BOISE, Idaho — The 2023 Big Sky Conference Men's and Women's Basketball Championships are set to return to Idaho Central Arena in downtown Boise March 4 - March 8.
All 10 men's and women's teams from the Big Sky will compete for their respective titles, with an opportunity to claim an automatic bid to the 2023 NCAA Tournament. Last season, Montana State won both titles during the postseason tourney in the City of Trees.
Tickets are on sale now through Idaho Central Arena. Fans can purchase single-game tickets by "session," or round of each Big Sky bracket, by clicking here or by calling 208-331-TIXS. Tickets start as low as $10 for women's single-session, and $13 for men's single-session.
Idaho Central Arena and the Big Sky Conference are also offering all-session passes for the five-day tournament. Fans have the option to purchase an all-session pass for both tournaments, or a pass to see all women's games or men's games.
For more information or to purchase an all-session pass, click here.
18 games are scheduled for the 2023 Big Sky Conference Men's and Women's Basketball Championships. Both tournaments tip off on Saturday, March 4, with the championship games scheduled for Wednesday, March 8.
10 student-athletes from Boise-area high schools currently compete for Big Sky programs:
- Jayden McNeal – Boise (Borah HS) | Eastern Washington WBB
- Jaleesa Lawrence – Meridian (Meridian HS) | Eastern Washington WBB
- Ellis Magnuson – Boise (Borah HS) | Eastern Washington WBB
- Briggs Ranstrom – Eagle (Rocky Mountain HS) | Idaho State MBB
- Kolby Lee – Meridian (Rocky Mountain HS) | Idaho State MBB
- Darian White – Boise (Mountain View HS) | Montana State WBB
- Madison Jackson – Parma (Parma HS) | Montana State WBB
- Audrey Taylor – Boise (Timberline HS) | Northern Arizona WBB
- Sophie Glancey – Boise (Timberline HS) Northern Arizona WBB
- Cole Lake – Eagle (HS in Kearns, Utah) | Weber State MBB
Montana State women's basketball head coach Tricia Binford graduated from Boise State in 1995, and Bobcat assistant coach Sunny Smallwood is a 1983 graduate of Boise State. Smallwood also coached at Boise High School.
There are also three Big Sky assistant coaches with ties to college basketball programs in the Gem State:
- Jeremy Harden – on Boise State MBB staff from 2013-16 | Idaho MBB Asst. Coach
- Chris Foss – on Northwest Nazarene MBB staff from 2019-21 | Portland State MBB Asst. Coach
- Anthony Turner – on Boise State WBB staff from 2010-11 | Weber State WBB Asst. Coach
Women's bracket:
Men's bracket:
On Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., fans can attend the Big Sky Block Party in the Grove Plaza in downtown Boise. Festivities include games, prizes and a pizza-eating contest, as the conference kicks off the post-season tournament.
There is also a Big Sky Women's Basketball Alumna Celebration on Sunday at White Dog Brewing Co. The event costs $25 per person, and begins at 10 a.m. A ticket includes access to the pre-game reception – with complimentary food and one drink ticket – in addition to a ticket for Sunday's women's basketball session (12 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. games).
Fans of a specific Big Sky squad can join others at various fan zones throughout downtown Boise. A list of fan zones for each team is included below:
For additional information on the tournaments, tickets and hotels, visit BigSkyInBoise.com.
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