Big Sky Breakdown

Montana 11th-year head coach Travis DeCuire hosted a press conference at the NCAA Tournament in Denver, Colorado on March 19, 2025. 

Montana seniors Brandon Whitney, Joe Pridgen and Kai Johnson addressed the media about their first-round NCAA Tournament matchup against the University of Wisconsin. 

Montana State senior Esmeralda Morales addressed the media following MSU drawing a No. 13 seed. The Bobcats will play No. 4 Ohio State in Columbus, Ohio on Friday. Morales was the Big Sky Conference regular-season and tournament MVP. 

Montana head coach Travis DeCuire addressed the media following his team drawing a No. 14 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Griz will play No. 3 Wisconsin in Denver on Thursday. 

Kyle Hansen, a multi-media journalist and the sideline reporter for Griz football games for KPAX Television in Missoula and Scripps Sports, talks about the ins and outs of what he does with Blake Hempstead of Skyline Sports.

University of Montana sports information director Eric Taber sits down with Blake Hempstead to talk about his background and his passion for his job in the latest Sports Bite. 

Northern Colorado shared the Big Sky Conference title with Montana and took the No. 1 seed into this week's Big Sky Tournament in Boise. The Bears had convincing wins over Weber State & Montana State to earn a spot in the championship against the Griz.  Montana shot 65 percent and won 91-83. UNC will play in the men's NIT.  Head coach Steve Smiley, senior Jaron Rillie & junior Langston Rey...

The Montana Grizzlies are headed to the NCAA Tournament for the 13th time, including the third time under head coach Travis DeCuire, after a 91-83 win over.  The Griz shot 65.2 percent and saw four players score in double figures to advance to the Big Dance for 1st time since 2019. DeCuire, Joe Pridgen (left) and Brandon Whitney addressed the media after the victory.

Montana State beat Montana 58-57 on a Marah Dykstra buzzer-beat to advance to the NCAA Tournament.  The No. 1 seeded Bobcats are now 30-3 and headed to the Big Dance for the third time under head coach Tricia Binford. Montana was the No. 6 seed entering the tournament and upset No. 3 Idaho and No. 2 Northern Arizona on the way to the title game.  Binford, senior Esmeralda Morales and junior Marah...

The Montana Griz won for the 12th out of 13 games and for the 24th time this year to move into the Big Sky Tourney final with a 78-55 win over Idaho. Montana advances to the 6th Big Sky Tourament championship game under head coach Travis DeCuire. UM plays Northern Colorado Saturday night at 9:30 p.m.  DeCuire along with guards Austin Patterson (left) and Kai Johnson (right) addressed the media fol...

Montana State had its 10-game Big Sky Conference Tournament winning streak snapped as Northern Colorado posted a 72-45 win Tuesday No. 1 Northern Colorado will take on the winner of No. 2 Montana and No. 6 Idaho on Wednesday night. UNC head coach Steve Smiley along with Langston Reynolds (center) and Brock Wisne addressed media following the win. Montana State lost its first Big Sky Tournament gam...

The Lady Griz pulled their second upset in as many days, outlasting Northern Arizona 71-67 to move into the Big Sky Tournament title game for the first time since 2015. No. 6 Lady Griz will take on rival Montana State, the tournament's top seed, Wednesday at 3 p.m.  Montana interim head coach Nate Harris, senior Dani Bartsch and junior Mack Konig addressed the media after the win. Northern Arizona...

Montana State won its 19th Big Sky Conference game and 29th overall by blasting Idaho State 75-42 to advance to the league tournament title game.  The No. 1 Bobcats await the winner of No. 2 Northern Arizona and No. 6 Montana for Wednesday's final. MSU head coach Tricia Binford, sophomore Izzy Bunyan and senior Esmeralda Morales addressed the media following the victory. Idaho State head coach Set...

Montana State won its 10th straight Big Sky Conference Tournament game by drilling Idaho State 80-60. The Bobcats advance to play No. 1 Northern Colorado. The Bears swept the Bobcats during the regular season.  MSU head coach Matt Logie, senior Tyler Patterson and junior Patrick McMahon addressed the media following the game. 

Montana head coach Nate Harris along with junior point guard Mack Konig and freshman forward Avery Waddington addressed the media following UM's 65-54 win over Idaho.  Idaho head coach Arthur Moreira along with seniors Olivia Nelson and Jennifer Aadland also addressed the media following the loss. 

Jackson Wagner, a proud Anaconda Copperhead alum and four-sport star and state champion golfer for his alma mater, is exactly where he wants to be. The Sports Information Director at Montana, he dreamed of working in sports media since he found his passion with the written word.  From the day he stepped foot on the UM campus in search of a journalism degree, Jackson has worked either in sports inf...

Ryan Tootell joins Colter Nuanez to break down Montana men's hoops winning a share of the Big Sky Conference men's basketball championship and what it means for Travis DeCuire's revived trajectory as a head coach. 

Veteran television sports reporter Shaun Rainey, who is the sports director of SWX Montana and Non-stop local TV, joins Blake Hempstead. 

Montana State is 15-0 in Big Sky Conference play and riding an 18-game winning streak overall after last weekend's 98-62 win over Montana.  Bobcat senior Esmeralda Morales scored 28 points against the Lady Griz to earn Big Sky Conference Player of the Week honors for the 4th time this year.  Thursday, Montana State puts its winning streak on the line against Portland State, Morales' former team. 

Ryan Divish, beat writer for the Seattle Times, went from frigid minus 25 weather to Peoria, Az, to begin the long, exhaustive haul being the beat writer for the Seattle Mariners. In the offseason, you can find Divish helping out his beloved Havre Blue Ponies in the batting cages, spending time with his family and enjoying all the Hi-Line has to offer.  Divish muses about the arduous job of a beat...

Montana won for the 9th straight game to stay atop the Big Sky standings by outlasting Montana State for an 89-85 win on Saturday night in Bozeman.  Montana is now 13-2 in conference play, 20-8 overall. UM 11th-year head coach Travis DeCuire won his 221st game, tying Jiggs Dahlberg for the Griz hoops career record. DeCuire along with senior guards Kai Johnson (right) and Brandon Whitney addressed...

Montana State exploded offensively on the way to a 98-66 win over Montana on Saturday in Bozeman. The 98 points is the most ever scored by MSU in the rivalry series. The Bobcats set the program record with an 18th straight win and moved to 15-0 in Big Sky play, 25-2 overall. MSU has won 15 of 18 against the Lady Griz, including 11 straight in Bozeman.  Following the game, MSU's Taylee Chirrick (ce...

Montana State rolled to a 98-66 win over Montana on Saturday in Bozeman.  Following the game, Lady Griz senior Tyler McCliment-Call, freshman Avery Waddington and interim head coach Nate Harris addressed the media after UM fell to 6-9 in Big Sky Conference play, 10-16 overall. 

Montana senior Joe Pridgen is a leading candidate for Big Sky Newcomer of the Year after transfering from Northeastern last off-season. He addressed the media Thursday.