Montana, Montana State Top Big Sky Preseason Polls

Big Sky preseason polls released Wednesday picked Montana’s men and Montana State’s women as favorites in both the coaches’ and media ballots. Idaho’s men’s and women’s teams each received first‑place votes and are projected among the top four, while Eastern Washington’s women were picked sixth in both polls and the EWU men were fifth in the coaches’ poll and eighth in the media poll. Portland State, Northern Colorado and Idaho were projected second through fourth on the men’s side by both voters, though coaches and media diverged through the middle of the pack (including differing placements for Idaho State, Montana State and Sacramento State); the seventh‑ranked Sacramento State men received a first‑place vote. The women’s ballots largely agreed on a top three of Montana State, Montana and Idaho, with coaches and media swapping fourth and fifth between Idaho State and Sacramento State; Montana’s men drew heavy support (six coaches’ first‑place votes and 21 from media) after a 25‑10 season and Big Sky tournament title and return contributors such as guard Money Williams. Nationally, Wisconsin landed at No. 24 in the preseason USA Today Coaches Poll as exhibitions begin Oct. 24 and league play opens Nov. 3; ESPN also rounded up conference player‑of‑the‑year candidates and transfer impacts, and Oregon State hosted an informal media day with players Isaiah Sy, Josiah Lake and Dez White previewing the season.