Big Sky Conference play begins on Thursday the Weber State Wildcats begin their quest at a first regular season conference title since the 2015-16 season when they host the Montana Grizzlies.
Montana Grizzlies vs. Weber State Wildcats (-4.5, 132.5)
Weber State has executed the fundamentals, ranking 10th in the country in percentage of possessions in home games that end with a turnover at 10.5% and six of their top seven scorers are shooting at least 76.5% at the free throw line.
Overall, Weber State is 42nd in the country in free throw shooting percentage, but their free throw shooting percentage jumps to 84.2% at home, which ranks fifth among the 362 Division I teams.
Similarly, Montana plays at a rather slow and controlled pace, ranking 308th in possessions per game while Weber State is 352nd in total possessions per game, but the raw points per game allowed of 69.2 is misleading with their tempo.
In terms of points allowed on a per possession basis, Montana ranks 236th and are the only team in the country generating a turnover on less than 10% of possessions in games away from home this season.
The lack of ball pressure and ability to force turnovers will allow Weber State to operate freely on offense, which is centered around 6-foot-6 point forward Dillon Jones.
Jones leads Weber State in most statistical categories with 17.8 points, 10.9 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.8 steals per game and is the anchor of a defense that overall is 99th in the country in points allowed per possession,
With Weber State allowing 24.8 points per 100 possessions fewer in home games than on the road, ranking fifth among all Division I teams in points allowed per possession at home, Weber State will begin conference play with a comfortable win.
The Play: Weber State -4.5
