Oct. 16, 2009

Pocatello, ID --- Idaho State University has continually gotten closer to that elusive Big Sky conference title. In Joe O'Brien's first season, the team lost in the quarterfinals, and in year two, ISU lost at Portland State in the semifinals. Last year ISU lost int he final minute to those same Vikings. This year, on a team with eight seniors, that just isn't going to be good enough.

"It's the last go round for a lot of these seniors," said Joe O'Brien, reflecting on the task at hand. "We expect to have a good season, a break-through season, and hopefully a championship season."

The start of that championship season begins at 5:30 pm when the team takes to the practice court at Reed Gym following the Idaho State-Seattle volleyball game that starts at 3:00 pm in Reed Gym. The women's team will practice following the men's practice.

Idaho State enters the season with a difficult non-conference schedule, as per the O'Brien norm, taking on the likes of Brigham Young, Utah, Utah State, Iowa State, bradley, Notre Dame, USC, and Oregon. However, those big names do not scare O'Brien, and he doesn't think his veteran ball club will feel the pressure either.

"Most of these guys have played in some really difficult environments, like Wisconsin, Texas A&M, UCLA, Illinois, so they should be well aware of life on the road. I would like to think that the intimidation factor won't really be much of a factor at all," said O'Brien.

Of the eight seniors, Donnie Carson, Austin Kilpatrick, Amorrow Morgan, and Demetrius Monroe all entered together as part of O'Brien's first class. Chron Tatum is in his third season, and Deividas Busma and Felix Caspari joined the team last year. Rolondo Little is the eighth senior, and he will be playing in his only season as ISU.

That kind of senior depth is rare, but should bode well for ISU. Joining that octet is Broderick Gilchrest, a JC transfer who should take over the ball-handling duties. Also back in Sherrod Baldwin who saw solid minutes as a freshman, and Mike Lacey, who earned a medical redshirt last year and is back for his junior campaign.

"I really like the pieces we have in this team," said O'Brien. "Our goal is to have a good camp, get in the types of practices I think we need to be successful, and be ready for the season, because we start out with a lot of road games and a lot of big names."

The Bengals open with three straight on the road, starting at Iowa State on November 13, before they eventually find themselves in Reed Gym for their home opener on November 21 against Colorado Christian. It might be a long time from now until the Big Sky Tournament, but O'Brien thinks it will fly by, especially for the players.

"Senior years go by fast," he said. "They always do. They never seem long enough, but it's up to us to make it as long as possible."