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2020 Big Sky Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament Basics

Dates

Wednesday, March 11th (first round); Thursday, March 12th (quarterfinals); Friday, March 13th (semifinals); Saturday, March 14th (championship)

Format

Traditional bracket

Site(s)

For the second year in a row, the Big Sky will gather at CenturyLink Arena in Boise, Idaho, which is not the home of Mountain West member Boise State Broncos.

TV/Streaming Info

ESPNU airs the final on Saturday night. Pluto.tv will stream the first three rounds, with Eleven Sports also broadcasting the quarterfinals and semifinals.

Participants

All 11 teams will participate.

Downloadable Bracket

Schedule

First Round (Wed., March 11)

Pluto.tv will stream all three games.

Game 1: No. 9 Sacramento State 62, No. 8 Weber State Wildcats (12-20, 8-12) 54.
The season series was a home split.

Game 2: No. 10 Idaho Vandals (8-24, 4-16) 69, No. 7 Southern Utah 75
The Thunderbirds swept the season series.

Game 3: No. 11 Idaho State 64, No. 6 Northern Arizona Lumberjacks (16-14, 10-10) 62
The season series was a road split.

Quarterfinals (Thu., March 12)

Eleven Sports will air and Pluto.tv will stream all four games.

Game 4: No. 9 Sacramento State Hornets (16-14, 8-12)r vs. No. 1 Eastern Washington Eagles (23-8, 16-4), 2 p.m.
The Eagles swept the season series.

Game 5: No. 5 Montana State Bobcats (16-15, 10-10) vs. No. 4 Portland State Vikings (18-14, 12-8), approx. 4:30 p.m.
The Vikings swept the season series.

Game 6: No. 7 Southern Utah Thunderbirds (17-15, 9-11) vs. No. 2 Northern Colorado Bears (22-9, 15-5), 7:30 p.m.
The Bears swept the season series.

Game 7: No. 11 Idaho State Bengals (8-22, 4-16) vs. No. 3 Montana Grizzlies (18-13, 14-6), approx. 10 p.m.
The Grizzlies swept the season series.

Semifinals (Fri., March 13)

Eleven Sports will air and Pluto.tv will stream both games.

Game 8: Game 4 Winner vs. Game 5 Winner, 7:30 p.m.
Game 9: Game 6 Winner vs. Game 7 Winner, approx. 10 p.m.

Championship (Sat., March 14)

Game 10: Semifinal winners, 8 p.m. (ESPNU)

10-Year Mayhem Potential

Data from Bob Vetrone Jr. on Twitter.

Over the past 10 seasons, No. 1 seeds have dominated the tournament, whether on campus (as it was up to 2015) or at a neutral site. Eight titles have gone to the top seed, including the last four.

• 1 seed (8): 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
• 2 seed (1): 2015
• 4 seed (1): 2010

10-Year NCAA Seeding Record

Years with an NCAA win are in bold.

• 15 seed (4): 2011, 2016, 2017, 2019
• 13 seed (3); 2012, 2013, 2015
• 14 seed (2): 2010, 2018
• 16 seed (1): 2014

The Big Sky last recorded an NCAA win in 2006, a Montana 12-over-five upset of the Boston College Eagles.

This season’s winner is likely to earn a 15 or 16 seed.

Last NCAA Tournament Appearances

Montana: 2019 (15 seed, 1st Round)
Weber State: 2016 (15 seed, 1st Round)
Eastern Washington: 2015 (13 seed, Round of 64)
Northern Colorado: 2011 (15 seed, Round of 64)
Portland State: 2009 (13 seed, 1st Round)
Southern Utah: 2001 (14 seed, 1st Round, Mid-Continent (Summit) member)
Northern Arizona: 2000 (15 seed, 1st Round)
Montana State: 1996 (13 seed, 1st Round)
Idaho: 1990 (13 seed, 1st Round)
Idaho State: 1987 (16 seed, 1st Round)

Sacramento State is the lone Big Sky member that’s waiting to make its first NCAA appearance. Montana has represented the Big Sky In five of the past 10 seasons, while 2017 champ North Dakota is now in the Summit.

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