RIVALRY WEEK: Idaho @ BSU

The countdown has begun for the biggest rivalry battle in the state of Idaho, the annual clash between the University of Idaho (7-3, 4-2 WAC) from the north, and Boise State University (9-0, 4-0 WAC) from the south. Senior tailback DEMAUNDRAY WOOLRIDGE and the Vandals head to Boise this weekend for the nationally televised showdown on ESPN-U, with bowl implications at stake for both programs.   Full Story

Vandal basketball is back! Vandal fans turned out big time Friday night to rock Memorial Gym for an exhibition doubleheader which saw the Vandal women defeat Eastern Oregon 61-43, while the men took care of business with an 87-61 win over St. Martin’s of Washington. Up next for the Vandal men is a road trip to take on Utah, while the Vandal women prepare to take on Gonzaga.    Full Story

Want a chance to enjoy the Vandal football telecast from San Jose State with fellow Vandal fans while helping raise money for the Vandal Scholarship Fund? This Saturday you can do both at the same time!    Full Story

Yesterday we reviewed the beginning of Idaho's stunning turnaround during the 2008-09 season. Today we look at Idaho's run through the Western Athletic Conference enroute to a No. 3 finish and invitation to the CollegeInsider.com Tournament. Idaho defeated Drake in the first round of the CIT, and established a lengthy and impressive list of team and individual accomplishments for the season.   Full Story

Idaho's stunning basketball season ended Monday with a second round CIT loss at Pacific. As disappointing as that loss was, it couldn't possibly over-shadow what this year's Vandal basketball team accomplished: The best season since 98-99; The emergence of a star in point guard MAC HOPSON; A 3rd place finish in the final WAC standings; And an invitation to the upstart CollegeInsider.com Tourney.   Full Story

Idaho starting point guard MAC HOPSON and senior shooting guard Trevor "T-Mo" Morris met with the media following Idaho's 69-67 victory over Drake University in the first round of the CollegeInsider.com Tournament at Idaho's Memorial Gym. Morris led the Vandals with 16 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal. All-WAC point guard Hopson scored 10 points and dished nine assists on the night.   Full Story

Following Idaho's thrilling 69-67 victory over Drake University of the Missouri Valley Conference on Wednesday night in the opening round of the CollegeInsider.com Tournament, Idaho head coach DON VERLIN and Drake head coach Mark Phelps met with the media to discuss the game. Inside, each coach provides their perspective on how the matchup played out and the importance of this post-season game.   Full Story

Idaho hung on and weathered a furious Drake University comeback to beat the Bulldogs 69-67 in the first round of the CollegeInsider.com Tournamanet Wednesday night in Idaho's historic Memorial Gym. With the victory, Idaho now begins preparing for a second round matchup with Pacific in Stockton, Calif. on Monday.   Full Story

Wednesday night, in front of a raucous soldout crowd at Idaho's historic Memorial Gym (the Kibbie Athletic Center is currently in the early stages of a $10 million renovation, so the Cowan Spectrum is unavailable), the Idaho Vandals topped Drake University in the first round of the CollegeInsiders.com Tourney. Idaho now faces Pacific of the Big West Conference in the second round Monday.   Full Story

Nobody - outside of the players and coaches in Moscow - anticipated Idaho's complete turnaround this year on the hardwood. First year head coach DON VERLIN, along with assistant Ray Lopes and an emerging group of stars, produced a thrilling third place finish in the WAC and earned an invititation to the CollegeInsider.com Tournament. Coach V discusses the CIT and what it means to his program.   Full Story

It's not over yet. The Vandals, completing their best season in a decade and finishing No.3 in the Western Athletic Conference, have been invited to play in the inaugural CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament. The Vandals (16-15) will open the tournament THIS WEDNESDAY at home in Memorial Gym, hosting Drake University (17-15) of the Missouri Valley Conference. Tipoff is at 7:05pm PST.   Full Story

Idaho (16-15, 9-7 WAC) capped off a phenominal turnaround this season - and its best record since the 1998-99 season - by earning the No. 3 seed going into the WAC Tournament, but couldn't hold off a hot shooting Louisiana Tech team tonight in the quarterfinals. With a sizzling 66.7% 3-point shooting barrage (including 7-of-10 in the first half), the Bulldogs defeated Idaho 70-62 in Reno.   Full Story

Each player took a different path to Moscow and is in a different stage of his career, but the trio of junior LUCIANO DE SOUZA, senior forward Luis Augusto, and Luiz Toledo (redshirting this season), agreed there is not only a greater opportunity to play basketball but for a better quality of life in the United States.   Full Story

