As in what in the world is going on in Bozeman with the Montana State Bobcats?
MSU ended its six-game skid against Weber State Saturday, barely holding off the 0-24 Wildcats 69-65 (the same team MSU beat by 30 points Jan. 24 in Ogden).
It’s been an absolute tailspin of a month for the ’Cats, who were 8-1 and in first place of the conference at one point. Now they’re in sixth place and, if the losing continues, in danger of falling out of the postseason altogether.
Who would’ve guessed, right? Yet another reason why basketball — particularly the college version — is amazing.
Without further ado.
1. Northern Colorado 15-9, 12-3
Last week: No. 2
Whatever problems Northern Colorado had on the road are gone because the Bears destroyed Northern Arizona 71-43 in Flagstaff and then outscored Sacramento State 81-73 in The Nest.
Northern Colorado, winner of its last eight, lost three of its first four conference games on the road. But since UNC and D’shara Strange gutted out a one-point victory in Reed Gym Jan. 31, the Bears have seemingly solved whatever woes were following them away from Greeley.
2. Montana 19-6, 13-3
Last week: No. 1
In Dahlberg Arena, Montana throttled Weber State 90-43 and handily beat Idaho State 61-49.
The Lady Griz drop a notch in the rankings because Northern Colorado’s eight-game winning streak — which includes a win over UM — is hard to ignore. And while I’m sure Griz nation is devastated by dropping a spot, there is a silver lining.
In the battle for the postseason’s No. 1 spot — and the right to host the Big Sky tournament — the edge goes to Montana.
UM hosts Southern Utah before traveling to the hot mess known as Montana State, and then Montana finishes its regular season at Northern Arizona and Sacramento State.
Northern Colorado still has to travel to North Dakota and Southern Utah with three home games (SUU, EWU and PSU) sandwiched between.
The real question for everyone else who is going to make the tournament, would they rather go to Greeley or Missoula?
3. Idaho State 14-10, 9-6
Last week: No. 3
On the Treasure State road trip, Idaho State beat up Montana State 65-46 and was then blitzed by Montana 61-49.
Against MSU, the Bengals rained in nine 3-pointers and shot a sizzling 52 percent on the way to a 12-point first-half lead.
But in Missoula, ISU hit 23 percent from the field and fell behind by 21 at one point. The Lady Griz’s Kenzie De Boer hit 9-of-16 field goal attempts, including 3-of-3 from the 3-point line, and scored 24 points in 26 minutes.
With five games left, Idaho State is one game behind Eastern, but the Bengals have home dates with Weber State, Northern Arizona and Sacramento State the next two weeks. EWU, meanwhile, hosts Portland State and travels to Northern Colorado and frigid Grand Forks.
4. Eastern Washington 14-10, 10-5
Last week: No. 4
In its lone game of the week, Eastern Washington beat Southern Utah 78-70 in Cedar City.
The Eagles are a full game ahead of ISU and Eastern beat the Bengals by six points in their one head-to-head meeting this season. So why in the world is ISU ranked a spot above?
First, EWU is 2-2 in its last four games (ISU is 3-1). Second, Eastern is dead center in the Big Sky for scoring defense (the Bengals are third, allowing nearly nine points less a game). EWU outscores its opponents by .2 points a game (Idaho State has the Big Sky’s second-highest scoring margin of 5.7).
OK, blah, blah, blah with the numbers; here’s the point. Idaho State is better defensively and on the boards. When it comes to the postseason, those are some of the facets that determine success and push a team one way or the other.
5. Sacramento State 14-10, 9-6
Last week: No. 5
Sacramento State ran away from North Dakota 80-62 and fell to Northern Colorado 81-73.
The Hornets are a combined 1-5 against UNC, Montana, Eastern and ISU and 8-1 against everyone else. What should we make of Sacramento State, a team that will struggle to hit 50 points against the Bengals but eclipse the century mark two days later when playing lowly Weber State?
Just that Sac. State is good, not great and ranked appropriately here at No. 5.
6. Northern Arizona 7-17, 6-9
Last week: No. 8
In Flagstaff, Northern Arizona fell to Northern Colorado 71-43 and then beat North Dakota 64-60 in overtime.
The conference is separated into three distinct layers right now. At the top is UNC and UM. Eastern, Idaho State and Sacramento State — and for the moment I’ll begrudgingly throw Montana State in this layer, too — are all battling for positioning behind the two frontrunners.
Southern Utah, Northern Arizona, Portland State and North Dakota are all part of the final layer, with each having at least a shot at the Big Sky tournament’s last spot.
The past couple of weeks, the rankings have had PSU at the top of this third layer, but the Lumberjacks move here now after the Vikings drops two straight, SUU loses five of its last seven and UND falls off a cliff — if falling off a cliff is like losing three straight.
7. Southern Utah 12-13, 6-9
Last week: No. 9
Southern Utah beat Portland State 83-60 and lost to Eastern Washington 78-70, both games in Cedar City.
The Thunderbirds and Lumberjacks both have a one-game lead on Portland State for the last spot in the tournament. Sadly, for T-Birds everywhere, three of their last five are on the road and they play Montana once and Northern Colorado twice.
Normally, I take a few moments here to make fun of Southern Utah’s mascot, the Thunderbird. I do it mainly because I have no idea what a Thunderbird is and I do not — absolutely do not — understand why anyone would choose a mascot for their school that doesn’t exist. Really, at this point, I’d rather have North Dakota’s mascot-less situation.
8. Portland State 11-13, 5-10
Last week: No. 7
Portland State had one game last week. The Vikings lost that contest by 23 points in Cedar City to Southern Utah.
I feel like I’ve been perpetually overrating the Vikings. With players like Courtne VanBrocklin (15.4 points a game), Angel Misa (averaging a double-double) and Allison Greene (10.4 points a night), PSU, from my vantage point, has the players to compete at a higher level.
But it just hasn’t happened this year (PSU was picked fifth by the coaches in the preseason) or last (the consensus No. 1).
9. North Dakota 10-15, 5-11
Last week: No. 10
On a long road trip, North Dakota lost to Sacramento State 80-62 and Northern Arizona 64-60 in overtime.
UND is a game and half back of SUU and NAU for the Big Sky’s last spot. Three home dates should provide the North Dakota faithful some hope, but coming into town is Northern Colorado and Eastern Washington (along with PSU).
Most likely, UND has to beat either UNC or EWU to stay in the race.
On the bright side for folks in Grand Forks, since MSU is terrible right now, you’re out of the cellar for the week.
10. Montana State 15-10, 9-7
Last week: No. 6
In Bozeman, Montana State lost to Idaho State 65-46 and then the Bobcats squeaked out a four-point victory against woeful Weber State.
MSU snapped a losing streak that had lasted three weeks. In fact, Montana State’s last two wins were against the Wildcats, games separated by 22 days.
MSU has the next two weeks off until it hosts Montana. Whether the Bobcats can recoup, regenerate and regain whatever was lost from the team that was in cruise control and in first place of the Big Sky is anyone’s guess.
11. Weber State 0-24, 0-15
Last week: No. 11
Does it say more about Montana State or Weber State that after the Wildcats lost to Montana by 47 points, they nearly beat the Bobcats two days later?
WSU outscored MSU 21-7 in the last seven and half minutes, but the ‘Cats held on late after Weber missed a couple game-tying opportunities.
What’s really important, however, is that “The March to History” continues one more week. We’re very nearly there, too. Weber State has lost 43 games in a row. A loss to Idaho State Thursday and Sacramento State Feb. 28 and the Big Sky’s all-time win-less streak belongs to the Wildcats.
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