CHENEY, Wash. — The Eastern Washington men's basketball team was picked sixth and ninth in the Big Sky Conference preseason media and coaches' polls, respectively, as announced by the conference on Wednesday.

The Eagles won the Big Sky Regular Season Championship a season ago after posting a 15-3 league record (21-11 overall).

Montana have been selected as the favorite heading into the 2024-25 campaign. Montana received seven of the 10 available first-place votes. Last season the Griz finished tied for second in the Big Sky standings (12-6) and made a run to the Big Sky Championship game, where they ultimately fell to Montana State.  MSU was voted the preseason favorite in the Big Sky Media Poll, receiving 14 first-place votes. Montana State was second in the Coaches' Poll, receiving two first-place votes there.
 
2024-25 Big Sky Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll

1. Montana (7) – 78
2. Montana State (2) – 72
3. Northern Colorado – 62
4. Weber State (1) – 61
5. Northern Arizona – 51
6. Portland State – 38
7. Idaho – 32
8. Idaho State – 21
9. Eastern Washington – 19
10. Sacramento State – 15

 
2024-25 Big Sky Men's Basketball Preseason Media Poll

1. Montana State (14) – 297
2. Montana (11) – 279
3. Weber State (7) – 270
4. Northern Colorado (1) – 211
5. Northern Arizona – 209
6. Eastern Washington – 139
7. Portland State – 124
8. Idaho State – 108
9. Idaho – 104
10. Sacramento State – 74

 
2024-25 Big Sky Men's Basketball Preseason All-Conference Team 

Trent McLaughlin, Northern Arizona (MVP)
Brian Goracke, Montana State
Brandon Whitney, Montana
Miguel Tomley, Weber State
Brandon Walker, Montana State
Julius Mims, Idaho

Eastern Washington opens their 2024-25 regular season on Nov. 4 at Colorado. Their first home game at Reese Court in Cheney will be two days later on Nov. 6 vs. Seattle University at 6 p.m.

Visit goeags.com/tickets for more information.
 
ABOUT EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Eastern Washington University Athletics sponsors 14 intercollegiate sports, six for men and eight for women, both as learning opportunities for its most athletically talented students and as an enhancement to student and community life. Eastern is affiliated with Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and is a member of the Big Sky Conference, an association of 10 regional schools with comparable enrollments and academic goals.

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