A fired up Idaho coach Don Verlin had a simple yet powerful challenge for his team at the conclusion of Thursday’s practice — Idaho can’t lose twice in a row at home. Idaho became the first Western Athletic Conference program to drop a home game on Nov. 9 when Wright State came to Memorial Gym and downed the Vandals 80-70, and pending the result of this game could be the only team in the conference without a win.
Protecting home court doesn’t get any easier with reigning Big Sky champion and 2012 NCAA tournament participant Montana headed to Memorial Gym Saturday evening. Idaho’s future conference rival has beaten Idaho in three straight dating back to 2010.
So what does Idaho need to do to fend off the Grizzlies?
“Defense and rebounding,” junior forward Stephen Madison said. “Our offense is always great, we can always score. It’s just getting stops. In the second half (against Wright State), whatever it was, we just couldn’t get stops when we needed it.”
A slow start played a part. Idaho turned the ball over 10 times in the first half allowing Wright State to get 11 more shots and take a 40-29 halftime lead. Idaho went punch-for-punch with Wright State in the second half but it wasn’t enough to cut through the deficit.
“This is probably a better team than last week. We’ve got to be intense and aggressive,” Madison said. “They got great shooters. The key is we have to pressure them and not let them get them open shots If we let them get open for wide open shots they’re just going to make them all game.”
Idaho allowed Wright State to sink nine three-pointers on 25 attempts, with many of the misses coming off of open looks.
Montana comes to Memorial Gym 1-1, with its loss coming at Colorado State, an NCAA tournament participant last season. The Grizzlies took a seven point lead in to the locker room but couldn’t withstand the Rams in the second half, losing 72-65. Montana shot 7-17 from three-point land, meaning Idaho could be in for another long night defensively.
The bright spot is the Grizzlies will likely be without their leading scorer, and best perimeter defender, in senior G Will Cherry. Doesn’t mean the Grizzlies don’t have other scoring options. Sophomore guard Keron DeShields, junior forward Mathias Ward and senior guard Kareem Jamar are averaging double-digit scoring in this young season.
Montana beat Idaho 57-52 in Missoula in the last meeting. Cherry went off for 24 points, Idaho center Kyle Barone collected a double-double.