Taking a break from conference play, the Idaho Vandals will head down to Pocatello for a BracketBuster match-up with future conference rival Idaho State. Idaho will receive a return trip from Idaho State next season, expected to be Idaho’s last season in the WAC. Meaning, the rivalry should perceivably go on every season from now.
Tip-off is Saturday, 1 p.m. PST.
The rivalry has been in hiatus since 2008, at the behest of Idaho State, Idaho coach Don Verlin said.
“It should be a fun game, it’s a rivalry game, it’s a rivalry that’s gone on for a long time,” he said. “It hasn’t gone on since I’ve been here because they haven’t wanted to play. Anytime you get Idaho and Idaho State together it should be a lot of fun.”
(VIDEO – Idaho coach Don Verlin on the BracketBuster against Idaho State)
The last time these two teams met were on Dec. 29, 2008, a 61-59 Bengal victory in Pocatello. Idaho’s last victory in the series came in 2004, a 71-59 triumph at the Cowan Spectrum.
The Bengals sit at 5-20 and 4-12 in Big Sky play. Idaho State is coming off a blowout win over Montana State and a seven-point loss to the Big Sky’s first place team Montana.
While the renewal of the rivalry may be a good thing for the fans, both coaches are a little bit annoyed that the game will cut in to the conference schedule. Both teams have struggled as of late, but obviously there is still much to play for when it comes to position for the respective conference tournaments.
“I haven’t been a big proponent of it, because it takes away from preparation from your league. It can be taxing for your travel, I wasn’t a proponent of the BracketBuster game. If you can get on TV it might be worth your while,” Idaho State’s first year coach Bill Evans said.
Evans said travel is the biggest thing he’s worried about, noting Northern Arizona taking a trip to Hawaii. It’s likely the Bengals will have to take a break from Big Sky action next February for its return trip to Moscow.
“It’s really hard on your team, especially on this time of the year,” he said.
Verlin echoed similar sentiments.
“I’d prefer to not play it, to be honest with you, not because of the opponent but because of the time where it’s at,” he said. “We’re preparing for conference game, conference game, conference game right now and to add an out of conference game that really doesn’t mean a lot. It’s going to have no effect on our season one way or another.”
This will be Idaho’s first trip to Idaho State’s Reed Gym since Idaho left the Big Sky for the Big West in 1996. Idaho State had previously played its men’s basketball games at Holt Arena, home of its football program — Similar to what Idaho does with the Kibbie Dome and the Cowan Spectrum.