Fans knew that coming into 2019 there were going to be some growing pains with Idaho Men’s Basketball.
Idaho Interim Head Coach Zac Claus came into the year with a few familiar faces but had a lot of new players to work into the Vandal system.
“We like the progress that the guys are making. They are competing and playing hard,” Claus said. “We need to do a better job of putting together 40 consecutive minutes on a game-to-game basis, but we know that the guys are buying into what we are doing, offensively and defensively.”
Here is what you need to know about Vandal Basketball ahead of the Battle for the Palouse.
Banged up:
Idaho (3-5) returns home after a one-stop road trip to the Emerald City, where Seattle University came away with the win 74-55.
The Vandals had the Redhawks within seven points late in the second half but couldn’t complete the comeback.
Idaho might have simply run out of gas, only having seven healthy players available.
Standouts like senior Trevon Allen and redshirt junior Marquell Fraser sat out at Tuesday’s practice, and junior Ja’Vary Christmas and sophomore BJ Simmons are still questionable for Wednesday’s game.
When asked if there has been a change to the game plan due to injuries, Claus trusts the team and whoever will be available come Wednesday night.
“You’re right in terms of having a lack of firepower, but the guys that are healthy and able have been terrific,” Claus said. “They are working their tails off on a daily basis – they’ll be ready.”
New faces stepping up:
With so many new players now wearing the black and gold, we have all been waiting to see how the newest Vandals would perform on the court.
Graduate transfer Quinton Forrest had his third double-double of the season against Seattle U, and the six-foot-four-inch guard is leading the team in rebounds with over nine per game.
Forrest is scoring efficiently as well, shooting 44 percent from the floor.
Junior Keyshaad Dixon was pointed out by Claus for his hustle and defensive intensity. Dixon scored a season-high 13 points against the Redhawks and will continue to see an increase in minutes with only seven players expected to suit up Wednesday.
Second half shortcomings:
The second half has not been kind for the Vandals this season.
In seven out of the eight games this year, Idaho has been tied or had the lead at the half, but only have three wins on the year. North Dakota State is the only team to have a halftime lead this year.
Claus said the keys to picking up wins late in the game are: “executing offensively, taking care of the ball, taking great shots for us – containing the dribble, contesting threes, finishing possessions with physical boxouts. That is what we have to do in order to have success against a quality team like Washington State.”
Idaho will host Washington State at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Cowan Spectrum.
Zack Kellogg can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @kellogg_zack.