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MBBALL Big Sky Crunch Time

With four conference games left for the Griz, I'm looking more at separation from the field. With both Idaho and ISU losing, there's only one lower-level contender with 7 wins. It happens to be MSU, but they also already have 7 losses.
Okay. That would help.

But, it has been so long since the Griz won the Conference Championship and be able to put a banner up on the ceiling. Idaho finishing ahead of both ISU and MSU would increase that possibility. Of course, winning the Conference tournament these days seems be more important than the conference championship.

But, another reason I kind of would like Idaho to finish ahead of the others is that Griz swept Idaho and if Griz are in first and Idaho finished 4th which would be likely if they finish ahead of MSU and ISU, Griz could have a good matchup in the semi-final, since a 1st place team will meet up with the 4th place team if all the higher seeds in each matchup wins. But, I guess, when does that ever happen.

Anyway, Griz just need to win out. Easy Peasy.
 
ESPN standings have UNC at 10-4 in conference, but I can only find 3 conference losses….Idaho. Montana and PSU. What am i missing?
 
Update, Feb 16

A good day for the Griz … moving into first place in the Big Sky. Not quite so obvious is that the Griz have guaranteed themselves a top-four finish. The MSU win puts them in the running for a top-four, but only just.

Griz (12-2) . . . @ MSU, @ Sac, @ PSU, EWU (24-29)
NoColo (11-3) . . . EWU, Ida, @ NAU, @ WSU (21-32)
PSU (8-5) . . . @ ISU, @ WSU, MSU, UM, Sac (31-36)
MSU (7-7) . . . Griz, @ PSU, @ Sac, Ida (29-24)
ISU (6-7) . . . PSU, Sac, @ Ida, @ EWU, NAU (29-37)
Idaho (6-7) . . . @ NAU, @ NoCol, ISU, WSU, @ MSU (33-35)
EWU (6-7) .. . . @ NoColo, @ NAU, WSU, ISU, @ Griz (38-30)

I feel like the Griz, the way they’re playing, could win out or go 3-1 at worst. But with only 2 losses now, the absolute worst case would leave them with six losses, while the contenders below PSU all have 7 losses already. In fact, there are now a s**tpot full of seven-loss teams in contention for that 4th spot … including the kitties.

FWIW, aside from our hope that the Griz can win the regular-season championship, I think that down here is the most interesting part of the Big Sky end-game. Of course, it must shake out because several of them have to play each other, and at least one of the top-three teams. On paper, MSU and EWU have the toughest routes … each with two top-three opponents to get through. The Eags are worse off .. they face the Griz and the Bears on the road. Idaho State seems to have the easier (not easy) route because they face only one top-three opponent, and they get the Vikes at home.
 
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