Center Court: Idaho’s Michael Crowell

MOSCOW, Idaho – Whether at play or at work, Michael Crowell goes by his own beat.

The 6-foot-7 Idaho senior forward wants to pursue a business he started with his younger brother, Demetrius. Using computer software for mixing and creating beats, they produce music of all varieties. They have a MySpace page to promote their venture.

“We produced a musical score for a movie that was in the Sundance Film Festival,” Crowell said. “We’re working on a (television) commercial right now. We’ve sold music to artists.”

Crowell’s play on the court, meanwhile, has been music to coach George Pfeifer’s ears.

“First and foremost, he’s been the most consistent player in our program,” Pfeifer said.

Crowell put together his best back-to-back games last week, and it couldn’t have happened at a better time. The Vandals had lost 13 consecutive road games this season and hadn’t won a Western Athletic Conference road game since joining the conference in 2005-06. They not only ended the drought but won twice on one of the most difficult road trips. The Vandals downed Hawaii 85-77 in overtime last Thursday and then beat San Jose State 69-67 Saturday.

Against Hawaii, Crowell made a 3-pointer from 22 feet to send the game to overtime. He finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds. Against San Jose State, he had 20 points and eight rebounds. He was named the WAC player of the week. He played all but 57 seconds on the trip. He’s far and away the leader in minutes played.

“There are nights he doesn’t leave the floor,” Pfeifer said. “He’s the smartest player we have in the program, without question.”

Crowell, of Mesa, Ariz., had a difficult adjustment from junior college to Idaho last year. He admitted he played tentatively most of the time last season.

“It was a bad season,” said Crowell, who will graduate in December with a degree in psychology.

His scoring average went from 3.9 to 11.1 this season, second best on the team. He leads in 3-point shooting percentage (.484).

Pfeifer didn’t envision Crowell having the kind of impact this season a year ago.

“All the credit’s to him,” Pfeifer said.

Pfeifer asked Crowell to become more assertive this season.

“He’s taken more shots this season that, for whatever reason, he wouldn’t have taken last year in critical situations,” Pfeifer said.

A case in point was the 3-pointer he made at Hawaii to get the game to OT. As the Vandals moved up the court, Crowell headed for the left wing outside the 3-point arc. He anticipated a pass from Darin Nagle.

“I knew I was going to shoot it regardless,” Crowell said. “I just stayed back a little so I could get the shot off, because I knew they’d be guarding the 3-point line.”

Pfeifer, too, knew Crowell was going to shoot.

“He hunted that shot out,” Pfeifer said. “I’m pretty certain he wasn’t thinking about that last year. I hate the words ‘step up,’ because when you use the words ‘step up’ that means you’re not getting it done. But in this situation I think ‘step up’ is applicable, because we needed him to elevate his game (this year).”

Idaho is 8-19 overall, which represents four more victories over last year, and the Vandals have four more victories in conference (5-10).

“We believe we can win every game,” Crowell said. “Last year we didn’t believe that and it showed. We had a lot of internal problems. This by far is a better team. I still think we’re improving, especially since the beginning of conference.”

Most of the credit for the team’s improvement goes to Crowell, Pfeifer said.

“He’s been the signature piece,” Pfeifer said. “He’s been the glue. He’s just a well-balanced player. You have to be a connoisseur to appreciate his basketball because he’s not going to dunk it. He’s not going to do anything glitzy.”

He’s just going to play to his own beat.