Big Sky coaches applaud Reno as tournament site
Jon Oglesby (left) of the Big Sky Conference interviews Weber State head coaches Bethann Ord and Randy Rahe in Reno at the Big Sky Media Day.
Jon Oglesby (left) of the Big Sky Conference interviews Weber State head coaches Bethann Ord (middle) and Randy Rahe (right) in Reno at the Big Sky Media Day, October 5, 2015.
RENO, Nev. — Ahead of the upcoming season, both men’s and women’s basketball coaches from all around the Big Sky descended on the new site of the conference’s postseason tournament in Reno.
“I think it’s a great place,” said Weber State head coach Randy Rahe. “There’s some excitement in the city. The hotel accommodations are outstanding. Everything’s close, so logistically I think it’s a great place to have the tournament.”
Coaches Monday, Oct. 5, were treated to a tour of the Reno Events Center, which will have a 5,000-spectator capacity, and is a block away from designated team hotels. The tournament is scheduled for March 7-12.
“I think it’s a great size,” said Montana State head coach Brian Fish. “Towns like Reno get it. They understand and they’re very hospitable. Our fans will have a great time with a lot of things to do when basketball’s not being played. It’s an awesome site.”
The change in tournament format and location, announced in April this year, is intended to facilitate more attendance and exposure for the Big Sky, and the coaches seem to be on board.
“I think in the past we were one of the only leagues that still held it at whoever won the league,” said Portland State head coach Tyler Geving. “To have it at a neutral site and to have the men and the women here creates more of a buzz for our league, more of a buzz for our fans. I think it’s going to continue to grow as the years go on.”
For Northern Colorado head coach B.J. Hill, a change has already been felt in Greeley.
“We already have people talking about getting their plans and getting things together before the season even started,” said Hill. “That’s never happened in my 10 years at Northern Colorado. It’s obviously a positive thing.”
Looking back at last season, the final site of the tournament wasn’t determined until the last weekend of conference play, making it impossible for fans to make travel arrangements in advance.
The change hasn’t been met without criticism, however, with some saying no change was needed, and the regular season is less meaningful with every team guaranteed a spot in the tournament.
“I don’t understand it, to be honest with you,” said Rahe of the negative feedback. “This is what real conferences do. To me, if you’re playing basketball games and you can’t get excited, then you’re in the wrong business. I think seeding is going to be important. I think that’s really exciting.”
Fish added that while nothing is perfect, the move is the right decision for the conference.
“The only way you build anything, is everybody’s got to know where the site is, and then they’ve also got to know that their team’s in it,” said Fish. “There’s negatives to everything, but the positives far outweigh the negatives.”
Rahe admitted he would rather Weber State be the host site, but he said Reno is the best option for a neutral site.
“I’ve heard some real positives from people saying, ‘Hey, if we’re going to go neutral, let’s go someplace drivable. Let’s go someplace where there’s some entertainment.’ I think from that standpoint … covers everything. It’s an eight-hour drive, it’s easy to get to, so if we’re doing well and we finish well, I think we can get some people here.”
The season officially starts for Weber State on Nov. 13 against Utah State in the Dee Events Center, but an exhibition will also be played against Southern Virginia on Nov. 7.
Contact sports reporter Brandon Garside at bgarside@standard.net, on Twitter @BrandonGarside and on Facebook.com/BrandonGarsideSE.