On top of dealing with the stress of dead week at the end a full-time school schedule, the Idaho men’s and women’s basketball teams have played only power-five conference teams.
The Idaho men’s team fell to Southern California – a Pac-12 team – 74-55 Monday in Los Angeles and beat Washington State – another Pac-12 team – Thursday night at the Cowan Spectrum.
The Idaho women’s team lost to Texas Tech – a Big 12 team – 78-62 Wednesday in Lubbock, Texas and will take on seventh-ranked Oregon State at 2 p.m. Saturday in Corvallis, Oregon.
Combined, the teams will travel over 6,000 miles between Monday and Saturday.
Idaho last played USC in 1976.
“They wore us down a little bit,” Idaho men’s coach Don Verlin said of the Trojans. “I thought we executed. I don’t think it was the magnitude of the game, I just thought they wore us down.”
The Battle of the Palouse is the oldest college basketball rivalry on west of the Mississippi River.
“It’s the biggest game on the nonconference schedule,” Verlin said.
Even though the Idaho-Washington State game is a rivalry that players and fans seem to enjoy, Verlin said Idaho does not prepare differently for the game.
“We talk a lot about preparing ourselves,” Verlin said. “So we put more pressure on ourselves than anybody else.”
The time crunch between the USC and Washington State games makes preparation difficult. As of Wednesday afternoon, Idaho had not started its work for its game against the Cougars.
“We don’t have a lot of time to make adjustments,” Verlin said. “We got back yesterday (Tuesday) at 1 o’clock (a.m.). Our guys haven’t even watched any film.”
Idaho junior point guard Perrion Callandret has never had an issue with nerves.
Even during weeks when Idaho plays two Pac-12 games, he does not let the pregame jitters get the best of him.
“I don’t really have any nerves at all really,” Callandret said. “I’m confident in my ability and my team.”
Callandret’s first game against a big-time opponent came during his freshman season when the Vandals played Oklahoma.
“Pretty sure any freshman would be a little nervous about that,” Callandret said. “But when we went in to play USC this past weekend, I felt like I was playing a pick-up game with my friends. I wasn’t nervous, I wasn’t intimidated. I think that’s just confidence in myself and my team that no matter what we’re going to be there to help each other out.”
Sophomore guard Victor Sanders said he does not pay attention to the name on the front of the opponent’s jerseys.
“This is a big game against a Pac-12 team which would be considered a better conference, but that doesn’t matter,” Sanders said. “Having that aggressive attitude that we’re going to win regardless of who’s in front of us is all we got. If we work hard and do what we’re supposed to do, it’ll translate over.”
Callandret said the rivalry with Washington State is a big deal.
“Those other two years we got to play Boise State which is a team we really want to beat here in Idaho,” Callandret said. “This year we don’t get that chance. So this is really our one chance to beat somebody who’s really considered a rival.”
After falling to Texas Tech Wednesday, the schedule does not get any easier for the Idaho women’s team as it faces seventh-ranked Oregon State Saturday on the road.
“It’s going to be a tough week,” Idaho women’s coach Jon Newlee said Monday. “Very hostile environments, I’ve taken teams to both, so I know what I’m in for.”
Newlee said the crowd energy is special when playing schools in the power-five conferences.
“It’ll be loud,” he said. “It’s almost like an NCAA tournament game when you go to those places for us.”
Newlee said some of the younger players may not realize the atmosphere they will be playing in this week.
“I’m really excited to play a Pac-12 team,” freshman guard Mikayla Ferenz said. “I’ve only played in an environment like that once or twice and that was at the high school level.”
Not only are there more people in the arena, but there are more people watching and listening at home. The Pac-12 has it’s own network where fans can access games.
“It’s more exciting than anything,” said Ferenz of the larger audience. “We like to have a big fan base. It’ll be nice to have that support. I think we could surprise a few people.”
While these teams experience the noise and energy of a strong fan base every home game, Idaho does not, at least not compared to a Pac-12 team like Oregon State.
Newlee said he believes these games are a way to experience that kind of environment.
“I think it’ll be a great testing ground for the Big Sky play coming up once we get into conference,” Newlee said.
As a senior guard, Christina Salvatore is used to the stress of traveling, schoolwork and Pac-12 teams.
“It’s a little overwhelming, it’s a quick turnover,” Salvatore said. “We’re focusing in on playing tough teams this week. None of us struggle in the classroom too hard. Our minds are on the game.”
Traveling to Cancun, Mexico, during Thanksgiving break gave the Vandals an idea of the focus traveling takes. Idaho played three games in three days at the Cancun Challenge.
“It’s a quick turnaround,” Salvatore said. “I think a lot of it is mental. You get mentally exhausted from the travel and the playing.”
Salvatore said there is no better way to prepare than playing the game itself.
“Nothing gets you ready until you’re actually in it, doing it,” she said.
As far as extra preparation, Newlee treats these high-intensity weeks like any other.
“We’re preparing for the team,” he said. “Just like we did for Duke and Iowa State.”
Idaho lost 74-68 to then 15th-ranked Duke at the Cancun Challenge, but the Vandals beat Iowa State 97-65 in Cancun.
“Playing Duke and Iowa State, those are really big teams for us,” Ferenz said. “We’ve emphasized playing like we did down there and channeling that intensity again.”
Yet Salvatore said when it comes down to it, the game shouldn’t be any higher-pressure than the rest of the season.
“Once you’re out there, it’s just the game,” Salvatore said. “Any court, it’s a basketball court. You’re just trying to play basketball.”
Tess Fox can be reached at [email protected]Â or on Twitter @tesstakesphotos