Idaho's MAC HOPSON was named to the All-WAC First Team and All-Newcomer Team on the men's side, while the Vandal women's team saw head coach Jon Newlee named Coach of the Year as Yinka Olerunnife (2nd Team and All-Defensive Team), Derisa Taleni (Newcomer of the Year), and Shaena-Lyn Kuehu (All Freshman Team) all earned All Conference honors.   Full Story

In front of a boisterous home crowd in the Cowan Spectrum on Senior Night, the Vandals battled back from an 8-point halftime deficit to take the lead with 2:14 seconds left and complete the season sweep of Fresno State. With the 59-56 victory the Vandals earned their first winning season since 98-99 to finish third in WAC standings - a remarkable finish for a team picked last in the preseason.   Full Story

In front of a raucous home crowd of 2679 at the Cowan Spectrum in Moscow tonight in the season finale, MAC HOPSON drained 20 points to lead the Vandals to the 59-56 victory and season sweep of Fresno State. With the victory Idaho (16-14, 9-7 WAC) completed its first winning season since the '98-'99 campaign, and finished third in WAC despite being picked last in preseason WAC publications.   Full Story

Unversity of Idaho Director of Athletics Rob Spear today issued a call to all Vandal fans to make every effort to attend the final regular season basketball game THIS SATURDAY NIGHT between Idaho (15-14, 8-7 WAC) and Fresno State (12-19, 3-12 WAC). Tipoff will be at 7:09 p.m. as the Vandals put their 10-3 home record and fourth place position in WAC standings on the line against the Bulldogs.   Full Story

For the second game in a row, senior guard TREVOR MORRIS led the Vandals in scoring, sinking 14 points as the Vandals topped La Tech 66-58 in the Cowan Spectrum Thursday night. With the win Idaho (15-14, 8-7 WAC) moved into a tie for fourth place in WAC standings. This Saturday night Idaho hosts Fresno State in the regular season finale in the Spectrum, as Idaho's three seniors will be honored.   Full Story

The Vandals put on a tremendous team performance Saturday night as senior guard TREVOR MORRIS came off the bench to score 14 points and lead Idaho to a 71-68 victory over Fresno State, while junior center Marvin Jefferson nabbed 11 rebounds. Four Vandals scored in double figures and Idaho held a 40-31 rebounding advantage to beat Fresno and improve their record to 14-14 (7-7 WAC) on the season.   Full Story

Led by a ferocious effort tonight by junior center MARVIN JEFFERSON, Idaho dominated on the boards 40-31 in the wake of Jefferson's 11 rebound performance. Idaho (14-14, 7-7 WAC) evened their season record with the 71-68 road victory over the Bulldogs. Idaho now heads home to wrap up their regular season with a two-game stand at the Cowan Spectrum. INSIDE: Verlin and Jefferson post-game quotes.   Full Story

Junior forward BRANDON WILEY and the Idaho Vandals lost a frustrating game at SJSU Thursday night as the team tries to finish with a winning record for the first time since the '98-'99 season. This season Idaho (13-14, 6-7 WAC) has swept Boise State, and topped Nevada (in Reno) and NMSU, all in Coach Don Verlin's first year. Tonight Idaho plays at Fresno State before returning home next week.   Full Story

Thursday night Idaho (13-14, 6-7 WAC) began a two game road swing through California, falling 72-64 at San Jose State (12-14, 5-8 WAC). The Vandals were paced again by junior starting point guard MAC HOPSON (20 points, eight assists, four rebounds, and two steals), with junior forward Luciano DeSouza adding 14 and senior Trevor Morris adding 13 more. Inside are quotes from both head coaches.   Full Story

Saturday night Idaho's two starting point guards KASHIF WATSON and Mac Hopson led the Vandals with 17 points each, guiding Idaho to a 78-75 victory over Cal State Northridge in an ESPNU BracketBuster matchup in the Cowan Spectrum. With the win Idaho improves to 13-13 on the season (6-6 WAC) and maintains their No. 5 position in Western Athletic Conference standings.   Full Story

Wednesday night proved to be an enormous night for the Vandal basketball team as they completed the season sweep of Boise State with a last second shot for a 56-54 win in Boise. After the game Idaho head coach Don Verlin talked to the media, along with point guard MAC HOPSON and center Marvin Jefferson.   Full Story

The Vandals battled back from a 15-2 deficit Wednesday night to defeat rival Boise State 56-54 in front of a raucous crowd of 10,246 in Boise. It was Idaho's first victory at BSU since 1999, and it was the first time the Vandals have swept in-state rival BSU since the same date. The Vandals improved to 12-13 overall (6-6 WAC) and handed the Broncos their first home conference loss this season.   Full Story