Vandals Face Weighty Issues Idaho Needs To Beef Up, Pick Up Offensive Pace To Improve On 13-17 Season

Idaho men’s basketball coach Kermit Davis hopes his players have better averages next year.

Somewhere in the 270 to 300 range would be nice.

That’s pounds in the bench press, not points per game.

“Our team just didn’t have a physical presence,” said Davis, reflecting on the 1996-97 season.

“It was just a (missing) athleticism. We weren’t hard enough. We didn’t have the 6-foot-6 tough guys. We have to get more of a dominating presence; I don’t care if it’s guards or whatever.”

He also didn’t care for UI’s 13-17 record, but Davis said it was a rewarding season nonetheless.

“Our guys gave a great effort, and as long as they do that, you enjoy coaching,” Davis said.

The season started to sour when guard Reggie Rose went down with a knee injury in January. Rose was one of UI’s few physical presences.

Idaho loses three seniors in Rose, center Jason Jackman and wing Eddie Turner, arguably its top three players. Recruiting and improvement among the returning cast will be necessary if UI wants to avoid sharing the strangely named Big West East Division cellar, as it did with North Texas last season.

The senior trio was much improved over the previous season.

“Eddie went from maybe not being the toughest guy in the world to guarding the other team’s best player,” Davis said. “Jackman goes from not making any kind of (all) Big Sky team to making the Big West’s top 10 players. That’s tremendous.”

The Vandals were limited to a patient, halfcourt offense and few transition baskets. Davis wants to pick up the pace next year.

The keys will be if guard Kris Baumann’s shooting eye returns to focus, if guard Derrick Elliott becomes an every-game contributor and if forward Kevin Byrne matures into an inside force.

Forward Troy Thompson must get stronger to battle inside. Wing Jon Harris needs more muscle, too.

Redshirt Avery Curry will figure prominently. He’s a 6-1 guard who can score and defend. “He can really finish,” Davis said of his probable starting point guard.

Another redshirt, Chris Popoola, is the team’s most athletic player.

Baumann sailed along with good stats before bogging down over the final month. He was diagnosed with strep throat and it seemed to strip him of his strength.

“He just hit a wall,” Davis said. “Nobody cares more about the game than Kris. I think he’ll respond and do great next year.”

Of the new recruits, 6-8 Marcus Tyler, a transfer from a Mississippi JC, and Cameron Banks, 6-3 wing from North Idaho College, probably will play immediately. Dazmond Kinlow, a 6-9 center, could redshirt.

“I think our athletic talent will be up,” Davis said. “We’re going to be more of a fullcourt team. I hope that we’ll shoot the ball better from the 3 (point line). But the biggest thing is we’ve gotta get some guys who can make plays on their own, one-on-one or in transition.”

There is some question whether Davis will return for his second season. His departure probably depends on Larry Eustachy remaining at Utah State. If the Aggies’ job opens, Davis likely would be considered a top candidate.

Davis declined to comment, saying he didn’t want to speculate. It’s believed he would be interested in Utah State.

For now, he has his hands full reconstructing Idaho.

“I told our guys at a team meeting that I’m never going to be pleased with 13 wins,” Davis said. “But I was really pleased with the progress we made.”

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