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2010-11college basketball preview
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Special Section INovember 5, 2010
H
aving been behind the curve on every  basketball innovation, trend or gimmickfrom dribble-drive motion toBracketology to compression sleeves, I’m way out ahead on this one. Are you ready for it?Twittoos.That’s trademarked, by the way.In fact, if we can just skip the messy businessof developing the technology and doing themarketing, and someone can just write me a$500 million check for the idea, I’ll get back tothe important stuff, like ordering in pizza andFacebooking old girlfriends with MarkZuckerberg.Surely no more promising hoop concept existsthan marrying the game’s hippest tools of self-expression: tattoos and Twitter. Think aboutit: instant body art toproclaim whatever a playerhappens to be celebrating or stewing about at themoment – in 140 charactersor less, of course.The immediacy will bemuch more gratifying forall. Remember last yearwhen University of Idahoguard Kashif Watson got onhis Twitter account after a loss to proclaim hisfrustration with coach Don Verlin?“Wow just don’t gett this guys mind set, it’s likesome times he don’t wanna win that bad!!”It was two weeks before anyone in themainstream media detected Watson’s Tweerade(thankfully, there are still a few people of the30ish persuasion working in the mainstreammedia). By that time, Watson had Twarted – it’swhat your brain sometimes does, only on Twitter–additional bon mots, calling Verlin a “punk ass”and saying “Don’t gett how we pose to win witthis guy coachin us.” Verlin was none the wiser until apprised of hissenior’s body of work, and because Watson wasundermining the coach – or because he keptspelling “get” with two Ts and spoiling any program propaganda about an increasedemphasis in academics – the player wassuspended for his final home game and theconference tournament.Imagine, however, if the means existed forWatson’s disaffection to spill straight from hisheart midgame into rivulets of body ink for all tosee – coach, school president, spectators. Collegescould double attendance – and ticket prices – for
 Areal tweet for twits
Twittoos
©
would give players instant fallout they crave
JOHNBLANCHETTE
See
BLANCHETTE, O8
Suggested friends
Staff illustration by Molly Quinn
Gonzaga Bulldogs
Outlook IPage 3
Idaho Vandals
Outlook IPage 2
WSU Cougars
Outlook IPage 5
EWU Eagles
Outlook IPage 4
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NOVEMBER5,2010
THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW
What are youplanning?
The Vandals’ showdown withBoise State usually makes forawildatmosphere atCowanSpectrum, andthis year’s Jan.22 matchupprobably won’t disappoint.BSU should be intriguingunder first-year coach andformer Gonzaga assistantLeon Rice. Last time theseteams met in Moscow, theBroncos pulled out animprobable win in OT.
fastbreak
2010-11Idaho Vandals
Home Profile Account
M
Idaho Vandals
Edit my profileNews FeedMessagesEventsFriends
Top news
*Most recent
News Feed
Brandon Wiley
.............6-6, Sr.Points: 8.2; Rebounds: 5.6*
Luiz Toledo
....................6-8, Jr.Points: 7.4; Rebounds: 4.0
Kyle Barone
................6-10, S0.Points: 5.0; Rebounds: 4.1
Shawn Henderson
.......6-3, Sr.Points: 4.1; Rebounds: 2.4
Jeff Ledbetter
..............6-3, Sr.Points: 2.9; Rebounds: 1.1
Joe Kammerer
..............6-9, Fr.Redshirted in 2009-10
Landon Tatum
.............5-11, Jr.Redshirted in 2009-10
Deremy Geiger
............6-0, Jr.Junior College transfer
Renado Parker
.............6-6, Jr.Junior College transfer
Matt Borton
..................6-5, Fr.High school recruit
Stephen Madison
........6-5, Fr.High school recruit*Redshirted last season withinjury, stats are 2008-2009averages.
