For the first time in more than three decades, the Idaho Vandals men’s basketball team (21-14) is back on college basketball’s biggest stage.
On Thursday night in Oklahoma City, the Big Sky champion Idaho will take the floor in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1990, facing second-seeded Houston (28-6) in the South Region.
It is the kind of moment that once felt distant for a program searching for consistency. Now, it is the culmination of a season that found its identity at exactly the right time.
“This was the team that we envisioned,” Idaho head coach Alex Pribble said. “These guys are experienced. They’re mature, they’re competitive, they’re about the right things. It clicked at the right time for us.”
Idaho’s path to this moment was anything but conventional.
After an up-and-down regular season, the Vandals entered the Big Sky tournament as the seven seed, needing four wins in five days to keep their season alive. What followed was one of the most remarkable runs in program history.
Idaho defeated Sacramento State in the opening round, then knocked off second-seeded Montana State, third-seeded Eastern Washington and fourth-seeded Montana to capture the program’s fifth conference championship.
The Vandals became the first team in conference history to win four games in five days to claim a Big Sky title.
In four tournament games, Idaho allowed just over 63 points per contest, consistently controlling the glass and limiting mistakes. The Vandals committed fewer than 10 turnovers in each of their final three games and finished with a +17 rebounding margin against Sacramento State and +14 against Montana in the championship.
Even on nights when the perimeter shots didn’t fall, Idaho found ways to win. That balance was reflected in the performances of its core players.
Redshirt sophomore guard Kolton Mitchell, playing through a lingering back injury, led the Vandals with 14.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per game in the tournament.
Senior guard Isaiah Brickner delivered one of the defining performances of the championship run, scoring 23 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in the title game against Montana. Freshman Jackson Rasmussen continued his breakout season, averaging 12.5 points and shooting 55.6 percent from beyond the arc in Boise.
All three were named to the Big Sky All-Tournament Team. More importantly, Idaho found strength in its depth and cohesion.
“To do it with this group of guys, it’s just what college basketball should be about,” Pribble said.
Now, that identity will be tested against one of the most complete teams in the country.
Houston enters the tournament as the no. 2 seed in the South Region after finishing as the runner-up in the Big 12, one of the toughest conferences in college basketball. The Cougars advanced to the conference championship game with wins over BYU and Kansas before falling to Arizona.
Led by veteran head coach Kelvin Sampson, Houston has become synonymous with defensive intensity and discipline.
Sampson, one of the most accomplished coaches in the sport, is making his 21st NCAA tournament appearance and has guided the Cougars to two Final Four appearances in the last five tournaments, including a run to the national championship game last season.
Despite the seeding disparity, Sampson made it clear that Idaho’s resume demands respect.
“You have to earn your way into this tournament,” Sampson said. “Whatever seed they are, you start with respect. We respect Idaho.”
Sampson pointed specifically to Idaho’s Big Sky tournament run as evidence of its toughness.
“Being able to win four games in five days in the Big Sky tournament, you’ve got to be tough because those are really good teams and coaches out in that league,” Sampson said. “They’ve got excellent shooters. Everybody that steps on the floor has the ability to make threes. They’ve got a good team.”
Like Idaho, Houston does not rely on a single dominant scorer.
Freshman guard Kingston Flemings leads the Cougars with 16.4 points per game while also contributing 5.3 assists and nearly four rebounds. One of the most experienced players in this tournament, senior guard Emanuel Sharp, adds 15.3 points per game, and Houston’s starting lineup combines for more than 60 points per contest.
Their offensive balance is paired with one of the nation’s most disciplined defensive systems, making them one of the most difficult matchups in the field.
For Idaho, the formula for pulling off an upset is clear.
“We have to be us,” Pribble said. “We have to play to our identity. But when you have a team like Houston, we’re going to have to be very smart with how we take care of the basketball.”
That identity has carried Idaho to this point.
The Vandals have thrived by controlling the glass, generating second-chance opportunities and playing disciplined basketball. They have proven they can win games without relying solely on three-point shooting, instead leaning on efficient shot selection and balanced scoring.
Against Houston, those strengths will be more important than ever. Even still, the Vandals will likely need to have an excellent shooting performance to pull off the upset.
Limiting turnovers will be critical against a defense that thrives on disrupting rhythm. Winning the rebounding battle could provide the extra possessions Idaho needs to stay within reach.
“I don’t have to worry about the competitive side with this group,” Pribble said. “These guys are going to go in, stick to our process and compete with everything we have.”
History suggests the challenge ahead is steep. Since the NCAA tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985, only 11 times has a no. 15 seed defeated a no. 2 seed.
Regardless of the outcome, Idaho’s return to the NCAA Tournament represents a defining moment for the program. For the players and coaches who have carried Idaho to this stage, simply being there is not the goal.
The Vandals have spent the past week proving they belong. On Thursday night, they will get the opportunity to show it on the national stage. The game will tip off at 7 p.m. on truTV with the winner advancing to play the winner of St. Mary’s and Texas A&M.