t necessarily offseason news, but Midnight Madness for the Bengals proved costly to sophomore guard David Schroeder, who tore his anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. Schroeder had won the school’s dunk competition earlier in the night, but landed awkwardly during a rebound attempt during a scrimmage. Schroeder will miss the entire 2003-04 season.
Montana
Sophomore forward Mike Chavez withdrew from school for personal reasons on July 10, according to head coach Pat Kennedy. Chavez s mother told the Associated Press that her son left the program due to medical reasons and may return for the spring semester. Chavez was suspended five games last season after being arrested in February for a DUI. After pleading guilty to a lesser change two weeks ago, he was required to undergo alcohol addiction treatment. During his freshman year, Chavez averaged four points and 3.3 rebounds.
The Grizzlies added assistant coach Brian Marso to their staff on July 6. Marso, who previously guided Division II Sheridan College to a 116-17 record over the past five seasons, replaces former assistant Ronnie Dean, who s contract was not renewed. Dean is now an assistant at Jacksonville State.
For the first time in four years, Montana will host the Holiday Classic Basketball Tournament on December 29-30. The tournament will feature UC Santa Barbara, Saint Mary s (CA) and Southeast Missouri State.
Montana alum and 11-year NBA veteran Larry Krystkowiak was named head coach of the CBA s Idaho Stampede in late May. He was also an assistant at Montana from 1998-2000.
Montana State
In one of the more unusual match-ups this season, Montana State will travel to face the University of Florida on November 25. Florida will come into the 2003-04 season as one of the top-ranked teams in the country, while Montana State is the second best team in Montana.
Northern Arizona
The Lumberjacks added Ken Carillo as an assistant coach in late September. Carillo was most recently the director of basketball operations at Oregon State.
Portland State
New Mexico forward Billy Feeney, a Portland State transfer, was found dead in the early morning hours of August 28 after hanging himself in downtown Albuquerque. Roughly 90 minutes before his body was discovered, Feeney telephoned Lobos head coach Ritchie McKay to tell him that he was headed home to Boulder, Colorado to take care of personal issues. “Had we thought he wouldn’t have made it home, we wouldn’t have ended the conversation,” McKay said during a news conference with police.
Feeney s mother told the Associated Press that her son may have been dejected after a breakup with his girlfriend the previous night. An official autopsy revealed Feeney to be intoxicated at the time of the suicide.
The forward sat out last season due to NCAA transfer rules. As a freshman at Portland State, he averaged 8.5 points and 3.6 rebounds. In a 2002 conference game against Sacramento State, Feeney converted the game-winning lay-up with eleven seconds remaining to defeat the Hornets.
Sacramento State
Two of the Hornets three ineligible players last season — forward Joel Jones and guard Joseth Dawson — will be eligible to play this season, while the third player, David Joiner, has left the program for personal reasons, according to head coach Jerome Jenkins. Dawson and Jones were the Hornets top-two scorers during the 2001-02 season.
Former Hornet head coach Tom Abatemarco has been hired as an assistant by the University of Utah, were he will work under head coach Rick Majerus.
Weber State
Wildcats head coach Joe Cravens signed a contract in late April that will keep him in Ogden, Utah for four more seasons.
