Shouldn't It Be DiPesto Court?

The Bengals have hit the court here in Pullman, Washington, after another small airline delay (smog in San Diego, where our flight originated from), so the Bengals arrived in Pullman and instead of going to the hotel, they hit the court at 7:05 pm for their 7:00 pm practice, so it was about 20 minutes of getting loose with the basketball, and stretching with Lucas Steijn leading the way.

And yes, if Lucas is leading the stretches, that means ISU is down one senior as Matt Stucki stayed back to just in case his wife Chelsea goes into labor. If she doesn't, the plan is to induce labor on Thursday, so Matt will be back this Saturday against Utah and then make the Wisconsin trip. By the way, Wisconsin just about blew it tonight, but they held on with a basket with 0.9 left. Seriously, Virginia Tech scored 12 points in 50 seconds at the end to tie it before the final shot....yikes.

Back to BYU
Now, the Cougars coming to Holt was a big deal, but I didn't think anything I wrote would make the Salt Lake Tribune, but there it was on Saturday. Perhaps it wouldn't be a big deal if they drove 3 1/2 hours north for a game more than twice every 56 years, but hey, what do I know.

Kellis Robinett liked ISU's fight against the Cougars (can anyone else but me believe there were ZERO technicals in that game? Really? The whole ripping hte ball out of Steijn's arms? That was OK? I must have missed a meeting, because I'd have teched everybody in that one, both ways...), and even Tim Flagstad was on board with it as well, and seriously, the comments folks left under the article are pretty amusing. Also, Jason Franchuk of the Provo Daily Herald has a pretty good take on the whole thing as well.

And Howie Stallick is Not on the ISU Christmas Card List Either
Idaho State basketball has been called many things....run and gun is not one of them.

Former Bengal Assistant to Lead the Cowboys...
The Wyoming Cowboys that is, as Dave Christiansen, who was an offensive assistant for the Bengals in 1990 and 1991 and has been Missouri's Offensive Coordinator was named the head coach by A.D. Tom Burman.

For Those That say Boise State Gets Everything....
Apparently their new Sprinkler System Project has been cancelled...

Another First for Jesse Smith
Former Bengal Jesse Smith scored the first points in the history of the new NBDL franchise the Reno Bighorns.

They're Back....
That would be the women's team, which, after SEVEN STRAIGHT ROAD GAMES to start the season, finally see the light of Reed Gym on Wednesday night at 7:00 pm against Montana-Western. The ladies lost in their last outing to North Dakota State, with Oana Iacovita earning all-tournament honors.

One last football thingy....
Mark Liptak talked with John Zamberlin for a season recap for the Twin Falls Paper...

That's all for now....bonus points for those of you that get the headline and picture and the site of where this blog originated at....

Bengal Non-Conference Foes Make Good All-American Team

As I was watching the college basketball highlight show Sunday night and saw that Arizona State's James Hardin put up 40 points on UTEP, it occurred to me that Idaho State's non-conference opponents could put together a fairly representative All-American team. So I did some research to come up with the best players the Bengals will face during their brutal non-conference death march. Here's my list:

James Harden, 6-4 G, Arizona State

The powerful, 220-pounder (above) was averaging 24.4 points a game before his outburst against the Miners, as well as 6.6 rebounds and 4 assists. The Bengals will get an up-close look at the future NBA first-round draft pick on Dec. 23 in Tempe.

Lee Cummard, 6-7 SF, BYU

Cummard didn't have a great game against Idaho State Saturday night, but still posted 17 points. The defending co-MWC Player of the Year, Cummard is averaging 19.4 points and 7.6 rebounds a game, while shooting 65 percent from the floor. When I interviewed former BYU and Jazz player Andy Toolsen on the pre-game show Saturday night, he said he thinks Cummard is good enough to be a lottery pick in the NBA draft. I'm not sure I agree with that assessment, but he'll definitely get a chance to mke an NBA roster when his time comes.

Luke Babbitt, 6-9, 220 pound PF, Nevada

One of only three Nevadans to be selected a McDonalds All-American, Babbitt turned down more prestigious programs to play for his hometown Wolfpack. He is averaging 15.8 points and 8.2 rebounds as a freshman. Nevada, which is off to a disappointing start, hosts the Bengals Dec. 27.

