Big Sky teams ramp up nonconference schedules
By The Associated Press
HELENA - The Big Sky Conference implemented scheduling requirements and is making some other changes this season to raise the prominence - and hopefully the postseason opportunities - of its men's basketball teams.
"Part of what we're trying to do with our basketball program is heighten our visibility, change our brand," said Commissioner Doug Fullerton.
The scheduling changes haven't much helped the teams' won-loss records, but the schools certainly raised the quality of their opponents.
In fact, the league's nonconference strength of schedule is 13th among 31 conferences, compared to 22nd a year ago and 29th during the 2005-06 season. Including conference games, the league's strength of schedule in 2005-06 was rated 31st. "There's just no comparison, where we were playing in 2005 to who we're playing now," Fullerton said. "So we've moved 'em."
Downhill spiral
Fullerton said he felt the league was slipping so badly that the winner of the league tournament, which earns an automatic berth in the NCAA tournament, might be relegated to a play-in game between the 64th and 65th seeded teams.
"We were on the cusp the last couple years," Fullerton said.
Through Saturday's games, the Big Sky had a 32-61 record against Division I teams, including an 0-21 mark against teams in the Big Ten, Big 12 and Pac-10.
Montana State lost to Arizona State by four while Northern Arizona lost at Arizona by seven. Fourth-ranked Washington State beat Montana 66-55.
"I thought as a whole our conference competed well," said MSU coach Brad Huse. "When you're playing Top 10 teams and Top 25 teams and playing on the road and in tough environments ... that's what you're asked to do in RPI situations. Those are tough venues to put yourself in front of, and you hope guys respond the right way."
Montana ended a five-game skid with a 91-36 victory over Montana Tech of the NAIA on Sunday.
"It's been a tough one," Montana coach Wayne Tinkle said during a league coaches conference call on Thursday. "Like everybody else, the common theme here is we've played a very tough schedule. We started the year playing two teams in the Top 15 (Washington State and Gonzaga) in the first couple weeks, and all the while we've got some inexperienced guys that we're trying to bring along. Even some of the nonranked teams we've played - Pacific, Portland, (Cal State) Fullerton - have really been a challenge. It's frustrating."
The league's new scheduling rules require teams to schedule nonconference opponents with an average RPI of 160 or above, based on the opponents' RPI at the end of the previous season or at the end of the current season. Teams can also meet the requirement by finishing the season with an RPI of 160 or better.
Teams that don't meet the requirement are to be fined their share of NCAA television money the league receives each year - about $10,000 - with that money to be split among the other teams.
Only Northern Arizona didn't meet the requirement based on opponents' RPIs from last season, but likely will be fine based on their nonconference opponents' average RPI this season.
League changes
The changes also aim to keep league teams from hurting each other during Big Sky Conference play.
"We have weekends where a team wins two games and goes down in the RPI drastically," because of their opponents' low RPI, Fullerton said.
Through Saturday, Montana State had an RPI of 137, Northern Arizona was at 144 and Portland State at 145. Sacramento State's RPI was lowest in the league at 312 among the 341 Division I schools.
The league also signed a three-year contract with Altitude Sports and Entertainment to televise conference games on Sunday afternoons and is continuing its involvement in ESPN BracketBuster games.
Fullerton said he'd like to see the schools accept preseason NIT offers and schedule exempt tournaments, which count as one game toward the scheduling limit, but allow teams to play three or four games.
"We're doing these things to heighten our brand awareness," Fullerton said.
The changes apply just to the men's basketball teams, but Fullerton said a similar problem affected the women's teams last year.
Montana had a 27-3 record after a loss in the Big Sky Conference tournament and did not make the NCAA field.
"They'll keep you out on scheduling," Fullerton said.
The Lady Griz, who won the Big Sky Conference regular season title, played in the first round of the WNIT, falling 78-70 at Utah.
Copyright © 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Published on Monday, December 31, 2007.
