Go Figure: UI Likes Its Chances
In calculating Idaho’s chances at the Big Sky Conference men’s basketball tournament, the Vandals need to look no further than last week.
Their two defeats to end the regular season were either: a) the greatest things on earth; or b) spirit-breaking setbacks to this modestly talented team.
Take your pick.
The sixth-seeded Vandals (6-8 Big Sky, 12-14 overall), who open today at 5:07 p.m. PST against No. 3 Montana State (8-6, 20-7) at the Dee Events Center on the Weber State campus, have shown remarkable resiliency to bounce back from crushing losses this season. The down side: Just when it appears the Vandals are rolling, they flop - such as in last Friday’s 88-56 setback to Montana State and Saturday’s 80-64 loss to Montana.
“When you figure it out, give me a call,” UI coach Joe Cravens said. “This team has never done anything rationally.”
If UI needed any extra motivation, MSU may have supplied it when several starters continued playing late in last week’s lopsided game.
Still, the Vandals will be facing a talented, peaking opponent whose only shortcomings appear to be rebounding and free-throw shooting. Check the conference stats and MSU rates in the top three in all 12 categories except rebounding (sixth) and free-throw percentage (sixth).
Statistically, Idaho’s a tad better on the boards (fifth) and a bit worse at the line (seventh). Rebounding wasn’t a factor in last week’s game because UI was inbounding the ball after most MSU shots.
“There’s not a guy on our team that doesn’t believe this is the same (MSU) team that we beat by nine points (in early February),” Cravens said. “But we’re going to have to play very well to beat them.”
UI must avoid playing at MSU’s breakneck pace. MSU is 29-3 when scoring 80 or more points in the last two years. In its February win, UI limited MSU to 70 points.
“I’m glad we’re playing them,” Cravens said. “I don’t know if it’s sound basketball wisdom, but after somebody rubs your nose in it, if you’ve got any heart at all you come out with a little extra.”
Should Idaho win, it will face No. 1 Weber State (11-3, 18-8) in Friday’s semifinals. No. 2 Montana (11-3, 20-7) will play the highest remaining seed.
“There is nothing that would truly surprise me,” Cravens said, “even if we won it.”
For openers
No. 4 Boise State (7-7, 17-9) vs. No. 5 Idaho State (7-7, 17-9), 30 minutes following UI’s game: BSU defeated ISU last week and figures to be a tourney factor with the return of 7-foot center John Coker, who had missed about three weeks with a stress fracture. ISU was 7-2 in league on Feb. 11 then went on a mystifying five-game Sky losing streak.
NIT picking
Big Sky officials believe Montana, Montana State and Weber State have legitimate shots at National Invitation Tournament berths, should they fail to capture the crown this weekend.
“The NIT looks at a lot of things, attendance and what schools can draw,” assistant commissioner Arnie Sgalio said. “I would say Weber and the two Montanas have a chance and Boise State, if they have a hot tournament.”
Leslie, Lewis honored
Idaho senior guard Mark Leslie and Eastern Washington center Melvin Lewis have been honored by the Big Sky Conference.
Leslie was named to the All-Big Sky first team and Lewis was tabbed the conference’s top newcomer.
Leslie leads UI in scoring (15 points per game), assists (3.7), steals (1.28) and 3-point field goals (63). Leslie averaged 18 points per Big Sky game.
Lewis averaged 17 points and 10.5 rebounds in the last 11 games. Lewis, UI senior guard Ben Johnson and UI junior forward Harry Harrison were honorable-mention selections.
Weber State guard Ruben Nembhard was named outstanding player and Northern Arizona’s Jerome Riley was outstanding freshman.