Game Notes
POCATELLO, Idaho- Idaho State returns to the road for a contest at Summitt League foe South Dakota State on Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. The game can be heard live on 930 AM in Pocatello with
Jerry Miller calling the action or via the internet at www.isubengals.com. This is the second-ever meeting between the two schools as ISU defeated SDSU 89-72 back in the 2005-06 season in Pocatello.
South Dakota State is 3-0, with a win being a 79-69 win at Iowa on Nov. 14. They have three playerse scoring in double figures led by Nate Wolters 18 points and Clint Sargent's 16.7 points a game. SDSU is scoring 80 points a game and shooting 43.6 percent from the field.
Bengals in Home Openers
Idaho State has won seven straight home openers and 11 of its last 13. The 2005-06 meeting with Great Falls in Pocatello was also ISU's home opener. Idaho State's only home opening losses since the 1998-99 season came in 2003 when the Bengals lost 87-78 to Boise State. Then in 2000-01 ISU lost to Utah State 59-55.
The Week That Was
In Idaho State's only game of the week, the Bengals defeated Great Falls 78-68 on Nov. 19.
Broderick Gilchrest scored 20 points while
Deividas Busma had 17 points and
Nick Mason 12.
Starting Strong
Deividas Busma is off to his best start in his Idaho State career. For the first time in his career he has scored in double figures in three-straight games. He is currently averaging 15 points and 8.7 rebounds a game while shooting 55.6 percent from the field.
Idaho State Against Top Competition
Since Joe O'Brien was named head coach he hasn't backed down from top competition as he has faced 19 schools from a BCS conference in four years. This year ISU plays Colorado, Arizona and Iowa. Idaho State has yet to win one of these games.
Hello My Name Is
This year the Bengal coaching staff welcomes 11 newcomers to the team with only five returners. New to the squad are freshmen,
Brandon Glanz,
Nick Mason,
Andre Hatchett,
Conner Moore and
Justin Brunswick. The junior college transfers are
Kamil Gawrzydek,
Kenny McGowen,
Russell Wilkinson,
Abner Moreira and
Chase Grabau. Transfering from Central Florida is 7-4 center
Jakub Kusmieruk.
Career Nights on Opening Night
Last weekend started off with
Broderick Gilchrest scoring a career-high 39 points and
Mike Lacey scoring a career-best nine points at Colorado. Gilchrest previous career-high was 25 points while Lacey's was eight.
Redshirting in 2010-11
Joe O'Brien has announced that junio
Sherrod Baldwin and freshman
Brandon Glanz will redshirt this year.
Jakub Kusmieruk must sit out this season due to NCAA transfer rules.
Preseason Big Sky Rankings
Idaho State was picked to finish eighth in the Big Sky by the coaches and media. Weber State was picked to win the conference in both polls while in the coaches poll Northern Arizona was second, Montana third, Northern Colorado fourth, Montana State fifth, Eastern Washington sixth, Portland State seventh, Idaho State eight eighth and Sacramento State ninth. The only difference in the voting in the media poll was that Northern Colorado was picked second and NAU fourth.
The Returning Five
The five returning Bengal players are
Broderick Gilchrest,
Phyllip Taylor,
Deividas Busma,
Mike Lacey and
Sherrod Baldwin. Gilchrest earned Honorable Mention All-Big Sky honors last year after he averaged 15.5 points a game in 35 minutes of action in his first year as a Bengal. Taylor sat out the 2009-10 season and Busma was injured seven games into the season and missed the rest of the year. Lacey played in 27 games and Baldwin appeared in all 29. Baldwin will redshirt this year.
ISU in Season and Home Openers
Under Joe O'Brien Idaho State is 1-3 in season openers with its losses coming at
Marquette in overtime, at Iowa and at Iowa State. The win was over Eastern Oregon on Nov. 14 in Pocatello. Idaho State is 4-0 in home openers under O'Brien.
New Court to Come
Holt Arena will be getting a new basketball court this season thanks to the donation and partnership of Idaho Central Credit Union. Fans will get a chance to see the new look court by the Dec. 31 home game vs. Sacramento State.
Random Notes
*Since the 1997-98 season ISU has only opened the season up at home twice and that came on Nov. 18, 1997 with a 90-81 win over Montana Tech and in 2008-09 with a 75-70 victory over Eastern Oregon.
*Idaho State has lost 20 straight road openers. The Bengals have lost 12 straight road games since winning at UMKC last season.
*Idaho State's 16 overtime games over the last four seasons is the most over any such three-year stretch in school history. There were 12 overtime games from the 1999-2000 through the 2001-2002 seasons.
*Idaho State has recorded double-figure offensive rebounds in the 17 games dating back to last season, and they have had a season-high 17 four times last year.
*ISU is 2-33 in non-conference road games over the last three years.
*ISU is 10-7 in non-conference home games over that same time period.
* This year ISU plays schools from the Big 12, Pac 10, Summitt League, Big 10, WAC, Missouri Valley, Mid-American, Sun Belt along with two non-division I schools and one Independent school.
