College Basketball
Men’s Big Sky 2018-’19 Preview
Teams to Watch
Montana Grizzlies
The Grizzlies are primed to repeat as Big Sky regular season and tournament champions. They will rely on veteran leadership from four returning senior starters, three of which received All-Big Sky honors for the 2017-2018 season.
Key Returners
Ahmaad Rorie – Guard
Rorie made the 2017-2018 All-Big Sky first team roster after averaging 17.2 ppg, 3.7 apg, and 1.2 spg as a junior while playing 35.8 mpg. The now senior also made 85% of his free throws and sported a 1.9 assist-to-turnover ratio. He led the Grizzlies in points, assists and minutes played while concurrently ranking in the league’s top 10 for scoring, steals, free throw percentage, assist-to-turnover ratio and minutes played last season. In addition, he made the 2016-2017 All-Big Sky second team roster as a sophomore.
Micheal Oguine, Guard
Oguine made the 2017-2018 All-Big Sky second team roster averaging 15.8 ppg, 5.5 rbg, and 1.4 spg as a junior. The now senior led the Grizzlies in steals and was named the league’s Defensive Player of the Year last season. In addition, he also made the 2016-207 All-Big Sky third team roster as a sophomore.
Jamar Akoh, Forward
Akoh made the 2017-2018 All-Big Sky third team roster averaging 12.8 ppg and 6.6 rpg as a junior. The now senior led the Grizzlies in rebounds last season.
Summary
Rorie, Oguine, and Akoh accounted for 60%of theGrizzlies’ scoring last season and barring any injury should be expected to have similar success on the offensive end. This combined with their defensive prowess in terms of steals and rebounds should make them a formidable force in the league once again.
Northern Colorado Bears
The Bears finished fourth in the regular season and did not advance to the Big Sky Tournament championship round after suffering a close overtime defeat at the hands of the eventual Big Sky tournament champion Grizzlies in the semifinal round. However, the team has established a winning culture in the post-season by securing four straight wins to snag the CollegeInsider.com Tournament (CIT) championship and the Big Sky League’s first post-season title.
Key Returners
Jordan Davis, Guard
Davis made the 2017-2018 All-Big Sky third team roster averaging 16.3 ppg, 3.2 apg and 4.8 rbg as a junior. The now senior lead the Bears in points and assists last season. In addition, he also made the 2016-2017 All-Big Sky third team roster as a sophomore.
Jalen Sanders, Guard
Sanders averaged 9.5 ppg, 5.8 rpg, and 1.4 bpg as a freshman. The now-sophomore led the Bears in blocks last season. He showcased the ability to have an immediate impact on both sides of the floor.
Jonah Radebaugh, Guard
Radebaugh averaged 7.9 ppg, 6.0 rpg, and 1.0 spg as a redshirt sophomore while playing 35.6 mpg. The now redshirt junior also made a team-high 63 three-point baskets and led the Bears in rebounds, steals and minutes played last season. In addition, he was the 2016-2017 Big Sky League’s Defensive Player of the Year as a redshirt freshman.
Summary
Although the Bears are without All-Big Sky unanimous first-team selection, Andre Spight, the team still features three of last years top five scorers and retains 50% of scoring from last season. Radebaugh and Sanders should be able to anchor the defensive as well, thus making the Bears a threat to the Grizzlies once more.
Weber State Wildcats
The Wildcats boast two of the league’s top returners in respect to scoring and rebounding. The team is healthy this season and looking to improve upon their third-place finish in the regular season and quarterfinal round exit in the Big Sky Tournament after losing to the Bears.
Key Returners
Jerrik Harding, Guard
Harding was a unanimous selection for the All-Big Sky first team roster averaging 22 ppg (his season-high as a freshman), 3.4 rpg and 1.1 spg as a sophomore while playing 32.9 mpg. He also made 53% of his field goals, 88.2% of his free throws and 42.5 % of his three-point baskets. The now junior lead the Wildcats in points, steals and minutes played, while concurrently ranking in the league’s top 10 for field goal, free throw and three point percentage. Harding enters this season as the league’s top returner in scoring.
Zach Braxton, Forward/Center
Braxton made the 2017-2018 All-Big Sky third team roster averaging 12.8 ppg, 7.8 rpg and 1.0 bpg as a redshirt junior. He also made 55.4 percent of his field goalsThe now redshirt senior lead the Wildcats in rebounds in addition to finishing eighth in the league in field foal percentage at 55.4 percent and blocks with 31 last season. He enters this season as the league’s top returner in rebounding.
Cody John, Guard
John did not play last season, but averaged 7.7 ppg and 2.2 apg over 28 starts in the 2016-2017 season. He was second on the team in assists that season with 74. The now redshirt junior will return to the court for the beginning of the 2018-2019 season, which should round out the offense.
Summary
Eight returning letter winners, mostly upperclassmen, will suit up for the Wildcats this season. Their resurgence in the league will depend on health and their ability to perform well in the postseason similar to the 2015-2016 season when they won the Big Sky Tournament and the 2016-2017 season when they reached the championship game.
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Photo Credit: Weber State Athletics via Weber State Sports