Gary Wilkinson, 6-9, 240 F, Utah State

The pre-season WAC Player of the Year, Wilkinson is averaging 18.5 points and 8.8 rebounds a game, while hitting 77 percent of his field goal attempts. The Aggies will be in Holt Arena Dec. 20.

Luke Nevill, 7-2, 265, C, Utah

An All-MWC 2nd Team selection last year, the Aussie center is scoring 17.4 points and grabbing 9.6 rebounds a game this year, while making 66 percent of his field attempts. The Utes visit Holt on Saturday.

Marcus Landry, 6-7, 230, F, Wisconsin

The defending Most Outstanding Player in the Big 10 tournament last year, Landry is averaging 12.5 points and 4.7 rebounds, and has 15 blocks for the Badgers this year. ISU travels to Madison Dec. 9.

Jonathan Tavernari, 6-6, 215, F, BYU

The gliding lefthander from Brazil put on a show against the Bengals Saturday night, slinking through the lane for 23 points. (He also succeeded in joining Cummard as the two most disliked visiting players in Holt). Tavernari is averaging almost 16 points and 7.5 rebounds a game.

Donovan Morris, 6-1 G, Long Beach State

The defending Big West leading scorer, he snoozed through regulation and the first overtime against the Bengals, then put up 14 points in the second OT to clinch the game. A master at getting to the free line, he nailed 25 free throws in 27 attempts against the Bengals, averaging 23.5 points in their two meetings this year and last.

Trevon Hughes, 6-0, G, Wisconsin

Hughes is averaging 14 points a game for the Badgers. He was fourth in the Big 10 in steals last year with 62, and hit 52 three-pointers.

Tai Wesley, 6-7, 240, F, Utah State

A second team pre-season All-WAC choice, Wesley is one of those all-around stat stuffers for the Aggies -- he's shooting 74 percent from the field, averages 6.8 rebounds, and has 19 assists to just 6 turnovers, while averaging 13 points a game. He and Wilkinson will be a load for the Bengals' front line players.

Jacob Pullen, 6-0 G, Kansas State

The sophomore from famed Proviso East High School near Chicago started as a true freshman last year. He's averaging 16.6 points a game this season for the Wildcats, who will host Idaho State on Jan. 3.

Jeff Pendergraph, 6-9, 220, F, Arizona State

While he's overshadowed by Hardin's exploits, Pendergraph is a steady contributor for the Sun Devils, averaging 13 points and 6.6 rebounds while making 79 percent of his field goals.

Aaron Baynes, 6-10, C, Washington State

Baynes had 7 points and 8 rebounds against the Bengals in Holt last year. He's averaging 11 points and 6 rebounds a game while making 66 percent of his shots for the Cougars, who host ISU on Tuesday night.

--Brad B.

And thanks for being a Bengal fan, it ain't always easy, but it's always fun.

Random Thoughts on a Monday

First of all, congrats to the Bengal football team, John Zamberlin and his staff, and all the seniors on their big overtime win over Sacramento State on Saturday. I was in Boise, preparing to broadcast the men's basketball game that night, and had to settle for second-hand reports of the game, so I missed all the excitement. But I'm extremely happy for Coach Z and his staff, and special kudos go to Kenyon Blue (in flight at right), the man for the Bengals on Saturday.

Bengal QB Kyle Blum did his part to keep the "quarterback controversy" alive over spring ball, with a 342-yard passing performance on Saturday. He seems to be developing a nice relationship with Isaiah Burel, and with Jaron Taylor coming back next year, the Bengals should have a potent passing attack. They need to add depth and speed at the wide receiver position, and find two or three running backs who can step in and contribute -- the faster the backs, the better.

The offensive line should be fairly well set next year -- with one notable exception - the key left tackle spot. I would imagine the Bengals will be hitting the junior colleges looking for candidates for the position. There doesn't seem to be a true left tackle candidate on the current roster.

The Griz Do It Again

Speaking of Big Sky football, I was once again amused to see that Weber State just couldn't quite shut the door on Montana's long reign as Big Sky champs. Weber's loss to Eastern Washington on Saturday allowed the Griz to claim, for the eleventh straight season, that they won or tied for the Big Sky crown. The loss to EWU also made it easy for the playoff committee to send the Wildcats on the road for the first round of the playoffs. Weber has to play Cal Poly, coming off an overtime loss at Wisconsin, in San Luis Obispo in the first round. And the Griz? Well, they are at home, of course, where they will host Texas State.

