Wildcats begin push for tournament seeding

OGDEN — If Weber State is to make another push for a Big Sky men's basketball title, it must start tonight.

The Wildcats, who were swept during last weekend's road swing to the Northwest, are no longer a serious threat to win the Big Sky regular-season crown. Still, with four games left on the schedule, WSU can give itself a serious shot in the arm with a win over Montana.

"I was really disappointed with our effort (last Thursday) on both ends of the floor, but I was really pleased with the way we bounced back and played (Saturday)," WSU coach Randy Rahe said. "We need to bring that intensity every game. We aren't good enough to just sit back and wait for things to happen, we need to make them happen."

Tonight's game tips off at 7 p.m. and can be seen on KJZZ.

Considering the way the Big Sky Tournament is set up, Weber State still has a good deal of its destiny in its own hands. The top two seeds get first-round byes, while seeds No. 3 and 4 will earn a first-round home game against the 5 and 6 seeds.

The objective now is to play for the best seed possible and take the best route to the conference semis and finals which — unless Portland State collapses down the stretch — will be played in Oregon.

Rahe said his team will need to get a balanced effort to earn one of those top seeds.

"Obviously, when Dezmon Harris (11.1 points per game) and Arturas Valeika (9.9 ppg. and 9.1 rebounds per game) play well we seem to play well as a team," Rahe said. "Kellen McCoy and Daviin Davis have each stepped it up a notch and are making some really nice contributions on both ends of the court."

Still, Harris is the only Wildcat averaging double-figures scoring, and WSU needs the contributions Rahe mentioned on a more consistent basis.

Even at home, beating Montana will be no easy task. The Grizzlies are playing perhaps their best basketball of the season and won five of six games before falling to Northern Arizona last week.

All-conference forwards Andrew Strait and Jordan Hasquet are among the best big men in the Big Sky and will give WSU's Valeika and Steve Panos all they can handle on the inside.

Point guard Matt Martin, likewise, is a capable shooter and has burned WSU in the past.