--Was last week a turning point for the ISU men? We'll find out rather quickly as they take to the road this week against Portland State and Sac State. If nothing else the Bengal sweep of NAU and Southern Utah was the most entertaining basketball I've watched in a long time. You start with a 20-point comeback against NAU. Then mix in a three-point basket barrage (15
treys) with a slam dunk fest vs SUU. (Bengal forward Robert Jones had a throw-down for the ages against the T-birds, but Geno, Lennox, Novak and yes, even Brandon Boyd had dunks Saturday night). If you didn't enjoy Bengal hoops last week you are either not a Bengal fan or you're wishing for the return of the Four Corners offense.
--Who, besides Tom Brady, had a better week than Eastern Washington's Jacob Wiley? The one-time Montana Grizzly and D-2 all-American was named national player of the week by Dick Vitale after averaging 41.5 points and 14.5 rebounds in wins over Sac State and Portland State. He made 32 of 46 shots (69.5 percent).
--Back to the Bengals, I watch Rob Jones III and dream about what this kid could be for ISU if he played with passion for 30 minutes a night. He is the best athlete on the team, can jump with anybody in the Big Sky, is listed at 6-8 yet he can handle the ball and pass like a guard -- and shoot threes. We keep getting glimpses of his explosive ability -- the awe inspiring dunk on Saturday, his break out shooting against Weber, the two athletic blocked shots vs SUU...if Bill Evans can light a fire under RJ-3, he can be an all-conference player, if not this year then next.
--Ethan Telfair is starting to look like the ET we all grew to know and love last year. He was two assists and two rebounds shy of his second triple double against SUU Saturday. More importantly he looks like he's been unleashed again to gamble and raise havoc on defense, and to run unfettered in the transition offense. ET will never be a high percentage shooter, and he will make crazy turnovers and take a few wild shots. But the Bengals are so much better when they are gambling and getting out in transition and ET is the straw that stirs that drink.
--Congrats to Seton Sobolewski and the women's team for sweeping their road trip, and overcoming an 8-point deficit in the final minute and a half of the second overtime at SUU Saturday night. The Bengals just keep overcoming obstacles thrown at them, including ongoing injury issues. That's a sign of the toughness Sobolewski and his staff instill in all his ballclubs. The Bengal women will never cause anybody to confuse them with a run-and-gun team like Sac State, and there are days when their offense is down right ugly. But they are in just about every conference game because of their hard-edged style, commitment to defense and rebounding. Seton's teams always know who they are and that solves a lot of problems before they ever happen.
treys) with a slam dunk fest vs SUU. (Bengal forward Robert Jones had a throw-down for the ages against the T-birds, but Geno, Lennox, Novak and yes, even Brandon Boyd had dunks Saturday night). If you didn't enjoy Bengal hoops last week you are either not a Bengal fan or you're wishing for the return of the Four Corners offense.
--Who, besides Tom Brady, had a better week than Eastern Washington's Jacob Wiley? The one-time Montana Grizzly and D-2 all-American was named national player of the week by Dick Vitale after averaging 41.5 points and 14.5 rebounds in wins over Sac State and Portland State. He made 32 of 46 shots (69.5 percent).
--Back to the Bengals, I watch Rob Jones III and dream about what this kid could be for ISU if he played with passion for 30 minutes a night. He is the best athlete on the team, can jump with anybody in the Big Sky, is listed at 6-8 yet he can handle the ball and pass like a guard -- and shoot threes. We keep getting glimpses of his explosive ability -- the awe inspiring dunk on Saturday, his break out shooting against Weber, the two athletic blocked shots vs SUU...if Bill Evans can light a fire under RJ-3, he can be an all-conference player, if not this year then next.
--Ethan Telfair is starting to look like the ET we all grew to know and love last year. He was two assists and two rebounds shy of his second triple double against SUU Saturday. More importantly he looks like he's been unleashed again to gamble and raise havoc on defense, and to run unfettered in the transition offense. ET will never be a high percentage shooter, and he will make crazy turnovers and take a few wild shots. But the Bengals are so much better when they are gambling and getting out in transition and ET is the straw that stirs that drink.
--Congrats to Seton Sobolewski and the women's team for sweeping their road trip, and overcoming an 8-point deficit in the final minute and a half of the second overtime at SUU Saturday night. The Bengals just keep overcoming obstacles thrown at them, including ongoing injury issues. That's a sign of the toughness Sobolewski and his staff instill in all his ballclubs. The Bengal women will never cause anybody to confuse them with a run-and-gun team like Sac State, and there are days when their offense is down right ugly. But they are in just about every conference game because of their hard-edged style, commitment to defense and rebounding. Seton's teams always know who they are and that solves a lot of problems before they ever happen.
