Big Sky Basketball Tournament moves to Boise
The Big Sky announced Monday that the annual Big Sky Basketball Tournament is relocating from Reno, Nevada to Boise, Idaho starting in 2019.
Idaho men’s basketball head coach Don Verlin said in a news release he is excited for the tournament to head to a city full of Vandal alums.
“Obviously I’m very excited for it to be in Boise because that’s where the University of Idaho’s biggest alumni base is,” Verlin said. “Through the years we have been able to play a few games in Boise, but this will give us an opportunity to play there every year. It’s been such a positive experience with the tournament at a neutral site, I’m just excited for the state of Idaho and the city of Boise that we can be able to host this event.”
Idaho women’s head coach Jon Newlee said in a news release he looks forward to the support the Vandals will find in Boise.
“The fact that conference tournament is going to be in Boise is fantastic for us,” Newlee said. “There is a huge population of Vandal alumni and fans down there. I know they are just going to come out and support us like crazy. We are very excited about the fan support we anticipate having in that tournament”.
The 2018 tournament will remain in Reno before relocating.
Idaho football opens conference play with South Alabama
Idaho football heads south for the second straight road game and first game of Big Sky Conference play. This is the fourth game in the series between the two programs. South Alabama won the first three before Idaho defeated them in the Kibbie last season 38-31. Idaho is on a two-game losing streak as it travels south.
Idaho takes on South Alabama 11 a.m. Sept. 23 in Mobile, Alabama.
Idaho tennis-standout is nationally ranked
Junior Marianna Petrei starts her junior season as the no. 71 ranked singles player in the Oracle Intercollegiate Tennis Rankings.
Petrei went 10-0 last season at no. 1 to cap off her second straight undefeated season in Big Sky Conference play. She finished 22-3 overall in 2017 and lead the conference with a 19-1 record at the no. 1 position in the spring. Petrei went 13 matches in a row with a win, losing just two sets. To cap the season off she was voted a unanimous MVP to take home the top honor in the conference for a second year in a row. Petrei is the first Idaho player to be nationally ranked since Gabriela Niculescu in 2010.