Each Idaho team has factors to work on heading into 2015
Heading into 2015 brings the start of spring seasons for many of Idaho’s sports. Here are some New Year’s Resolution’s our staff came up with for Idaho’s teams.
Korbin McDonald
Stephan Wiebe
Football needs new offensive weapon
Yes, the Vandal football team needs to start winning games, but that would be too easy to claim as its New Year’s resolution. With the lack of wins, there are numerous resolutions the team should have, but I’ll limit it to just one — find some offensive weapons.
Idaho coach Paul Petrino did a good job bringing in three offensive linemen during the early signing period for junior college players. Now he needs to go find skilled Players for his quarterback. Josh McCain accounted for more than one-third of the team’s receiving yards and nine of the team’s 13 touchdown receptions.
The team has only a few options returning next season, and with McCain gone, guys need to step up in a huge way or Petrino needs to find a difference maker on the recruiting trail.
Men’s basketball has to fix road record
Idaho needs to find a cure for the road woes. This season, the men’s basketball team has gone 1-5 in games away from Moscow. With nine out of the last 15 games on the road, the Vandals will need to find a way to overcome the struggles they have had away from home.
In his previous six seasons, Idaho coach Don Verlin has never had a team with a winning road record. Overall, Verlin’s teams are 36-58 in away games excluding conference tournament games. In the 2010-11 season, the Vandals went 8-8 on the road.
Only eight of the 12 teams make the Big Sky Tournament, and with road games against some of the conference’s top teams on the horizon, finding a way to win becomes even more important.
Women’s basketball must find another scorer
Senior guard Stacey Barr is averaging an astounding 20.3 points per game for the Idaho women’s basketball team. The next best scorer for Idaho is junior guard Christina Salvatore at 10.4 points per game. Idaho coach Jon Newlee has said his past teams have had success because there were five players on the court who could score at vany given time.
With the loss of star Alyssa Charlston to graduation last year, the only player who has stepped up significantly this season is Barr and even she has struggled with turnovers at times.
If junior post Ali Forde starts averaging double figures, Salvatore finds her consistency of last year and Idaho’s younger players continue to improve, Idaho will be in a much better spot down the stretch.
Track and field must fully commit to new coaches
Departed coach Wayne Phipps’ 16 total conference titles show the legacy he left at Idaho, but new coach Tim Cawley and crew don’t come in with shabby resumes themselves. Cawley has coached at the highest level, helping Olympian Janay DeLoach to a bronze medal at London Games in the long jump. A new coaching staff and tougher conference present challenges to the Vandals, but if they buy into Cawley’s plan, Idaho will be just fine moving forward.
Soccer craves consistency
The 2014 season was about as up and down as it could be for a team. Coach Derek Pittman had a rough start to his career at Idaho as the Vandals started the season 0-8. It seemed like a failed season for Idaho, but then the Vandals’ season did a complete 180. Idaho started off conference play undefeated through the first five games and ranked near the top of the conference. Then, things came crashing down again as Idaho lost seven of its last eight games and failed to make the conference tournament. If Pittman’s squad can keep the fire it had during its winning streak for the whole season, the Big Sky will have to watch out for the Vandals in 2015.
Swim and dive should ‘just keep swimming’
Idaho’s swim and dive program is the only Vandal team to remain in the WAC. With a second-place finish in the conference in 2014, Idaho coach Mark Sowa has the team headed in the right direction. If he keeps his team on its current path, more records and wins will continue to come Idaho’s way in the pool and on the diving boards.
Men’s tennis still needs coach
The New Year’s Resolution is easy for the Idaho men’s tennis team — it still needs a coach. Last year, it was the women’s tennis team that went into the spring without a head coach and the Vandals still won the WAC under then Director of Tennis Jeff Beaman. Assistant coach Art Hoomiratana continues to manage the team until a new head coach is hired for Idaho. The men’s team also won the WAC last season, so expectations are high for the Vandals whether they find their new coach or not.
Cobra brings bite to women’s tennis
Unlike the men’s team, the Idaho women’s tennis team does have a coach this season. If new coach Mariana Cobra can continue to groom the region’s No. 9 ranked player Galina Bykova, the Vandals will be a force April 24 in the Big Sky Tournament.
Volleyball must get healthy
Losing first-team all-conference setter Meredith Coba before the Big Sky Tournament hurt the Vandals down the stretch in 2014. Idaho finished the season 0-3 in its last three matches including a three-set loss to Northern Arizona in the first round of the conference tournament. With the departure of all-conference middle blocker Allysa Schultz and Big Sky Newcomer of the Year Stephanie Hagins in the middle, Coba’s recovery is even more important going into 2015.
Golf could use upgraded home course
Home course advantage — both the men’s and women’s golf teams don’t have one. The current facilities at Idaho’s golf course aren’t up to par to host any tournaments and both teams go to Palouse Ridge in Pullman to work on their game. There are some fantastic views throughout the 18 holes, but overall, the course and practice facilities need to be upgraded.
Idaho has an excellent PGA Golf Management program. Surly some students could help with the redesign and upgrades to save some money.
Korbin McDonald and Stephan Wiebe can be reached at [email protected]