Approach with caution

Mark Few doesn’t see a reason to not trust his colleagues and close friends on the Eastern Washington University men’s basketball coaching staff.

Which is why Gonzaga’s eighth-year head coach remains more deeply concerned about tonight’s season opener against the Eagles than, perhaps, some Bulldogs fans might deem necessary.

“At least from what they told me this summer, they think this is the best team they’ve had out there,” Few said, referring to third-year EWU coach Mike Burns and his staff. “Obviously, we’re really good friends, so I wouldn’t doubt that, based on the experience they have and based on them having a player, Rodney Stuckey, who is the best player they’ve ever had out there.”

Stuckey, the Eagles’ 6-foot-5 sophomore sensation, who averaged 24.2 points and 4.1 assists last season, should be the best player on the court when the two teams tip it off at 5 p.m. in front of a sellout crowd of 6,000 at the McCarthey Center.

But the Eagles, who return three other starters from last year’s 15-15 team that finished 9-5 in the Big Sky Conference, seem to match up nicely against GU at other positions as well – particularly on the front line.

Burns admits he really likes his team and adds that he understands the dilemma Few faces in trying to patch the gaping holes left by the departures of NCAA Division I scoring champion Adam Morrison and J.P. Batista, who accounted for 59 percent of the Bulldogs’ points last winter.

Burns is quick to point out, however, that GU, which finished 29-4 and advanced to the Sweet 16 of last year’s NCAA tournament, still has plenty of talented and battle-hardened players.

“They definitely lost some tremendous individual talent in Morrison and Batista,” Burns said. “But the kids they have back – Sean Mallon, Derek Raivio, David Pendergraft, Josh Heyvelt and Pierre Marie (Altidor-Cespedes), those kids are all elite, national-caliber recruits who have played in elite, national-caliber games.

“They know what it takes, because they’ve been there before.”

GU has won 20 straight from the Eagles, whose last win in the series came on Jan. 8, 1990. The Bulldogs have yet to lose in the McCarthey Athletic Center, where they have played 40 games since it opened prior to the start of the 2004-05 season.

“There’s a lot that gets said about this game, because the two schools are so close,” Burns said. “But at the end of the day, those guys haven’t lost in their building, yet, and there’s a good reason why.

“They have a unique combination of coaching and talent that lets them perform at a very high level they play there.”

Both coaches expect a fast-paced game, with plenty of lineup changes and, perhaps, a few more turnovers than either would like.

“We’re attempting to play with greater pace this year,” Burns said. “Obviously, that takes extra effort and determination, and you also have to concentrate more on taking care of the basketball.

“It’s always a little bit of a razor’s edge when you try to play faster, because the faster you play the greater the chance that you may turn the ball over, or your shot selection may suffer. So we’ve still got to make sure we take quality shots and take care of the basketball.”

For the players involved, the game brings a renewed sense of excitement following a long off-season and a couple of meaningless exhibitions.

“There’s nothing like the real thing, especially when the real thing is a rivalry game,” said GU’s Mallon. “And this is definitely a rivalry game.

“We know this is the year (the Eagles) think they can knock us off, and we’re very aware of that, so that should serve as a little extra incentive in itself.”

Washington St. vs. Alabama-Birmingham

The Cougars are in Wisconsin for the John Thompson Foundation Classic, where they’ll play three games in three days to open up the season, starting with today’s opener against UAB.

For first-year head coach Tony Bennett, it’s also a return to his home state as he opens his career at the helm in Milwaukee.

“It’s where I began my playing career. It’s where I’ll begin my college coaching career,” Bennett said. “From that standpoint, it’ll be special.”

The Cougars won’t have center Aron Baynes, who is out with foot and ankle problems for at least two more weeks. WSU will probably play a smaller lineup throughout the tournament.

UAB also has a new coach on the sidelines in former Indiana boss Mike Davis. The Blazers are expected to live up to their nickname, featuring quickness and athleticism in the backcourt that could pose a major challenge to a Cougars team picked to finish 10th in the Pac-10.

But the real test this weekend might come in playing so many games in so short a span. WSU will meet tournament host UW-Milwaukee Saturday, and it will conclude the weekend Sunday by playing Radford.

“It’s going to reveal a lot. You’re going to know a lot about your team,” Bennett said. “It’s almost impossible to get ready for three teams in three nights, so you just get yourself solid, have an idea what the other team does.”

North Dakota St. at Idaho

New Idaho coach George Pfeifer wasn’t about to go overboard after a 46-point exhibition win against NAIA Cascade College last week, but he was pleased with certain aspects.

“We made 32 baskets and 20 came on assists, and we had nine different guys with assists,” Pfeifer said. “If we’re performing with that type of mentality and approach, we’re going to do some good things.”

The Vandals officially open their season against North Dakota State tonight at 7 at Memorial Gym. The Bison were 16-12 last season, with a road win over then-No. 13 ranked Wisconsin. Idaho and North Dakota State split last season, each winning on their home floor.

The Bison return all five starters, including four sophomores who averaged in double figures last season. Guard Ben Woodside averaged 17.5 points and 6-8 senior forward Andre Smith averaged 13.4 points and eight rebounds. NDSU shot 51 percent from the floor en route to a 90-56 exhibition win over Minnesota-Moorhead 90-56 last week.

“It will be an extremely challenging game for us,” Pfeifer said.

Pfeifer said he’ll probably stick with the same starting lineup that opened against Cascade: point guard Mario Mackey, shooting guard Keoni Watson, forwards Michael Crowell and Clyde Johnson, and center Desmond Nwoke. Junior forward Mike Kale (knee), one of three returning Vandals with experience from a year ago, remains sidelined.