Events
Home games in boldDateOpponentTime
Nov 6
L-C State
7:05 pmNov 13
E. Oregon
8pmNov 16 Washington St. 7pmNov 20
Portland
7:05 pmNov 22 Montana 6:05 pmNov 27 E. Washington 3pmDec 3
North Dakota
8pmDec 4
Monmouth
8pmDec 5
E. Michigan
6pmDec 11 Seattle U. 5pmDec 18
Montana
7:05 pmDec 21 Oregon 7:05 pmDec 29
N. Mexico St.
7:05 pmDec 31
La. Tech
7:05 pmJan 6 Hawaı`i TBAJan 8 San Jose State TBAJan 12
Nevada
8pmJan 15 CS Bakersfield 7pmJan 17 Fresno State TBAJan 22
Boise State
7:05 pmJan 27 La. Tech TBAJan 29 N. Mexico St. TBAFeb 3
San Jose State
7:05 pmFeb 5
Hawaı`i
7:05 pmFeb 9
Utah State
8:05 pmFeb 12 Boise State TBAFeb 19 Bracket Buster TBAFeb 24 Nevada TBAFeb 26 Utah State TBAMar 3
Fresno State
7:05 pmMar 5
Seattle U.
7:05 pm
WAC Tournament
March 10-12:
Las Vegas
About Idaho
Founded:
1889
Conference:
Western Athletic
Colors:
Silver and Gold
Nickname:
Vandals
2009-10 Overall Record:
15-16
2009-10 WACRecord/Finish:
6-10/6th
Starters Returning/Lost:
2/4
Newcomers:
6
Coaching staff
Head Coach:
Don Verlin,Third season
Alma Mater:
Cal StateStanislaus, 1991
Record at IDAHO:
32-32
Career Record:
32-32
Assistant Coach:
Ray Lopes,Third season
Assistant Coach:
Mike Score,Fourth season
Assistant Coach:
MikeFreeman, Fourth seasonNew faces. New expectations.New leaders. That’s the storyfor the Vandals, who lost fiveof their top six scorers fromlast year and have beenpicked to finish eighth in theWAC. Beyond forward LuizToledo, the lone returningstarter, and a handful ofreturning contributors, Idahocoach Don Verlin is startingfrom scratch. Of the Vandals’12 scholarship players, five arenewcomers and tworedshirted last year. That putsthe onus on fifth-year seniorBrandon Wiley, 6-foot-10center Kyle Barone andToledo – the only players atIdaho during each of Verlin’sthree seasons – to help theease the burden for a largebatch of first-year teammates.
Predictions
Josh Wright’spredicted order offinish in theWestern Athletic Conference:1.
Utah State
2.
New Mexico St.
3.
Nevada
4.
Boise State
5.
San Jose State
6.
Fresno State
7.
Idaho
8.
Lousiana Tech9. Hawaii
They’ve got friends
As of Nov. 1. . .
Luiz Toledo
has 650Facebook friends
Shawn Henderson
has1,740 friends
Deremy Geiger
has 891friends
Notable
Luiz Toledo:
First cousin ofDenver Nuggets powerforward, Nene.
Brandon Wiley:
Set a recordfor most single-season gamesplayed at Idaho with 33 in2008-2009 season. Appearedin three games last seasonbefore sustaining aseason-ending back injury andwas granted a medicalredshirt.
Shawn Henderson andRenado Parker
: Both playedat North Idaho College.
Josh Wright
Mac Hopson is no longer around, so the Vandals mustfind a stabilizing force at point guard. Who will take over?
Deremy Geiger
The junior college transfer is the primecandidate. The 5-foot-11guard started his career at Utah Statebefore moving to a JC in Texas last year. He faces competition fromfellow junior Landon Tatum.
Don Verlin
Deremy’s got a great feel for the game, as well asLandum Tatum. I’ve been real happy with both of our point guards.Both of them have done a great job of communicating with theteam.
Josh Wright
Geiger is smaller and more compact than Hopson,but both he and Tatum will be more traditional point guards thantheir predecessor.
Don Verlin
In some ways, they will run a team better than Macdid.
Josh Wright
Interesting fact about Geiger: He was recruited toUtah State by Verlin, who was then an assistant under Stew Morrill.
Deremy Geiger
He gave me a chance, and I hopefully I canmake the most out of it.
