Idaho preview

What? A travel schedule that actually benefits Louisiana Tech. A week in Ruston to rest while another team travels and plays on Thursday.  Somebody at the WAC scheduling office missed this one.

Not that this was an easy week in Ruston with the Cooper departure.  Interesting to see how the team responds. A great opportunity for two young guys (Ashalou and Oliverson) to get some quality minutes and develop.  Rolle, Gibson, and Guyton should get a couple extra shots a game.  Old man Rogers should get some playing time early.

But I digress back to the subject at hand. Idaho has the best point guard in the league. Yeah I just said Idaho . Guess what? Yep he’s a transfer.  More on him in a minute.

Idaho is 8-9 on the season. 2-2 in the WAC including a big road win at Nevada.                   

Wins EVERGREEN STATE NORTH DAKOTA STATE UC IRVINE at Sacramento State SOUTH CAROLINA STATE TEXAS SOUTHERN at Nevada HAWAI`I*

Loss #6 Michigan State at #9 Gonzaga at Eastern Washington at Portland at South Carolina State WASHINGTON STATE at Idaho State at Utah State*  at New Mexico State*

 

*Evergreen State wins this week’s award of “Wait that’s a real school?”

* New coach this year for Idaho is Don Verlin who – 80’s mustache aside- was Stew Morrill’s (Utah State) right hand man for 15 years. So he’s been around winning.  And like Stew he brings in junior college players.

Key Players

Mac Hopson 6-2 195 Jr. – Transfer from Washington State.  Fifth in the WAC in scoring (15.8), first in assists (6.1), second in steals (1.6). Good thee point shooter (44%). Basically everything our transfer point was expected to be before he lost his damn mind and Rupp had to toss him. Don’t really see this matchup going well for Loe.

Kashif Watson  6-4  190 Jr. –  Juco – 11.1 points, 3.2 rebounds. Gets to the rim off the dribble.

Luciano de Souza 6-7 205 Jr. – Juco – SHOOTER. DO NOT LEAVE OPEN. 2^nd in

the WAC in 3% (43%). 9.4 points, 2.8 rebounds.

Brandon Wiley 6-6 225  Jr. – Juco – 9.1 points, 6.0 rebounds.

Marvin Jefferson 6-10  235  Jr. – Juco – 8.5 points, 3.9 assists, 25 blocks

Trevor Morris 6-4 182 Sr – 5.8 points

Terrence Simmons 6-3  170 Sr.  – 5.4 points