January 4th, 2012 at 11:47 pm
by Journal Sports
in
Uncategorized |
15 Comments →
As I watched practice Wednesday afternoon in Holt Arena, one thing was evident from the moment I sat down. This team does not look like the same one that we all witnessed at any point during the season.
Interim head coach Deane Martin and his staff have completely changed the intensity level of practice. That change in intensity honestly appears to be paying off because the team looked different than at any other practice I have been to all season.
Sherrod Baldwin told me that the team is more into practice with the increased intensity and that the coaches are putting much more into each one.
When Martin was first introduced as the interim head coach, the question was asked whether or not any noticeable changes would be made. At the time he said there would not be anything major. But since the Weber State game last week, things are not the status quo from before.
Martin has the team playing a much tougher defense than the loose 2-3 zone they played most of the season. While this new defense is still a zone, it’s much more of a pressure zone that does not allow for a perimeter shooter to be left open. Perimeter defense has been an issue for ISU in at least half a dozen games this year that I can remember.
Every player I talked to at practice said that the focus over the last two weeks has been on defense with an emphasis on stopping the ball. While Martin said they are improving at doing so, they still have a long way to go.
Idaho State SID Steve Shaack and I were talking at practice and he told me that I should expect to see a lot more low scoring games like the one at Northern Colorado on Monday. He said the high 50′s to low 60′s would more than likely be the norm due to the team’s emphasis on controlling the game on the defensive end of the floor.
Another thing I noticed was that the team has not given up on the season and may have actually become closer as a result of all the struggles both on and off the court. Baldwin, Grabau and a handful of other players told me at practice that the entire team realizes that Big Sky play is what is important. They said the goal is to win as many games as possible and to get to the conference tournament. Honestly, when O’Brien was the head coach, not one player ever made that statement to me. So whatever Martin is telling the team, they are buying.
Some other notes from practice; Jakub Kusmieruk is still slowed by a shoulder injury and no one would confirm if he would play against Montana State on Thursday. Andre Hatchett got some time playing the power forward position during practice, which leads me to believe that Dejan Kostur’s struggles are continuing. I would expect Andre Hatchett and Garrett Swanson to see increased time if Kusmieruk is out and Kostur struggles early against the Bobcats.
As always leave your thoughts and questions here or come find me at a game. I am always willing to talk and offer my thoughts to you readers. I will be out at practice a lot more often from now on as some family issues kept me away a lot longer than I would have liked.
Jason
December 24th, 2011 at 12:51 am
by Journal Sports
in
Uncategorized |
11 Comments →
I have had a chance now to digest what I watched Thursday night in Holt Arena and all I can say is when I think can’t get any worse, I was wrong.
The Bengals played with the Cowboys for 19 minutes, but as has been theme with this team, poor shot selection and defensive breakdowns cost the team a game.
In the postgame press conference, interim head coach Deane Martin told us that this team lacks playmakers, which is something most if already knew. Also that he does not know why the team has the breakdowns that it does in every game.
My opinion as to why it happens is simple, minus a couple of players, the team does not buy into the system O’Brien and Martin are trying to run.
Just look at the scoring breakdown. McGowen was the only player anywhere near double figures with 23 points. But with all of the potential this team has to only have your next leading scorer with five points is a problem.
It was evident talking to McGowen after the game that he is frustrated with how things have gone of late, but I wonder how many of the players, if there are any have thrown in the towel. The Weber State game Thursday will say a lot about the mindset of this team heading into Big Sky play.
Let me know what you all think about the game and give me your predictions about a conference record.
Sorry the post is so short, but beleive me I have many more thoughts on the game and the rest of the season.
December 20th, 2011 at 11:25 pm
by Journal Sports
in
Uncategorized |
4 Comments →
Commentary by Jason Enes
During Monday’s press conference announcing the resignation of ISU men’s basketball coach Joe O’Brien, interim head coach Deane Martin said that you never want to see a friend quit the business, but that it was good to see him leave in his own terms.
As someone who has interviewed O’Brien countless times over the past five years, first as a student reporter at ISU and now working for the Journal, I echo Martin’s statement.
O’Brien was nothing but a class act while at Idaho State. No matter how good or bad things were on the floor, he never lost his cool while dealing with the media and the public.
