Vandal defense will be tested

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Vandal defense will be tested at away game with Western Illinois Leathernecks



The Idaho men are doing well this year, and have a big road test this week.

This Thursday, the University of Idaho men's team will travel to Macomb to take on the Western Illinois Leathernecks before heading to South Dakota on Saturday.

Western Illinois came to Moscow last year in what ended up a 67-63 win for the Vandals. This year could produce similar results as 2-5 Western's only noticeable strength is in their assist game. Otherwise, they give up nearly 70 points per game while putting up a 391 shooting percentage.

Despite that, Coach Verlin knows not to underestimate any opponent.

"Good, solid team," said Verlin. "A team that plays very well at home. Got a real good player in Garret Covington, similar to a Lacy, similar to a Cory Hawkins...A three man who can score in all three ways. Gonna test our defense no question about it. They got some bigs that can shoot. Very well coached."

The 4-3 Idaho Vandals will tip off against Western Illinois this Thursday. They'll continue their road trip with a 2:00 p.m. battle against South Dakota State this Saturday, and will finally be back home to take on Walla Walla on Thursday the 18th.

 

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New players need time to settle in



It?s the beginning of the men?s basketball season at Western Illinois, but it?s never too early to take a look at the team?s progress so far under new head coach Billy Wright.

The record is less than what we might desire at 2-5, but there have been some extremely tough games on the schedule, including road losses to William & Mary, Akron and Cleveland State, all teams that are ranked highly in their respective divisions. With back-to-back home games coming up at the end of this week, we?ll see if Western can continue its home winning streak after defeating Southeastern Louisiana and Greenville to close out November.

Through seven games last year, the Leathernecks were 3-4, averaging 61.3 points per game. Interestingly enough under a defensive minded coach like Wright, the team is averaging 62.5, but that?s not even a blip on the statistical anomaly front. However, an area of concern may be that Wright?s defense is giving up just under 70 points per game, compared to 55.7 for last year?s team.
But that can be easily explained, too. Through seven games last year, Western played Idaho, Nebraska, Pacific, Eureka, Southeastern Louisiana, Greenville and Eastern Illinois. Last year?s team lost to Southeastern Louisiana on the road, but beat them at home this season and didn?t play William & Mary until early January, a game in which they lost 67-78.

Remember though that this is a group of young men adjusting to a new system under Wright, and many of these players are new to the program and are still getting their feet wet. As the players become more accommodated to their roles and their priorities on the court, they will grow and become a united entity that will be quite formidable when it comes to conference play in the Summit League.

Take a look at sophomore Garret Covington, leading the team with a whopping 16.4 points per game. Jabari Sandifer and Jamie Batish are behind him at just over seven each. Once this team gets rolling, the points will come, as there are six Leathernecks putting up over five points each. Western is running neck and neck with its opponents? average, as many categories are too close to pick a dominant winner.
With four non-conference games remaining for Western against Idaho, Alabama State, Memphis and Anderson, I can see this team being 5-6 when conference play begins. While it won?t be easy by any stretch of the imagination, the toughest game on that schedule is the Memphis matchup at the FedEx Forum, home of the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Tigers play in an NBA arena for a reason; they are a team that is accustomed to going to the NCAA Tournament and going far into March Madness. Western?s going to have a fight on its hands as Memphis will be defending its home court. As it stands, the Leathernecks will have a good shot to show what they can do at home, before opening up Summit League play in Western Hall on Jan. 2 against Fort Wayne.

And don?t forget, it?s the students? job, as fans here at Western, to give their team a home worth defending. So show Leatherneck pride, and come out to a game, men?s or women?s, and make this place a nightmare for opposing teams.