After a week off from games, the University of Northern Colorado men’s basketball team returns to the court Saturday evening with a priority.
A couple of key Big Sky Conference wins last weekend are in the past. The Bears are looking ahead. They are on a constant mission of improvement, according to guard Zach Bloch.
Even with a lengthy winning streak heading to senior day and a Big Sky game against Northern Arizona, the Bears are interested in being a better basketball team.
UNC (17-10 overall, 7-7 Big Sky) faces Northern Arizona (10-17, 4-10 Big Sky) at 6 p.m. Saturday at Bank of Colorado Arena, 1600 23rd St., Greeley.“We didn’t look at our record when we were 1-7 (in the Big Sky), so we’re not going to look at our record now,” said Bloch, one of the players who will be honored before Saturday’s game against Northern Arizona. “Every single day is going to be about improving and getting better. The results will take care of themselves.”
Northern Colorado Bears guard Zach Bloch (8) attempts to block a shot by Portland State Vikings guard Jaylin Henderson (5) during a Big Sky Conference basketball game at Bank of Colorado Arena in Greeley on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (Brice Tucker/Staff Photographer) Heading into Thursday night games, the Bears are in fifth place in the conference standings thanks to their current, Big Sky-best six-game winning streak. The streak started Jan. 29 with a home win over Idaho. In the previous game, five days before, UNC lost to Northern Arizona on the road in Flagstaff.The loss put UNC in a hole. The Bears were then 11-10 overall and 1-7 in the Big Sky. The players worked on some things. They talked alone, without coaches, and figured out they could all give more to the team — whether they were starting or on the bench.
Bloch, guard Quinn Denker and forward Brock Wisne have all said the Bears have been a better connected group during the winning streak. This means having a higher awareness of where everyone is on the court and playing as a team.
There were two big home wins last weekend, getting UNC back to an even record in the Big Sky. They beat Sacramento State last Thursday, thanks to four guys scoring in double figures including Denker’s 22 points and 16 assists. Less than 48 hours later, UNC overcame an early nine-point deficit to beat conference-leading Portland State.
UNC Bears men’s basketball wins 6th straight Big Sky game, sweeps weekend home stand
The games were important, and another chance to face two teams that beat UNC last month.
“A great weekend for the Bears,” head coach Steve Smiley said earlier this week. “Put us back in the middle of the pack, where we want to be, and gotta keep climbing the rings of this ladder, as we’ve talked about. We’re in a good spot right now.”
Denker’s play last weekend earned him a second straight Big Sky player of the week honor and the fifth one this season.
He said he expects the senior day celebration to an emotional one. Friends and family will be at the game. Denker has concerns about how much he might cry. This is his second season at UNC after transferring from Idaho. In the transfer portal era, a senior day celebration might not have the impact for players and fans as in the past.
Though here only two years, Denker said he's tried to develop and build relationships. He said these two years have probably been the best two years of his life.
"I've tried to do my best to foster relationships in the two years I've had versus the five that Zach's had," Denker added. "In today's current landscape, it's harder for the crowd or certain boosters or donor to be as emotional about certain people." Northern Colorado Bears guard Quinn Denker (35) drives the ball to the basket during a Big Sky Conference basketball game between the Northern Colorado Bears and the Sacramento State Hornets at Bank of Colorado Arena in Greeley on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. (Brice Tucker/Staff Photographer)
On the court, Denker said the way for the Bears to avoid any letdown after last weekend's games is not to try to avoid a letdown.
Denker said the team is focused on what it's doing collectively in preparation to play. They are looking at avoiding mistakes that were part of the issues during the conference losing streak: rebounding, moving the ball on offense, taking the right shots, trying to limit turnovers and team defense.
Denker said his 16 assists against Sacramento State came from doing his job on the court and trusting the other guys would be where they were supposed to be to receive a pass and finish.
“You see the connectedness among us ,and it really feels like that,” Denker said. “You feel it when it clicks. You run a play and everyone gets to the same spot or does every little detail correctly.”
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