After finishing the 2022-2023 season 10-22 with a first-round exit against Northern Arizona Idaho men’s basketball decided to go in a brand-new direction. The Vandals, with a revamped roster and new coaching staff, will look to turn heads during the 2023-2024 season.
After being played 123 times in 71 consecutive years, the Battle of Palouse against Washington State came to a halt in 2021. However, after a one-season hiatus, the rivalry game will resume on Nov. 6. The Cougs will look to win their fifth straight while the Vandals hope for their first win since Dec. 6, 2017.
With the WSU-Idaho rivalry back on, the Pribble era will begin in Pullman. Washington State had an average season, going 17-17 overall and 11-9 in conference play. The Cougars, however, took advantage of the Vandals coaching change, picking up star center Isaac Jones and assistant coach Jeremy Harden, which will add another layer to this historic rivalry.
Three days later, head coach Alex Pribble and the Vandals will host Cal State Northridge in Pribble’s first game at ICCU Arena. The Vandals defeated Cal State Northridge 76-73 on the road last season.
The Vandals will then continue at home with two games against Evergreen State and Pacific Lutheran University. The game against ESU is on Nov. 14 while Pacific Lutheran makes their ICCU debut on Nov. 17.
Coach Pribble will return to his old stomping grounds on Nov. 22. The Vandals will head up to Seattle to face Seattle University, where Coach Pribble was an assistant from 2019-2023. Idaho will stay in Seattle to face UC San Diego on Nov. 24.
The Vandals will return to ICCU for three games, starting with the University of Denver on Nov. 29. Denver defeated the Vandals 68-63 in the season opener last season. After a Wednesday night game, the Vandals will return to a Thursday game day against Cal Poly on Dec. 2. However, the Vandals have another abnormally scheduled game as they play the University of the Pacific on Tuesday Dec. 5.
After their home stand, the Vandals will head to St George, Utah to face Utah Tech, and former Vandal Tanner Christensen, on Dec. 9. The Vandals will head to California to play Pac-12 opponent Stanford on Dec. 17, then UC Riverside on Dec. 21 before heading back home.
The Vandals will have two conference games against Sacramento State and Portland State both at home before their last non-conference game. The Vandals will open 2024 with a visit from St Thomas University on Jan, 3 to end their non-conference slate.
With nearly a whole new roster, and an entirely new coaching staff, one word to describe the Idaho men’s basketball 2023-2024 season would be “exciting.” Coach Pribble is looking to turn this struggling Vandals program around, and the 2023-2024 season is his first chance.
Jayden Barfuss can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @JaydenBarfuss10