The University of Idaho men’s basketball season has not gone entirely as planned thus far. Sitting at last place in the Big Sky Conference, with a heated rivalry series ahead and a lack of momentum from last week’s losses to Eastern Washington, the Vandals (0-15, 0-12 BSC) have their work cut out for them. However, the team remains vigilant that the needed improvements to start trending upward are coming soon, head coach Zac Claus said.
“We just haven’t had the success in win column like we wanted to, but with that said, I love our guys’ resiliency,” Claus said. “They continue to come with the right energy and spirit in practice. I can’t fault them for that. What we have to do is eliminate similar mistakes and issues we are having and continue to play with great effort.”
It will take more than just effort to go on the road and beat Idaho State (9-7, 5-3 BSC) with ISU having lost just one game at Reed Gym so far this season. Here is what is needed heading into the ‘Battle of the Domes’ in Pocatello.
How did we get here?
It is no secret the Vandals need a win and the sooner, the better. Getting the weight of consistent losses off their shoulders will be one less thing to worry about.
This is easier said than done. Idaho has yet to consistently produce in the three core aspects of basketball: scoring, defense and rebounding.
The Vandals rank tenth in scoring (64.5 PPG), last in points allowed (80.8 PPG) and last in rebounding differential (-3.3 RPG).
Rebounding differential takes the average amount of rebounds a team collects per game and subtracting by the amount on average they give up to opposing teams. On average, the Vandals are outrebounded by around three rebounds per game.
However, the Vandals have mostly struggled vto play a complete game, often losing momentum, and giving opposing teams opportunities to pull away.
“We continue to have good, and correctable film after each and every game, where we can say ‘Guys, you can play with this team, you can compete at this level. You can play good basketball, it’s just a matter of continuing to do that over the course of an entire game’,” Claus said.
Bright spots
With the many struggles of Idaho this season, it is important to recognize the positives, which could hold the key to picking up wins down the stretch.
The most important: knocking down shots consistently.
Senior forward Scott Blakney ranks first in shooting percentage in the Big Sky, making over 62% of his shot attempts in conference play. Including non-conference play, Blakney still holds a 61.9% shooting percentage, currently on pace for the sixth-best in program history.
“That’s why we continue to make it a priority to run actions to try to get (Blakney) the ball,” Claus said. “Make it a priority with his teammates that when he’s open, when he’s got guys on his back, we want to get him touches down in the paint because he is just so polished in terms of being able to finish.”
Why is being able to score consistently so important against the Bengals? They have the best defense in the conference in points allowed per game (64.5 PPG) but average the fewest points per game in the Big Sky (64.1 PPG).
Points will be a premium and every shot is essential in picking up a win. This is where Blakney could be the difference-maker for the Vandals with his consistent offense.
Both teams have three players scoring in double figures. Idaho has Blakney (11.7 PPG) and a pair of guards, senior Damen Thacker (11.7 PPG) and sophomore Gabe Quinnett (10.8 PPG) going against Idaho State’s pair of guards, senior Tarik Cool (15.3 PPG) and junior Robert Ford III (11.5 PPG), with sophomore center Brayden Parker (11.4 PPG) rounding it out.
Continued growth in leadership
Claus said the biggest point for this season is resilience, leading by example and giving your all on the court. Quinnett, the Idaho walk-on and Moscow High product is praised for “being somebody that we know what we’re getting from him each and every day,” Claus said.
Quinnett, along with the leadership of the Vandals’ five seniors, will have a tough challenge in Pocatello, but must play with this level of consistency preached by Claus in order to have a chance.
Idaho plays Idaho State on Thursday at 6 p.m. and Saturday at 11 a.m. in Pocatello.
Zack Kellogg can be reached at [email protected]