After traveling to Florida last week for the Old Spice Classic, the WSU men’s basketball team will head to Moscow, Idaho, to take on the Idaho Vandals (4-4).

Here are four critical components at play when WSU takes the court in hopes of victory on Saturday.

Execution

Three out of the four losses the Cougars (3-4) have had so far this year have been by less than 10 points. The Cougars are used to playing close games this season and last season. WSU men’s basketball Head Coach Ken Bone said in a press conference on Tuesday he wasn’t concerned with his team’s ability to close out games down the stretch.

Bone said he is aware that this team needs to be better down the stretch.

Playing with Confidence

Although the Cougars lost two close games in Orlando, Fla., the team has more confidence heading into the Saturday game against Idaho.

“To see Butler compete with Oklahoma State (in the Old Spice Classic) down to the last shot and Oklahoma State be the No. 5 (ranked) team in the country, we literally sat there and said, ‘You know what we can play with anybody,'” WSU junior guard DaVonte Lacy said. “We got to physically see it and once we did that now I think we can and we’re going to come back here and compete and play Idaho really hard this Saturday.”

Bone said the 15 point win against Purdue in Orlando was a confidence builder as well.

Several players on the WSU men’s basketball team have limited experience with playing college basketball. However, Bone said those players showed positive signs in Orlando but wants them to be more consistent. WSU redshirt freshman guard Que Johnson has played seven games of college basketball in his basketball career so far, but he said he’s gaining confidence now with more games under his belt.

“More playing time, more minutes, more reps, it’ll be a big confidence booster for me,” Johnson said.

WSU redshirt junior center Jordan Railey scored one point in his first college basketball game as a Cougar against CSU Bakersfield. In the sixth game of the season, Railey scored 13 points in the win against Purdue.

“We need to just continue to try to get him the ball in areas where he can operate, where he can be effective,” Bone said.

Staying Focused

Lacy said the team is focused on Idaho this week because of the game’s importance. The Cougars are familiar with the Vandals want bragging rights for the Palouse.

“We know that there is going to be a lot of talking, and I don’t want to get no parts of it,” Lacy said. “It’s going to be a good game. It’s going to be a hard fought game. Hopefully we can come away with a win.”

Bone said he is familiar with some of the new players that Idaho has acquired this year, which include freshman point guard Sekou Wiggs and freshman guard Perrion Callandret. Bone also said he’s familiar with the type of style the Vandals like to play.

Lacy said he also knows Wiggs and Callandret. He met Wiggs at a Washington Elite basketball camp and also knows what Callandret’s capabilities

“(Callandret) is going to be a really good, he’s young, very athletic,” Lacy said. “It’s going to be fun to start a rivalry with him.”

Spread Out the Scoring

Although the Cougars have benefitted from a great effort by Lacy each game so far this year, the strongest game of the season was when four players scored in double figures, leading to a 15 point victory against Purdue. In the Cougars’ 20-point victory against Lamar earlier in the season, three players scored in double figures. Bone said he believes that other players on the team will step up, but he also said the team has been trying to get the ball more to Lacy right now because he is the hot shooter.

“If DaVonte scores 20 a game or 25 a game that’s great, but I am more concerned right now with getting Railey, Johnson, Shelton, Kernich-Drew, Royce, Ike, a lot of the other guys I’m looking forward to seeing where they’re playing in and scoring a little bit more because I think they’re capable of it,” Bone said.