Fans got their first look at the 2012-13 edition of Idaho basketball last Friday night when the team held its annual Black and Gold scrimmage in Memorial Gym.
Madison McCord | Argonaut
Vandals Mansa Habeeb, Marcus Bell, Ty Egbert, Max Salesky and Connor Hill await the team introductions before the Black and Gold Scrimmage Friday. Hill led all scorers with 14 points, going 4-5 from 3-point range.
The scrimmage highlighted key position battles that will take place throughout the pre-season as well as a few important players who will be asked to fill big shoes.
“(We) got a lot of film of the new guys that we can learn from. That’s the whole idea,” Verlin said. “See what they do with the lights on, then you can learn from their mistakes and see what they did good.”
The point guard spot, which was vacated by graduated senior Landon Tatum, will be a three-way battle between senior Mike McChristian, junior Robert Harris Jr. and junior Denzel Douglas.
“It’s a three-horse race,” Verlin said. “One guy has got to emerge at some point here, it’s like having a quarterback. You can’t have a revolving door there if one guy is going to get any good.”
Verlin wouldn’t say if there was a favorite, though an upper hand may lie with McChristian, who saw action in 28 games for Idaho last season. The senior started with the black team in what could be considered the “A team” for Idaho. The team also featured Stephen Madison and Marcus Bell, two likely starters.
“It’s going to take some time to figure that out,” Verlin said. “I thought they all did some really good things tonight. Now we’ve got to get one to play a little more consistently.”
McChristian ended the scrimmage with five points and an assist, and was the better defender of the three on the night. Harris had 10 points and an assist. Douglas had four assists, but turned the ball over three times.
The scrimmage was also an opportunity for big men to step up in Kyle Barone’s absence.
Junior Marcus Bell, a transfer from Marshalltown Community College in Iowa, ended up with nine points and two rebounds, showing a good skill from underneath the basket.
Senior Wendell Faines collected five rebounds, tied with Stephen Madison for the game-high.
Faines said the front-court is more well-rounded this season than it has been in the past.
“I feel like any of our players could step up at any time,” he said.
Verlin said he expects this team to be his best rebounding team since he took the helm at Idaho.
“They’re all big strong physical guys around the basket. I’m hoping that they continue to grow, continue to play well,” he said.
The shooting guard spot is still up for contention between Antwan Scott and sophomore Connor Hill, though Hill could be close to grabbing the spot if he continues playing the way he did Friday night. Hill slotted home four of five three-point attempts and ended up with 14 points on the night.
Hill said his confidence level is higher than it was his freshman season.
“It’s grown a lot, the coaches are putting a lot more confidence in me. I’m getting more reps,” he said. “(As a sophomore) you’re expected to go out and play.”
The team will hit the court tomorrow at North Idaho College for the Coeur d’Alene Intrasquad Scrimmage.
Sean Kramer can be reached at [email protected]