Montana first, UND fourth in Big Sky poll

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — The Montana men’s basketball team is favored to defend its Big Sky Conference regular season title in a pre-season poll of coaches and media members that cover the league.

The Griz received eight first-place votes and 98 points from the coaches while Weber State was second with three first-place votes and 92 points. In the media poll, Montana received 24 first-place votes and 344 points followed by Weber State with eight first-place votes and 318 points.

Montana State is ranked seventh in the media poll and eighth in the coaches’ poll in the expanded 11-team conference.

The coaches’ poll has Northern Colorado in third followed by North Dakota, Portland State, Eastern Washington and Sacramento State in seventh. Idaho State is ninth followed by Southern Utah and Northern Arizona.

The media poll has Eastern Washington third, followed by Northern Colorado, Portland State and North Dakota in sixth. Sacramento State is ranked eighth followed by Idaho State, Southern Utah and Northern Arizona.

Tags: college sports, sports, basketball