One more for the road for NIC hoop teams

The long and winding road won't bring the North Idaho College Cardinals men's and women's basketball teams home this weekend - but they're getting a lot closer.

For the NIC women's basketball team (18-1, 3-1 SWAC), that trip has been a little longer.

2,134 miles longer - over a 10-day stretch after the Christmas holidays.

NIC concludes a stretch of five straight road games to open the Scenic West Athletic Conference schedule on Saturday by visiting Southern Idaho in Twin Falls.

After NIC's women won the Lower Columbia Classic in Longview, Wash., Dec. 28-30, the Cardinals opted to remain on the road, traveling by van to Salt Lake City to play the Bruins last Thursday, then heading to Ephraim, Utah, on Saturday to play Snow College before returning home Sunday.

"It's been a good week, at least I think it's been a good week," NIC women's coach Chris Carlson said. "We took Monday off, but got back into the weight room on Tuesday. Classes haven't started quite yet and we were able to get a good week of practices in. We didn't have to get up early and run, run, run to classes. We were still busy coming off a 10-day road trip, but the girls have been able to fight off colds and able to get some sleep."

The men, meanwhile left for Salt Lake City last Tuesday after hosting Treasure Valley on Dec. 28.

"It really helps us," NIC men's basketball coach Jared Phay said of not playing this week until Saturday. "It's nice to get a chance to rest up, but CSI only has one game this week, too. But tonight (Thursday), we'll just get to sit back and see who beats up on who down there (in other SWAC games)."

Both NIC teams return home for the first time in conference play next Thursday against Utah State-Eastern, the first of seven straight home games.

“It would be a great win on the road and have seven straight games over four weekends at home,” Carlson said. “It’d be a great jump start to a long homestand.”

Previously scheduled for the afternoon, the NIC-CSI games were moved back due to a high school girls basketball game between Twin Falls and Jerome at 2:30 p.m. PST. The women’s game is scheduled for 4:30, followed by the men’s game at 6:30.

Games are available via webcast at www.nicathletics.com.

WOMEN: After the long trip last week, Carlson said this road trip is coming at the right time for his team.

“It’s not too bad,” Carlson said. “It’s actually our shortest trip of the year (1,016-mile round trip), but it’s still a haul. It’s a single game, against an in-state rival and should be a good battle. It always is.”

CSI (9-9, 3-1) swept Salt Lake and Snow last weekend in Utah, with the Golden Eagles’ only conference loss coming at Colorado Northwestern.

“They’ve been up and down, but are probably playing their best basketball of the year,” Carlson said. “They had a nice win at Salt Lake and have a young team, with good size. They have some nice pieces to their puzzle and they’re playing some good basketball. It’s always tough on their home court.”

MEN: After being edged last Thursday at Salt Lake 75-74, the Cardinals (16-3, 3-1) beat Snow 84-77 in overtime on Saturday and sit in second in the conference by a half game over Utah State-Eastern.

“I’m pretty happy with how our first four have gone,” NIC men’s coach Jared Phay said. “To be 3-1, with all road games, is pretty good. Hopefully we’ll get another one in Twin on Saturday, but I’d take 3-2 on that trip. It’s so tough to win road games in our conference — but if you can win all your home games, and split on the road, you can still win the league.”

After Saturday, NIC plays its next seven games in Coeur d’Alene.

“I’m definitely happy with where we’re at,” Phay said. “There’s really no clear-cut favorite, but you could see a scenario where anyone can still win the conference.”

CSI (13-5, 1-3) has won the last two Region 18 championships, and won the national title in 2011. Starting point guard Montigo Alford is out due to injury according to a report in the Times-News of Twin Falls, but is expected back later this season.

“Kareem Storey has been starting for them (at point guard) and he’s a transfer from Utah,” Phay said. “Billy Reader is a 6-foot-9, 245-pound post transfer from Montana that’s a big boy. James Reid has already shot 101 3-pointers this year, so we’ll definitely need to know where he is at all times. They just keep coming at you with their depth. If they’ve got a guy having a bad night, they’ve got another that can come in and take his spot.”