The University of Idaho Argonaut

Vandal guard Mac Hopson drives past Hawaii defenders Brandon Adams, left, and Paul Campbell to the basket during the first half of play in Cowan Spectrum. The Vandals won the contest 78-69 with a season best effort from 3-point range, knocking down 14 from distance. Nick Groff/Argonaut

After a hard-fought year of up-and-down basketball, the Idaho men’s basketball team has finally earned the chance to put the bad games behind and start fresh with everything on the line. Idaho will travel to Reno this week to compete in the WAC basketball tournament. The winner of the WAC tournament will move  to the NCAA tournament, also known as “March Madness.”

The tournament is single-elimination, so the season comes down to one game. There has been inconsistent play in the WAC this year, which opens the door for any team to take the winning spot.

Going into the tournament, Idaho has won the last two of its games with home wins over San Jose State and Hawaii.

Turnovers have been a struggle all season for the Vandals, and playing the last home game turnover-free from  point guard and center Marvin Jefferson was a big improvement.

With all this momentum and solid playing from across the lineup, the Vandals will take it with them to Reno in hopes of winning it all.

“We have a lot of experience on the team this year,” Hopson said. “We’re looking to win the whole thing.”

Out of the nine WAC teams, only eight moved on to the tournament. After a loss to Idaho Saturday, Hawaii will not be competing in the tournament, as it sits last in the conference at 3-11.

Idaho will be placed as the No. 7 seed, out of eight, going into tournament play.

With games going either way all season long for most WAC teams, the tournament could be anybody’s game. Any  team can step up and win a few games, resulting in the title and a trip to the NCAA tournament.

The season has come down to 40 minutes, one game.

Idaho takes on Nevada in the first round, who is the No. 2 seed. Nevada will bring a competitive match as the Vandals have suffered close losses to the team in the past, first in Reno, 76-68, and later in Cowan Spectrum, 67-66.

Nick Groff - Argonaut