Big Sky Conference report

SportsLine.com Report
April 4, 2000

Clearly it was a disappointing season for the Bengals, who finished last in the league.

However, some progress was made. The Bengals were competitive this year, losing by two points at Weber State; losing at home by one to Eastern Washington on a 55-foot prayer at the buzzer; and being in several other ball games.

The Bengals, despite their dismal record, did boast two of the best players in the league in guards Kevin Sweetwyne and Stephen Brown. Unfortunately for ISU, they were both seniors.

A glance at 2001

The Bengals need immediate help to replace Brown, Sweetwyne and Ammer Johnson, all senior starters. Doug Silva (6-11) and Matt McDonald (6-10) provide strength underneath, but immediate perimeter help is needed.

Coach Doug Olivers signed three preps in the early signing period: Arzelle Lewis (6-2) of Denver; Mamo Rafiq (5-10) of Yuma City, Calif.; and Jesse Smith (6-9) of Mackay, Idaho.

The Bengals might help themselves if they snare a few junior college players in the late signing period.

The coach

Second-year coach Doug Oliver has the program on the right track, but will the school believe in him? Idaho State has long been regarded as a coach-killing school, firing quality coaches by not winning at a high level in a small, isolated area where it's hard to recruit.

This is a school that fired an athletic director and football coach two years ago after each had been on the job one season. While the rest of the conference is laughing at how ISU conducts business, school officials always think they're going down the right path. One more sub-par season in Pocatello and it's a good bet the quick-triggered administration at ISU will can Oliver.

Who'll be back?

Silva and McDonald lead the way, joining six other players who come back. There are no superstars in this bunch, however. Guards Brandon Anderson, Tim Erickson and Aaron Bradley need to step up in place of Sweetwyne and Brown.

Who's gone?

Sweetwyne and Brown are huge losses, and Ammer Johnson and Cedric Robinson were solid seniors, all with good athleticism.