UI Wants Sweet Success Against Kandi Man
There’s a rally cry heard on occasion in Moscow that goes, ‘Who do we hate? Boise State!’. This week there’s a different version: ‘Who are we going to make wait? Boise State!’.
That’s because Pacific and 7-foot-1 center Michael Olowokandi visit Idaho on Thursday, two days before rival BSU comes to the Kibbie Dome.
Idaho is stuck in a three-game losing streak and found little comfort from playing well in two road losses against Utah State (68-66) and Nevada (68-64).
“We usually spend Mondays (working) on Saturday’s opponent,” UI coach Dave Farrar said. “I changed that a little bit because we need a win; a win right now. It’s a tough circumstance, going against two high-quality teams.”
Perhaps Idaho (9-7 overall, 3-3 Big West) can catch Olowokandi dreaming about Pacific’s Saturday game at Long Beach State, billed as ‘Andy vs. ‘Kandi.’
In other words, Olowokandi, who has bettered 20 points and 10 rebounds in five of six Big West games, against the 49ers’ Andrew Betts, a 7-1 center who scored 36 on North Texas and 31 on USC.
Both British natives are considered pro prospects, though Olowokandi’s sturdy 265-pound frame makes him a likely draft pick. He could be the first center selected.
Long Beach State has issued 16 credentials to representatives of nine NBA teams.
“We’re running out of room,” said a Long Beach official. “It’s almost to the point where we have to issue tickets if anybody else calls this week.”
Idaho is hoping for sizable attendance this week. BSU (11-8, 3-3) is usually a good draw and Pacific (11-8, 4-2) went to the NCAA Tournament a year ago.
The Vandals’ defensive problems start with Olowokandi and expand to the perimeter.
“The reason he becomes so good is the surrounding people,” Farrar said. “When you can be prolific from 3-point range, it certainly erases the damage you can do doubling down.”
Pacific makes 43 percent on 3s, led by Aaron Woliczko’s Big West-best 59 percent. In a win over Cal State Fullerton last week, the Tigers hit 14 of 24 3s.
Glove-less in Santa Barbara
UC Santa Barbara’s Brandon Payton, brother of Seattle’s Gary “The Glove” Payton, was benched for defensive reasons in the final seconds of the Gauchos’ 51-49 win over New Mexico State last week.
Les Bean was inserted to guard Denmark Reid, a long-range threat.
“Bean has quicker feet,” UCSB coach Jerry Pimm reasoned.
Pimm’s move paid off. Bean hounded Reid into missing on an off-balance 22-foot shot, preserving the Gauchos’ win.
Payton, a freshman, has proven to be a capable scorer, but he might want to watch his brother for defensive pointers.
Tip-ins
Before beating New Mexico State, the Gauchos had been 0-5 in games decided in the last minute, and quite inventive in those close losses. In a setback to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara lost despite Dwayne Williams’ all-out hustle. He saved a ball from going out of bounds, but flung it back over his shoulder to Cal Poly’s Mike Wozniak, who was fouled on a breakaway layup. Wozniak hit both free throws to snap a tie.
Betts scored just two points in Long Beach State’s loss to Cal State Fullerton. The Titans sagged on Betts, denying him the ball.
Utah State coach Larry Eustachy felt fortunate to beat Idaho last Saturday. “They played a better quality of minutes than we did and probably should have won the game.”
Eustachy was slightly more pleased by the Aggies’ 29-point blowout of Boise State. The Broncos managed just six assists and shot 12 of 38 from the field. Still, Eustachy was tagged with a technical foul.
, DataTimes