Big Sky Conference WBB Preview 2008-09

It is hard to believe that it is time for basketball season already, but here we are. After a thrilling finish to the Big Sky Conference (BSC) women’s basketball 2007-08 season, the 2008-09 season promises to have some exciting twists and turns as well. It is becoming a trend in sports to try to predict what will happen in a sports season. While these predictions almost never hold up, they offer a glimpse into what to look for in the upcoming year.

Keeping with that tradition, here are previews for the nine BSC WBB teams for the 2008-09 season. They appear in the order I expect the teams to finish the regular season. If you are not familiar with the BSC, the top six teams make it into the conference tournament, while the bottom three stay home. Without further ado, Courtside’s Big Sky Conference Preview!

TOURNAMENT TEAMS

1. Montana Grizzlies
It seems like this team is loaded every year, and indeed it is again this season. Montana lost four players off of last year’s squad (one starter), while returning 4 starters including arguably the best player in the conference, Mandy Morales. Morales was the 2006-07 conference MVP and 2007-08 tournament MVP. The Griz return Sonya Rogers, who was ranked among the nation’s best three-point shooters last season, Britney Lohman, the league’s defensive MVP, and Tamara Guardipee, the team’s leading rebounder. The biggest question for Montana is whether or not they can maintain their edge on the rest of the conference. Both Montana State and Portland State exposed Montana weaknesses during conference play, only to get blasted during the tournament. Montana will need to have that “tournament focus” to dominate the regular season. Not only is that difficult to do, but it is improbable. Look for Sarah Ena, a sophomore forward who averaged 5 points and 3 rebounds last season, to step into the graduated Johanna Closson’s starting role. Lauren Beck will have a big year off of the bench.

Team MVP- Mandy Morales
Top Newcomer-Misty Atkinson (RS Freshman G/F)
Five Biggest Games- 11/16 vs Wyoming, 12/19 vs Gonzaga, 1/3 vs Montana State, 1/29 @ Portland State, 2/7 @ Montana State

2. Portland State Vikings
After starting last season with a surprising 11-3 non-conference record, PSU cruised to a fourth place birth in the conference tournament. The Viks return their leader, point guard Claire Faucher. Faucher is a baller, one of those players who knows how to win and makes her teammates better with great passing and clutch shots. PSU also returns Kelsey Kahle, a senior whose basketball game is a mystery. While she doesn’t appear to be a major threat, she waits for opponents to make mistakes, then capitalizes, and somehow gets great stat lines. The Viks lose their best perimeter threat, Delaney Conway, to graduation. Look for her position in the starting lineup to be filled by Kelly Marchant, who has shown signs of lighting up from the arc. Questions: will Lexi Bishop return to form after a knee injury she suffered in the tournament? Will the Viks be able to handle expectations? Montana State provided the blueprint for how to beat PSU: smother Faucher (see Erica Perry) and keep Kahle from getting second chances (see Nubia Garcia). If other teams are able to accomplish this, PSU may go from top of the league to also-ran. Look for Marchant to be one of the most improved players in the league and big contributions from Kelli Valentine and Katia Hadj-Hamou around the basket. Freshmen Eryn Jones and Katy Wade will turn some heads as well.

Team MVP: Faucher (duh!)
Top Newcomers: Jones and Wade
Five Biggest Games: 12/7 @ Oregon State, 1/29 vs Montana, 1/31 vs Montana St, 2/19 @ Northern Colorado, 3/5 @ Montana St

3. Montana State Bobcats
After a breakout season in 2007-08, the expectations are high for the Bobcats. The ‘Cats say goodbye to the BSC’s best offensive threat, Rebecca Mercer, and the team’s vocal leader Krislyn Wallace. Filling Mercer’s shoes may be the team’s biggest challenge, but look for Jenny Heringer to step into the scoring role. Heringer had a fantastic conference season and earned herself a place on the all-conference team. MSU will rely on Nubia Garcia, the team’s leading rebounder in 07-08, to solidify a post presence underneath. At point guard, Erica Perry will be the key to any success the Bobcats achieve this season. Last year, Perry was short changed by not receiving the league’s Defensive MVP award, something that shouldn’t happen again. Tenacious defense is Perry’s forte, but a consistent offensive showing is a must for Perry this season. The role of sophomore Sarah Strand will be important for the ‘Cats. Last season, Strand started out in a traditional forward role while Garcia was recovering from injury. After Garcia’s return, Strand shifted to a slash role, alternating between guard and forward while developing a three-point shot that scared defenses. Strand should return to a predominately “post” role this season in the absence of Wallace. The key battle in the starting lineup should be between guards Anne Phippard and Lyndi Seidensticker for the third guard position. Phippard ended the 07-08 season on fire, and Seidensticker has been tough in practice and scrimmage play. Perhaps the most exciting player for MSU this season could be freshman Katie Bussey. Any shot on the Bobcat side of the court is fair game for Bussey and should the Bobcats be unable to score the points Coach Binford wants, look for Bussey’s playing time to be increased. The biggest question lies with MSU’s defense. Coach Binford stresses defense more than any other aspect of the game, and other than Perry, the MSU defense can be inconsistent. Strong defensive effort will be essential in the BSC this season. If the ‘Cats answer the defensive bell, look out because I truly feel they could jump PSU and Montana in the conference standings. Tournament in Bozeman anyone??

