Weekend Preview

Tomorrow we start another important weekend of WBB as the Big Sky will try to sort itself out again. Here are some previews of this weekend’s action.

ISU, WSU @ EWU, PSU

These games are very important to all of the teams, but probably most important to the Eagles. For EWU, this weekend’s home stand is the last of the season, and with trips to Portland, Greeley, Missoula, and Bozeman looming, it is conceivable that EWU may not win again after this weekend. ISU and WSU are teams the Eagles should beat; making these must win games if EWU wants to play in the post season. The Bengals blew out EWU in Pocatello a few weeks ago, so winning won’t come easy for the Eagles.

If there were a line on these games, PSU would be heavily favored at the Stott Center against two teams they beat on the road already this season. The Vikings are looking to keep pace with Montana for the number 1 seed in the upcoming tournament. The Viks’ last home game (an OT loss to MSU) should be motivation enough to get a home sweep over the Bengals and Wildcats.

For both ISU and WSU this is a critical weekend. Both schools will entertain the Montana schools next weekend before heading on that always difficult NAU-SAC road trip. Neither team has been too spectacular on the road in conference play, ISU is 1-2 in BSC road games and WSU is 1-3. Couple that with the fact that PSU and EWU have been playing well at home, and it will be a difficult weekend for the Bengals and Wildcats. ISU will need someone besides Michelle Grohs to shine in order to at least split on the weekend. WSU will need consistent play out of its stars, something that has lacked in road games this season.

SAC, NAU @ UM, MSU

The Bobcats find themselves in a place no one predicted at the start of the season, tied for last place in the conference this deep in the season. Despite a dreadful first half of conference play, MSU is still very much within striking distance of a top 4 seed in the conference tournament and can make up a huge chunk of ground with a home sweep over NAU and SAC this weekend. The Bobcats own the conference’s third-best home record at 6-2, but have also played the fewest home games of any BSC team. Getting the home sweep will not be easy as the ‘Cats will go up against teams that gave the Bobcats their lowest point of the season after MSU was swept on the NAU-SAC trip earlier this year. MSU is a completely different team at home however and should put themselves right back in the discussion by Sunday.

NAU got a big win in dramatic fashion against EWU as Sade Cunningham and Katie Schaefer were able to steal away a win for the ‘Jacks in the closing minute on last Saturday. NAU will need similar heroics to earn a victory this weekend against two teams that play well at home. The ‘Jacks would put themselves in a very good position in the conference standings if they were able to get a split this weekend, considering they will be at home for their remaining 4 games. NAU is a team that doesn’t get nervous when it goes to Missoula and has been able to find success there in recent years while other teams have not. UM is 23-3 against NAU in Missoula, but all three of the wins have come in the last 4 seasons.

Sac State finds itself in uncharted territory: deep in the conference season with a chance to move into sole possession of third place in the BSC if the dominoes fall the right way this weekend. It will be uphill sledding for the Hornets however, as they face a MSU team that is bent on redeeming its January OT loss in Sacramento and a UM team that has never lost to Sac and beats the Hornets by an average of 26 points in Dahlberg. More likely than not, the Hornets will be brought back down to earth this weekend in the Big Sky State.

Montana will try to keep pace with Portland State for the top seed in the tournament this weekend. On paper, the Griz shouldn’t lose another game in conference play, which would set up a huge show down with PSU in the final regular season game. NAU will give the Griz a run for their money on Saturday and SAC will play tough as well.

NCU host Black Hills State on Friday

The Bears will look to take out some frustration on a NAIA team after being swept on the road in Ogden and Pocatello last weekend. Some rest and a confidence booster couldn’t have come at a better time for the Bears.