Verlin, Morrill talk UI-USU hoops
We were able to get the thoughts of Utah State coach Stew Morrill and Idaho coach Don Verlin in advance of tomorrow night's showdown between the two schools at Cowan Spectrum (8 p.m., ESPN2). Read on for more and also check out my story on Deremy Geiger -- UI's point guard who started his career at USU.
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STEW MORRILL
Overall thoughts: "We’re just hoping that we can continue to give ourselves a chance to win. Last weekend was obviously a positive, and we have great respect for Idaho. We feel like they’re a team that could very easily be 8-3 in league right now when you look at some of their close losses that could have gone the other way.
"We’re obviously pleased and proud of what Coach V is doing at Idaho. But it’s always difficult when you have to play each other. That’s just the way it is."
On Deremy Geiger: "You know I’ve mostly focused on Idaho’s team and certainly am happy for Deremy. He needed to get some things in order and he did. He’s done a very good job in junior college and now for Idaho. As we look at him on film, he’s playing well. He runs our team and they’ve got a number of seniors that have been through the wars. They’ve got a really good shooting team. … They’re leading our league in 3-point shooting, so that seems to be a big factor when they win games is they make a lot of 3s. So that’s certainly a challenge with our defense. … Ledbetter is obviously leading the way with his ability to get the shot off quick and shoot a high percentage. They’re playing very solidly defensively as well. They’re right there with the league leaders defensively. Their overall approach is real solid.
"We can’t just waltz in and play bad and have a chance to win. We’re going to have to play well."
On both teams being balanced: "I think that’s just the makeup of the two teams — a lot of guys contributing. I was asked yesterday if I would rather have a guy get 25 a game or have balance, I said you don’t ever want to turn down either. I think if you’ve got a Jimmer Fredette, that’s a huge advantage."
DON VERLIN
Overall thoughts: "It’s a huge week. As big as it gets for us to have (Utah State) … and after that traveling down to Boise."
On USU: "They played as good as I’ve seen them play against Boise. ... They’ve got great senior leadership. They’ve got a bunch of 24-, 25-year-old players. And this is as good of a team that I can remember that Coach Morrill’s had, and he’s had a lot of good ones. But this one is as good defensively as I’ve ever seen."
Verlin said Utah State has the best interior game in the conference when you look at Tai Wesley, Nate Bendall, Brady Jardine and Morgan Grim as a group. While Wesley's numbers (14.3 ppg, 7.8 rebounds) aren't eye-popping, Verlin said he's easily the best passer of any power forward in the conference.
That means interior defense from Luiz Toledo, Kyle Barone and Brandon Wiley is going to be critical.
Follow along during and after the game on Twitter @SR_JoshWright.
One last note: Tomorrow night's game is Coaches vs. Cancer night, which means a portion of every ticket sold to someone wearing one of the T-shirts (available at the UI bookstore and at the game) goes to cancer research and awareness.