COMING UP: 26th Annual Golden Rule Shoot-Out – vs. Montana Western, Friday, 7:30 p.m.; vs. No. 13 Westminster, Saturday, 8 p.m.
LAST WEEK: vs. Northwest Nazarene (L 63-50), at Lewis-Clark State (L 82-70), vs. Carroll (W 68-56)
LIVE STATS/LIVE VIDEO/LIVE AUDIO: Live Stats of all four Golden Rule Shoot-Out games will be available online
http://www.sidearmstats.com/cofidaho/mbball/scoreboard.aspx, the new SIDEARM Sports Live Stats portal for C of I basketball. Live Video of all four games will be available online at
http://yoteathletics.com/sports/2012/8/14/live_video.aspx?&tab=2 with Mike Safford calling the action.
SCHEDULE CHANGES TO GOLDEN RULE SHOOT-OUT: Slight changes have been made to the Golden Rule Shoot-Out schedule this weekend. Friday’s games will pit Walla Walla and Westminster at 2 p.m., with the Coyotes and Montana Western at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Walla Walla and Montana Western will play at 6:30 p.m. (originally scheduled for 6 p.m.), with the Coyotes and Westminster following 20 minutes after the conclusion of the early game.
CRAZY WEEK: It was a whirlwind for the Yotes, three games in three days, in two cities, with snow and mountains in-between. Immediately after the United Heritage Insurance Mayors’ Cup game with Northwest Nazarene, the Coyotes jumped on the Caldwell Transportation charter and headed to Lewiston for the Clearwater River Resort and Casino Invitational – getting into the L-C Valley at 3 a.m. in the morning. After playing two days, it was 250-miles back to Caldwell, all in a span less than 60 hours.
LINE-UP CHANGE NETS WIN: After a 1-4 start to the season, the Yotes made a line-up change that helped proved dividends against Carroll on Saturday. Junior
Devan Telken (Caldwell, Idaho / Vallivue HS) made his first career start – as the Yotes went with four guards and a post, and Telken responded with nine points and a career-high nine rebounds in the victory. More importantly, The C of I forced 20 turnovers, while committing a season-low seven miscues in their first win over a Frontier Conference school since 2010.
PRUETT NAMED TO ALL-TOURNEY TEAM: After a dismal 0-for-6 shooting performance in the loss to NNU, post
Taylor Pruett (Arroyo Grande, Calif. / Hancock CC) came with his “A” game in Lewiston – earning All-Tournament Team honors. The junior averaged 18 points and eight rebounds in the two games – including 13-of-24 shooting from the floor, making 3-of-5 three-point attempts. Pruett also added six steals and leads the team with 15 steals on the season.
DELGARDO/DONALDSON CONSISTENT: It was a steady week for guards
Rodney Delgardo (Seattle, Wash. / Spokane CC) and
Sydney Donaldson (Coventry, England / Charis Prep), as both players scored in double figures in all three games last week. Delgardo averaged 13 points per game for the week, making 16-of-21 two-point field goal attempts, while Donaldson averaged 13 points and five rebounds per game.
GOLDEN RULE SHOOT-OUT RETURNS FOR 26TH YEAR: This weekend marks the 26th edition of the Golden Rule Shoot-Out, tabbed over the years as the "Premier Small-College Tournament in the West." A total of 35 different teams have played in the tournament from 1987-2011, which has seen six different champions – as Westminster heads to Caldwell for a 12th time, having attended the tournament from 2000-10; Montana Western will make their third appearance, having played in 1988 and 2010, while Walla Walla will make their second-straight appearance. Though no Cascade Conference team is in the field, a total of seven CCC squads have played in the event (Oregon Tech, Corban, Concordia, Northwest, Warner Pacific, Evergreen, and Eastern Oregon) – as only Southern Oregon and Northwest Christian hasn’t made a tourney appearance. A new champion will be crowned in 2011, as defending champion; Lewis-Clark State is not in the field.
PAST GOLDEN RULE CHAMPIONS: 2011 – Lewis-Clark State, 2010 – Westminster, 2009 – Westminster/Lewis-Clark State, 2008 – Westminster, 2007 – Westminster, 2006 – College of Idaho, 2005- Westminster, 2004 – C of I, 2003- Westminster, 2002 – C of I, 2001 – Westminster, 2000 – C of I, 1999 – C of I, 1998 – Northwest Nazarene, 1997 – NNU, 1996 – NNU, 1995 – Willamette, 1994 – C of I, 1993 – C of I, 1992 Central Washington, 1991 – NNU, 1990 – C of I, 1989 – CWU, 1988 – NNU, 1987 – NNU.
