An "early look" at this year's Big Sky race

[JALMOND]

From Jim Allen at the Spokane Spokesman-Review (a "realist")

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/201...-conference-f/

Just out of spring practices.

[mvemjsunpx]

(a "realist")

[Professor Chaos]

Cal Poly will be higher than #6. They hit the lottery in terms of favorable conference schedules. They should go 6-2 at worst with their Big Sky schedule.

vs Northern Arizona
at Idaho St
at Southern Utah
vs Weber St
at UC Davis
vs Portland St
vs Sacramento St
at Northern Colorado

[Iridebikes]

Cal Poly will be higher than #6. They hit the lottery in terms of favorable conference schedules. They should go 6-2 at worst with their Big Sky schedule.

vs Northern Arizona
at Idaho St
at Southern Utah
vs Weber St
at UC Davis
vs Portland St
vs Sacramento St
at Northern Colorado

As the article stated, NAU hit the jackpot as well, not having to face the top three pre-season ranked teams. This unbalanced schedule is, in my opinion, having a detrimental effect. I don't like the thought that teams that have not played the top teams of the conference can snag a play-off spot, especially if its the guaranteed spot via the conference championship.

[mvemjsunpx]

As the article stated, NAU hit the jackpot as well, not having to face the top three pre-season ranked teams. This unbalanced schedule is, in my opinion, having a detrimental effect. I don't like the thought that teams that have not played the top teams of the conference can snag a play-off spot, especially if its the guaranteed spot via the conference championship.

This kind of thing is good for the conference nationally, though. It prevents over-cannibalization.

[Schism55]

This kind of thing is good for the conference nationally, though. It prevents over-cannibalization.

I couldn't disagree more. It leaves the teams woefully unprepared for the post season. Iron sharpens iron. Tissue paper sharpens???

[mvemjsunpx]

I couldn't disagree more. It leaves the teams woefully unprepared for the post season. Iron sharpens iron. Tissue paper sharpens???

I think it's much more likely cannibalization kills a playoff-caliber team's chances of getting in (e.g., Northern Iowa every other year) than lack of cannibalization leaves a team unprepared. Sam Houston goes deep in the postseason most every year now even though the Southland has no depth at all.

Besides, we're talking about a power conference here. Even a relatively weak Big Sky schedule is gonna be stronger than most any schedule from a non-power league. The Big Sky isn't exactly the NEC or MEAC.

[BadlandsGrizFan]

No not really, what was good for the conference was having Montana beat everyones ass for over a decade and make it to the semis or chipper every year.

This kind of thing is good for the conference nationally, though. It prevents over-cannibalization.

[citdog]

No not really, what was good for the conference was having Montana beat everyones ass for over a decade and make it to the semis or chipper every year.

"Old times they are not forgotten"

[POD Knows]

Cal Poly will be higher than #6. They hit the lottery in terms of favorable conference schedules. They should go 6-2 at worst with their Big Sky schedule.

vs Northern Arizona
at Idaho St
at Southern Utah
vs Weber St
at UC Davis
vs Portland St
vs Sacramento St
at Northern Colorado

It is a little hard to tell this early how crappy some of these teams might be but this makes the UND schedule last year look positively brutal.