Oct. 21, 2009

Ogden, UT --- Idaho State University was tabbed third in the Big Sky Conference Coaches' Poll, garnering one first place vote as both the coaches and media polls were released by the Big Sky Conference office today. In the media poll, Idaho State was selected fourth.

Teams in the coaches poll earned eight points for a first place vote and so on down to one for an eighth place vote, while first place votes in the media poll were worth nine. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams.

Weber State, who went 15-1 and won the regular season title last year and advanced to the NIT, was first in both polls. In the coaches' poll, Weber State picked up four first place votes and 60 points, ahead of #2 Montana, who had three first place votes and 57 points. In the media poll, they had 23 of the 28 first place votes for 251 points, ahead of Portland State, who was in second with three first place votes and 202 points.

"It's nice to be recognized by both the coaches and the media as one of the top teams in the league," said O'Brien. "However, preseason polls don't carry much weight. What we do in Jan Feb and March will define this team and our program."

In the coaches' poll, ISU and Portland State each had a first place vote, and the Bengals were picked third with 47 points, and Portland State fourth with 44. In the media poll, Montana was third was 194 points and two first place votes, and ISU fourth with 157. The bottom of the polls in both were identical, with Montana State fifth, Northern Colorado sixth, Northern Arizona seventh, Eastern Washington eighth, and Sacramento State ninth.

Idaho State is the most veteran group in the Big Sky, returning seven seniors, and adding one more to the roster in Rolando Little to give them eight seniors. The Bengals return All-Big Sky guard Amorrow Morgan as their top player, and also have a pair of JC transfers, including Mike Lacey, who redshirted last year, and Broderick Gilchrest, who is expected to take over the point guard duties. ISU also returns three-year letterwinners in Austin Kilpatrick, Donnie Carson, and Demetrius Monroe, two-year letterman Chron Tatum, and single lettermen Deividas Busma, Felix Caspari, and Sherrod Baldwin, who is a sophomore.

The Bengals open up the season officially on November 13 when they travel to Iowa State. The Bengals will have a pair of exhibition games, on November 3 at 8:05 pm against UC-Colorado Springs, and on November 9 against Rocky Mountain, last years' NAIA national champions. ISU will also hold a black and orange scrimmage on October 29 at 7:00 pm.

Coaches' Poll
1.  Weber State (4)      60
2.  Montana (3)          57
3.  Idaho State (1)      47
4.  Portland State (1)   44
5.  Montana State        38
6.  Northern Colorado    31
7.  Northern Arizona     22
8.  Eastern Washington   17
9.  Sacramento State      8
Media Poll
1.  Weber State (23)    251
2.  Portland State (3)  202
3.  Montana (2)         194
4.  Idaho State         157
5.  Montana State       134
6.  Northern Colorado   119
7.  Northern Arizona     87
8.  Eastern Washington   73
9. Sacramento State      36

Note: Senior day got a little shorter as Felix Caspari informed Joe O'Brien that he is quitting the team to concentrate on academics. He is scheduled to graduate. The loss leaves ISU with seven seniors. Caspari played in 28 games with no starts, scoring 3.0 points per game and 2.5 rebounds.