After a season of ups and downs that included the signing of a new head coach and veteran leader Trevon Allen performing at a high level, the University of Idaho men’s basketball team prepares to kickstart their 2020-2021 season on a high note. The Vandals finished last season with an 8-24 (4-16 Big Sky) record placing last in the Big Sky conference.
The Vandals will be without their top scorer from a year ago as Allen graduated last spring and now plays professional basketball in Poland. Allen finished last season as the second leading scorer in the Big Sky averaging 21.6 points per game. The Vandals offense relied heavily on Allen, but this season the offense will look different due to Allen’s absence.
Apart from last season where the Vandals only had two senior leaders, the leadership this season will be guided by five seniors with plenty of experience that will help the new recruits succeed. The seniors guiding the team are forwards Scott Blakney and Thiombane Babacar and guards Damen Thacker, Ja’Vary Christmas and Chance Garvin. Their leadership during a time of uncertainty following this season holds value.
“They’ve been a really good example in terms of how we do things,” Zac Claus, head coach of UI men’s basketball, said. “They understand what’s expected, the accountability for yourself and holding your teammates accountable… They’ve been a mentor to the incoming guys… You lean on your seniors and for us, fortunately, we have five terrific ones who are doing a great job so far.”
The Vandals will start the season with non-conference games and a very young team compared to last season. They added five new recruits this season with three new freshmen and two transfer students. Forward Tanner Christenson along with guards Hunter-Jack Madden and Ethan Kilgore highlight the freshmen class.
Sophomore guard Kendall McHugh and junior guard DeAndre Robinson are the transfer students that will look to make an impact early on for the Vandals. The team’s success will heavily rely on how the younger talent will perform throughout the season.
“Our new guys have been terrific,” Claus said. “They’ve come in eager. They’ve come in with a work ethic. They’re also being extremely coachable.”
“What I’m trying to do is help a lot of the newer guys, the younger guys,” Blakney said. “Show them what we do, how we do it.”
The biggest difference from last season will be the impact of COVID-19 during the season. With each team in the Big Sky tested three days a week, the importance of health during the season will play a bigger factor than it ever has. Maintaining athletes’ health will be an even bigger priority than years past. Conditioning athletes this season will be different from previous years, but Claus believes they are taking the right steps.
“We’re thinking about it each and every day,” Claus said. “We talk with Justin Pomar, our trainer, everyday about our guys. We make sure that if we need to limit somebody’s reps, if we need to slow them down or if we need to hold them out of a practice, we’re always aware of that. But at the same time we have to physically get ourselves sharp and ready to go for this season.”
The Vandals will look to improve from last season with a new squad. Claus looks to guide a new team to success as hopes for a successful campaign remain high.
Armin Mesinovic can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @arminmesinovic.