Don Verlin
likes this
Josh Wright
Verlin’s emphasis on finding talent in the Northwestfinally seems to be paying off. Much of the Vandals’ young nucleus,including true freshman Stephen Madison and Matt Borton, hails fromWashington and Oregon.
Don Verlin
I love the Northwest. We’ve got seven Northwestguys now. That’s kind of what I was hoping to do when I got here.
Josh Wright
Madison is a 6-5 guard/small forward fromJefferson High in Portland, Ore. His sister, Katie, led the Idahowomen’s basketball team in scoring for two years beforetransferring in 2008. Borton is also a 6-5 guard and is from Yakima.
Don Verlin
Both are solid outside shooters and will make animpact. At what point, I don’t know.
Josh Wright
Verlin has cultivated a nice connection with NorthIdaho College. Shawn Henderson and Renaldo Parker played with eachother at NIC.
Shawn Henderson
We’re hoping to bring the connectiondown here, keep things rolling.
Josh Wright
So what about the big fellas? The Vandals finally haveoptions in the paint. Kyle Barone will be joined by redshirt freshman JoeKammerer at center. Luiz Toledo led the WAC last year in field-goalpercentage, and Djim Bandoumel and Renaldo Parker are skilled JCtransfers.
Don Verlin
I like our inside guys. I think we have five good insideguys, and that’s not counting (Brandon) Wiley.
Shawn Henderson
The talent is definitely there. We’ve got alot of young guys, a lot of athletic guys. We’ve just got a lot ofpeople that can do different things in every aspect of the game, andthat’s what going to help our team come together.
Luiz Toledo
posted a new photo
Djim Bandoumel
This Canadian, who didn’t play basketball inhigh school, is the Vandals’ finest athlete, says Verlin.
Josh Wright
Idaho’s new-look roster means starting spots areopen – and the early season becomes critical. Several weeks intopreseason practice, Verlin is still trying to figure out who will fit where.
Don Verlin
The buildup before this year is huge – every practice,every game, every exhibition game.
Brandon Wiley
This year, we need to jell. Practice will be key.With so many new guys, you need to practice hard in order to knowtheir tendencies, where they like the ball. Stuff like that.
Deremy Geiger
We’re a real young team and I think if wework real hard in practice and we bring that to the court and thegames, we can make up for that inexperience. Just prove to teamsthat we’re Idaho and we mean a little business.
Don Verlin
Shawn Henderson’s played pretty good. KyleBarone’s played pretty good. And it’s nice to have Brandon Wileyback. But I don’t know, there’s a lot of spots up in the air, which hasmade for good practice and good competition at practice.”
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Players OnlineGet connected
On the web
www.govandals.com
Links
www.spokesman.com/vandals
www.spokesman.com/blogs/sportslink
www.twitter.com/SR_JoshWright
Ticket Office Phone:
1-208-885-6466
Home Court (Capacity):
Cowan Spectrum (7,000)
 
THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW
NOVEMBER5,2010
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PAGE O3
What are youplanning?
Gonzaga’s pre-Thanksgivingtournament in Kansas Citycould launch the Bulldogs upthe rankings, orout of them. GUfaces No. 3Kansas State atthe SprintCenter, roughly120 miles from KSU’s campus.The winner will probably meetdefending national championDuke, which hammered GU76-41last season. As forgames in our region, No. 25San Diego State, No. 13 Illinois(in Seattle) and No. 19Memphis should beentertaining.