Team MVP: Erica Perry
Top Newcomer: Katie Bussey
Five Biggest Games: 11/21 @ Gonzaga, 1/22 @ Northern Colorado, 1/31 @ PSU, 2/7 vs Montana, 3/5 vs PSU

4. Northern Colorado
The Bears were the Cinderella team of the BSC last season, playing against all odds and earning a birth in the conference tournament. This season looks even brighter for NC as they get their leading scorer from 06-07 back after Whitley Cox sat out last season with a knee injury. The Bears lose center Danielle Hagen to graduation but return all of their other starters. The bench is much deeper this season after coach White signed 5 freshmen and a JC transfer in the offseason. The Bears will have one of the best backcourts in the conference with Cox returning and strong play from Jaime Schroeder, a break through performer from last season. The biggest question mark in Greely is in the post where the absence of Hagen could loom large. Sophomore Kate Kevorken was in the running for freshman of the year last season and will fill a valuable power forward/guard combo role. Brittany Fernandez, a JC transfer, and sophomore Lara Merrit should shore-up some of the rebounding needs, but the rest of the height for NC will come from untested freshmen who will need to grow up fast. Cassie Lambrecht will provide spark off of the bench and could see starting time if things head south early in the year.

Team MVP: Jaime Schroeder
Top Newcomer: Brittany Fernandez
Five Biggest Games: 1/17 @ PSU, 1/22 vs Montana St, 1/24 vs Montana, 3/5 @ NAU, 3/7 @ Sac St

5. Northern Arizona Lumberjacks
NAU was a middle of the pack team last year and will be a middle of the pack team this year. Gone are Ashley Ingle, the league leader in blocks by a 26 block margin, and Laura Dinkins, the team’s leading scorer. Returning is one of the league’s most dynamic point guards, Sade Cunningham. Cunningham had the second best assist to turnover ratio in the league and has the defensive capabilities to rattle some of the conference’s best ball handlers. Joining her in the backcourt will be Janelle Matthews, a sharpshooter that banked in 23 three-pointers last season. Jenna Galloway will anchor the questionable post position with the graduation of Ingle and Dinkins. Galloway was troubled by injury last season and the Jacks will need her to stay healthy. The league is abuzz about the potential of Lauren Hoisington, a sophomore transfer from San Diego State. Look for her to contribute a large portion of NAU’s scoring and rebounding. The Jacks are a team that could be surprisingly good and surprisingly bad. Their roster features plenty of new faces and role players that must gel for any success to take place.

Team MVP: Sade Cunningham
Top Newcomer: Lauren Hoisington
Five Biggest Games: 1/04 @ PSU, 1/8 vs Montana, 1/10 vs Montana St, 1/31 @ Northern Colorado, 2/21 vs Sac St

6. Sacramento State Hornets
Sac State is my surprise team of the season. After years of sitting at home during the BSC tournament, I think Coach Muscatell has the players to get to the tourney this season. The Hornets lost a handful of players, but no one of consequence. Returning is leading scorer Atty Boyer and a surprisingly good point guard in Sami-Field Polisso. FP had fewer turnovers than any other starting BSC point guard in 07-08. While Boyer, Erika Edwards, and Charday Hunt should present a passable frontcourt, the Hornets will have some questions to answer in their backcourt. Sami F-P will run the point, but Sac St will need to develop some outside shooters to win games. The Sac was the worst three-point shooting team in the league last season. Coach Muscatell pulled in the largest freshman class in his tenure, so depth is available, but untested.