ABOUT MONTANA WESTERN: The Yotes open up the GRSO with
Montana Western, who defeated The C of I in the season opener last month, 72-52. The Bulldogs (6-2) won their first five games this season, before losses to Fort Lewis and to Eastern Oregon, but still muster a tough line-up – including guards Maazin Butler (17.0 ppg, 3.0 apg) and Jordan Overstreet (12.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg), along with post Jake Owsley (11.4 ppg, 7.6 rpg). The two teams have met 61 times, with the Coyotes holding a 37-24 series edge.
ABOUT WESTMINSTER: The Coyotes and
Westminster will meet in the Saturday finale for the 12th time in tournament history, as the Griffins (5-1), ranked No. 13 in the NAIA Division I, look to rebound after a loss last weekend to Westmont. Frontier Conference Preseason Player of the Year, Jake Orchard (12.8 ppg, 3.8 rpg) leads Westminster – with three other players – Blake Skidmore (13.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg), Colton Moon (11.6 ppg, 6.2 rpg), and Tallon Robertson (11.6 rpg, 5.0 rpg) all averaging in double figures. It is the 37th all-time meeting between the teams, dating back to 1947, with Westminster holding a 19-17 series edge.
ABOUT WALLA WALLA: The Yotes will not play the fourth team in the tournament, NAIA independent
Walla Walla. The Wolves (0-8) are looking for their first win of the season – after home losses to Portland Bible and Great Falls. The Wolves are led by Tristan Greenidge (13.0 ppg, 4.2 rpg) and Miguel Martinez (11.2 ppg, 3.1 rpg). WWU went 1-1 in their GRSO debut last season.
CASCADE CONFERENCE PRESEASON POLL: The Coyotes were picked to finished sixth in the annual CCC Preseason Coaches’ Poll, released on October 15. The C of I received 45 voter points from the 10 league coaches, just ahead of Corban and Concordia, with Northwest Christian and Evergreen rounding out the Top-10. Oregon Tech received four first-place votes and 91 total points to earn the top-billing, followed by Eastern Oregon, Warner Pacific, and Southern Oregon – who all each had two first-place votes. Northwest was picked fifth by the coaches.
NAIA TOP-25 POLL: Five CCC teams were represented in the NAIA Division II Preseason Top-25 Coaches’ Poll, released October 23. Defending NAIA champ, Oregon Tech was ranked No.2, Eastern Oregon was ranked No. 9, Warner Pacific sits at No. 15, Southern Oregon begins the season at No. 23, while Northwest received votes. Northwood (Fla.) earned five first-place votes and holds the top spot, followed by OIT, Dordt (Iowa), Indiana Wesleyan, and Cardinal Stritch (Wis.). The first regular-season Top-25 poll will be released on Nov. 27.
CONFERENCE LEADERS: Scoring Average – Adam Herman (CU) 27.0, Jordan Carter (CRB) 22.0, Michael Russo (NU) 21.7, Mihajlo Matic (OIT) 18.6, Trent Roos (EOU) 18.4; Rebound Average – Herman 12.5, Stephen Harris (WP) 9.3, Michael Greene (NU) 8.4, Anthony Brown (EOU) 7.8, Anthony Holton (CU) 7.8; Assists Average – J.D. Esters (EOU) 6.8, Jordan Myers (NCU) 4.7, Dustin Moore (CRB) 4.3, Josh Wiseman (OIT) 4.0, Carter 4.0.
GAME RECAP – NORTHWEST NAZARENE 63, C OF I 50: Kenny Jones scored seven points in a 10-2 second half run that erased a 40-38 C of I lead, as Northwest Nazarene won their sixth-straight United Heritage Insurance Mayors’ Cup game over their Canyon County rivals, topping the Coyotes, 63-50, before a capacity crowd of 2,422 fans at the J.A. Albertson Activities Center. The Yotes erased a 12-point first half deficit, taking their first lead of the night at 38-36 on a
Miguel Rodriguez (Wilder, Idaho / Wilder HS) bucket with 18 minutes to play – but NNU held the hosts to 7-of-30 shooting in the second half. After The C of I closed within 48-45 on a Sydney Donaldson free throw, the Crusaders (playing the game as an exhibition) used a 12-2 run, capped by a Michal Kurimsky dunk to put the game away – as the Yotes made just one field goal over a nine minute stretch. Jones, a UCLA transfer, had 17 points and six rebounds in the victory, with Keith Moilanen added 10 points for the Crusaders. NNU forced 20 turnovers and held a 45-40 edge on the glass. Donaldson had 13 points for the Yotes, with Rodney Delgardo adding 11 points and five boards.
Bryden Benke (Caldwell, Idaho / Vallivue HS) led all players with 11 rebounds.