fastbreak
2010-11Gonzaga Bulldogs
Home Profile Account
M
Gonzaga Bulldogs
Edit my profileNews FeedMessagesEventsFriends
Top news
*Most recent
News Feed
Robert Sacre
.................7-0, Jr.Points: 10.3; Rebounds: 5.4
Elias Harris
....................6-7, So.Points: 14.9; Rebounds: 7.1
Steven Gray
..................6-5, Sr.Points: 13.6; Rebounds: 4.0
Demetri Goodson
........6-0, Jr.Points: 6.4; Assists: 1.8
Mangisto Arop
.............6-6, So.Points: 3.8; Rebounds: 3.8
Kelly Olynyk 
.................7-0, So.Points: 3.8; Rebounds: 2.7
Michael Hart
................6-6, So.Points: 0.6; Rebounds: 0.8
Sam Dower
...................6-9, Fr.Redshirted last season
David Stockton
...........5-11, Fr.Redshirted last season
Marquise Carter
..........6-4, Jr.Junior college transfer
Keegan Hyland
...........6-4, Fr.High school recruit
Mathis Keita
.................6-5, Fr.High school recruit
Mathis Möenninghoff
6-7, Fr.High school recruit
Events
Home games in boldDateOpponentTime
Nov. 5
S.Oregon
6pmNov. 12
Southern
6p.m.Nov. 14
IUPUI
1pmNov. 16
San Diego St.
8pmNov. 22Kansas State*6:30 pmNov. 23Duke/Marquette*TBANov. 30
EWU
6pmDec. 4
Illinois %
2:15 pmDec. 8WSU8pmDec. 11Notre Dame5:30 pmDec. 16
L-C State
6pmDec. 18Baylor+1:30 pmDec. 22
Xavier
8pmDec. 29
Lafayette
5:30 pmDec. 31
Oklahoma St.
7pmJan. 2Wake Forest10 amJan. 8
Portland
5:30 pmJan. 13
Pepperdine
6pmJan. 15
Loyola
5pmJan. 20Santa Clara6pmJan. 22San Francisco5pmJan. 27
Saint Mary’s
8pmJan. 29
San Diego
5pmFeb. 3Portland8pmFeb. 5
Memphis#
1pmFeb. 10Loyola8pmFeb. 12PepperdineTBAFeb. 17
Santa Clara
6pmFeb. 19
San Francisco
5pmFeb. 24Saint Mary’s8pmFeb. 26San Diego6pmFeb. 28
CS Bakersfield
6pm
WCC Tournament
March 4-7:
Las Vegas*Spring Center in Kansas City, Mo.%KeyArena in Seattle+American Airline Arena in Dallas#Spokane Arena
About Gonzaga
Founded:
1887
Conference:
West Coast
Colors:
Blue, white, red
Nickname:
Bulldogs
2009-10 Overall Record:
27-7
2009-10 WCCRecord/Finish:
12-2/1st
2009-10 Final ranking:
22(AP), 23 (ESPN/USA Today)
Starters Returning/Lost:
4/1
Newcomers:
4
Coaching staff
Head Coach:
Mark Few, 12thseason
Alma Mater:
Oregon, 1987
Record at Gonzaga:
291-73
Career Record:
291-73
Assistant Coach:
TommyLloyd, 10th season
Assistant Coach:
RayGiacoletti, Fourth season
Assistant Coach:
DonnyDaniels, First seasonGonzaga is “built from theinside out,” according to headcoach Mark Few.The Bulldogs have multipleinterior options, including7-foot junior Rob Sacre, 7-footsophomore Kelly Olynyk, 6-7sophomore Elias Harris and6-9 redshirt freshman SamDower, as it pursues its 13thstraight NCAA Tournamentappearance.“I think this is going to be alunch pail type of team,” Fewsaid, “so rebounding andbeing efficient with thebasketball on offense (aregoing to be important). Ourdefense was very good lastyear and I don’t see anyreason why is can’t be reallygood again.”The backcourt returns StevenGray, GU’s lone senior and aWCC player of the yearcandidate, Demetri Goodsonand Manny Arop.
Predictions
Jim Meehan’spredicted order offinish in the WestCoast Conference:1.
Gonzaga
2.
Saint Mary’s
3.
Loyola
4.
Santa Clara
5.
Portland
6.
San Francisco
7.
Pepperdine
8.
San Diego
They’ve got friends
As of Nov. 1. . .
