No, I don’t mean that everyone gets four points off of the point spread in any direction they’d like if they hit both of these games. I mean that the Big Sky plays two games tonight and then takes two days off before a final four tournament gets underway in Missoula. This conference was the epitome of the ole two-horse race this year, as Weber St. and Montana were head and shoulders better than the rest of the field. They split their two games and the only difference was a head-scratching 2-point loss that Weber St. suffered at Idaho St.
Championship Picks
13 for #1 Montana
6 for #2 Weber St. (Gersh, Gross, Lohse, Scott, Stri, Waters)
0 for #3 Portland St.
0 for #4 E. Washington
1 for #5 Idaho St. (KA)
Biggest Upsets
QF – #6 Montana St. (Doogan, Gross, J, Lil Lohse, Lohse, Mac, Teddy)
SF – #5 Idaho St. (KA)
Previous CTC Champions
2011 – Bry*
2010 – Lohse* (a pretty incredible tournament to have predicted perfectly, see)
2009 – J
2008 – Bry
#3 Portland St. vs. #6 Montana St.
The Bobcats of Montana St. fooled everyone into thinking they were contenders at the beginning of the year, but showed their true colors down the stretch, losing 7 in a row before a final day win over hapless N. Arizona. Portland St., who was picked third in this conference in the preseason behind the Big Two, started slowly, but came on late to finish 10-6 in conference (10-2 against everyone other than the Big Two). The winner here gets Weber St. in the quarters on Tuesday. 7 people have the MSU upset here ((Doogan, Gross, J, Lil Lohse, Lohse, Mac, Teddy). No one has them reaching the finals. Dave, Primm, and RSmith all have PSU in the finals.
#4 E. Washington vs. #5 Idaho St.
This matchup was determined before the two teams played their regular season finale on Tuesday night. They were locked into the #4 and #5 seeds. There was one question left – who would be #4 and get to host the game? Well, EWU answered that question by taking care of business by 13, forcing Idaho St. to make this trip again 4 days later with the season on the line. The winner here gets a crack at the Big Sky Final Four host for the year, and top seed, Montana. Alexi, Dave, and KA are the only three with the mild upset of Idaho St. KA actually has ISU winning this tournament.
