2024-25 Big Sky Basketball Preview

Conference Overview & Analysis

Join us for our 2024-25 Big Sky Basketball Preview as we dive into the upcoming season of this always thrilling mid-major conference. Last season, Montana State entered the Big Sky Conference Tournament as the fifth seed after winning the previous two championships. While the top-seeded Eastern Washington and Northern Colorado were favorites to take the title, both teams fell to the tenth and eighth seeds in shocking upsets. Montana State then capitalized, advancing to the finals and securing their third consecutive conference title. This season, the Bobcats are aiming for their fourth, though the unpredictable Big Sky conference remains wide open.

Leading the conference favorites is Montana, last year’s runner-up, who returns with one of the league’s best backcourts, including two Player of the Year candidates in Brandon Whitney and Money Williams. The Grizzlies are determined to turn last season’s disappointment into a successful year with a balanced, talented roster from one through five. Weber State also looms as a contender, despite losing NBA Draft pick Dillon Jones. The Wildcats retain a solid core, led by Player of the Year candidate Blaise Threatt, and hope to make their first NCAA tournament appearance since 2016.

Montana State, last year’s champions, remains in the mix with two double-digit scorers and the addition of Washington State transfer Jabe Mullins, who could shine in a full-time role. Northern Colorado, despite transfer losses, returns one of the conference’s top big men, Brock Wisne, and standout passer Jaron Rillie, now complemented by a talented group of transfers.

Northern Arizona is set to contend with a strengthened frontcourt, as both big men return from injuries, alongside three reliable double-digit scorers in the backcourt. Idaho and Portland State are blending returnees with new transfers seeking bigger roles, requiring breakout performances to remain competitive.

Idaho State brings in three highly-rated JUCO recruits, including Joey Madimba and Cheikh Sow, making them a wildcard that could land anywhere in the conference standings based on how these players adjust to Division I. Sacramento State and Eastern Washington round out the lineup with returning players stepping into larger roles, along with transfers adjusting from lower levels.

The 2024-25 Big Sky Basketball Preview notes a rare occurrence in college basketball, with three projected starters on Big Sky teams this season being intra-conference transfers. As last season’s tournament proved, the only certainty in the Big Sky is the unexpected and this season promises even more twists and surprises.

Big Sky Basketball Preview: Projected Standings

1. Montana
2. Weber State
3. Montana State
4. Northern Colorado
5. Northern Arizona
6. Idaho
7. Portland State
8. Idaho State
9. Sacramento State
10. Eastern Washington

Big Sky Basketball Preview: Projected Award Winners

Player of the Year: Blaise Threatt, Weber State

Defensive Player of the Year: Hayden Curtiss, Portland State

Newcomer of the Year: Jabe Mullins, Montana State

Freshman of the Year: Jordy McKenzie, Eastern Washington

Coach of the Year: Travis DeCuire, Montana

Big Sky Basketball Preview: Projected All-Conference First Team

Blaise Threatt, Weber State

Brandon Whitney, Montana

Money Williams, Montana

Dyson Koehler, Weber State

Brock Wisne, Northern Colorado

Eastern Washington Eagles

Projected Starters:

PG: Mason Williams (3.8 ppg, 0.8 rpg, 1.2 apg)

SG: Sebastian Hartmann (3.0 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 0.8 apg)

SF: Tyler Powell (2.2 ppg, 1.0 rpg, 0.3 apg @ Nevada) *2022-2023 Stats*

PF: Angelo Winkel (12.5 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 0.8 apg @ Des Moines CC)

C: Pavlo Dziuba (1.3 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 0.2 apg @ High Point)

6M: Andrew Cook (13.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.5 apg @ NAIA Carroll)

Idaho Vandals

Projected Starters:

PG: Kolton Mitchell (7.3 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 2.1 apg @ Idaho State)

SG: Isaiah Brickner (5.1 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2.4 apg @ Marist)

SF: Tyler Linhardt (8.2 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.0 apg)

PF: Julius Mims (11.1 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 1.0 apg)

C: Kyson Rose (6.6 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.6 apg)

6M: Tyler Mrus (10.5 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 0.0 apg) *2 Games*

Idaho State Bengals

Projected Starters:

PG: Dylan Darling (1.7 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 0.6 apg @ Washington State) *2022-2023 Stats*

SG: Joey Madimba (23.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.3 apg @ JUCO Howard)

