College Basketball - Big Sky Conference

EASTERN WASHINGTON

It's a must-win for the Eagles when they travel to Greeley, Colo., on Feb. 23. The only other game on the schedule is a clash in Portland where EWU figures to be a heavy underdog. It's highly unlikely that Eastern could qualify for the league tournament without at least one victory in their final two games.

IDAHO STATE

The Bengals can determine their postseason fate this week with home games against both Montana State and Montana. Montana State hammered Idaho State 74-53 last month in Bozeman, two days after the Bengals scored a shocking two-point upset victory over the Grizzlies. To beat Montana State, the Bengals will have to control Bobcats G Carlos Taylor. The Idaho State-Montana game is on regional TV Feb. 24, with former Weber State coach Joe Cravens slated to provide the color commentary.

MONTANA

The Grizzlies are 3-3 in Big Sky road games entering this week's crucial games at Weber State and Idaho State. Weber is relying more and more on lightning-quick G Kellen McCoy, who will test Montana's perimeter defense. The Grizzlies can be expected to look for Andrew Hasquet inside early and often.

MONTANA STATE

The Bobcats bench had only two of the team's 70 points against Northern Arizona on Feb. 14. And that's a worrying statistic. The MSU reserves bounced back against Sacramento State to account for 22 points 14 by Mecklen Davis. Depth figures to be important down the stretch if the Bobcats are to secure a spot in the league tournament.

NORTHERN ARIZONA

The Lumberjacks are building confidence and depth. Sophomore Nick Larson and freshman Zach Filzen were key players in NAU's victory at Montana on Feb. 16. Veterans Kyle Landry and Josh Wilson, meanwhile, are two of the best players in the Big Sky and deserve much credit for keeping the team together during a recent stretch of four narrow losses in five games.

NORTHERN COLORADO

At 4-8 in league play, it would seem that Northern Colorado's chances of qualifying for the six-team Big Sky tournament are remote, but the Bears are still in the hunt. Portland State and Eastern Washington both visit Greeley for important games in the near future. Northern Colorado then concludes the Big Sky regular season with a road trip to Montana and Montana State.

PORTLAND STATE

The Vikings not only have great starters, but it appears as if the team has the best depth in the Big Sky. When Justyn Hammond went down with an ankle injury against Weber State on Feb. 16, seldom-used Brian Curtis stepped up and delivered 12 turnover-free minutes. Curtis also had a pair of 3-pointers.

SACRAMENTO STATE

The Hornets were rebuffed in their attempt to play spoiler on the Montana road trip. But Sacramento State could deal Northern Arizona a damaging loss this week. The Lumberjacks are in a tight battle for a second-place finish in the Big Sky standings. The top two finishers in the league earn first-round byes in the tournament.

WEBER STATE

The Wildcats are practically a lock for the Big Sky tournament ? unless they drop back-to-back home games this week. And that could well happen, as Weber faces strong teams from Montana and Montana State.