Demetri Goodson
has1,962 Facebook friends
Elias Harris
has 1,290friends
Mangisto Arop
has 1,949friends
Honors
Elias Harris:
NationalAssociation of BasketballCoaches (NABC) All-District 9first team; WCC Newcomer ofthe year; first team all-WCC,WCC all-freshman team
Steven Gray
: First teamall-WCC
Mark Few:
NationalAssociation of BasketballCoaches (NABC) District 9coach of the year; WCC coachof the year
Jim Meehan
The Gonzaga core consists of Gray, Harris, Sacre,Goodson, Olynyk, Arop and Dower. What about the newcomers?
Demetri Goodson
Marquise (Carter) is a great shooter; hehas a nice feel for the game. (Mathis) Monninghoff is an outstandingshooter and he’s also very athletic. I threw him an oop the other dayand he went up and grabbed it. Kind of shocked me a little bit.
Mark Few
It’s still too early to tell. They’re not quite up where weneed them to be yet. Marquise has shot the ball pretty well. He’s gotto pick his game up in some other areas. Monninghoff has showedsigns of being able to knock down shots and that’s what we needthose guys to do.
Jim Meehan
Arop is healthy again after breaking his foot in theWCC Tournament last year.
Mark Few
He’s really worked hard on his shooting and it shows.He was coming on (last season). He was a major part of how wefunctioned.
Jim Meehan
Who’s primed for a big year? Gray’s scoring averagehas gone from 8.1to 9.1to 13.6 in three seasons. Harris had a bigfreshman year. Sacre could be dominant. Gotta believe Olynyk willblossom after playing so well for Canada in the world championships.
Kelly Olynyk 
That helped me a lot, gave me some confidence. Ihad a great chance to compete against great players from aroundthe world.
Demetri Goodson
It could be any of us. Rob has been playingreally well. ‘E’ is ‘E’, and Steve is awesome as well.
Jim Meehan
Any of the returning players catch your eye?
Rob Sacre
‘Meech’ (Goodson). He’s pushing the ball well, he’slooking up the floor, he’s leading and he’s making shots, everythingwe want him to do. He’s the most improved.
Demetri Goodson
likes this
Jim Meehan
Steven’s pretty darn good.
Mark Few
I was telling an NBA scout of all the guys we’ve had,he doesn’t necessarily have a weakness. It’d be a shame if he doesn’tpursue this to the fullest. He can really move. Our strength andconditioning guys do a bunch of agility tests and he just tops thecharts in all of those.
Jim Meehan
Quite the collection of bigs.
Rob Sacre
I think we have the best front court. We’re all skilledbig guys, we all can go to work. We’re not afraid to be physical,that’s the best part about it.
Mark Few
We should be able to take those guys night in andnight out against anybody in the country. They all bring something alittle bit different.
Jim Meehan
Olynyk has gained 23 pounds. Dower put on 30pounds during his redshirt year. Harris weighs 245 after playing at215 a year ago. Sacre added 10 pounds.
Mark Few
It’s kind of like your kids. When you’re around themevery day you don’t notice it until somebody says ‘Boy, he surelooks taller.’
Jim Meehan
Olynyk has really filled out.
Kelly Olynyk 
The game is all about physicality. I’m lookingforward to seeing just how much it will help because everybodytalks so much about weight room, weight room, quickness.
Jim Meehan
How does the WCC shape up this year?
Mark Few
Saint Mary’s guards were really good. Samhan didn’treally play good in that (WCC Tournament) championship gamewhen they whipped us. Those guards tore us up. I think LMU is reallyloaded and their perimeters can hurt you in a lot of ways.
ESPN’s Len Elmore
picks the Zags – still pursuing their first FinalFour – to win the national championship.
Mark Few
He must not have seen us practice.
Robert Sacre
I heard something about that, but it doesn’t reallymatter. That’s so far from where we’re at right now. We just need tofocus on ourselves.
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Players OnlineGet connected
On the web
www.gozags.com
Links
www.spokesman.com/sections/zags
www.spokesman.com/blogs/sportslink
www.twitter.com/SRjimm
Ticket Office Phone:
1-509-313-4046
Home Court (Capacity):
McCarthey Athletic Center(6,000)
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