Idaho Vandals Basketball: 5 Key Strategies for a Winning Season and Team Success

The crisp echo of sneakers squeaking on the polished court of the Idaho Central Arena is a sound I’ve come to associate with pure anticipation. I was sitting in my usual spot, high enough to see the entire play develop, watching the Vandals run drills. My mind drifted back to last season, a patchwork of raw talent and near-misses. But this year… this year feels different. It’s in the air, a tangible shift in energy. And a lot of that buzz, frankly, revolves around Janrey. I remember his rookie season; he was all potential, a flicker of what could be. Now, watching him effortlessly sink three-pointers one after another, I found myself, just like his teammate Alvin probably does every day, marveling at his leap. As Janrey marches forward with his breakout season, perhaps even en route to a Mythical Team selection, Alvin could only marvel at his leap from his rookie season. That kind of transformation doesn't happen by accident. It’s engineered. It got me thinking about the bigger picture, the machinery behind the magic. From my years following this team, through the highs and the frustrating lows, I’ve pinpointed what I believe are the non-negotiable elements for triumph. So, let's talk about the Idaho Vandals basketball: 5 key strategies for a winning season and team success.

It all starts with defense, and I mean a gritty, relentless, in-your-face kind of defense. I’ve never been a fan of teams that just try to outscore opponents; it feels flimsy, like a house of cards. True resilience is built on stopping the other team, period. Last game, I watched our boys hold Northern Colorado to just 28.6% shooting from the field in the second half. That’s not luck; that’s a system. It’s about communication, trust, and a collective will to get that stop. When you see five players moving as one single, predatory unit, forcing a shot clock violation, that’s when you know you’re watching a team that can win championships. It’s exhausting, it’s not always glamorous, but my god, is it effective.

Then there’s the offensive chemistry, which is where Janrey’s story becomes so vital. His evolution isn't just about him getting better individually; it’s about how he now makes everyone else on the floor better. Last season, he averaged 2.1 assists. This season? He’s dishing out a solid 5.4 per game. He’s seeing passing lanes he never saw before, he’s drawing double teams and kicking it out to open shooters. This is the second crucial strategy: developing a dynamic, unselfish offense. It can’t just be one guy. It has to be a symphony. When the ball zips around the perimeter with purpose, finding the best shot, not just the first shot, that’s basketball poetry. I’d rather watch a game with 25 team assists than one where a single player drops 40 points in a loss.

You also can’t ignore the battle on the glass. Rebounding is about heart and hustle, and it’s a personal pet peeve of mine when I see a team get out-rebounded. It’s a demoralizer. We were out-rebounded by an average of 4.2 boards per game last season, and it cost us at least three close victories, I’m sure of it. This year, the commitment to crashing the boards, especially on the offensive end, has created so many second-chance opportunities. I saw us grab 18 offensive rebounds against Eastern Washington, which directly led to 22 second-chance points. That’s the game right there. That’s the difference between a 8-point loss and a 10-point win.

But strategy isn't just X's and O's on the court. The fourth key is cultivating a deep, reliable bench. I’m a firm believer that a season is a marathon, not a sprint, and your starters can’t play 38 minutes a night and expect to be fresh in March. We need guys coming off the pine who aren’t just there to give the stars a breather, but to genuinely contribute. A spark plug scorer who can get you 8 points in 5 minutes, a defensive stopper who can lock down the opponent’s best guard. This depth is what separates good teams from great ones. It’s the insurance policy you hope you don’t need, but are damn glad to have when foul trouble or a minor injury strikes.

Finally, and this might be the most intangible one, is building a culture of belief. You can see it in their eyes during a timeout, in the way they huddle up. There’s a swagger there now that wasn’t present before. It’s the confidence that comes from preparation, from trust in your teammates and your coaches. When Janrey hits a tough, contested jumper, the entire bench erupts, not just because of the basket, but because they expect him to make it now. That belief is contagious. It fuels comebacks and helps you close out tight games. I’ve seen teams with more talent falter because they lacked this single, unifying spirit. So as I watch the Vandals wrap up their practice, the sound of the ball bouncing slowly fading, I feel a genuine optimism. These five strategies aren't just a checklist; they're a blueprint. And if they can keep building on this foundation, I truly believe we’re in for a season we’ll be talking about for a long, long time.