WAC stars have aligned
There hasn’t been much reason to write the following prior to an Idaho men’s basketball game the last few years: Get there early.
But there is some drawing power for tonight’s contest with Nevada. First, it’s senior night for three Vandals, including top scorer Keoni Watson. Second, Nevada has emerged as one of the best programs in the West with three consecutive NCAA tournament appearances. Third, the game will be played in cozy Memorial Gym, seating capacity of 1,500, instead of the spacious Cowan Spectrum inside the Kibbie Dome.
The Dome is occupied by the annual Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, forcing relocation of the game to Memorial. Idaho officials are encouraging fans to arrive early because there are a limited number of tickets available.
Former UI coach Leonard Perry liked playing games at Memorial Gym because small crowds could still create a loud, hostile environment in the quaint building.
“I’d rather play in the Spectrum, no question, but we don’t have a choice,” Idaho first-year coach George Pfeifer said. “It is our practice gym. I don’t know about (having) an advantage. Once the ball goes up, it’s going to be a basketball game.”
Make that a basketball game against an accomplished program. There are no official records in Idaho’s media guide, but some believe Nevada could be the highest ranked opponent to visit Moscow. The 11th-ranked Wolf Pack have player of the year candidate Nick Fazekas, who, with an average game of 20 points, would move past Wyoming’s Fennis Dembo and BYU’s Michael Smith and into third place on the WAC’s all-time scoring list.
Even when Fazekas was sidelined with an injury at midseason, the Wolf Pack won a pair of WAC road games. A few weeks ago, some coaches listed junior guard Marcelus Kemp (17.9 points) among conference player of the year candidates. Ramon Sessions (13.2 ppg) and Kyle Shiloh (9.7) are mainstays.
“They’re just so solid in everything they do,” Pfeifer said. “I’m not sure they get enough credit for how well they defend. They have athleticism, but they have thickness and height. You don’t push them around.”
Nevada defeated Gonzaga at KeyArena in Seattle and Cal at HP Pavilion in San Jose this season. Last year, the Wolf Pack edged Kansas at Phog Allen Fieldhouse, defeated Georgia on the Bulldogs’ home court and went toe-to-toe with UCLA in Anaheim.
Tonight will be the smallest crowd for a Nevada game this season. The Wolf Pack’s 78-70 win at WCC-leading Santa Clara in November drew 1,734.
“I don’t know much about the facilities, I don’t know why we’re doing it, I don’t know where we’re playing to be honest with you,” Nevada coach Mark Fox said. “It’s not really going to concern me.”
Hawaii defeated Idaho last season at Memorial Gym, which provided some warm and cold memories for veteran coach Riley Wallace.
“When I got with (ex-Vandals coach) Don Monson at a golf tournament in Santa Clara I told him I know why he won so many games in Memorial Gym,” Wallace said. “But I’m old, so it brought back memories because I played in gyms like that. The only problem was it was freezing cold and they couldn’t find the heaters.”
The Vandals, who haven’t had a winning season since 1998-99, lost to Nevada 81-55 last month in Reno. They’ve lost nine straight and rank last in the WAC in offense, defense, rebounding and assist-to-turnover ratio.
“I think there were some ill effects of that (losing streak) in Saturday’s (loss to UC Riverside), that was one of the first times,” Pfeifer said. “There was a flatness to the way we played, and it wasn’t everybody. It’s human. It’s not acceptable and it’s frustrating. … One of the things we can control is our effort. That’s something we really need to focus in on.”
Whether they’re playing in a big arena or a small gym.