Big Sky Conference 2005-06 Season Recap
For much of the season, especially once the conference season got started, it looked as if the Big Sky Conference was going to get its fourth different representative in four years for the NCAA Tournament.
Northern Arizona ran a 10-game winning streak early in the conference season and won 13 out of 14 games at one point. That led to the Lumberjacks having home floor advantage for the conference tournament.
But the old cliché, any team can win on any given night, proved to be true in the Big Sky Conference tournament championship game.
The Lumberjacks had everything in order to reach its first NCAA tournament since 2000 as they hosted the championship game. But, the Montana Grizzlies had been in this situation before. The Grizzlies were the 2005 tournament champions so there was no question that Montana knew how to play in this atmosphere.
And it showed. The Grizzlies won the game, giving them their second-straight conference tournament championship and NCAA tournament berth. The loss for NAU sent the Lumberjacks to the NIT.
NAU lost to Delaware State, at home, in the opening game of the NIT.
As for Montana, they became the talk of the nation as they upset Nevada in the first round of the NCAA tournament. The victory gave the Grizzlies its first win in the NCAA tournament in 31 years and gave the Big Sky a victory in the tournament for the first time since 1999.
The Big Sky Conference was also introduced to probably the best true freshman college basketball player west of the Mississippi River in Eastern Washington’s Rodney Stuckey. Stuckey led the Eagles in scoring and was the conference leader in scoring. By season’s end, there were questions to whether how long Stuckey planned to stay at EWU and transfer to a major school.
The 2005-06 season also brought out the departure of three coaches. Idaho State’s Doug Oliver resigned, Weber State’s Joe Cravens was fired and Montana State’s Mick Durham retired. Weber State missed the conference tournament this past season for the first time in a quarter century and had back-to-back losing seasons for the first time since 1986-88.
But, looking forward to next season, the Big Sky Conference welcomes its 10th member of the conference, the Northern Colorado Bears. With a new team, the adoption of a new conference tournament format will certainly be discussed.
Postseason awards
Player of the year: Rodney Stuckey, Eastern Washington
Coach of the year: Larry Krystkowiak, Montana
Newcomer of the year: Rodney Stuckey, Eastern Washington
Defensive player of the year: Al Beye, Montana State
All-league team:
Rodney Stuckey, Eastern Washington
Andrew Strait, Montana
Kevin Criswell, Montana
Ja’Ron Jefferson, Montana State
Marvin Moss, Montana State
Northern Arizona Lumberjacks (21-11 overall, 12-3 conference)
After owning one of the longest winning streaks in the nation at one point, the Lumberjacks fumbled down the stretch. NAU lost the Big Sky Conference championship game on its own floor, preventing a trip to the NCAA tournament, despite winning the regular season crown. The Lumberjacks would then lose another home game, this time in the NIT to Delaware State.
Team MVP: Kelly Golob (14.3 points per game)
Top scorer: Golob
Top rebounder: Ruben Boykin, Jr. (7.2 per game)
Assist leader: Josh Wilson (6.1 per game)
Starters leaving:
Golob
Starters returning:
Boykin, Jr.
Tyrone Bazy
Ryan McCurdy
Josh Wilson
Montana Grizzlies (24-7, 10-4)
The Grizzlies made its second-straight appearance in the NCAA tournament. And this time they had success. Montana beat Nevada in the first round of the tournament, but eventually fell to Boston College in the round of 32. The Grizzlies overcame a pre-season injury to John Seyfert as well. But the Grizzlies should be skilled in the front-court, it will be the guards that may pose concerns.
Team MVP: Andrew Strait (16.6 points, 6.4 rebounds per game)
Top scorer: Strait
Top rebounder: Strait
Assist leader: Virgil Matthews (4.1 per game)
Starters leaving:
Kevin Criswell
Matthews
Starters returning:
Strait
Jordan Hasquet
Matt Dlouhy
Eastern Washington Eagles (15-15, 9-5)
The 2005-06 season was the Rodney Stuckey break-out party for the Eagles. The true freshman out of Kent, Wash., lit up opponents left and right. Stuckey averaged 26.3 points, nine rebounds, four steals and three assists as a senior in high school and replicated that success at the collegiate level. He scored in double figures in every game this season and had a season-high 45 points against Northern Arizona on Jan. 5.
