Photo by: John Sieber
Montana’s 20-game Big Sky slate announced
7/20/2021 11:53:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Another step toward a return to normalcy occurred on Tuesday when the Big Sky Conference announced its 2021-22 men's basketball league schedule.
After an altered 2020-21 season, the Big Sky will return to its traditional home-and-home format, with Montana playing the league's other 10 teams twice, once at home and once on the road. Similar to last season, teams will have one weekend of Big Sky play in early December – in the middle of non-conference play – before league action fully begins around the New Year.
The Grizzlies will open Big Sky play on the road, traveling to Sacramento State (Dec. 2) and Northern Colorado (Dec. 4) in early December, before hosting Idaho State (Dec. 30) and Weber State (Jan. 1) several weeks later. The Grizzlies and Wildcats are annually two of the top teams in the leagues, ranking No. 1 and 2 all-time for wins, conference titles and NCAA tournament berths.
The first full week of January will be rivalry week, as Montana travels to Eastern Washington (Jan. 6) and Montana State (Jan. 8). The Grizzlies will return home to host Southern Utah for the final time as Big Sky members (Jan. 13) before again hitting the road, traveling to Portland State (Jan. 20) and Northern Arizona (Jan. 22).
Seven of Montana's final 11 games, however, will be inside Dahlberg Arena, beginning in late January with a weekend series against Idaho (Jan. 27) and Eastern Washington (Jan. 29). The Eagles had plenty of turnover in the offseason, but won the 2021 regular-season and tournament titles. Montana and Eastern Washington have won more games than any other Big Sky opponent over the past five seasons, and have met in the past three Big Sky tournaments.
Following a date with the Eagles, Montana will travel to Weber State, another team the Grizzlies have history with. Montana and Weber State last met in the Big Sky quarterfinals, an 80-75 Griz win. The Grizzlies will play at Weber State on Feb. 3, before traveling to Idaho State on Feb. 5.
They will then host Northern Arizona (Feb. 10) and Portland State (Feb. 12), before traveling to Idaho (Feb. 17) – Montana's first look at the Vandals' new arena – and Southern Utah (Feb. 24).
Montana's final three games will be in Missoula, beginning with the Brawl of the Wild vs. Montana State (Feb. 24). The two teams were unable to play in 2020-21, meaning this will be the home fans' first opportunity to see the Griz-Cat rivalry on the hardwood since Feb. 1, 2019. Montana has won the rivalry 19 times in the past 20 meetings.
Montana's final week of the regular season will begin like it started, with the Grizzlies playing host to Northern Colorado (March 3) and Sacramento State (March 5).
The Big Sky Championship will once again be held in Boise, Idaho (March 9-12).
In total, Montana has zero Monday games scheduled, and will twice have Saturday off before departing on a road trip. Tip times and TV designations will be announced at a later date, but the majority of Montana's Big Sky games will be on ESPN+, part of the league's new partnership with the worldwide leader in sports.
Montana's 11-game non-conference schedule is in the final stages and will be announced later this summer.
The Grizzlies, who advanced to the semifinals of the Big Sky tournament in March, return nearly every contributor from their 2020-21 squad, including: 86.5 percent of the team's minutes, 85.8 percent of its scoring, 82.7 percent of its rebounding, 94.1 percent of its assists, 89.8 percent of its steals, 77.8 percent of its blocked shots and 84.3 percent of its starts. Additionally, Montana brought in two freshmen and a pair of transfers – all who will have immediate eligibility.
Montana is one of 19 schools nationally to post a .500 or better record in each of the past 13 seasons, qualifying for the NCAA tournament five times during that span. In seven years under head coach Travis DeCuire, Montana has averaged 20.3 wins per season, in addition to claiming three regular-season Big Sky titles and two tournament championships.
2021-22 Montana Basketball Schedule (Big Sky Conference only)
Thursday, Dec. 2 at Sacramento State
Saturday, Dec. 4 at Northern Colorado
Thursday, Dec. 30 vs. Idaho State
Saturday, Jan. 1 vs. Weber State
Thursday, Jan. 6 at Eastern Washington
Saturday, Jan. 8 at Montana State
Thursday, Jan. 13 vs. Southern Utah
Thursday, Jan. 20 at Portland State
Saturday, Jan. 22 at Northern Arizona
Thursday, Jan. 27 vs. Idaho
Saturday, Jan. 29 vs. Eastern Washington
Thursday, Feb. 3 at Weber State
Saturday, Feb. 5 at Idaho State
Thursday, Feb. 10 vs. Northern Arizona
Saturday, Feb. 12 vs. Portland State
Thursday, Feb. 17 at Idaho
Thursday, Feb. 24 at Southern Utah
Saturday, Feb. 26 vs. Montana State
Thursday, March 3 vs. Northern Colorado
Saturday, March 5 vs. Sacramento State
March 9-12 at Big Sky Conference tournament (Boise, Idaho)
After an altered 2020-21 season, the Big Sky will return to its traditional home-and-home format, with Montana playing the league's other 10 teams twice, once at home and once on the road. Similar to last season, teams will have one weekend of Big Sky play in early December – in the middle of non-conference play – before league action fully begins around the New Year.
