Big Sky season preview

Eastern Washington Eagles
Coaches’ poll: 5th
Media poll: 6th
2012-2013: 10-21 (7-13, ninth in the Big Sky)
Starters returning/lost: 4/1
Reason for optimism: With the reigning Big Sky Freshman of the Year Venky Jois, the Eagles are on the upswing with third-year head coach Jim Hayford.
Reason for pessimism: Without a senior on the roster and three juniors, Hayford is relying on sophomores and freshmen to help Eastern take a big jump up the conference standings.

Idaho State Bengals
Coaches’ poll: 10th
Media poll: 11th
2012-2013: 6-24 (5-10, 11th in the Big Sky)
Starters returning/lost: 3/2
Reason for optimism: Bill Evans has more of “his guys” this year. The Bengals are bigger and stronger. Chris Hansen, Tomas Sanchez and Andre Hatchett are three proven contributors.
Reason for pessimism: ISU had to redshirt two players with size, and that was unexpected. Throw in injury concerns with junior college transfer Ajak Magot and the roster looks scary thin.

Montana Grizzlies
Coaches’ poll: 3rd
Media poll: 2nd
2012-2013: 25-7 (19-1, first in the Big Sky)
Starters returning/lost: 3/2
Reason for optimism: Kareem Jamar, the 2012-13 Big Sky MVP, is back for his senior year. He isn’t the flashiest player in the conference, just the best player.
Reason for pessimism: Not much. Will Cherry, a two-time defensive player of the year, is gone to graduation and so is Mathias Ward. But each of those guys missed chunks of last season for the Grizzlies. With Wayne Tinkle in his eighth season in Missoula, they seem to reload not rebuild.

Montana State Bobcats
Coaches’ poll: 6th
Media poll: 5th
2012-2013: 13-17 (10-10, fourth in the Big Sky)
Starters returning/lost: 3/2
Reason for optimism: Head coach Brad Huse points to continuity with nine letterwinners back from last season, hoping experience equates to more wins.
Reason for pessimism: In his first seven seasons at Montana State, Huse has never missed the postseason tournament. But it’s also a place where the ’Cats have — generally — woefully under performed.

North Dakota
Coaches’ poll: 2nd
Media poll: 3rd
2012-2013: 16-17 (12-18, third in the Big Sky)
Starters returning/lost: 4/1
Reason for optimism: Troy Huff, a 6-foot-5 senior guard, is the best pure scorer in the conference, and UND recruited size in the offseason to try and offset Weber State’s and Montana’s advantages under the basket.
Reason for pessimism: North Dakota finished six games behind second-place Weber State a year ago. Did the frontcourt improve enough to propel it into the Big Sky’s elite?

Northern Arizona Lumberjacks
Coaches’ poll: 9th
Media poll: 7th
2012-2013: 11-21 (8-12, 7th in the Big Sky)
Starters returning/lost: 3/2
Reason for optimism: Sophomore guard DeWayne Russell averaged 14.4 points as a freshman, and he’s expected to contribute on the defensive end this season, too.
Reason for pessimism: Northern Arizona has already lost to an NAIA team, and early on at least, there’s a leadership void for the Lumberjacks.

Northern Colorado Bears
Coaches’ poll: 4th
Media poll: 4th
2012-2013: 13-18 (10-10, fifth in the Big Sky)
Starters returning/lost: 5/0
Reason for optimism: Senior-heavy and savvy, Northern Colorado has experience and talent across the roster.
Reason for pessimism: The Bears have struggled to guard the perimeter in the past. Head coach B.J. Hill has recruited with that in mind but, well, they haven’t done it yet.

Portland State Vikings
Coaches’ poll: 8th
Media poll: 9th
2012-2013: 8-20 (5-15, 11th in the Big Sky)
Starters returning/lost: 2/3
Reason for optimism: The Vikings have seven nonconference homes games, an astronomical amount compared to the typical Big Sky team that usually has anywhere from two to four.
Reason for pessimism: Portland State’s defense. The Vikings defensive field goal percentage (48.4 percent) ranked dead last a year ago, and evidence that will dramatically change is difficult to find.

Sacramento State Hornets
Coaches’ poll: 7th
Media poll: 8th
2012-2013: 14-15 (8-12, eighth in the Big Sky)
Starters returning/lost: 2/3
Reason for optimism: Head coach Brian Katz, in his sixth season, says Dylan Garrity, Mikh McKinney and Cody Demps will form the best backcourt he’s had at Sacramento State.
Reason for pessimism: The Hornets are on a five-year run of improving their win total in conference play, but losing three starters could stymie that trend.

Southern Utah Thunderbirds
Coaches’ poll: 11th
Media poll: 10th
2012-2013: 11-20 (8-12, ninth in the Big Sky)
Starters returning/lost: 2/3
Reason for optimism: Hard to find. There’s 10 new fresh faces for head coach Nick Robinson to mold, but Southern Utah is at the point where its recruiting first-year all-conference stars.
Reason for pessimism: The T-birds lost five seniors who started 88 games a year ago and accounted for 77.6 percent of their offense.

Weber State Wildcats
Coaches’ poll: 1st
Media poll: 1st
2012-2013: 30-7 (18-2, second in the Big Sky)
Starters returning/lost: 3/2
Reason for optimism: From the top to the bottom, Weber State’s roster is stuffed, packed and loaded with talent.
Reason for pessimism: None. The Wildcats are heavy favorites and the title is theirs lose.