1982 Big Sky Conference men's basketball tournament

1982 Big Sky Conference men's basketball tournament
ClassificationDivision I
Season1981–82
Teams4
SiteKibbie Dome
Moscow, Idaho
ChampionsIdaho (2nd title)
Winning coachDon Monson (2nd title)
MVPKen Owens (Idaho)
← 1981
1983 →
1981–82 Big Sky men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
No. 8 Idaho 13 1   .929 27 3   .900
Montana 10 4   .714 17 10   .630
Nevada 9 5   .643 19 9   .679
Weber State 6 8   .429 15 13   .536
Boise State 6 8   .429 12 14   .462
Idaho State 5 9   .357 14 12   .538
Montana State 5 9   .357 11 18   .379
Northern Arizona 2 12   .143 6 20   .231
Conference tournament winner
Rankings from AP poll


The 1982 Big Sky Conference men's basketball tournament was held March 5–6 at the Kibbie Dome at the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho.[1][2]

Top-seeded Idaho defeated Nevada in the championship game, 85–80, to clinch their second consecutive (and second overall) Big Sky men's basketball tournament.[3] Entering the conference tournament, Idaho was 24–2 and ranked sixth in both national polls (AP, UPI),[4] then fell to eighth in both final polls the following week.[5]

Format

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First played in 1976, the Big Sky tournament had the same format for its first eight editions. The regular season champion hosted and only the top four teams from the standings took part, with seeding based on regular season conference records. Idaho's sole conference loss was to Montana in Missoula.[6]

Nevada–Reno made their first Big Sky tournament appearance in their third season in the conference.

Bracket

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Semifinals
Friday, March 5
Championship
Saturday, March 6
      
1 #6 Idaho 57
4 Weber State 55
1 #6 Idaho 85
3 Nevada 80
3 Nevada 97
2 Montana 93

Sources:[7][8][9]

NCAA tournament

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As Big Sky champions, the Vandals received an automatic bid to the 48-team NCAA tournament and were the third seed in the West region,[10] behind Georgetown and Oregon State. Idaho received a first round bye, then played #16 Iowa in the second round in neighboring Pullman, winning in overtime.[11] Four days later in the Sweet Sixteen in Provo, Utah, the Vandals fell to fourth-ranked and second seed Oregon State and finished with a 27–3 record.[12][13]

The Big Sky has had a berth in the NCAA tournament since 1968, then a 23-team field; Idaho was the conference's sixth team to advance and the fifth to play in the Sweet Sixteen. Since the 1982 Vandals, only three Big Sky teams have advanced past the first round (Weber State (1995, 1999) and Montana in 2006), and none went past the Round of 32.

References

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  1. ^ Killen, John (March 5, 1982). "No. 6 Idaho opens its second season tonight". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). p. 1C.
  2. ^ "1981-82 Big Sky Conference Season Summary". sports-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. 2016. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  3. ^ Killen, John (March 7, 1982). "Vandals dream of another playoff". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). p. 3C.
  4. ^ "Vandals No. 6". Spokane Chronicle. (Washington). wire services. March 2, 1982. p. 13.
  5. ^ "UI wins but falls to No. 8". Spokane Chronicle. (Washington). wire services. March 9, 1982. p. 17.
  6. ^ Missildine, Harry (March 5, 1982). "Monson expects tougher tourney". Spokane Chronicle. (Washington). p. 15.
  7. ^ Killen, John (March 6, 1982). "Vandals pull out the plug on Weber St., 57-55". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). p. 1C.
  8. ^ Sahlberg, Bert (March 6, 1982). "Nevada-Reno pulls a surprise on Montana". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). p. 1C.
  9. ^ "Vandals are just glad to be in tonight's final". Spokane Chronicle. (Washington). March 6, 1982. p. 11.
  10. ^ "Pullman: It's Vandal country". Spokane Chronicle. (Washington). March 8, 1982. p. 19.
  11. ^ Van Sickel, Charlie (March 15, 1982). "Vandals: Sweet Sixteen and..." Spokane Chronicle. (Washington). p. 15.
  12. ^ Killen, John (March 19, 1982). "OSU gets even, Idaho gets next year". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). p. 1C.
  13. ^ Blanchette, John (March 19, 1982). "Idaho, Idaho – No! No! No!". Spokane Chronicle. (Washington). p. 13.