2012-13 Big Sky Conference Basketball Countdown: Eastern Washington

The 2011-12 seasons for the Eastern Washington basketball teams would be considered average by most people's standards, as the men's team went 15-17 and hosted a conference tournament game against Idaho State before falling in the semifinals to eventual conference champion Montana.  The women's team, on the other hand, went 16-14 and lost in the first round of the tournament to Sacramento State.  One team is hoping to continue to build on the success they found last year with a second-year head coach, and the other is having to establish a new identity after losing two key players to graduation.

MBB: 2011-12 was a far better campaign for the Eagles' men's basketball program than past campaigns under former head coach Kirk Earlywine.  Jim Hayford is entering his second season at the helm, and his team is beginning to emerge as a team to watch this season that keeps getting better.  The team returns two senior starters in forward Collin Chiverton (pictured left) and guard Jeffrey Forbes.  Chiverton is the team's top returning scorer, as he recorded just under 14 points/game after coming to the Eagles last season from City College of San Francisco.  But the team lost most of their rebounding punch as top rebounders Cliff Ederaine and Laron Griffin graduated over the offseason, so outside of Chiverton, the Eagles' frontcourt will be short on experience when the regular season starts.

VERDICT: Combining an experienced backcourt with an inexperienced frontcourt could make for an interesting 2012-13 season, which could explain why the Eagles were voted to finish anywhere from 3rd (media) to 6th (coaches).  Still, this is a very good basketball team that could very much be in the hunt for a conference championship.

WBB: The women's basketball team is in need of a new identity this coming season, as they lost reigning conference MVP and top scorer Brianne Ryan, as well as starting point guard Chene Cooper in the offseason to graduation. Wendy Schuller enters her 12th season at the helm, which is the second-longest tenure in the Big Sky for a current women's coach, and her squad will have their work cut out for them with the losses of Ryan and Cooper.  Three starters from last season are back, among them senior forward Carrie Ojeda (right), who led the team in rebounding last season and is also the top returning scorer.  The two other starters returning this season are junior guard Aubrey Ashenfelter and sophomore forward Melissa Williams.

VERDICT: The road back to the Big Sky Tournament may be tougher than it has been in past seasons for the Eagles, as both the coaches and media picked the Eagles to finish 8th, which means if they do finish there they would be the first team on the outside looking in.  The losses of Ryan and Cooper will hurt, as younger players will have to step up.  But the Eagles are a competitive team, and it would be no big surprise if they overachieve this season, much like defending conference champion Idaho State did last season.

UP NEXT: Montana State

Photo credits: Eastern Washington athletics