Idaho Vandals

RECORD: 8-5 overall, 1-1 WAC

COMING UP: Saturday vs. Louisiana Tech, 5:05 p.m.; Monday vs. New Mexico State, 7:05 p.m.

OUTLOOK: It’s been a fairly turbulent first six weeks of the season for the Vandals, but coach Don Verlin is pleased with the team’s progress. UI earned a split on the longest road trip of the WAC season, winning at Hawaii and losing at San Jose State, and has shown improvement on defense. “I was really happy with the way we competed on the road,” Verlin said. The Vandals enter a make-or-break stretch Saturday, when WAC-leading Louisiana Tech visits. The Bulldogs (14-2, 2-0) have perhaps the best inside-outside combo with 6-foot-11 Magnum Rolle (13.3 ppg) and wing Kyle Gibson (20.9 ppg).