The Grizzlies will open Big Sky play on the road, traveling to Sacramento State (Dec. 2) and Northern Colorado (Dec. 4) in early December, before hosting Idaho State (Dec. 30) and Weber State (Jan. 1) several weeks later. The Grizzlies and Wildcats are annually two of the top teams in the leagues, ranking No. 1 and 2 all-time for wins, conference titles and NCAA tournament berths.
The first full week of January will be rivalry week, as Montana travels to Eastern Washington (Jan. 6) and Montana State (Jan. 8). The Grizzlies will return home to host Southern Utah for the final time as Big Sky members (Jan. 13) before again hitting the road, traveling to Portland State (Jan. 20) and Northern Arizona (Jan. 22).
Seven of Montana's final 11 games, however, will be inside Dahlberg Arena, beginning in late January with a weekend series against Idaho (Jan. 27) and Eastern Washington (Jan. 29). The Eagles had plenty of turnover in the offseason, but won the 2021 regular-season and tournament titles. Montana and Eastern Washington have won more games than any other Big Sky opponent over the past five seasons, and have met in the past three Big Sky tournaments.
Following a date with the Eagles, Montana will travel to Weber State, another team the Grizzlies have history with. Montana and Weber State last met in the Big Sky quarterfinals, an 80-75 Griz win. The Grizzlies will play at Weber State on Feb. 3, before traveling to Idaho State on Feb. 5.
They will then host Northern Arizona (Feb. 10) and Portland State (Feb. 12), before traveling to Idaho (Feb. 17) – Montana's first look at the Vandals' new arena – and Southern Utah (Feb. 24).
Montana's final three games will be in Missoula, beginning with the Brawl of the Wild vs. Montana State (Feb. 24). The two teams were unable to play in 2020-21, meaning this will be the home fans' first opportunity to see the Griz-Cat rivalry on the hardwood since Feb. 1, 2019. Montana has won the rivalry 19 times in the past 20 meetings.
Montana's final week of the regular season will begin like it started, with the Grizzlies playing host to Northern Colorado (March 3) and Sacramento State (March 5).
The Big Sky Championship will once again be held in Boise, Idaho (March 9-12).
In total, Montana has zero Monday games scheduled, and will twice have Saturday off before departing on a road trip. Tip times and TV designations will be announced at a later date, but the majority of Montana's Big Sky games will be on ESPN+, part of the league's new partnership with the worldwide leader in sports.
Montana's 11-game non-conference schedule is in the final stages and will be announced later this summer.
The Grizzlies, who advanced to the semifinals of the Big Sky tournament in March, return nearly every contributor from their 2020-21 squad, including: 86.5 percent of the team's minutes, 85.8 percent of its scoring, 82.7 percent of its rebounding, 94.1 percent of its assists, 89.8 percent of its steals, 77.8 percent of its blocked shots and 84.3 percent of its starts. Additionally, Montana brought in two freshmen and a pair of transfers – all who will have immediate eligibility.
Montana is one of 19 schools nationally to post a .500 or better record in each of the past 13 seasons, qualifying for the NCAA tournament five times during that span. In seven years under head coach Travis DeCuire, Montana has averaged 20.3 wins per season, in addition to claiming three regular-season Big Sky titles and two tournament championships.
2021-22 Montana Basketball Schedule (Big Sky Conference only)
Thursday, Dec. 2 at Sacramento State
Saturday, Dec. 4 at Northern Colorado
Thursday, Dec. 30 vs. Idaho State
Saturday, Jan. 1 vs. Weber State
Thursday, Jan. 6 at Eastern Washington
Saturday, Jan. 8 at Montana State
Thursday, Jan. 13 vs. Southern Utah
Thursday, Jan. 20 at Portland State
Saturday, Jan. 22 at Northern Arizona
Thursday, Jan. 27 vs. Idaho
Saturday, Jan. 29 vs. Eastern Washington
Thursday, Feb. 3 at Weber State
Saturday, Feb. 5 at Idaho State
Thursday, Feb. 10 vs. Northern Arizona
Saturday, Feb. 12 vs. Portland State
Thursday, Feb. 17 at Idaho
Thursday, Feb. 24 at Southern Utah
Saturday, Feb. 26 vs. Montana State
Thursday, March 3 vs. Northern Colorado
Saturday, March 5 vs. Sacramento State
March 9-12 at Big Sky Conference tournament (Boise, Idaho)
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