If you didn't know exactly what was going on, it might not seem like a big deal.
But there, just a game behind conference front-runner Portland State, are the Weber State Wildcats, tied for first place in the Big Sky.How's that, you ask? Simple, actually. Portland State didn't even have a basketball team a couple of years ago and is ineligible for the Big Sky tournament. That means the Wildcats, holders of a 7-3 conference mark, are tied with Northern Arizona and Montana State as the most-likely candidates to host the Big Sky tournament.
With two games this week in the Dee Events Center, including a Friday contest against Montana State, the Wildcats can do an awful lot to see they get to play at home with a berth in the NCAA Tournament on the line.
"Like about two or three other teams, we really have our destiny in our hands," Weber State coach Ron Abegglen said. "We need to take care of business at home this week. I think it will be very difficult to win this league with a home loss."
Making things point a little more in Weber's favor is a quirk in the Big Sky schedule that left the Wildcats sitting at home for the past two weeks with no games. WSU hasn't played since hosting Sacramento State Jan. 31.
When Idaho State, just 1-11 Big Sky and 5-17 overall, visits Ogden Thursday night, it will do so with a lame-duck coach in Herb Williams, who has already announced he will step down after the season. The Bengals have the conference's leading scorer in Tywan Meadows at 21.6 points per game, but bring little else.
"They come here with everything to gain and nothing to lose," Abegglen said. "Which makes them dangerous. This is always an emotional game for us and our fans at our place, so I expect a great deal of emotion."
The two weeks away from competition, though, also has its downside.
"We had days of good rest, which does the body good," Abegglen said, "but sometimes it takes the edge off of any momentum you've established. We need to get ourselves focused in practice this week."