Boise to host Big Sky hoops tourneys

by From news services
| September 19, 2017 1:11 AM

OGDEN, Utah — Changes are coming soon to the Big Sky, with the league offices announcing Monday that future basketball championships will be moving to Boise, beginning in 2019.

“Obviously I’m very excited for it to be in Boise because that’s where the University of Idaho’s biggest alumni base is,” said Vandals head men’s basketball coach Don Verlin. “Through the years we have been able to play a few games in Boise, but this will give us an opportunity to play there every year. It’s been such a positive experience with the tournament at a neutral site, I’m just excited for the state of Idaho and the city of Boise that we can be able to host this event.”

UI women’s head coach Jon Newlee said he’s excited to have the tournament close to home ... although he enjoyed the tournament’s previous site of Reno, Nev.

“The fact that conference tournament is going to be in Boise is fantastic for us,” Newlee said. “There is a huge population of Vandal alumni and fans down there. I know they are just going to come out and support us like crazy. We are very excited about the fan support we anticipate having in that tournament.

“On the other hand, I thought the people in Reno ran a fantastic tournament. I have been involved in other neutral site tournaments and they ran a first-class tournament. I would like to give a huge thank you to everyone that put that tournament on because I thought they did a fantastic job.”

The 2018 Big Sky Basketball Championships will remain in Reno, marking the third season that the tournament has been hosted by the Biggest Little City in the World. The conference switched to a neutral site for the 2016 Tournament.

The neutral site has been kind to the Vandals. Idaho is one of three schools in the Big Sky to have its men’s and women’s teams get at least one victory in both seasons the tournament has been in Reno.

Idaho’s men and women will both play a game in Boise this season as well. The squads make the trip down to CenturyLink Arena for a doubleheader on Dec. 21, with the women taking on Eastern Oregon at 5 p.m. MST and the men following against UC Irvine.