SF: Isaiah Griffin (7.7 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 0.7 apg)

PF: Cheikh Sow (12.8 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 2.1 apg @ JUCO Cloud County CC)

C: Blake Daberkow (15.3 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 1.8 apg @ JUCO Central CC)

6M: AJ Burgin (4.5 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 0.8 apg)

Montana Grizzlies

Projected Starters:

PG: Brandon Whitney (10.3 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 4.1 apg)

SG: Money Williams (13.4 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 3.3 apg)

SF: Malik Moore* (8.8 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 1.9 apg @ Pepperdine) Injured- Return TBD

PF: Joe Pridgen (8.8 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 1.8 apg @ Northeastern)

C: Te’Jon Sawyer (8.5 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 0.8 apg)

6M: Kai Johnson (21.6 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 3.5 apg @ D2 Western Washington)

Montana State Bobcats

Projected Starters:

PG: Bryce Zephir (10.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 3.1 apg @ JUCO Salt Lake CC)

SG: Jabe Mullins (1.6 ppg, 0.8 rpg, 0.5 apg @ Washington State)

SF: Brian Goracke (13.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 0.8 apg)

PF: Tyler Patterson (8.2 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 0.7 apg)

C: Brandon Walker (13.1 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.1 apg)

6M: Max Agbonkpolo (5.4 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 0.7 apg @ Utah State)

Northern Arizona Lumberjacks

Projected Starters:

PG: Oakland Fort (10.0 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 3.0 apg)

SG: Trent McLaughlin (16.6 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 1.9 apg)

SF: Jayden Jackson (10.2 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.0 apg)

PF: Jack Wistrcill (4.3 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 0.9 apg) *2022-2023 Stats*

C: Carson Towt (10.1 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 3.0 apg) *2022-2023 Stats*

6M: Monty Bowser (0.3 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 0.1 apg @ California)

Northern Colorado Bears

Projected Starters:

PG: Jaron Rillie (11.0 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 4.6 apg)

SG: Quinn Denker (12.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 3.7 apg @ Idaho)

SF: Taeshaud Jackson (10.6 ppg, 10.4 rpg, 1.2 apg @ VMI)

PF: Isaiah Hawthorne (3.9 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 0.4 apg @ San Francisco)

C: Brock Wisne (11.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.5 apg)

6M: Zach Bloch (5.8 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 0.9 apg)

Portland State Vikings

Projected Starters:

PG: Ismael Habib (9.0 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 2.8 apg)

SG: Jaylin Henderson (3.7 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 0.7 apg @ Louisiana Tech)

SF: Shane Nowell (2.0 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 0.5 apg @ UNLV)

PF: Isaiah Johnson (9.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 1.1 apg)

C: Hayden Curtiss (3.0 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 0.3 apg)

6M: Sebastian Tidor (22.6 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 2.8 apg @ JUCO Roane State)

Sacramento State Hornets

Projected Starters:

PG: Emil Skytta (5.0 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 1.9 apg)

SG: Alex Kovatchev (5.0 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 1.2 apg)

SF: Deonte Williams (14.9 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 4.4 apg @ JUCO South Georgia Tech)

PF: Jalen Pitre (4.0 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 0.6 apg @ Pepperdine)

C: Bowyn Beatty (4.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.0 apg)

6M: Jacob Holt (6.7 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 0.6 apg)

Weber State Wildcats

Projected Starters:

PG: Blaise Threatt (10.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.1 apg)

SG: Miguel Tomley (14.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.9 apg @ Idaho State)

SF: Dyson Koehler (10.2 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 0.7 apg)

PF: Nigel Burris (1.1 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 0.2 apg @ Utah State)

C: Alex Tew (7.1 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 0.7 apg)

6M: Viljami Vartiainen (4.9 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 0.2 apg)

Coming Next

Thank you for reading the 2024-25 Big Sky Basketball Preview. To view the conference preview release schedule, keep up to date with us on X @collegehoopsrpt. If you haven’t already, feel free to check out one of our other conference previews linked below! Next up is the Big South Conference. Thank you for reading, and we appreciate all the support!

• America East Conference Preview
• American Athletic Conference Preview
• ACC Conference Preview
• ASUN Conference Preview
• A10 Conference Preview
• Big East Conference Preview

Cover Image: Photo Credit: Big Sky Conference