GAME RECAP – LEWIS-CLARK STATE 82, C OF I 70: Posts P.J. Bolte and Nick Fromm combined for 16-of-21 shooting and 43 points, helping host Lewis-Clark State defeat The C of I, 82-70, at the Clearwater River Casino Invitational inside the LCSC Activity Center. The Warriors hit 56-percent of their field goals on the night - using key runs throughout the game and a size advantage to defeat their southern Idaho rivals. A pair of turnovers early led to fast-break baskets by Rodney Delgardo, as the Yotes took a 10-4 lead in the first three minutes. Bolte led the charge for L-C, scoring six in a 12-2 run to give the hosts the lead for good. The C of I scored seven-straight points to close within 24-23 with nine minutes to play, but the Yotes made just one field goal the rest of the period, as the Warriors led 43-30 at the break. A Bolte basket extended the lead to 59-42, before the Yotes made one last push, as Taylor Pruett scored 13 of his 15 points in the second half, helping The C of I get within 69-61 with 5:30 to play. Fromm took over, converting back-to-back lay-ups inside the final four minutes that sealed the win. Bolte had 29 points and nine rebounds for LCSC, including 11-of-15 shooting from the line, with Fromm adding 14 points. Pruett had a double-double for the Coyotes with 15 points and 10 rebounds, with Delgardo leading the club with 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting.
Zach Peterson (Boise, Idaho / North Idaho CC) had a season-high nine off the bench, but the Yotes hit just 4-of-18 shots from long-range.
GAME RECAP – C OF I 68, CARROLL 56: The C of I got a balanced scoring effort and forced 20 Carroll College turnovers, as the Coyotes upended the Frontier Conference squad, 68-56, at the Clearwater River Casino and Resort Invitational inside the LCSC Activitiy Center. The Yotes picked up their first win over Carroll since the 2006-07 season and their first against an NAIA DIvision I opponent in two years. The C of I started quickly, as Taylor Pruett scored six points in a 14-3 run to open the game. The Saints would close the gap to 29-27 on a Nick Jones free throw with five minutes left in the half, but a Sydney Donaldson trey, a Devan Telken jumper, and a pair of Zach Peterson free throws helped the Yotes build a 38-31 lead at the break. Carroll would chip away at the lead, as a jumper by Noah Kone-Nelson with 10 minutes remaining got the Saints within 49-46. The Yotes however, turned up the pressure, using a 19-6 run over the next seven minutes to earn the victory. Pruett led the way for the Yotes with 21 points and five rebounds, converting 8-of-11 field goals - including a pair of three-pointers. Donaldson and Rodney Delgardo each scored 12, with Telken, in his first collegiate start, scored nine points and had nine rebounds. Brett Ball led Carroll with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
ABOUT THE COACH: Rod Jensen is in his third season as head men's basketball coach at The C of I. He came to The C of I after five seasons at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where he served as associate head coach for the last four years. His Coyote teams have posted a 25-41 overall record, advancing to back-to-back CCC postseason tournaments. Jensen has earned notoriety as a defensive coach, especially during his 19 years as a coach at Boise State University. From 1983-95, he was the top assistant to head coach, Bobby Dye, helping the Broncos rank among the Top-15 in the NCAA Division I in scoring defense for four-straight seasons, winning Big Sky regular-season championships in 1988 and 1989, along with Big Sky Tournament titles in 1988, 1993, and 1994. BSU teams advanced to the National Invitational Tournament in 1987 and 1991, and the NCAA National Tournament in 1988, 1993, and 1994. In 1995, Jensen became the head coach at Boise State - compiling a 109-93 overall record in seven seasons at the helm - recording the third-most wins in BSU history. During his tenure, the Broncos ranked among the NCAA Top-25 in scoring defense in 1998 and 1999, while winning the 1999 Big West East Division Championship. Jensen headed east in 2002, becoming an assistant coach for Pete Gillen at the University of Virginia, where he helped the Cavaliers to NIT appearances in 2003 and 2004 - leading the Atlantic Coast Conference in defensive field goal percentage. In 2005, he headed south to UNC-Greensboro, working for Mike Dement, where during his tenure, every player who exhausted their eligibility, graduated. A graduate of the University of Redlands in California, Jensen began his coaching career at his alma mater in 1980, serving as an assistant for two years, before spending one season at Penn State. Jensen and his wife, Brenda, have six grown children - daughters Nicole (and Jon Grzeskowiak), Emily (and Drew Hadley), and Kate, and son Tucker.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: For more information on the Coyote men’s basketball program, head to the official homepage of the Yotes -
http://www.yoteathletics.com/index.aspx?path=mbball&tab=0.
