The Idaho Men’s basketball program opens its season tonight against Wright State at Memorial Gym. This year’s squad is significantly different than last year’s third place finisher in the Western Athletic Conference, not as if it’s a bad thing. Despite losing production from the starting backcourt of Deremy Geiger and Landon Tatum, and the front court hustle from Djim Bandoumel, the Vandals are counting on heavy contributions from returning players sliding in to the starting line-up.
Look no further than the fact we have three back-ups from last season slotted in to starting roles.
Your 2012-13 Idaho Vandals starting line-up – v. Wright State 11/9/12
PG – Mike McChristian, Sr.
SG – Connor Hill, So.
SF – Stephen Madison, Jr.
PF – Wendell Faines, Sr.
C – Kyle Barone, Sr.
First off the bench
F/C – Marcus Bell, Jr.
PG – Denzel Douglas, Jr.
F – Mansa Habeeb, Sr.
G – Antwan Scott, Jr. (a note on him, who could start, later)
Second off the bench
G – Matt Borton, So.
C – Joe Kammerer, Jr.
C – Ty Egbert, Fr.
G – Robert Harris Jr., Jr.
– A couple of notes here — Idaho returns its two best players from last season, arguably. Madison and Barone combined for 24 points and 13 boards a game, both are expected to improve and be in contention for All-Conference consideration. In Madison’s case he’ll be looked on more as a number one or two scoring option and as more as a creator on offense, breaking down defenses with his offensive versatility setting up the rest of the offense. The junior will be given the proper platform to breakout this year. Barone is generally being picked to finish First team All-WAC, so nothing less than double-double production on a nightly basis is expected.
– There are four upperclassmen in the starting line-up, and when SG Antwan Scott returns to the team it could mean all five starters if he takes the starting spot away from Hill. Scott is currently away from the team for personal reasons, though when he returns he could garner the starting 2-guard position. Scott has shown lethalness from 3-point range and would allow for Verlin to bring Connor Hill off of the bench as a sixth man scorer.
– Keep an eye on Marcus Bell. The transfer from Marshalltown CC has hands of glue, figuratively of course, on the court. He nabbed 12 boards in only 20 minutes of action in Idaho’s exhibition finale against Central Washington. While he lacks any kind of noticeable go-to post move he’s got athleticism to get up and down the court and make himself a presence offensively. Bell will garner large minutes off the bench, or perhaps overtake Faines in the starting line-up.
– Speaking of Faines, talk about improvement. Faines went from averaging 7-minutes per game last season to garnering starting minutes thus far this pre-season. Faines shows solid ability to score around the rim and the rebounding expected from a 6-8 forward. Faines is a little more ready to take the reigns down low next to Barone than the raw skill-set, and skinny frame, of freshman Ty Egbert.
– Denzel Douglas will be one of the first guards off the bench. He’ll be asked to push the tempo from the point guard spot and be asked to create offense through dribble-drive penetration. Douglas has battled some turnover issues early in the exhibition season which may explain McChristian getting the starting nod early, though the junior college transfer will be given ample opportunity to earn more minutes.
– Deeper in the rotation is Robert Harris Jr., who was and still is battling for minutes at the point guard position. Harris only played eight minutes during the exhibition season and there’s a chance he may be asked to redshirt.
– Then there’s Matt Borton, a sharp-shooting guard who may play some minutes in the absence of Antwan Scott. Center Joe Kammerer is likely to act as ‘foul insurance’ for the aforementioned three big men, even more so if Ty Egbert gets a redshirt. We’ll see how that pans out.
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