Sure I can remember times when he snapped at a reporter after getting asked a question he may not have liked, but everyone does that from time to time.
The news of O’Brien’s resignation was a shock to myself and I would guess to most Bengal fans as well. But if you look back to the last few seasons, maybe we shouldn’t be surprised that he decided to call it quits.
When O’Brien arrived in Pocatello six years ago he brought a resume of success at the junior college level, including being one of only 11 coaches to have won three Junior College National Championships.
He immediately brought hope to Bengal fans that ISU could possibly compete for Big Sky Conference championships.
For the first three years of the O’Brien era, he did just that .
O’Brien led the Bengals to three consecutive Big Sky Tournament appearances including back-to-back semifinals, and it appeared that maybe the Bengals were on the doorstep of bigger and better things.
But in the 2009-10 season things went in the opposite direction.
The Bengals went just 18-42 in the next two seasons despite having a load of talented players.
Amorrow Morgan, Broderick Gilchrest, Deividas Busma and Austin Kilpatrick were all members of those teams and each could have started on any team in the conference.
I have heard and read arguments from people that O’Brien could not recruit and I think that is far from the truth. O’Brien got talented players from all over the country to come to Pocatello, but for whatever reason the players could not perform on the court as he wanted them to.
I have little doubt that the struggles from the past two years were a factor in O’Brien’s decision and I would not be surprised if the games last week at Loyola and Utah sealed his decision to leave.
But we all need to remember that O’Brien has done a lot of good things while at ISU. The team’s APR scores are improving and not once can I remember any of his players being arrested or doing anything to disrespect O’Brien or the team.
While most people only look at wins and losses, O’Brien had a lot on his plate as head coach. The 2-8 start to the season may have given some the impression that he jumped off a sinking ship, but remember that the Bengals have not played a conference game yet. Many of the players on the team say that is when the regular season really begins.
While you never want to see a coach resign midseason, I am glad O’Brien felt good enough about leaving when he felt it was right.
Good luck in your future endeavors Joe, it’s been a privilege to know you.
December 13th, 2011 at 11:32 pm
by Journal Sports
in
Uncategorized |
2 Comments →
Commentary by Jason Enes
As hard as it is to believe, bowl season in college football starts Saturday.
While most fans are focused on the New Year’s Day games (or Jan. 2 games thanks to New Year’s falling on a Sunday) and the rest of BCS games, there are really good teams that no one really knows about in the earlier games.
Just look at Saturday’s schedule. The New Mexico Bowl pits 8-4 Wyoming against 8-4 Temple. Utah State (7-5) plays Ohio (9-4) in the Famous Potato Bowl in Boise and Louisiana-Lafayette (8-4) plays San Diego State (8-4) in the New Orleans Bowl.
To the average college football fan, these games might not look like anything that could amount to much. But if you look a little closer at the match ups you have six really good non-BCS conference teams, one of which, Louisiana-Lafayette, is making its first bowl appearance in 40 years.
The Ragin’ Cajuns get what amounts to a home game against a San Diego State team that is playing in its second straight bowl game after winning the Poinsettia Bowl last season.
Fans of Boise State are no doubt familiar with the Aztecs quarterback Ryan Lindley and running back Ronnie Hillman. The duo have been the main cogs in the offense all season.
But most of the nation will get its first chance to see Ragin’ Cajuns quarterback Blaine Gautier.
Gautier guided his team to a third place finish in the Sun Belt and threw for 2,488 yards and 20 touchdowns. The team almost beat Arizona in the season finale as well.
Neither of these squads like to play defense, so expect to see a whole bunch of points on the board.
In Albuquerque, the surprising Wyoming Cowboys take on another team on the rise in Temple.
Freshman quarterback Brett Smith has injected life into a program that has had its fair share of ups and downs in recent years. Smith and the Cowboys went 5-2 in the Mountain West, losing only to Boise State and TCU.
Temple brings in what I think is the best running back in the country that no one knows about in Bernard Pierce.
The junior is the key to the Owls’ offense, rushing for 1,381 yards and 25 touchdowns on the season.
Both of these teams are run-first teams, and both would love a bowl win. So expect another high scoring game.
Finally we head three-and-a-half hours West of Pocatello to Boise where Utah State takes on a very good Ohio team.
