The Front Row Feb. 14, 2010
Idaho's men's basketball team had a turnaround season last year, posting a winning record (17-16) for the first time in 10 seasons, and playing in a postseason tournament (no, not the NCAAs, but the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament) for the first time since 1990.
This season, not so much.
Heading into Saturday night's game at Fresno State, the Vandals were stumbling along at 11-12, 3-8 in the Western Athletic Conference. They had pretty much given two home games away, allowing point guards from Boise State and Nevada to dribble the length of the court in the closing seconds and score game-tying baskets in games their teams would eventually win.
After their latest act of charity - not only letting Armon Johnson of Nevada drive the length of the floor last Wednesday for the game-tying layup, but also fouling him on the play, and watching him sink the game-winning free throw with 2.9 seconds left - second-year Idaho coach Don Verlin went off in the postgame press conference.
"I don't care if the WAC fines me or not," Verlin was quoted as saying in the Lewiston Tribune. "That was a poorly officiated game. ... Idaho is no longer a doormat. We're a contender in this league and the officials need to figure it out."
On Friday, Verlin was reprimanded and warned - but not fined - by commissioner Karl Benson for violating the WAC sportsmanship code.
OK, THERE were a few questionable calls the other night - as there are in just about any game.
But the bigger problem is that Idaho had worked hard in the second half to take the lead against a tiring Nevada squad, but was unable to finish. Just like a few weeks earlier, when the Vandals had Boise State beaten, but couldn't close out the Broncos. BSU point guard Anthony Thomas, who famously said last year that the Vandals would never beat BSU again, dribbled up the court in the waning seconds and stuck a 3-pointer at the buzzer to force overtime. Boise State went on to win.
Just as Robb Akey has come in and led a turnaround in the Idaho football program in his third season, Verlin came in and made things better in his first season. He comes in well-respected, having been an assistant to Utah State coach Stew Morrill for 15 seasons, and would appear to be the face the Vandals would want as they attempt to be a contender in the WAC.
BUT HIS team has bigger issues than just a perceived slight by the officials.
The Vandals do not have a go-to player in the clutch, but they do have several players who can make plays and hit shots. Point guard Mac Hopson, the former North Idaho College standout in 2005-06, can get in the lane. And if he can't score, he can get the ball to someone (center Marvin Jefferson) who can.
Idaho also has shooters in Jeff Ledbetter and Luciano de Souza, as well as Kashif Watson and Steffan Johnson.
So the Vandals have the talent to score, and the defense can't just focus on one or two players. When the squad scrimmaged at NIC last fall, you could see the potential. The inconsistency is part of the problem but when they're clicking, they look like a tough team to defend.
But what really hurts the Vandals is they also tend to turn the ball over way too much - silly turnovers, not even forced turnovers. Boise State is having an even worse year than the Vandals, and the turnover- and missed shot-filled first half of their game in Moscow a few weeks ago was definitely not a good advertisement for WAC basketball.
And, bottom line - Idaho simply can't let the other team bring the ball up the court twice in their building in the closing seconds, without much resistance, and essentially beat them.
The Vandals have the ingredients to be a better team than they have shown this season. If the Vandals want to be a contender in the WAC, they need to figure it out.
Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2019, or via e-mail at mnelke@cdapress.com.