EWU opens season at Wichita State

It’s time for Mike Burns to tighten the shoelaces.

The Eastern Washington men’s basketball team opens its season tonight and the first-year coach has big shoes to fill.

Burns replaces Ray Giacoletti, who compiled a 69-50 record in four years and took over at Utah after the Eagles went 17-13 last year, won the Big Sky Conference regular-season and tournament titles and appeared in the NCAA Tournament for the first time.

The Mike Burns Era tips off at Wichita State of the Missouri Valley Conference at 5:05 p.m. Pacific time. The Shockers were 21-11 last year.

After the game the Eagles head to California and a Monday night game against Cal Poly. The Mustangs of the Big West Conference were 11-16 last year.

“There is no question that’s a tough back-to-back road swing for us,” Burns said. “We have to make some improvements. If we don’t ratchet up the intensity level and our communication and our hustle, we’re going to be in for a long road trip. Our guys know that and I have faith that they will bring it.”

Eastern won its lone exhibition game last week, outscoring Central Washington 46-32 in the second half to pull out a 79-63 victory. Four Eagles scored in double figures and three had at least six rebounds.

The Eagles are led by two-time All-Big Sky forward Marc Axton, Freshman of the Year Matt Nelson and point guard Danny Pariseau, who started the last half-dozen games of the season.

Giacoletti’s .580 winning percentage is sixth in EWU history but his percentage in Big Sky games was .707. The Eagles were second in the conference in Giacoletti’s first three years, reaching the tournament championship game before breaking through last year.

Burns assisted Giacoletti for three years before going to help at Washington State.

In addition to the coach, the Eagles are replacing Big Sky MVP Alvin Snow, tournament MVP Brendon Merritt and starting win Josh Bernard.