Eastern men picked to win Big Sky basketball title

CHENEY – Eastern Washington University has emerged as a clear favorite to repeat as Big Sky Conference men’s basketball regular-season champions in 2021.

According to a Nov. 11 news release, the Eagles garnered nine of 11 first-place votes cast by the coaches and 24 of 28 by the media in the preseason polls announced by the league office — a total of 33 of 39 ballots, or 85 percent, that had the Eagles as No. 1. The league season is scheduled to begin Dec. 3. 

“Our team is being picked as the favorite to win the Big Sky this year, which is a testament to all we accomplished last year and the culture of success we’ve been able to build here at EWU,” Eastern head coach Shantay Legans said. “That said, we haven’t accomplished a single thing this year, and that is our approach to the season.” 

Eastern had 99 points in the coaches’ poll, with Montana next with 86 points and a first-place vote. Weber State had 73 points and was picked third, while Portland State picked up a first-place vote and had 67 points to rank fourth. 

In the media poll, Eastern received 304 votes to easily out-distance Montana with 250. Northern Colorado was picked third with 222 points, and Montana State was selected at No. 4 with 200. The Grizzlies and Bears both received a pair of first-place votes. 

The Eagles enter the 2020-21 season with four starters back from last year’s squad which finished 23-8 overall and 16-4 in the Big Sky. The Covid-19 pandemic resulted in the cancellation of the season, including the conclusion of the Big Sky Conference Tournament and the entire NCAA Tournament.

“After winning the Big Sky last year but having to stop short of our quest towards the NCAA Tournament, our team is hungrier than ever,” Legans added. “There is a lot of work to be done.”

Legans is 59-41 in his three years as EWU’s head coach, a .590 winning percentage. In league games, he has directed EWU to 13, 12 and now 16 victories, winning 71 percent for a record of 41-17.

Eastern won its fourth Big Sky regular season title in school history (2000, 2004, 2015, 2020), but now joins the 2004 team with the only outright titles. Eastern has gone on to win two Big Sky Tournament titles (2004 and 2015) to advance to the NCAA Tournament. The Eagles also have national postseason appearances in the NIT (2003) and the College Basketball Invitational (2016, 2017, 2018).

Additionally, the Big Sky Conference Preseason All-Conference Team was announced on Tuesday (Nov. 10), and included Eagle senior Jacob Davison and junior Kim Aiken Jr. Davison was selected as league MVP.

Davison earned second team honors a year ago and Aiken was on the third team. 

“I love seeing our players receive accolades because I see all the hard work they put in behind the scenes to get there,” Legans said. “Both on and off the court, our guys work harder than any group I’ve ever been around, and I am so proud of all they have achieved, and eager for all that is to come.” 

Davison was a unanimous selection on the preseason squad. The Eastern duo was joined on the all-conference team by Bodie Hume of Northern Colorado, Jubrile Belo of Montana State, Cameron Shelton from Northern Arizona and Michael Steadman of Montana. Steadman is a 6-foot-10 transfer from San Jose State.