As summer practices get rolling, the Big Sky Conference has released the dates for in-conference men’s basketball games. The Vandals will play nine home games and nine road games. The date for each game can be found here.
Unlike last season, Idaho will start this season at home, where they’ll stay for three games. The Vandals will start against a team that has given fans many great matchups over the last couple of years: Sacramento State. After a Dec. 28 game against the Hornets, Idaho will host the Portland State Vikings two days later. The Vikings swept the Vandals last season, dominating game one and hitting two late free throws to squeak out game two.
The Vandals will get a two-week break before facing Eastern Washington. Similar to the Vikings, the Eagles dominated game one but barely got out of game two. Eastern dominated the Big Sky last season before exiting the conference tournament in their first game.
After their three-game home stretch, the Vandals will head south looking for revenge. Idaho State swept Idaho, beating them by four points in ICCU Arena and 10 points in Pocatello. Not only did they win the series, but they got King Spud as well.
With Idaho State in the rearview, the Vandals continue south to Ogden, Utah to face Weber State. The Wildcats also swept the Vandals last season, taking game one by eight points and game two by 14.
After their road trip ends, the Vandals return home to face Northern Arizona and Northern Colorado. The Vandals split the season series with both teams, but NAU bounced them from the post season. Their “home” game against UNC was also down in Lewiston, meaning the Vandals have yet to beat the Bears in ICCU Arena.
Idaho’s trip home will be short as they follow those two games with four games on the road. Their first game will be against a team that not only swept them but dominated both games. The University of Montana only has nine players listed on their current roster, but they’re returning Brandon Whitney and Aanen Moody. Whitney and Moody were two of the top three scorers in the Griz win at ICCU Arena last season.
Game two of the road trip is also in Montana as the Vandals face the Bobcats. Montana State took game one 72-48 last season, but Idaho won 74-70 at home. Both teams are also in similar situations as they have new coaches and very different rosters. Idaho will look to show that they’re a team to worry about while a MSU win will show that they’re still a top program in the Big Sky.
With a trip to the frozen tundra that is Montana out of the way, the Vandals will take a trip to sunny Sacramento, California. The Hornets lost on homecourt 82-76 in overtime last season. However, the extra period was dominated by Isaac Jones, who now plays for Washington State.
The final game of the road trip is much closer to home. Idaho will take a short trek across the Palouse to Cheney, Washington, where they took a beating last season. Similarly, to Idaho, one of the main players for the Eagles left after last season. Stelle Venters, the 2022-23 Big Sky Conference MVP, joined the Gonzaga Bulldogs on April 7.
For six of the final seven games, Idaho will alternate between home and away every two games. The Vandals will take on Weber and ISU at home, UNC and NAU on the road, then MSU and UM at home. That game against ISU will be crucial as it could determine who takes home King Spud.
Idaho’s final game of the season will be at Portland State on March 4. The Big Sky looks like it’ll be very competitive this season, meaning that this game could have major playoff implications.
James Taurman-Aldrich can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @jamesaldrich25