Team MVP: Atty Boyer
Top Newcomer: Kari Gallagher
Five Biggest Games: 1/8 vs Montana St, 1/18 vs NAU, 1/24 @ Idaho St, 2/7 vs PSU, 3/7 vs Northern Colorado

STAYING HOME

7. Idaho State Bengals
Of all the teams in the BSC, Idaho State took the biggest hit from graduation. Gone are league MVP Natalie Doma and team leader Andrea Lightfoot. Gone are John Newlee and his assistant coaches (except Jordan Green). Welcome Seton Sobolewski, the only new HC in the conference this season. Sobolewski’s cupboard is not completely bare however. Michelle Grohs, a compliment to Doma in the blocks, and Devin Diehl, a potential outside threat, can both adequately serve in the guard/forward “slash” role that is starting to be an important component to any wbb team. Also returning is point guard Jenna Brown whose leadership will be essential to a team that will feature role players stepping into key positions. The most interesting position battle in the non-conference portion of the schedule will be between three posts battling for two starting spots. Oana Iacovita, Cara Lambert, and Verity Peets have been in a heated battle for starting time in a position which will be critical in the absence of Doma. I think adjusting to a new coaching staff and a roster made of back-ups will make it difficult for the Bengals to compete early in the season. Will they gel early enough to make it into the tourney? That, my friends, is the question.

Team MVP: Jenna Brown
Top Newcomer: Andrea Blodgett, JC Transfer
Five Biggest Games: 1/8 vs EWU, 1/24 vs Sac St, 2/7 vs Northern Colorado, 2/26 @ Sac St, 3/6 @ Weber St

8. Eastern Washington Eagles
The Eags were bad last year and if it weren’t for Weber State, they would look even worse this year. Last season’s leading scorer, Sidney Benson, graduated, but most of the Eagle roster returns. Sophomore Kyla Evans will return this season after sitting out most of last year with injury. Evans should rank among the best three-point shooters in the league. Amy Bratvold and Julie Piper will be relied on in the post in the absence of Benson. Jessica Huntington was fairly effective running the point last season and will be joined in backcourt by Kyla Evans and Tatjana Sparavalo. Sparavalo was a surprise last year, showing the ability to score when the conditions were right. With 6 freshmen on the roster, depth will be an issue for the Eagles. On the bright side however, with EWU likely out of the picture by midseason, the freshmen should see plenty of playing time which will help with development.

Team MVP: Kyla Evans
Top Newcomer: Pauline Ferrall
Five Biggest Games: 1/02 vs NAU, 1/10 @ Weber St, 1/24 vs PSU, 2/12 vs Weber St, 2/14 vs Idaho St, 2/28

9. Weber State Wildcats
I hope Carla Taylor has some hobbies, because stress relief will be necessary this year. Gone is leading scorer and rebounder Sarah Tuomi, second leading scorer Akiah Hunter, and Tashina Taylor, the team’s second best rebounder. Two junior guards, Tonya Schnibbe and Ali Thorderson, should provide some stability in the backcourt. Schnibbe has shown the ability to run the point effectively, and both players have good long-range shooting abilities. Caitlin Anderson should lead the Wildcats in post scoring, but rebounding will be an issue. Karlee Weight and Emily Thatcher saw the most playing time of any of the backup F/C’s last year, but neither appeared comfortable. A surprise could come in the form of freshmen forward Abby Thorderson who has played well in early exhibition games. Good news Weber fans, only one senior on this squad (a role player) and the future looks bright.

Team MVP: Tonya Schnibbe
Top Newcomer: Abby Thorderson
Biggest Games: 12/19 vs Utah, 12/22 vs Utah St, 1/10 vs EWU, 1/31 @ Idaho State, 3/6 vs Idaho St

So there you have it. The toughest decision for me was placing Sac State and ISU. I just have a feeling that Sac will outperform expectations and that the Bengals will struggle to adjust to the new coaching staff. On top of that, with Doma and Lightfoot shining in the last few seasons, not much has been expected out of the other Bengal players, so they are used to being role players rather than everyday performers. If ISU can put it together, they could jump Sac State. The other toss-up was PSU and MSU. If the Bobcats sweep PSU again this year, look for the ‘Cats to get the 2 seed in the tourney.

Later this week I will give you my preseason All Big Sky team and award winners, along with my projected finishes. Also, I will be breaking down MSU position by position, so check back soon!