A week away from its regular season opener, the Idaho men’s basketball team showed an emerging identity in its 92-75 Friday night exhibition victory over Central Washington at Memorial Gym.
Idaho opens its regular season at home Friday against Wright State.
The Wildcats’ athleticism and ability to score in transition kept Idaho from pulling away early, but by late in the fourth quarter it was Idaho’s offensive ball movement and dominant rebounding that created a blowout. Idaho collected 44 rebounds to CWU’s 31, led by Marcus Bell’s 12 boards in 20 minutes off the bench.
“I thought we played hard, and I thought I was able to play a lot of guys,” Verlin said. “I thought it really helped us in terms of preparing our team to get ready to play in the non-conference season.”
Center Kyle Barone, who had previously been suspended, made his 2012-13 debut for the Vandals, starting the game and finishing with 16 points and eight rebounds in 25 minutes of action.
Verlin said the legal system had played itself out and Barone had done everything he had been asked to do to return.
“It felt good to get back with the guys, you know, I think they were waiting for me to get back,” Barone said. “Everybody, through the coaches, players, even fans, came up and talked to me and stuff. It felt good to have people have my back through this. I deserved what happened for what I did, but these guys had my back, were there for me.”
Barone was the recipient of two of Stephen Madison’s four assists, which he turned into slam dunks.
“We’re close, I always tell him ‘if you see me just throw it up, I’ll catch it.’ He knows I’ll catch it,” Barone said.
With Barone’s return, the starting line-up picture started to unfold — Barone started alongside guard Mike McChristian, guard Connor Hill, forward Stephen Madison and forward/center Wendell Faines.
Verlin said he hasn’t settled on a set starting line-up yet, noting guard Antwan Scott’s absence on the night for personal reasons.
“I just kind of did what I feel tonight,” Verlin said. “We had ten guys ready to play, it was kind of by feel thing, I tried to get some guys some minutes who need minutes, need experience.”
Four of the starters led the team in minutes, with Bell nudging aside Faines with 20 minutes off the bench. Point guard Denzell Douglas and forward Mansa Habeeb played considerable minutes off the bench and look to be pretty locked into the rotation for Idaho.
McChristian is battling Douglas for the starting point guard job, while the shooting guard spot is still up between Hill and Scott. All four guys will likely play a role in Idaho’s rotation.
McChristian finished the night with five assists and two turnovers, his second real game action as a point guard.
“Going through these few exhibition games I feel like I have been getting more comfortable at the position,” he said. “So I just kind of tried to take the mindset of being aggressive, making sure I don’t turn the ball over too many times.”