Sports Briefs
Vandal men release tentative TV schedule
Idaho men’s basketball has released its television schedule for the 2012-2013 season, which includes at least five games that are guaranteed to be broadcasted. A press release from the Western Athletic Conference stated that the ESPN family of networks will broadcast at least two and up to three games. The Vandals’ away leg at Louisiana Tech., on Thursday, Jan. 17 along with a home match-up with WAC powerhouse Utah State on Thursday, Jan. 31, are the guaranteed games at the moment. If Idaho reaches the WAC Tournament final, it will have one last chance to appear on ESPN. A Nov. 28 rivalry game at Washington State will air on the Pac-12 Network. ROOT Sports will broadcast Idaho vs. Seattle U. at Key Arena, in addition to Idaho vs. Denver in the Cowan Spectrum.
Olorunnife makes third international stop
The WAC’s all-time leading rebounder will make her third stop on what has seemingly been a tour of international basketball at the professional level. Yinka Olorunnife, a former post player for Idaho women’s basketball, will join the Townsville Fire of Queensland, Australia, for the 2012-2013 season. Olorunnife was named an Associated Press Honorable Mention All-American following her senior season and the Windsor, Ontario, native has continued to strut her stuff in three separate countries. Following her graduation in Moscow, Olorunnife signed a professional contract to play with Caja Rural, a top flight Spanish team. Deciding that Spanish basketball wasn’t the right fit for her, she opted to play in Finland where she led Forssan Alku to a fourth place league finish while averaging 13 points, 10.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists-per-game. In Australia, Olorunnife will team up with ex-Gonzaga standout Kayla Standish and Shanavia Dowdell of La. Tech, both of whom she played against during her time in Moscow.
Vandal legends to be honored
Ahead of Idaho’s clash with Wyoming in the Kibbie Dome Saturday, five former Vandal athletes and an entire Idaho team will be inducted into the 2012 Hall of Fame class. Longtime Idaho supporter Jim Anderson will be inducted to the lifetime support category for his contributions to the athletic department. Ex-football and baseball standout Dick Mooney is also an inductee into the lifetime support category. Former basketball player Riley Smith, who holds the single-season record for field goal percentage (65.1 percent), free throws made (160), and free throw attempts (230) will be in attendance as will tennis standouts Patty Shanander and Cathy Shanander-Law. The sisters went 16-0 as doubles partners during the 1988 spring tennis season. Finally, the 1966 Big Sky champion Vandal baseball team will be inducted for a phenomenal season that saw Idaho fall just short of a College World Series appearance.