On another Cal Poly note, if the Mustangs had a reliable kicker, they very well could be enjoying an undefeated season this year. They lost to Montana early in the season when their kicker missed a 29-yard-field goal that would have given them a 31-30 win. The Mustangs also missed two extra points on Saturday in Madison, which would have allowed them to win the game over the Big 10 Badgers in regulation.

Ex-Bengal Quarterbacks Make Good Coaches

In case you hadn't noticed, two former Idaho State quarterbacks were the head coaches in Friday night's 5A State championship game in Holt Arena. Gino Mariani, of course, coached the HIghland Rams to a state title over Paul Peterson's Eagle squad. Both Mariani and Peterson played under Jim Koetter, former Bengal head coach who won a state title or two of his own at both Pocatello and Highland high schools. Other former Bengals who have coached Idaho state champions include both of Koetter's sons, Brent and Dirk.

On to Basketball

If there was any doubt what a stepchild the Boise State basketball program has become, you only needed to be at Taco Bell Arena Saturday night for the Idaho State-BSU men's basketball game. The listed attendance was 2,100, but it seemed a lot emptier than that. Granted, it was a rainy, snowy night and most Bronco fans were probably at home glued to their television sets, watching the end of the BSU win over Nevada in football.

But BSU rarely fills Taco Bell Arena to half full under even the best of circumstances. The Broncos won 25 games last year and a WAC title, they have a wonderful facility and, under Greg Graham, they play an entertaining uptempo style. But it's not football and Boise is nothing if not a football town these days.

The Bengals tried to provide some extra drama Saturday night, coming back from an 11-point deficit to force two overtimes, and even taking a 3-point lead in the second OT. But ISU simply did not have a defensive answer down low to Boise State's two big men, Mark Sanchez and Kurt Cunningham. And, aside from the terrific effort by Amorrow Morgan, the Bengals had very few offensive answers all night long.

Bengal Coach Joe O'Brien promised a shakeup in the starting lineup for Tuesday's game with Long Beach State, and he said Saturday one will involve the insertion of Deividas Busma into the lineup in the place of Lucas Steijn up front. The other opening will likely be created by the benching of Donnie Carson who, Coach OB said on our post-game show, is simply not playing with the fire or energy he displayed at the end of last season. Perhaps coming off the bench will give Carson the mental boost he needs. Another Bengal veteran, Matt Stucki, has also struggled early. He's shooting only 35 percent from the field and just seems totally out of synch on the floor.

It doesn't take a mathmetician to understand Idaho State's early season offensive problems. The Bengals' key outside shooters -- Stucki, Kal Bay, Austin Kilpatrick and Carson -- are shooting a combined 17 for 77 -- 22 percent. From three-point range, Stucki, Bay and Kilpatrick are 7 of 30 -- 23 percent. I know the big men missed a ton of five-footers Saturday night, but the Bengal wing players also have to step up their shooting considerably.

Part of the problem may be that O'Brien is still experimenting, looking for the right combination of players in the right situations. So far he's used eight different players at the guard positions, and Kilpatrick, for example, has only played an average of 7 minutes a game (down from 22 a game last year). Kilpatrick is 0 for 11 from the field.

It's understandable that O'Brien wants to see what he has in newcomers like Phyllip Taylor, Michael Lacey, Sherrod Baldwin (who did not see the floor in Boise) and Bay, but at some point he's going to have to give his shooters a chance to settle into a rhythm. Having a deep bench is a good thing, but it also poses some coaching challenges.

Ironwomen

Bengal women's coach Seton Sobolewski would love to have O'Brien's challenges. The first-year coach used just seven players in beating Utah State in Logan on Saturday night. Michelle Grohs put up 21 points and 10 rebounds in 39 minutes to lead the Bengals to a 58-43 win. She was one of five Bengals to play at least 29 minutes. The only two subs for Idaho State were freshman Sheila Adams, who played 23 minutes, and Cara Lambert, who got five minutes at the post. The Bengals won despite shooting only 36 percent from the floor. Oana Iacovita had 10 points and 7 rebounds, and Chelsea Pickering had 10 points, five rebounds and five assists. It looks like most Bengal wins are going to be grinders this year, but Sobolewski appears to be getting the most from the limited roster he inherited.