Last modified on 12/31/2007 at 12:25 am
By The Associated Press
HELENA - The Big Sky Conference implemented scheduling requirements and is making some other changes this season to raise the prominence - and hopefully the postseason opportunities - of its men's basketball teams.
"Part of what we're trying to do with our basketball program is heighten our visibility, change our brand," said Commissioner Doug Fullerton.
The scheduling changes haven't much helped the teams' won-loss records, but the schools certainly raised the quality of their opponents.
In fact, the league's nonconference strength of schedule is 13th among 31 conferences, compared to 22nd a year ago and 29th during the 2005-06 season. Including conference games, the league's strength of schedule in 2005-06 was rated 31st. "There's just no comparison, where we were playing in 2005 to who we're playing now," Fullerton said. "So we've moved 'em."
Downhill spiral
Fullerton said he felt the league was slipping so badly that the winner of the league tournament, which earns an automatic berth in the NCAA tournament, might be relegated to a play-in game between the 64th and 65th seeded teams.
"We were on the cusp the last couple years," Fullerton said.
Through Saturday's games, the Big Sky had a 32-61 record against Division I teams, including an 0-21 mark against teams in the Big Ten, Big 12 and Pac-10.
Montana State lost to Arizona State by four while Northern Arizona lost at Arizona by seven. Fourth-ranked Washington State beat Montana 66-55.
"I thought as a whole our conference competed well," said MSU coach Brad Huse. "When you're playing Top 10 teams and Top 25 teams and playing on the road and in tough environments ... that's what you're asked to do in RPI situations. Those are tough venues to put yourself in front of, and you hope guys respond the right way."
Montana ended a five-game skid with a 91-36 victory over Montana Tech of the NAIA on Sunday.
"It's been a tough one," Montana coach Wayne Tinkle said during a league coaches conference call on Thursday. "Like everybody else, the common theme here is we've played a very tough schedule. We started the year playing two teams in the Top 15 (Washington State and Gonzaga) in the first couple weeks, and all the while we've got some inexperienced guys that we're trying to bring along. Even some of the nonranked teams we've played - Pacific, Portland, (Cal State) Fullerton - have really been a challenge. It's frustrating."
The league's new scheduling rules require teams to schedule nonconference opponents with an average RPI of 160 or above, based on the opponents' RPI at the end of the previous season or at the end of the current season. Teams can also meet the requirement by finishing the season with an RPI of 160 or better.
Teams that don't meet the requirement are to be fined their share of NCAA television money the league receives each year - about $10,000 - with that money to be split among the other teams.
Only Northern Arizona didn't meet the requirement based on opponents' RPIs from last season, but likely will be fine based on their nonconference opponents' average RPI this season.
League changes
The changes also aim to keep league teams from hurting each other during Big Sky Conference play.
"We have weekends where a team wins two games and goes down in the RPI drastically," because of their opponents' low RPI, Fullerton said.
Through Saturday, Montana State had an RPI of 137, Northern Arizona was at 144 and Portland State at 145. Sacramento State's RPI was lowest in the league at 312 among the 341 Division I schools.
The league also signed a three-year contract with Altitude Sports and Entertainment to televise conference games on Sunday afternoons and is continuing its involvement in ESPN BracketBuster games.
Fullerton said he'd like to see the schools accept preseason NIT offers and schedule exempt tournaments, which count as one game toward the scheduling limit, but allow teams to play three or four games.
"We're doing these things to heighten our brand awareness," Fullerton said.
The changes apply just to the men's basketball teams, but Fullerton said a similar problem affected the women's teams last year.
Montana had a 27-3 record after a loss in the Big Sky Conference tournament and did not make the NCAA field.
"They'll keep you out on scheduling," Fullerton said.
The Lady Griz, who won the Big Sky Conference regular season title, played in the first round of the WNIT, falling 78-70 at Utah.
Copyright © 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Published on Monday, December 31, 2007.
Last modified on 12/31/2007 at 12:25 am
