Rainbows, Idaho match up evenly

Today the Rule of (Big) Three is law in Moscow, Idaho.

The offenses of the Hawaii and Idaho basketball teams are predicated upon the fact that good things come with three primary scoring options. The Rainbow Warriors and Vandals face off at the Cowan Spectrum today to figure out whose trifecta of talent stands taller — UH’s Zane Johnson, Vander Joaquim and Joston Thomas or Idaho’s Deremy Geiger, Kyle Barone and Stephen Madison. UH’s three average between 15.5 and 13.2 points each and UI’s trio goes 13.2, 12.2 and 12.2.

"I think we’re very similar in that manner," UH coach Gib Arnold said. "They match up physically size-wise with us, in fact they’re a little bigger in the low post. I think they’ve got a couple more outside threats than we do."

Ask around the league and there’s a virtual consensus that the greater talent level lies with Hawaii, which fell into a tie for fourth place after a 77-72 loss at Utah State on Thursday. But Idaho has jumped out to a second-place tie with halfcourt efficiency and shooting ability.

"Our Big Three averages about three points less than their Big Three," UI coach Don Verlin said. "But we’re pretty even across the board in those areas."

Getting to Moscow from Logan, Utah, wasn’t easy. After busing to Salt Lake City, UH flew to Spokane, Wash., around noon, then bused again for an hour to frigid Moscow. After about 8 hours of travel, there was still time for an evening practice.

While UH is in a stretch of five of seven on the road, UI has benefited from a friendly first-half schedule; this is its fifth WAC home game among the front seven. It’s gone 3-1 at the Spectrum so far, losing only to first-place Nevada there.

That’s not to say the Vandals have been handed wins. They lead the WAC in overall field-goal percentage (.479) and from the 3-point line (.406). UH will try to counter with its WAC-leading field-goal percentage defense of .406.

The Vandals kept rolling at home with a 74-66 defeat of San Jose State in which the sharpshooter Geiger and center Barone each went for 21 points.

Geiger leads the way with 60 3-point makes at a .469 clip — he went 7-for-10 against SJSU — and four other Vandals shoot the long ball at 36 percent or better.

UH’s top scorer, Johnson, also has 60 3s on the season. But he struggled at USU with nine points on 4-for-16 shooting (1-for-9 from deep).

What’s become clear is that each part of UH’s Big Three must play well if UH is to win on the road — and ideally someone else, too.

"I think the key to this game is if someone else steps up, and not just the three main guys on each team," Arnold said.

The ‘Bows got an exceptional effort from center Joaquim at USU (24 points, 14 rebounds) and solid support from power forward Thomas (14 points, 10 boards). Miah Ostrowski continues to find scoring opportunities for teammates as the WAC’s top playmaker (8.6 assists a game in league play).

Verlin, a former longtime USU assistant, commended UH for its effort in nearly coming back to win at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.

"Nobody wins in Logan," Verlin said. "I thought Hawaii battled them really hard. Utah State just had that one little run that pushed it out of reach. But shoot, (UH) battled back and I thought Vander Joaquim played unbelievably well. I thought he was a man in all phases of the game."

Joaquim is on the cusp of averaging a double-double (14.0 ppg, 9.9 rpg). He could be challenged by the crafty, 6-foot-10 Barone and dunk-machine forward Djim Bandoumel.

The Vandals have swept the season series from UH each of the past two seasons, having won six of the past seven games. UH is winless against Verlin’s Vandals in three trips to Moscow, and 2-7 there overall.