Team MVP: Rodney Stuckey (24.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 2.2 steals)
Top scorer: Stuckey
Top rebounder: Paul Butorac (5.4 per game)
Assist leader: Stuckey
Starters leaving:
Deuce Smith
Starters returning:
Stuckey
Butorac
Kellen Williams
Matt Penoncello
Jake Beitinger
Montana State Bobcats (15-15, 7-7)
Considering the talent level the Bobcats had coming back from 2004-05, this past season could be considered a disappointment. The Bobcats had five players returning who averaged at least eight points per game, including Al Beye, Ja’Ron Jefferson and Marvin Moss. But the Bobcats never could find their rhythm this season.
Team MVP: Moss (11.5 points per game, 6.2 rebounds per game)
Top scorer: Jefferson (14.3 per game)
Top rebounder: Moss (6.2 per game)
Assist leader: Casey Durham (3.6 per game)
Starters leaving:
Moss
Beye
Jefferson
Starters returning:
Nick Dissly
Casey Durham
Sacramento State Hornets (15-15, 5-9)
Despite struggling down the stretch, the Hornets barely made the conference tournament. After beating Weber State on Jan. 14, the Hornets won two games the rest of the season (12-game span). But the Hornets were in the middle of controversy as a scoring error in a game at Montana on Feb. 15 could have cost the Hornets its season. Next season should be much better as some of the core players for Sacramento State will return next season. Loren Leath is one of those as he played in 27 games, did not start any of them, but averaged more than 11 points per game.
Team MVP: Jason Harris (13.2 points, 5.5 rebounds per game)
Top scorer: Alex Bausley (13.6 per game)
Top rebounder: Harris (5.5 per game)
Assist leader: DaShawn Freeman (5.5 per game)
Starters leaving:
Harris
Aaron Perry
Freeman
Starters returning:
Bausley
Haron Hargove
Clark Woods
Portland State Vikings (12-16, 5-9)
The Vikings fared well in their first season under new coach Ken Bone. PSU reached the conference tournament and put themselves into a great position after beating Montana late in the season in overtime. Despite losing the team’s top scorer in Jake Schroeder, the Vikings should be a contender next season.
Team MVP: Schroeder (12.5 points per game)
Top scorer: Schroeder (12.5 per game)
Top rebounder: Scott Morrison (5.3 per game)
Assist leader: Ryan Sommer (3.8 per game)
Starters leaving:
Schroeder
Josh Neeley
Tyler Hollist
Starters returning:
Sommer
Juma Kamara
Anthony Washington
Idaho State Bengals (13-14, 4-10)
After Doug Oliver announced in mid-January that he was going to resign at the end of the season, ISU could have thrown in the towel. The Bengals finished the season 6-6 and were in the driver’s seat for a spot into the conference tournament on the last game of the season, before losing to EWU. ISU started the season 7-2, but struggled once conference came around. David Schroeder intends on applying for a sixth-year of eligibility after knee injuries have riddled him throughout his career.
Team MVP: Schroeder (15.4 points, 4.7 rebounds per game)
Top scorer: Slim Millen (15.5 per game)
Top rebounder: Kasey Winters (6.9 per game)
Assist leader: Tim Henry (3.3 per game)
Starters leaving:
Millen
Henry
Starters returning:
Winters
Logan Kinghorn
David Schroeder*
*=applying for 6th-year of eligibility
Weber State Wildcats (10-17, 4-10)
The Wildcats missed the conference tournament for the first since 1981 and only the second time in the last 31 years. In addition, the Wildcats failed to have a winning record, making it the second year in a row that has happened. That was a first since 1988. That ultimately cost Cravens his job. But Randy Rahe, a former assistant at Utah, was hired on Mar. 22 to replace Cravens.
Team MVP: Coric Riggs (14.8 points, 6.8 rebounds per game)
Top scorer: Riggs (14.8 per game)
Top rebounder: Riggs (6.8 per game)
Assist leader: Nick Covington (2.6 per game)
Starters leaving:
Riggs
Terrell Stovall
Starters returning:
David Patten
Clint Burris
Nedim Pajevic
Northern Colorado Bears (5-24)
The Bears did not play the easiest schedule in their final season before heading over to the Big Sky Conference for the 2006-07 season. Among the teams on their schedule were California, Air Force, Oral Roberts, Kansas, Northwestern and Nebraska. California, Air Force, Oral Roberts and Kansas each qualified for the NCAA tournament. The Bears finished strong by going 3-3 in its final six games.
Starters leaving:
Erik Olson
Starters returning:
(Classes are for the 2006-07 season)
Sean Taibi, jr., 15.3 points per game
Kirk Archibeque, jr., 12.9 points, 7.1 rebounds per game
Dwayne Birden, sr., 7.5 points, 4.7 rebounds per game
Matt Kline, sr., 6.3 points, 4.8 assists per game
