Scouting the 2008-09 Idaho Vandals
Michigan State basketball tips off its regular season on Sunday, November 16 against the Idaho Vandals. Idaho, coming off a 8-21 run in 2007-08, opens this season on Friday against Evergreen State before traveling to East Lansing.
New head coach Don Verlin has a tough task ahead of him- his Vandals are inexperienced and undersized. Idaho starts the year with 11 new players, most from junior colleges. They’ve only had a few months to gel with each other.
Verlin, known as an offensive specialist, was an assistant at Utah State last year. He was hired after former head coach George Pfeifer struggled to a 12-48 record over two seasons. Idaho will need some offensive energy, with the team’s top four scorers from 2007-08 either graduated or dismissed.
At least one blogger thinks that the Vandals could be a lot to handle:
The kids seem to be responding to Verlin and the staff well, everyone I talked to liked the focus and the energy the new staff brings and though they are in the early stages of new offensive plays and rotations, they seem to be picking things up well.
Players to watch
- Marvin Jefferson - 6′10″ center; junior college newcomer
- Marcus Lawrence - 5′10″ guard; transfer from UNLV
- Trevor Morris - 6′4″ guard; leading returning scorer (7.1 ppg in 2007-08)
Outlook
This matchup was scheduled as a tuneup game for the Spartans, and based on how strong they’ve looked in exhibition matchups, Michigan State should be able to blow away Idaho. However, hard-nosed and disciplined teams always have the potential to pull an upset or two early in the year. The Vandals may be a work in progress but their coach should have them ready to execute on Sunday.
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