Taller Lineup Successful For Idaho
Idaho basketball coach Kermit Davis doesn’t have much room to maneuver with his current roster, which has been revamped due to injuries, suspensions and defections.
But he did make a change last week when he started 6-foot-8 sophomore Kevin Byrne.
Byrne responded with eight points, making all three field-goal attempts in a win over North Texas.
“We had a lot better play on the road from Kevin,” said Davis, who wanted to counter a tall North Texas lineup. “We’ll probably start the same lineup.”
Byrne, a transfer from North Idaho College, teams with 6-9 senior Jason Jackman to give Idaho some size on the front line.
“They both play really similar positions,” Davis said. “Kevin usually guards the best post player.”
Upwardly mobile
Idaho, which earned its first conference win last weekend, tries to become a factor in the Big West Tournament chase this week.
Idaho is 1-5, tied with North Texas for last in the six-team East Division. But the Vandals, who need a top-four East finish to advance to the tourney, can make a move with a successful week against Cal State Fullerton (10-6, 3-3) on Thursday and Cal Irvine (1-14, 1-5) on Saturday.
Both games are set for 7:05 p.m. in the Kibbie Dome.
Remorseful Elliott
Davis agreed to reinstate Derrick Elliott from indefinite suspension after visiting with Elliott, Elliott’s mother and UI’s three seniors.
“I don’t know if it’s in the absolute best interests of the team right now - we’re making some nice progress - but I do think it’s in the best interests of Derrick,” Davis said.
Elliott blasted Davis in print for lack of playing time following a loss to Utah State on Jan. 12. He since has been remorseful.
“He has showed a lot of maturity and there were probably a lot of things that were hard for him to say,” Davis said. “We have a close group of guys who have been through some really tough times. They’ve practiced hard and they’re together on the road. They all like Derrick if his attitude is conducive to what we want to accomplish.”
Grading out
It won’t change Idaho’s 8-11 record, but it’s worth pointing out that five Vandals earned grade-point averages of 3.0 or higher last semester.
The team GPA was a 2.4.
Jarrett Wendt, Kevin Byrne, Jason Jackman, Kris Baumann and Jon Harris all topped 3.0.
Additionally, seniors Eddie Turner and Reggie Rose are on course to graduate - Turner this spring and Rose this summer.
Rose might return
There’s a glimmer of hope that Rose, who injured his knee nearly a month ago against Lewis-Clark State College, could return this season.
“He’s walking and shooting a little bit,” Davis said. “If he did come back, it would be in late February, but who knows. I know he’s working hard on rehabilitating. He could give us an extra scorer.”
Rose believes he’ll return. He didn’t have surgery and he said he’s making some progress.
No Southern Utah
Some of Idaho’s schedules printed up before the season have a game listed against Southern Utah on Monday night in Moscow. The game has been called off.
“It was the last game of a series,” Davis said. “We got a call from their A.D. stating if we didn’t return the game (play at Southern Utah), they wouldn’t play. That wasn’t in the original agreement, but we chose not to play.”
, DataTimes