[Editor's Note: SportsJudge continues it's breakdown of all 30 conference tournaments leading up to March Madness with this evening's preview of the Big Sky and Summit Conferences.]Big Sky Conference (previewed by Mike Colligan)
It's hard to dispute that Weber State is the team to beat in the Big Sky Conference. The Wildcats not only possess a first-round bye and homecourt advantage throughout the tournament, but they also finished 15-1 in the conference and are in the midst of a 12-game winning streak. Weber St. is lead by 5'6" Big Sky Player of the Year Kellen McCoy and Freshman of the Year Damian Lillard. They also record second in the league in both scoring and scoring defense.
If you like watching teams firing 3-pointers, this might be the league to check out. Over half the teams in the conference tournament rank Top 50 in the nation in 3-pointers, led by none other than 2-seed Portland State. PSU ranks #4 in the country with 9.7 three's per game and have attempted a ridiculous league record 775 so far this season. Portland State was last year's champion and could possibly give Weber a run for their money if they get hot.
#3 seed Montana, led by Big Sky leading scorer Anthony Johnson (17.5 ppg), were the only team to knock of Weber State this season but they limp into the tournament losing two of their last three games. They are an excellent defensive team and if they can regain their swagger, they could do some damage and possibly sneak into the NCAA Tournament. In the end, Weber State will be too tough to handle and will walk away with their 9th Big Sky tournament title.
Brian Doyle: Weber St.
Kevin Fenstermacher: Weber St.
Mike Colligan: Weber St.
Summit League (previewed by Brian Doyle)
North Dakota St. is in its first year of postseason eligibility in Division 1 basketball (after joining Division 1 in 2004, they were an independent until playing in the Summit League at the start of the 2007 season, they were ineligible for last season’s conference tournament). In 2004 they redshirted their entire freshman class with the promise that when they were seniors they’d have the chance to play for a berth in the NCAA Tournament. Now four and a half years later the Bison have and their fifth-years seniors have the chance to do just that. NDSU has claimed the top seed in the conference tournament being held in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and is led by guard Ben Woodside, who averages 23 points a game. The Bison claimed the top seed by going 16-2 in conference play, and finishing ahead of three-time defending Summit League champion Oral Roberts. Woodside, combined with forward Brett Winkelman pack a scoring punch of over 40 points per game for NDSU, making them a formidable duo.
Two other teams look to interrupt NDSU’s run: Oral Roberts and Oakland. Senior guard Erik Kangas, who averages nearly 20 points a game, leads Oakland’s offense going into the tournament. Oakland is also one of the teams that managed to beat North Dakota St. during conference play, a one point home win. Meanwhile, Oral Roberts has represented the conference in the NCAA tournament for the last three seasons, which makes their players well seasoned in the art of winning a conference tournament. But what those players have in conference tournament experience is negated by the experience and maturity of NDSU players, many of whom are 22 or 23 years old. This set of NDSU players also have the experience, and the skill set, that had them beat highly ranked teams like Wisconsin and Marquette in years past. North Dakota St. players have been waiting five years for this opportunity; look for them to make the most of it by beating Oakland in the Summit League championship game.
Brian Doyle: North Dakota St.
Kevin Fenstermacher: Oakland
Mike Colligan: North Dakota St.
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