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LOCATION: Moscow, ID
CONFERENCE: Big West (Eastern Division)
LAST SEASON: 16-11 (.593)
CONFERENCE RECORD: 11-5 (3rd)
STARTERS LOST/RETURNING: 2/3
NICKNAME: Vandals
COLORS: Silver & Vandal Gold
HOMECOURT: Kibbie Dome (10,000)
COACH: Dave Farrar (Anderson College '69)
record at school 31-23 (2 years)
career record 92-96 (7 years)
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ASSISTANTS: Steve Forbes (S. Arkansas '88)
Chris Jans (Loras College '91)
Hosea Lewis (University of Laverne '87)
TEAM WINS: (last 5 years) 12-12-13-15-16
RPI (last 5 years) 166-206-196-142-153
1998-99 FINISH: Lost in conference quarterfinal.
ESPN.com Clubhouse
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Many of the faces are new, but the expectations are not. One year after a big disappointment, coach Dave Farrar is talking once again about pushing his team to the top of the Big West. Good luck. The Vandals lose three starters, including the irrepressible Avery Curry, a fantastically quick point guard who didn't just run the offense but dominated it. He takes his big-game attitude, confidence and his 16 points per game with him. And yet Idaho still has reason or in this case reasons to be confident. The primary reason is Farrar. The Bobby Knight clone can be brash and abrasive, but the man can coach. If the Vandals buy into his system and simply play hard every night, they will always be pesky. He's done well with worse teams in the past. Reason No. 2 is Gordon Scott (14.8 ppg, 3.1 rpg). The 6-5 senior swingman is a pure shooter who should become one of the league's top three or four players this season. He made 70 of 206 three-pointers (34 percent) last season, but he also frustrated Farrar on occasion by sulking.
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Blue Ribbon Analysis |
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BACKCOURT B- BENCH/DEPTH C-
FRONTCOURT C+ INTANGIBLES B-
The Vandals don't have the weapons necessary to keep up with the likes of New Mexico State, but they won't be too fun to play either. There's undoubtedly a bitter taste in Farrar's mouth from last year's disappointment. The Vandals, who had as much pure talent as anyone, were picked by most to finish first in the league and finished third. They also were eliminated on the first day of the league tournament. He'll be ready this time around. Two years ago, Farrar took a team that everyone thought was horrible and turned it into something quite respectable. This year's Vandals team has more talent than that one. And, although the Vandals aren't going to be knocking on any postseason doors, this year's team should be in the fight for second or third place in the Big West's suddenly mediocre East Division. |
"At least he is a very enthusiastic worker," Farrar said. "He likes basketball and will work hard at it. If everything is done right, his potential to be our leading scorer is there." Scott gives the Vandals a go-to scorer they can depend on every night. The question is how the rest of the team will play around its cornerstone. Swingman Devon Ford (10.3 ppg, 6.7 rpg) is solid and underrated. The 6-3 senior isn't the greatest athlete in the world, but he is versatile, a clutch player and plays hard. An example of that determination: He continually gives up three or four inches inside, yet wound up as Idaho's top rebounder last season. The third dependable swingman-type athlete is 6-5 senior forward Clifford Gray (11.0 ppg in 1997-98), who missed all of last year with a chronic foot problem. The Vandals missed his fundamental skills and competitiveness last season, but it is still unknown exactly how much he's going to be able to play this year. "They've done all they can for him surgery-wise," Farrar said. "It just comes down to playing with some pain. His body is worn down a little bit, but on the other hand he's a guy we expect to play 38 minutes a game. "He has great pride. I don't think anybody enjoys playing against him." Those are the three experienced players Farrar knows he can depend upon. There's just one problem with that: They all play the same position. Farrar figures that if need be, he can play the three of them at the shooting guard and two forward spots, but that still means that someone anyone is going to have to step up at point guard and center. The point guard to watch is 5-8 freshman Lance Buoncristiani, the all-time leading scorer at Galena High in Reno, Nev. An all-state selection for three years, Buoncristiani has already been tabbed as a possible four-year starter by Farrar, who didn't recruit another point guard. The starting center will probably be athletic 6-8 junior Kaniel Dickens (6.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg), who has the potential to be one of the best frontcourt players in the league, but has yet to prove that he's as strong emotionally as physically. "I have very high expectations for him," Farrar said. "No one questions his athletic ability. No one questions his brightness. I think different people question his motivation on a daily basis and his ability to sustain an effort over the long haul. If he can qualm some of those criticisms from people and be consistent on a daily basis, he has a chance to be a star in this league." The Vandals don't have much depth. The only players with experience in the backcourt are journeymen Adam Miller and Nathaniel Watson. The 5-10 Miller (1.3 ppg) hasn't played much, but Farrar said he'll likely find more minutes as a junior. Watson (0.5 ppg), a 6-4 sophomore, returned to competitive basketball last year after a two-year church mission and a one-year rehabilitation caused by a broken cheekbone. He played a total of 15 minutes. The rest of the team is new. The new frontcourt players are 6-7 sophomore William Gates (Butler Community College/August, Ga.), 6-6 sophomore Matt Gershefske (Southwest Missouri West Plains Junior College/Rogersville, Mo.) and 6-8 freshman center Chris Monroe (Granite Hills High/El Cajon, Calif.). Gates has a strong work ethic that Farrar thinks will polish his raw skills. He averaged 10 points and eight rebounds last year in junior college. He's the banger. Gershefske is the shooter. He made 52 three-pointers last year en route to averaging 12 points for West Plains, which won 27 games and finished No. 7 in the nation. The best find might be Monroe, who averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds as a senior in high school. Farrar said he sees a lot of untapped potential in Monroe, and said he "lucked into something special" when the California high school star committed to Idaho. He should play right away, perhaps even finding significant minutes. The other new guards (excluding Buoncristiani) are 6-4 freshman Anthony Lewis (Franklin High/Seattle, Wash.), 6-2 junior walk-on Jeremy Landram (Bellevue Community College/Chewelah, Wash.) and 6-4 freshman Lennox McCoy (Indian Hills Community College/Antigua, West Indes). McCoy is a multi-dimensional athlete who is renowned for his defense, but needs work offensively. He'll play this season and probably fill a utility infielder type of role. Lewis will see significant time. He redshirted last season and is equally adept on offense and defense. Landram probably won't see much action at point guard. "I would guess that we would be picked as low as fifth (in the Big West Conference's East Division) with so much changeover, and yet I really like the chemistry of our team and the promise and enthusiasm of youth," Farrar said. "There are a lot of unknowns, but I like what I do know. I like the personality of our players. I like the enthusiasm. We have good promise."
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