Basketball season arrives for Griz, 'Cats

The Daily Inter Lake

Montana and Montana State open the men's basketball season this week.

Montana travels to Colorado State on Friday for a 7:05 p.m. nonconference tipoff, while Nevada visits Montana State on Saturday. The MSU contest, which starts at 7:05 p.m., can be seen on the Internet at Big Sky TV.

Montana's home opener is Monday with Montana Western. That game, 7:05 p.m., is also on Big Sky TV.

All games on Big Sky TV (www.bigskytv.com) are free. To view, individuals must register at the Web site.

Weber State is the first Big Sky team to open the season, at Miami University (Ohio) today.

Portland State, the defending Big Sky champion, plays at Rice on Saturday. The Vikings have been picked by the coaches and media to repeat as champions.

Montana was selected to finish second in both polls, while MSU was picked to finish seventh in the media poll and eighth in the coaches poll.

MSU follows Saturday's opener with three straight road contests versus Colorado (Nov. 18), Boise State (Nov. 24) and Oregon State (Nov. 26).

Montana plays at No. 8 Duke on Nov. 23.

Big Sky Conference

This Week

Today

4:15 p.m. - Weber State vs. Miami, Ohio1

Thursday

5:15 p.m. - Weber State at Coaches vs. Cancer1

Friday

7:05 p.m. - Eastern Oregon at Idaho State (Big Sky TV)

7:05 p.m. - Montana at Colorado State

7:05 p.m. - Sacramento State at Fresno State

7:05 p.m. - Northern Arizona at Utah Valley State

8:05 p.m. - Northern Colorado at Oregon (Comcast Sports Net NW)

8:35 p.m. - Eastern Washington at Illinois

Saturday

3:05 p.m. - Portland State at Rice

7:05 p.m. - Nevada at Montana State (Big Sky TV)

Monday

6:35 p.m. - Haskell at Northern Arizona (Big Sky TV) (Fox Arizona)

7:05 p.m. - UM-Western at Montana (Big Sky TV)

Tuesday

2:07 a.m. - Idaho State at Hawaii (ESPN)