If you’ve spent any time following college hoops in the Pacific Northwest, you know the vibe in Cheney is just different. Eastern Washington University basketball isn't just another mid-major program fighting for scraps in the shadows of the Gonzaga shadow. It’s a lab. For years, Reese Court has been a place where "positionless basketball" wasn't a buzzword; it was a survival tactic. People see the red turf on the football field and think that's the only quirk at EWU, but the real chaos happens on the hardwood.
Cheney is cold. It’s isolated. But that isolation has birthed a brand of basketball that is remarkably consistent, high-scoring, and, frankly, annoying as hell for the big programs to schedule.
The David Riley Era and the Portal Problem
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: the roster churn. Honestly, being a fan of Eastern Washington University basketball lately requires a thick skin and a subscription to a transfer portal tracker. David Riley did something incredible. He took over a program after Shantay Legans left for Portland and didn’t just keep it afloat—il thrived. He won back-to-back Big Sky regular-season titles in 2023 and 2024. Then, the inevitable happened. Washington State came calling.
Riley left. And he didn't go alone.
When your head coach takes the bulk of your starting production with him to a higher-resourced school, it usually spells death. That’s the reality of the NIL era. You're basically a Triple-A affiliate for the Power 4. It’s brutal. But the Eags have this weird DNA. They've lost guys like Tyler Harvey (the nation's leading scorer once upon a time), Jacob Groves, and Tanner Groves, yet the system stays prolific.
New head coach Dan Monson is an interesting pivot. If that name sounds familiar, it should. He’s the guy who basically started the Gonzaga juggernaut before leaving for Minnesota. Bringing Monson to Cheney after his wild ride at Long Beach State—where he was fired and then immediately led them to the NCAA Tournament—is a "baller" move by the EWU athletic department. It signals they aren't ready to just be a middle-of-the-pack Big Sky team.
Why the Style of Play Actually Matters
You won't see Eastern grinding out 52-50 wins. That’s not what they do.
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They play fast.
The offensive philosophy at Eastern Washington has long been built on "gravity." They want five guys on the floor who can all shoot the three. It stretches the defense until it snaps. In the 2023-24 season, Eastern led the Big Sky in scoring because they refused to take bad long twos. It was layups or triples. Efficient. Modern. This high-variance style is why they are a nightmare in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Remember 2015? They gave Georgetown a massive scare. 2021? They had Kansas on the ropes, leading by double digits in the second half before the Jayhawks' depth finally took over.
- The 2021 Scare: Leading Kansas 46-38 at halftime.
- The NIT Run: Beating Washington State in Pullman in 2023. That was a statement.
- The Triple-Double: Bogdan Bliznyuk is still a legend in Cheney, and for good reason—the dude could do everything.
The Reality of the Big Sky Grinds
It’s easy to look at the wins and losses, but the Big Sky is a gauntlet of bus rides and altitude. Winning in Missoula or Bozeman is a tall order. Eastern Washington University basketball has stayed relevant because they've mastered the "home-court hex." Reese Court is small. It’s loud. The fans are right on top of you.
The rivalry with Montana is where the season is truly won or lost. For EWU, the "Griz" represent the traditional power, the physical, defensive-minded wall. Eastern is the speed. The contrast in styles is what makes Big Sky Saturday nights worth watching on ESPN+.
But let’s be real about the limitations. EWU operates on a fraction of the budget of the schools they occasionally beat. The facilities aren't flashy. There are no private jets. It’s a blue-collar program that relies on finding "diamonds in the rough"—international players or undersized guards who were overlooked by the Pac-12 (or whatever is left of it).
Developing the "Unknowns"
Think about Tyler Harvey. Nobody wanted him. He ended up being a second-round NBA draft pick after leading DI in scoring. That’s the Eastern Washington University basketball blueprint. They find shooters who are a half-step too slow for the NBA but have a "pro" mindset.
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The current roster under Monson is going through a massive identity shift. We’re seeing a mix of veteran transfers and raw freshmen who are being asked to play "Monson-ball"—which is a bit more structured than the free-wheeling Riley era but still prioritizes veteran savvy.
What Most People Get Wrong About EWU
People think Eastern is just a "shooting" team. That’s a lazy take.
In reality, their best teams have been elite passing teams. In 2023, they were top-20 nationally in assists per game. It’s not about one guy creating a shot; it’s about the ball never touching the floor. If you watch a 10-minute clip of their offensive sets, you'll see a ridiculous amount of "extra" passes. It’s unselfish to a fault.
And then there's the defense. Or, historically, the lack thereof.
Honestly, Eastern has often struggled to stop a nosebleed in the paint. When they play high-major teams, they often get bullied on the glass. It’s the trade-off for playing small and fast. If the threes aren't falling, it gets ugly fast. But when they are? They can beat almost anyone in the country on a neutral court. That’s why they are the "bracket buster" everyone keeps an eye on in March.
The Road Ahead for the Eagles
So, where does the program go from here?
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The transition to Dan Monson is a gamble on experience. The Big Sky is changing. With programs like Montana State and Weber State constantly reloading, EWU can't afford a "rebuilding" decade. They need to hit the ground running.
The key will be the "Cheney Connection"—the ability to keep local talent in the 509 area code while continuing to raid the international markets (Australia has been a gold mine for the Eags over the years).
If you're looking to actually follow the team this season, keep an eye on their efficiency numbers. Don't just look at the final score. Look at the points per possession. That’s the true indicator of whether the Eags are flying or just flapping their wings.
Actionable Ways to Support and Follow
- Attend a game at Reese: If you’re in the Spokane area, skip the overpriced Gonzaga tickets and head to Cheney. The atmosphere is more intimate and arguably more "college" in its purest form.
- Watch the "Quad" Games: Follow their non-conference schedule. EWU almost always plays a "buy game" against a top-25 opponent. Those games are where you see the tactical brilliance of a mid-major trying to slay a giant.
- Check the Net Rankings: In February, start tracking Eastern’s NET ranking. To get an at-large bid (which is nearly impossible for the Big Sky), they need to be in the top 75. Usually, it's "win the conference tournament or go home," which makes the Big Sky Tournament in Boise the highest-stakes basketball you'll ever see.
Eastern Washington University basketball is a testament to what happens when a program embraces its identity. They aren't trying to be Duke. They aren't trying to be Arizona. They are a fast, gritty, shooting-heavy underdog that thrives in the cold. And as long as they keep finding coaches who understand that, they'll remain the team that nobody wants to see on their schedule in March.
Next Steps for Fans:
Start by tracking the team's progress on the official Big Sky Conference standings to see how the new coaching era is impacting their road record. If you’re a statistical nerd, dive into KenPom’s adjusted offensive efficiency metrics; for Eastern, this number is usually the best predictor of their success in the postseason. Finally, clear your calendar for the second week of March—the Big Sky Tournament is where this program historically makes its most noise, and given the current roster volatility, expect a wild ride.