A flawed start from Idaho against Eastern Washington in Cheney Friday night likely sent a disapproving shiver down the spines of Vandal fans. They had seen this before, but only once. The last time Idaho’s early play was anywhere comparable was during its Nov. 10 rout at the hands of Nevada, a much better team than that of the Eagles.
But in the dogfight of Big Sky play, the Vandals proved what can come from taking chances and piling up hustle-points after being out-balled early. Idaho completely barricaded EWU’s trail of confidence, leading to a microscopic second-half offensive output for the Eagles and a 58-51 Idaho victory, its lowest scoring win of the season.
It surely wasn’t positive all-around for the Vandals. Idaho committed 13 turnovers, three more than EWU, and was uncommonly below average from deep. Field-goal percentages weren’t outwardly impressive for either squad and no player was thoroughly outstanding.
Looking at the statistics, what made the difference for Idaho were the hustle numbers – stats like rebounds and fast-break points that exemplified key areas in the win. Just recording the act of tight defense, when a player flusters his opponent and forces errant shots, is impossible, but judging from Idaho’s 39-29 victory on the boards and 14-2 fast-break-point win, the Vandals’ aggression is apparent.
Midway through the first, the Eagles had taken a 20-6 lead and it quickly felt like a game that the Vandals had already lost. Idaho’s offense looked slow and timid – the state in which it is seldom successful.
In Idaho knockouts like those against Washington State and Western Michigan, the Vandals fired on offense, sometimes deviated from play-calls, sprinted everywhere and downright intimidated the competition.
While we did see both, Idaho got to attacking. As the game advanced, the Vandals displayed more active offense and suffocating defense. The Idaho comeback began right as Eastern took its largest lead, and the Eagles would struggle to find any kind of flow after the Vandal offense began to soar.
Oftentimes, EWU toiled in progressing beyond the half-court line. Idaho wasn’t employing a full-court press to its extent, but instead using double-team traps to deny Eagle advancement. Once a turnover was forced, off to the races went the Vandals.
The second began with four quick turnovers (one unforced) and Idaho took its first lead. When the offense plays like every possession is a fast break, it seemingly ignites. Sophomore guard Trevon Allen exemplified this early in the half, scoring seven quick points on bold but wise shot attempts. Allen once appeared as if he was setting the offense up, than scampered around a defender, straight to the top of the key for a stop-and-pop bucket. Idaho has the scorers, they simply need to give themselves opportunities.
Winning on turnovers and breakaways obviously were tremendous helps, but the hardnose under-the-rim play from senior forwards Brayon Blake, Jordan Scott and surprisingly, senior guard Victor Sanders, completely snuffed out Eastern’s offense.
It’s what Idaho basketball should look like and what everyone, including the media and Big Sky coaches, predicted it would before the season. An Eagle miss meant possibly a full minute until possession was regained. Scott was almost always in the middle of a mess of white jerseys, but his arms were constantly ripping down boards and whipping the ball beyond the arc for another go at a bucket.
Idaho ended the game on a five-minute field goal drought, but the defense and long-running game of keep-away granted the Vandals the first win by a visiting team at Reese Court this season.
However, the Big Sky Conference is heavily contested this season and Idaho cannot afford to start or finish games sluggishly. The Vandals have showed glimpses of what can come from out-hustling the competition, but it needs to come consistently and in every game.
Colton Clark can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @coltonclark95