Former Nebraska head coach Frank Solich and his Bobcats are coming off a last second loss to Northern Illinois in the Mid-American Conference championship game and are looking for the first bowl win in school history.
This is the fourth consecutive season the Bobcats have reached a bowl game.
Utah State finished the season with a five game winning streak after starting 2-5.
Aggies head coach Gary Anderson promised his team that he would get a tattoo if the team made a bowl game.
Last weekend he made good on his bet, getting the Aggies logo and a bowl message on his shoulder.
Ohio will have its hands full with the Aggies three-headed rushing attack led by Robert Turbin and his 1,416 yards and 19 touchdowns. Michael Smith and Kerwynn Williams combined for another 1,183 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Quarterback Chuckie Keeton runs the offense, having thrown for 1,200 yards and 11 touchdowns on the year.
With this being the first bowl game since 1997 for the Aggies and the drive from Logan to Boise being a relatively easy one, expect quite a few of the Utah State faithful to make it feel like a home game.
I know you Boise State fans are going to say “what about the match up with Arizona State in Las Vegas?” I know you Bronco fans are upset with being sent to the Las Vegas Bowl for what should be a blowout over the 6-6 Sun Devils.
The only things I can say to you is first, yes, you got shafted by the BCS. There is no way you should be playing in Las Vegas. Kellen Moore and company are too good of a team to play against mediocre competition. Second, make the best of it. Where would you rather spend the Thursday before Christmas? Freezing in Boise or cruising the strip in shorts and flip flops?
That’s what I thought.
While not all early season bowl games will be gems, Saturday is a day that football fans should be glued to their televisions as they watch six teams that don’t get a ton of national media attention but are definitely worth a few hours of your time.
December 4th, 2011 at 11:18 am
by Journal Sports
in
Uncategorized |
20 Comments →
December 3rd, 2011 at 5:49 pm
by Journal Sports
in
Uncategorized |
4 Comments →
December 2nd, 2011 at 7:59 pm
by Journal Sports
in
Uncategorized |
1 Comment →
Commentary by Jason Enes
Starting with tonight’s game against North Dakota, the Idaho State men’s basketball team begins what may be the most important two weeks of its young season.
After starting 1-5 and mired in the middle of a three-game losing streak, ISU plays three of the next four games on the road. That includes trips to Boise State, Utah and a rematch with Loyola Marymount.
Finding a way to solve the recent offensive struggles and getting a win over North Dakota would be the perfect way to start a tough road trip.
When the Bengals and UND met in the seasons’ second game, ISU had just come off a four-point loss to Oklahoma in which the Bengals played well enough to win. But fatigue and foul trouble cost them down the stretch.
The momentum did not carry over to the game in Grand Forks as Idaho State fell behind early and could not establish any offensive rhythm, losing 63-47.
ISU turned the ball over 20 times in the game and shot just 36 percent from the field, including 3-of-10 from the three point line.
These are numbers that can not be repeated if ISU wants to get a victory on its home floor.
Head coach Joe O’Brien has said since fall camp that he wants his team to take 20 three point attempts and make 40 percent of them. So far this year that has happened just once, in the overtime loss to Loyola Marymount before Thanksgiving.
In the last two games the Bengals are a combined 10-for-40 from three, and junior guard Melvin Morgan has made eight with seven coming Wednesday at New Mexico.
Morgan has emerged as a playmaker over the last three games, scoring over 20 points in each game. He notched a season-high 24 against LMU.
Morgan will need to continue that play tonight, but he also needs to get some help from his teammates. The team cannot win with one player carrying the load.
To earn a win over UND, the Bengals need to be productive on offense, whether that’s in set pieces or in transition.
Shooting 40 percent form both the field and the three point line, I believe, are critical. ISU must also shoot at least 85 percent from the free throw line.
On defense, the return of a healthy Jakub Kusmieruk would go a long way to shore up the post.
Kusmieruk has missed the last two games with a bruised shoulder and his return gives the team 20-25 minutes, eight points and five rebounds a game.
In every contest except the Utah State game, ISU has done a good job guarding against the three. They will have to continue to do that if they hope to keep the game close.
The biggest key to the game is protecting home court.
ISU plays just one other home game this month. That’s not until Dec. 22 against Wyoming, so getting a big win in front of the home crowd would be huge.
