Big Sky primer

A team-by-team glance at the Big Sky heading into the 2007-08 season.

Eastern Washington

Strengths: It's hard to say what this team will do well. The loss of four starters, including amazing Rodney Stuckey, make it difficult to predict. Williams, a 6-5, 205-pound forward, averaged eight points and six rebounds and shot 56 percent from the floor.

Weaknesses: As talented as this team was the past two seasons, the chemistry just wasn't there. Stuckey left early for the pros, and disgruntled guard Michael Taylor transferred to Montana, where he will sit out the season as per NCAA rules. Coach Kirk Earlywine hopes to have a strong defensive team, but we shall see.

Scouting the newcomers: Guard Adris DeLeon transfers in from the College of Southern Idaho after averaging 8.3 points and 3.9 assists. The New York City native is expected to start immediately. Two Serbians, junior guard Milan Stanojevic and forward Peter Milasinovic, have also joined the team. Stanojevic shot 47 percent from 3-point range and averaged 18 ppg last year at Northwest (Wyo.) Junior College.

Idaho State

Strengths: Defense. The Bengals' "razor" zone defense, which frustrated many opponents, allowed foes to score an average of just 67.5 points per game.

Weaknesses: Offense. Though ISU didn't allow many points, they didn't score many either (67.1 ppg average). David Schroeder and Akbar Abdul-Ahad combined for about 30 ppg and will be missed. Several shooters must emerge, for players such as Logan Kinghorn and Matt Stucki are slashers.

Scouting the newcomers: Center Lucas Steijn, a 6-10, 230-pounder, originally signed with Indiana out of high school before opting for John A. Logan JC. Last season he averaged 10.3 points and 5.5 rebounds, shooting 54 percent from the floor and 78 percent from a line. Chron Tatum, a 6-7, 220-pounder from Atlanta who transfers from Riverside (Calif.) CC, will also get a long look on the front line.

Montana

Strengths: Depth. This Grizzly team has many talented players. It will be Wayne Tinkle's task to find the best combinations before the league season. There is obvious strength inside with all-conference performers Jordan Hasquet and Andrew Strait. They complement each other well because Strait is an old-school, back-to-the-bucket guy and Hasquet can step out beyond the arc and hit the trey.

Weaknesses: Chemistry was a bugaboo last season. Sometimes excessive depth, of course, translates into a shortage of available playing time. There are question marks at small forward. But really, it's tough to find many weaknesses with this roster.

Scouting the newcomers: Ceylon Elgin-Taylor is a 6-2 guard who transfers from Irvine Valley (Calif.) College, where last year he averaged 13.8 points, 4.7 assists and 4.1 rebounds. True freshman Brian Qvale, a 6-11 center from Williston, N.D., and Derek Selvig, a 6-10 forward from Glendive, Mont., were regarded as two of the top recruits in their states. Both seem ticketed, though, for redshirt.

Montana State

Strengths: Experience and savvy in the backcourt. With Carlos Taylor, Casey Durham and Mecklen Davis, this team should prosper. All three have enjoyed solid careers at MSU.

Weaknesses: The Bobcats are usually a guard-oriented team that tries to get by with power forwards playing the pivot. That might change with 6-9, 240-pound Divaldo Mbunga, who has the size to challenge true centers. There are no legit power forwards on the roster, although 6-8 Branden Johnson showed flashes of talent last season.

Scouting the newcomers: Divaldo Mbunga, a native of Luauda, Angola, averaged 15 points and 8 rebounds last season at Peninsula JC. Bobby Howard, a 6-7 forward from Great Falls, Mont., enjoyed a phenomenal high school career and could see playing time early on in his Bobcat career.

Northern Arizona

Strengths: Point guard. Josh Wilson has been a starter from the get-go in his NAU career and is easily the best distributor in the conference. In 6-9 Kyle Landry the Lumberjacks have a legitimate double-double threat. Weaknesses: We hesitate to say it but long-range shooting appears to be a deficiency, if only because there is no heir apparent to Stephen Sir on the roster. It's the largest question mark facing Mike Adras and the Lumberjacks

Scouting the newcomers: Zarko Comagic, a 6-6 forward from Serbia, averaged 20 points and 10 boards last season at Central Arizona Junior College.

Northern Colorado

Strengths: Hard to find, considering that this program is 9-48 over the last two seasons. But Kirk Archibeque and Sean Taibi are experienced seniors and should provide plenty of leadership.

Weaknesses: This was a poor defensive team last year, yielding 77 ppg. It also wilted badly down the stretch, indicating that physical strength across the board was a problem.

Scouting the newcomers: Jabril Banks is a 6-7, 230-pound power forward who averaged 5.1 points and 3.1 rebounds last year at Indian Hills (Iowa) County College. He will be asked to shore up UNC's interior defense. Monice Garrett is a highly regarded 5-9 guard from Houston and Cornerstone Christian Academy in San Antonio. He averaged 13 points and 6 assists last year.

Portland State

Strengths: The backcourt is solid and Scott Morrison is a mountain in the middle.

Weaknesses: The Vikings were not a great 3-point shooting team last season (33 percent) and didn't wow anyone at the foul line, either (65 percent). Those numbers must improve if the team is to make a run at the championship.

Scouting the newcomers: Jeremiah Dominguez is a 5-6 guard who is expected to vie for the starting point guard spot after sitting out last season following a transfer from the University of Portland. Junior guard Andre Murray is a transfer from College of the Canyons, where he averaged 15.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.0 assists last season.

Sacramento State

Strengths: The backcourt is annually among the quickest in the Big Sky. Last year the Hornets had 320 steals, which ranked second in the land.

Weaknesses: Rebounding and scoring defense. The Hornets allowed way too many points (82.1 ppg) and were outbounded by seven per game.

Scouting the newcomers: Justin Eller is a 6-8 forward-center who averaged 17.7 points and nine boards last year at the College of the Siskiyous.

Weber State

Strengths: Tremendous guards with Juan Pablo Silveira and Dezmon Harris. Tyler Billings is a 6-8 banger who is probably ready for the starting lineup and Daviin Davis is a small forward who also has much to offer. A veteran bench led by gritty guard Brody Van Brocklin and 6-8 Steve Panos is another strength.

Weaknesses: Hard to find any, although the Wildcats will miss the leadership of Dan Henry and Dave Patten.

Scouting the newcomers: Kellen McCoy is a 5-6 dynamo who transfers to Weber from Northern Oklahoma College, where last year he averaged 19.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists.