KenPom’s current ranking and how much they are up or down from the beginning of the season (I make up the Tiers).
Tier 1
1. Cats 188 (-15)
Tier 2
2. Griz 216 (-34)
3. UNC 235 (-53)
4. EWU 236 (-44)
5. PSU 238 (+56)
Tier 3
6. Sac 253 (+23)
7. WSU 255 (-24)
8. NAU 256 (+5)
Tier 4
9. ISU 323 (+22)
10. UI. 349 (+3)
Last week I thought we would see some separation this week as we are now about 25% through the season. However, the opposite happened. At the top MSU and The Griz were underwhelming. And UNC lost to a D-2 team . . . at home! KenPom overrates UNC because I believe he does not acknowledge non D-1 games (even losses). So if UNC lost to the one of worst D-1 teams instead of a D-2 team I believe they would be closer to Sac than 3rd in the conference.
Shout out to PSU for beating OSU a 2nd time this season. OSU is barely an average Big Sky team at this point, but Big Sky over PAC-12 wins are still rare.
Best Players thus far in the conference according to Bart Torvik (like KenPom this is done strictly by algorithm).
1. Cam Parker - PSU
2. Issac Jones - UI
3. Divante Moffitt - UI
4. Josh Bannan
5. Raequan Battle - Cats
Interesting UI has 2 of the top 3 players, but the worst team so far. Kind of like the Lakers I guess.
Ironically Torvik’s formula (like KenPom) also has the Cats and Griz as the top 2 teams and WSU, NAU and the Idaho’s in the bottom 4. The middle is the same but in somewhat different order.
Scroll to the bottom of link for complete player rankings.
https://barttorvik.com/conf.php?conf=BSky
A number of posters believe some teams that have more time playing together will see a drastic improvement. I see only a couple of those situations in the Big Sky.
Weber State - Not sure what is going on at Weber. Their best player Dillon Jones looked to be a DNP-Coach’s Decision and Weber beats a fairly tough Abilene Christian team for probably the 3rd best win by a Big Sky team this year. Jones comes off the bench the next game against Wright State and WSU takes a 22-pt loss (WSU also played this game without Tew its 6’11 center). They do have a new HC, who was an assistant there and a number of new players. This is the type of situation where more time playing together may actually result in a team that looks drastically different in February and March (new coach with many new rotation players).
Sac State: The Hornets have similar characteristics with a new coach and numerous new players on the squad. I believe you will see more production from Oregon State transfer Gianni Hunt as the season goes forward. I think lack of depth ultimately caps them out as a middle tier Big Sky team, but I believe the future is bright there.
Tier 1
1. Cats 188 (-15)
Tier 2
2. Griz 216 (-34)
3. UNC 235 (-53)
4. EWU 236 (-44)
5. PSU 238 (+56)
Tier 3
6. Sac 253 (+23)
7. WSU 255 (-24)
8. NAU 256 (+5)
Tier 4
9. ISU 323 (+22)
10. UI. 349 (+3)
Last week I thought we would see some separation this week as we are now about 25% through the season. However, the opposite happened. At the top MSU and The Griz were underwhelming. And UNC lost to a D-2 team . . . at home! KenPom overrates UNC because I believe he does not acknowledge non D-1 games (even losses). So if UNC lost to the one of worst D-1 teams instead of a D-2 team I believe they would be closer to Sac than 3rd in the conference.
Shout out to PSU for beating OSU a 2nd time this season. OSU is barely an average Big Sky team at this point, but Big Sky over PAC-12 wins are still rare.
Best Players thus far in the conference according to Bart Torvik (like KenPom this is done strictly by algorithm).
1. Cam Parker - PSU
2. Issac Jones - UI
3. Divante Moffitt - UI
4. Josh Bannan
5. Raequan Battle - Cats
Interesting UI has 2 of the top 3 players, but the worst team so far. Kind of like the Lakers I guess.
Ironically Torvik’s formula (like KenPom) also has the Cats and Griz as the top 2 teams and WSU, NAU and the Idaho’s in the bottom 4. The middle is the same but in somewhat different order.
Scroll to the bottom of link for complete player rankings.
https://barttorvik.com/conf.php?conf=BSky
A number of posters believe some teams that have more time playing together will see a drastic improvement. I see only a couple of those situations in the Big Sky.
Weber State - Not sure what is going on at Weber. Their best player Dillon Jones looked to be a DNP-Coach’s Decision and Weber beats a fairly tough Abilene Christian team for probably the 3rd best win by a Big Sky team this year. Jones comes off the bench the next game against Wright State and WSU takes a 22-pt loss (WSU also played this game without Tew its 6’11 center). They do have a new HC, who was an assistant there and a number of new players. This is the type of situation where more time playing together may actually result in a team that looks drastically different in February and March (new coach with many new rotation players).
Sac State: The Hornets have similar characteristics with a new coach and numerous new players on the squad. I believe you will see more production from Oregon State transfer Gianni Hunt as the season goes forward. I think lack of depth ultimately caps them out as a middle tier Big Sky team, but I believe the future is bright there.