No one ever says that winning is easy, but having already played UND once this year is a definite plus. If ISU can manage to get an offensive rhythm early and play solid defense a win is definitely possible.
If the team doesn’t play well, the road gets tougher.
Boise State put up a 104 points against Drake this week, Loyola Marymount has Anthony Ireland, who single-handedly beat ISU earlier this year. The Lions also got two top players back from injury since they left Pocatello.
While the recent struggles are cause for concern, it is not time to panic yet.
Tip-off is at 7:05 p.m. tonight in Holt Arena.
December 1st, 2011 at 11:13 pm
by Journal Sports
in
Uncategorized |
4 Comments →
Sorry for not posting much lately but I have not had much to share with you all but now that the team has returned from New Mexico I hope to head out to practice tomorrow and talk to coach O’Brien and some of he players on the recent struggles and find out what they think is the reason for the 1-5 start.
I am happy that Melvin Morgan has shown that he can carry the team over the last three games, but what disappoints me is that no on else felt the need to step up against New Mexico Wednesday. When the second leading scorer has just five points and your three seniors score a combined 8 points, things are not going well.
O’Brien told me after the Utah State game that Kenny McGowen is a huge funk. It’s apparently so bad that he was lifted from the starting lineup against the Lobos. The Bengals need him to produce soon, if the don’t Morgan could turn into Broderick Gilchrest and be forced to carry the team.
I am also curious to find out when Jakub Kusmieruk will return to action. He left the LMU game with a bruised shoulder and has not played since. O’Brien said it was a deep tissue bruise and he may be back Saturday for North Dakota, we will see.
I will be at Saturday’s game with UND and will be hitting the road Monday for the game with Boise State so there will be plenty of news and notes coming in the next few days to satisfy your basketball needs.As always fell free to leave comments and questions and I will do my best to find the answers for you.
Jason
November 26th, 2011 at 5:52 pm
by Journal Sports
in
Uncategorized |
10 Comments →
November 24th, 2011 at 10:04 pm
by Journal Sports
in
Uncategorized |
3 Comments →
After having some time to think about Wednesday night’s game with Loyola Marymount two things really stick out, the three point shooting and the complete lack of any post presence.
Since June anytime Joe O’Brien and I have had a conversation the topic of three point shooting came up. He was always telling me how much better a shooting team this one would be over the others during his tenure. Over the first three games of the season I was skeptical that this better three point shooting would ever surface.
But from the opening tip Wednesday, Chase Grabau proved me wrong. ISU hit 12 threes against Loyola Marymount, with 10 coming from Grabau and Melvin Morgan who by far had his best game as a Bengal.
What concerns me was that just one other player, Nick Mason made a three pointer in the game. While O’Brien has preached making 40 percent of their threes, I think he would lie to see a few more players make them.
Now lets discuss the horrible performance by the Bengal post players Wednesday night.
I know that size is not a luxury that O’Brien has, and after talking to him after the game he was not pleased with the effort he got from Jakub Kusmieruk, Abner Moreira and Dejan Kostur. The trio was consistently outrebounded by the smaller but more athletic front of Loyola and Kusmieruk is becoming my worst fear, a defensive liability that will spend more time on the bench than he does on the floor. Granted he did leave the game twice with what was diagnosed as a bruised shoulder, O’Brien told me after the game he was given the green light to play by the doctors but felt that he could not go.
While he was in the game, Kusmieruk was out hustled for rebounds and was unable to sink a 3-5 foot shot.
As for Moreira and Kostur, each seemed to find a way to leave their man open in a critical time that led to easy points. O’Brien said they gave up 40 points in the paint against the Lions, most were layups after the defense was gashed or a man was left open.
I am still trying to figure out how the entire team let Anthony Ireland beat them when they were told all week in practice that their main focus was to stop him.
Ireland completely dominated the final five minutes of regulation and the overtime. O’Brien said after the game that he was the best guard they faced all season and the he will help them when they face some of the tougher guards in the Big Sky. After what I saw last night, Damian Lillard will torch ISU for 30 plus points both times the teams meet this season if they do not solve the defensive issues.
With Utah State coming into town Saturday night, ISU has a lot of work to do if they hope to keep the score close against the Aggies.
Let me know what your thoughts are from the game, and what worries you after a 1-3 start.
Jason