Photo by: John Sieber
Big Sky Conference announces 2020-21 basketball schedules
10/15/2020 10:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball
FARMINGTON, Utah – The Big Sky Conference announced its 2020-21 league schedules for men's and women's basketball on Thursday morning, a 20-game slate that features back-to-back contests in the same venue.
The Big Sky moved to a 20-game league schedule prior to the 2018-19 season, but due to COVID-19, pivoted to a 16-game slate in May. The conference again shifted gears with its latest model.
The schedule has Griz head coach Travis DeCuire's approval due to two facets.
First off, the 20-game slate guarantees more games for each school. DeCuire noted on Wednesday that scheduling has become a challenge for a variety of reasons, so a 20-game Big Sky schedule requires fewer non-conference games to be filled.
Secondly, while the back-to-back format, instead of traditional home-and-homes, will be different, DeCuire said it makes sense given the current climate of COVID-19.
"I like that we're playing a 20-game schedule, because it makes it easier to fill a full slate, given the challenges we've had with non-conference scheduling," the seventh-year head coach said. "Games in conference are generally a little cheaper, too, so it helps with minimizing flights and how much we're spending."
Another twist to the schedule will be an early weekend of Big Sky Conference games. The Griz open Big Sky play at Southern Utah on Dec. 3 and 5, before resuming conference play again on Dec. 31. In between, and potentially prior to the Southern Utah trip, Montana will try to schedule an assortment of non-conference contests. Games can begin as soon as Nov. 25.
Following the holidays, Northern Colorado comes to Dahlberg Arena on Dec. 31 and Jan. 2. The Bears have finished runner-up each of the past two seasons, with several classic games coming between the Griz and Bears.
Montana will then have an early bye week, before eight consecutive weeks of conference action.
While the Grizzlies will play most teams twice, either at home or on the road, they will play both Eastern Washington and Montana State once at both locations.
Montana has an exciting home slate with several of its regional and conference rivals. The Grizzlies are set to host Northern Colorado (Dec. 31 and Jan. 2), Northern Arizona (Jan. 14 and 16), Montana State (Jan. 28), Weber State (Feb. 11 and 13), Eastern Washington (Feb. 20) and Idaho (March 4 and 6).
On the road, the Grizzlies will face Southern Utah (Dec. 3 and 5), Sacramento State (Jan. 21 and 23), Montana State (Jan. 30), Portland State (Feb. 4 and 6), Eastern Washington (Feb. 18), and Idaho State (Feb. 23 and 25).
The women's schedule mirrors the men's. The Lady Griz will host Southern Utah (Dec. 3 and 5), Sacramento State (Jan. 21 and 23), Montana State (Jan. 30), Portland State (Feb. 4 and 6), Eastern Washington (Feb. 18) and Idaho State (Feb. 23 and 24). Mike Petrino's squad will be on the road against Northern Colorado (Dec. 31 and Jan. 2), Northern Arizona (Jan. 14 and 16), Montana State (Jan. 28), Weber State (Feb. 11 and 13), Eastern Washington (Feb. 20) and Idaho (March 3 and 5).
The Big Sky Championship will once again be in Boise, Idaho, set for March 7-10 for the women and March 10-13 for the men.
Montana's non-conference schedules have not been completed at this time, but can include as many as seven games, per NCAA guidelines.
At this time, the athletics department is planning to submit a model to the Missoula-City Health Department that would allow limited fans inside Dahlberg Arena. More information will be available at a later date.
The Big Sky moved to a 20-game league schedule prior to the 2018-19 season, but due to COVID-19, pivoted to a 16-game slate in May. The conference again shifted gears with its latest model.
The schedule has Griz head coach Travis DeCuire's approval due to two facets.
First off, the 20-game slate guarantees more games for each school. DeCuire noted on Wednesday that scheduling has become a challenge for a variety of reasons, so a 20-game Big Sky schedule requires fewer non-conference games to be filled.
Secondly, while the back-to-back format, instead of traditional home-and-homes, will be different, DeCuire said it makes sense given the current climate of COVID-19.
"I like that we're playing a 20-game schedule, because it makes it easier to fill a full slate, given the challenges we've had with non-conference scheduling," the seventh-year head coach said. "Games in conference are generally a little cheaper, too, so it helps with minimizing flights and how much we're spending."
Another twist to the schedule will be an early weekend of Big Sky Conference games. The Griz open Big Sky play at Southern Utah on Dec. 3 and 5, before resuming conference play again on Dec. 31. In between, and potentially prior to the Southern Utah trip, Montana will try to schedule an assortment of non-conference contests. Games can begin as soon as Nov. 25.
Following the holidays, Northern Colorado comes to Dahlberg Arena on Dec. 31 and Jan. 2. The Bears have finished runner-up each of the past two seasons, with several classic games coming between the Griz and Bears.
Montana will then have an early bye week, before eight consecutive weeks of conference action.
While the Grizzlies will play most teams twice, either at home or on the road, they will play both Eastern Washington and Montana State once at both locations.
Montana has an exciting home slate with several of its regional and conference rivals. The Grizzlies are set to host Northern Colorado (Dec. 31 and Jan. 2), Northern Arizona (Jan. 14 and 16), Montana State (Jan. 28), Weber State (Feb. 11 and 13), Eastern Washington (Feb. 20) and Idaho (March 4 and 6).
On the road, the Grizzlies will face Southern Utah (Dec. 3 and 5), Sacramento State (Jan. 21 and 23), Montana State (Jan. 30), Portland State (Feb. 4 and 6), Eastern Washington (Feb. 18), and Idaho State (Feb. 23 and 25).
The women's schedule mirrors the men's. The Lady Griz will host Southern Utah (Dec. 3 and 5), Sacramento State (Jan. 21 and 23), Montana State (Jan. 30), Portland State (Feb. 4 and 6), Eastern Washington (Feb. 18) and Idaho State (Feb. 23 and 24). Mike Petrino's squad will be on the road against Northern Colorado (Dec. 31 and Jan. 2), Northern Arizona (Jan. 14 and 16), Montana State (Jan. 28), Weber State (Feb. 11 and 13), Eastern Washington (Feb. 20) and Idaho (March 3 and 5).
The Big Sky Championship will once again be in Boise, Idaho, set for March 7-10 for the women and March 10-13 for the men.
Montana's non-conference schedules have not been completed at this time, but can include as many as seven games, per NCAA guidelines.
At this time, the athletics department is planning to submit a model to the Missoula-City Health Department that would allow limited fans inside Dahlberg Arena. More information will be available at a later date.
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