Vandals Get Opportunity To Back Up Coach’s Boast
“We’re going to kick their (rear) when they come up to our place. I mean they talk about all that defense - we shot 60 percent and missed some easy ones the way it is. These last two teams (BSU and Idaho State) are in for long nights when they come up to our place because we’re going to beat ‘em and make ‘em like it.”
- Idaho basketball coach Joe Cravens, immediately following loss to BSU last month.
No, Joe Cravens wasn’t auditioning to become Hulk Hogan’s manager in the whacky world of professional wrestling.
He was ticked off.
And it’s only fair to note that these words leaked from Cravens’ mouth after an aggravating two-week stretch of four consecutive losses, three in overtime.
Though he might wish he had rattled off some innocuous cliche instead, Cravens hasn’t tried to backpedal from his remarks.
The Vandals get a chance to back up their coach’s words when they entertain BSU on Friday and ISU on Saturday. Game times are 7:05 at the Kibbie Dome. (BSU and ISU visit Eastern Washington on alternate nights, also at 7:05.)
“I haven’t heard much about those (comments),” Cravens said.
Surely BSU and ISU are using Cravens’ comments for motivation, but the two schools don’t seem eager to hype the rematches.
“I don’t think that’s something we feed off of,” said BSU junior J.D. Huleen, listed as questionable due to a sprained ankle. Huleen said he wasn’t even aware of Cravens’ remarks until earlier this week.
Said BSU coach Rod Jensen: “We haven’t even talked about it. You can take all the emotion you want and can play on that for so long, but sooner or later it’s a matter of doing the things you want to do.
“I’m sure coach Cravens thinks that. They’ve got a good team.”
ISU coach Herb Williams said, “Joe has a way of sometimes saying something he wishes he didn’t say because he gets on bulletin boards throughout the conference. But Joe is a great guy. You accept Joe for being Joe and you know he’s a good person.
“I think that’s his method of firing his team up, his method of putting people on warning that, ‘Hey, you come in here, you’re going to have to battle.’ He’s no different than any other coach.”
Cravens can be fiery one minute, composed the next. Shortly after his statement that preceded this article, he ended the radio interview as he always does after road games: By saying good night to his two young daughters at home.
And the winner is…
At the season’s midway point, BSU’s Jensen is, hands-down, the Big Sky coach of the year. BSU lost eight of its first 11, including a home loss to NAIA Lewis-Clark State College, and scored in the 40s three times.
But a road breakthrough at Pepperdine has propelled the Broncos to a 6-1 conference record, tied with Montana State for first place.
Using a style similar to that of previous coach Bobby Dye, BSU is relying on a patient offense and stingy defense. Jensen, Dye’s longtime assistant, said at the time of his appointment last August that he wanted BSU to pick up the pace, but defections and injuries have made that impossible this season.
“Everybody is surprised with where we’re at. Honestly, I’m surprised,”Jensen said. “But in athletics, I don’t think anybody takes the floor not thinking they have a shot.”
“I tip my hat to Rod Jensen,” Cravens said. “They started slowly and had problems. Now, they’re playing with a lot of confidence and they’re playing hard.”
Our other guesses for conference honors: MVP, Montana State’s Quadre Lollis, mainly because MSU remains our pick to win the conference; top newcomer, Ryan Cuff, Weber State; top freshman, BSU’s Gerry Washington.
Sky lines
A ruptured pipe left the Kibbie Dome court under water last weekend, but there wasn’t any damage to the floor. UI has been practicing at the dome…
Montana visits Weber State tonight with Grizzly coach Blaine Taylor vying for his 100th career win and WSU’s Ron Abegglen shooting for No. 200.
, DataTimes