The Idaho Vandals men’s basketball team spent last March celebrating a championship and its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 36 years. Now, as the program enters the 2026-27 season, almost everything about the roster looks different.
Head coach Alex Pribble returns just four players from last year’s 21-15 team, which captured the Big Sky Conference Tournament championship and earned a No. 15 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Twelve newcomers have joined the program, leaving Idaho with the challenge of replacing much of its championship roster while maintaining the culture that helped produce its historic postseason run.
“I think this group has a high ceiling,” Pribble said. “We have very good positional size across the board. We’re tougher, than we’ve been in the past. I think we can really hang our hat on the defensive side of the basketball.”
That physicality is expected to become the foundation of Idaho’s identity. Pribble said the team’s first motto is “down 10,” a reference to the mentality that the Vandals must outwork their opponents every day, regardless of circumstances.
The approach is particularly important for a roster filled with players looking to establish themselves in new roles. Pribble described the group as having an underdog mentality, with several players eager to prove themselves after waiting for opportunities or arriving from different programs.
Among those opportunities is a bigger role for senior guard Miles Klapper. After averaging 3.7 points per game last season, Klapper enters his fourth year with the program looking to become a more significant contributor.
Senior guard Kristian Gonzalez is another important piece. Gonzalez appeared in just one game last season, scoring 18 points in Idaho’s season-opening victory over Washington State before an injury sidelined him for the remainder of the year. He averaged 11.4 points per game during the 2024-25 season and returned to the floor with a 24-point performance against Boise State in an exhibition.
Pribble also expects senior forward Seth Joba to take on a larger role. Joba appeared in all 36 games last season, averaging 5.2 points and 3.5 rebounds while leading Idaho with 24 blocks. After frequently coming off the bench, he is expected to become a full-time starter.
The returning group also includes sophomore forward Will Jenson, who Pribble said has added 15 pounds of muscle and continued to develop. Jenson is expected to provide depth in the frontcourt.
Idaho’s newcomers bring a combination of size, experience and offensive versatility. Junior guard Kase Wynott, a Lapwai native and former Washington State player, returns to Idaho after establishing himself as one of the most accomplished high school basketball players in state history. His scoring ability gives the Vandals another potential offensive centerpiece alongside Gonzalez.
The frontcourt also looks considerably different. Junior forward Mo Diao arrives after averaging 11.4 points and 7.3 rebounds at McCook Community College. Senior forward Diego Trejo-Delgado comes to Moscow following a productive season at Saint Martin’s, where he averaged 15.2 points and 6.9 rebounds. Junior forward Hudson Ward, a transfer from Western Michigan, adds another athletic, versatile option to the starting lineup.
Pribble believes the roster’s versatility will separate this year’s team from last season’s group. Rather than relying on traditional positional roles, Idaho has several players capable of operating both inside and outside.
Defensively, Idaho also enters the season with a better understanding of its system. The Vandals implemented their anchor defensive system last season, emphasizing rim protection and limiting opponents’ opportunities around the basket. Pribble said the team gradually improved throughout the year, eventually playing its best defense during the Big Sky Tournament.
This season, with the entire coaching staff returning, Idaho has been able to build on that foundation from the beginning of preseason practices.
The early results have been encouraging. In an exhibition against Boise State, Idaho outrebounded the Broncos 36-29 despite facing a program that had led the Mountain West in rebounding differential for three consecutive seasons. Pribble said the Vandals won the rebounding battle in all three of their exhibition games.
Offensively, Idaho expects to maintain its emphasis on perimeter shooting. Last season, the Vandals averaged 77.8 points per game while making 9.9 3-pointers per contest. However, Pribble wants his players to prioritize getting to the rim and earning free throws before settling for outside shots.
The biggest question may be how quickly the newcomers adjust to their roles. Idaho was picked sixth in the Big Sky preseason coaches and media polls.
For Pribble, the championship from last season established what the program’s process can produce, but he does not want the players to become focused on repeating the outcome.
“Now we’ve proven it, proven that the process works,” Pribble said. “So now can we be consistent with that throughout the year?”
The Vandals open their season Monday night against George Fox at ICCU Arena before beginning a schedule that includes road matchups against Colorado State, Nevada, Washington State and Arizona State. The game will tip off at 7 p.m. PT on ESPN+.