Eustachy Seems Headed For Ncaas

Every sport has idiosyncratic honor rolls. The best golfer never to win a major? Phil Mickelson perhaps. The best football player never to win a Super Bowl? Maybe Dan Marino.

Best college basketball coach never to take a team to the NCAA Tournament? Utah State’s Larry Eustachy is certainly a candidate.

Eustachy, who brings his first-place Aggies into the Kibbie Dome to face Idaho on Thursday night at 7:05, has a .646 winning percentage in eight years. He’s won or shared three league titles and is positioned for a fourth. He’s mentioned for numerous high-profile jobs every off-season.

But he’s never been to the Big Dance. Big whoopee, he says.

“We gauge our whole thing on league championships, and it’s not because we’ve won those and haven’t gone to the (NCAA) Tournament,” Eustachy said. “Really what is the true test? Eighteen league games.

“It doesn’t really bother me one way or the other.”

Not that he wouldn’t mind extending the season by a few games. Utah State practically had its NCAA bags packed when San Jose State came up with a 3-pointer at the buzzer in the 1996 Big West title game. His ‘95 team (21-8) lost in the opening round of the NIT.

Eustachy guided Idaho to the 1993 Big Sky title, but lost to Boise State in the tournament championship as word of his impending departure for Utah State surfaced.

Eustachy is eliminating distractions with his current team. Utah State athletic director Chuck Bell recently landed the San Jose State job and one of the first calls he placed was to Eustachy.

“That’s not going to happen,” Eustachy said. “I’ve learned that it has effected our teams. It was hard when we played Boise and there was a distraction. When we got in the (‘95) NIT, I was back and forth to Vegas (interviewing for the UNLV job). It’s a fine line. You have a big commitment to your team and your family.”

Big weekend

Idaho (13-9, 7-5 Big West) can probably lock up a berth in the Big West tournament with a Kibbie Dome sweep of Utah State (19-6, 10-2) and Nevada (13-8, 9-3).

“I think nine wins will do it, but there are some crazy possibilities, which is why there’s an interest in sports, sportswriters, coaches and players,” Vandals coach Dave Farrar theorized.

Idaho’s Clifford Gray (foot injury) is expected to play, though his minutes might be limited. Utah State’s all-conference guard Marcus Saxon is playing despite torn cartilage that will require postseason surgery on one knee.

Hairy situation

Farrar wants some fashionable company. In a promotion similar to the Mariners’ Jay Buhner Buzz Cut Night, fans will receive free admission Thursday if they get a Farrarstyle trim at Mr. Leon’s in Moscow.

“The Frank Sinatra, boiled frog look,” Farrar calls the military-style ‘do.

Fouled on the drive

Pacific coach Bob Thomason and his wife, Jerri, escaped without serious injuries last week near Stockton, Calif., after their 4 Runner was struck by a truck whose driver ran a stop sign.

Thomason’s vehicle rolled into a ditch and landed upside down. His car was totaled, but Thomason suffered only a jammed wrist.

“I feel like I won the biggest game of the year,” Thomason said.

Big deals

Nevada has a busy week. The Wolf Pack played at Boise State Tuesday before returning home to face Butler Thursday on ESPN2. Then it’s back on the road to visit Idaho on Saturday… . Jazz legend Lionel Hampton will play the national anthem before the UI-Nevada game… . Pacific guard Corey Anders is out for the season after surgery on a broken thumb.

, DataTimes