Instead of taking the week to get ready for a home game Friday as the original conference schedule outlined, Weber State now has a quick turnaround from last week?s action and will face Idaho State on Wednesday to continue their game that was suspended earlier this month.
The break would have undoubtedly been welcomed, giving the Wildcats time to mend minor wounds and refine their play, but the players don?t seem to mind.
?They would just rather keep playing games,? WSU head coach Randy Rahe said. ?We?re going to embrace it and get ready to go. From a coach?s standpoint, it?s nice to have a bye week so that you can have more practice time. From a player?s standpoint, they would just rather play, so let?s go play.?
Since the Wildcats and the Bengals last met, ISU picked up its first conference victory with a 73-69 win over Northern Colorado last Thursday. Their five conference losses were by an average of more than 12 points.
That stat doesn?t tell the full story for Idaho State. While it makes it seem the orange and black aren?t capable of much, they?ve been in close games against the top competition in the conference, but games have gotten away from them late. The Bengals lost to talented Eastern Washington by seven points at home, and had a one-point halftime lead over the sharpshooting North Dakota Fighting Hawks before getting blown out in the end.
The three-guard lineup of senior Ethan Telfair, junior Geno Luzcando and freshman Brandon Boyd provide different ways for the Bengals to get on the board. All three can score in a variety of ways, but none more so than Telfair, who leads his team with 16.5 points per game.
Last season, the Bengals gave the Wildcats their first conference loss of the season in Pocatello ? at the hands of a buzzer-beater from Telfair.
?It?s the same old thing when you play Idaho State. Records are out the door,? Rahe said. ?They?re going to play their best game of the year. They?re going to play their most inspired game of the year and we?ve got to walk in there with the mindset that we?re going to do the same. It?s always tough up there. No matter what.?
Since their previous matchup was suspended, Idaho State has been playing their games inside of Reed Gym instead of Holt Arena.
Holt Arena is the same venue in which the ISU football team plays its games. During basketball season, the floor is placed on one end of the field on top of the turf. With the built-in bleachers on one side of the floor and portable seating on the other, there?s a lot of empty space inside the large arena. Reed Gym is similar to what would be found in a high school gymnasium, but slightly larger.
?Personally I prefer Reed Gym. It?s a more high-energy, intensified atmosphere,? Rahe said. ?The dome is a little dark. It?s not very loud. It almost puts you to sleep at times. When you walk into that gym, you?re going to feel the intensity, you?re going to feel the energy. It feel mores like a college basketball environment because of the loudness and the energy.?
When the game resumes at 7 p.m., Weber State will hold a 13-2 lead with 15:02 remaining in the first half.
The break would have undoubtedly been welcomed, giving the Wildcats time to mend minor wounds and refine their play, but the players don?t seem to mind.
?They would just rather keep playing games,? WSU head coach Randy Rahe said. ?We?re going to embrace it and get ready to go. From a coach?s standpoint, it?s nice to have a bye week so that you can have more practice time. From a player?s standpoint, they would just rather play, so let?s go play.?
Since the Wildcats and the Bengals last met, ISU picked up its first conference victory with a 73-69 win over Northern Colorado last Thursday. Their five conference losses were by an average of more than 12 points.
That stat doesn?t tell the full story for Idaho State. While it makes it seem the orange and black aren?t capable of much, they?ve been in close games against the top competition in the conference, but games have gotten away from them late. The Bengals lost to talented Eastern Washington by seven points at home, and had a one-point halftime lead over the sharpshooting North Dakota Fighting Hawks before getting blown out in the end.
The three-guard lineup of senior Ethan Telfair, junior Geno Luzcando and freshman Brandon Boyd provide different ways for the Bengals to get on the board. All three can score in a variety of ways, but none more so than Telfair, who leads his team with 16.5 points per game.
Last season, the Bengals gave the Wildcats their first conference loss of the season in Pocatello ? at the hands of a buzzer-beater from Telfair.
?It?s the same old thing when you play Idaho State. Records are out the door,? Rahe said. ?They?re going to play their best game of the year. They?re going to play their most inspired game of the year and we?ve got to walk in there with the mindset that we?re going to do the same. It?s always tough up there. No matter what.?
Since their previous matchup was suspended, Idaho State has been playing their games inside of Reed Gym instead of Holt Arena.
Holt Arena is the same venue in which the ISU football team plays its games. During basketball season, the floor is placed on one end of the field on top of the turf. With the built-in bleachers on one side of the floor and portable seating on the other, there?s a lot of empty space inside the large arena. Reed Gym is similar to what would be found in a high school gymnasium, but slightly larger.
?Personally I prefer Reed Gym. It?s a more high-energy, intensified atmosphere,? Rahe said. ?The dome is a little dark. It?s not very loud. It almost puts you to sleep at times. When you walk into that gym, you?re going to feel the intensity, you?re going to feel the energy. It feel mores like a college basketball environment because of the loudness and the energy.?
When the game resumes at 7 p.m., Weber State will hold a 13-2 lead with 15:02 remaining in the first half.
