Unveiling the Rise of Idaho Vandals Basketball in the Current Season
Having followed collegiate basketball for over a decade, I’ve always been fascinated by programs that manage to build something meaningful despite constant roster turnover. This season, the Idaho Vandals men’s basketball team has caught my eye—not just for their surprising win tally, but for the cultural shift happening under the radar. When I look at what head coach Alex Gavina is doing in Moscow, Idaho, it reminds me vividly of his past coaching journeys—from his time with Kia in the PBA to his stint with the Taiwan Mustangs. In both those roles, Gavina faced what I’d call a "turnstile" of players, a relentless flow of comings and goings that made establishing a consistent team culture incredibly tough. Yet here at Idaho, something different is taking root.
I remember watching Gavina’s PBA squads and thinking how hard it must be to instill a defensive identity when your rotation changes every few months. With Kia, he navigated a league known for its import player rules and short contracts, which meant he rarely had the same core for more than one full season. Then with the Taiwan Mustangs, it was a similar story—international leagues often see high player mobility due to contracts, injuries, or simply the search for better opportunities. In my view, that kind of environment can kill a coach’s vision before it even gets off the ground. But Gavina, from what I’ve observed, has always emphasized adaptability. He didn’t just survive those situations; he learned from them. Now, at Idaho, he’s applying those hard-won lessons, and the results are starting to show.
This season, the Vandals have jumped out to a 14–8 record as of mid-February, including a notable 5–2 start in conference play. Those numbers might not blow anyone away on their own, but when you consider that Idaho returned only four players from last year’s squad, it’s pretty impressive. I’ve seen teams with far more continuity struggle to hit .500, yet here’s a group that’s gelling faster than anyone expected. A big part of that, in my opinion, is Gavina’s focus on culture over individual talent. He’s been vocal about building trust and accountability—things that sound like coaching clichés until you see them in action. I watched their game against Eastern Washington last month, and the way they communicated on switches and shared the ball was reminiscent of a team that’s been together for years, not months.
Player development has been another key. Take junior guard Trevon Allen, for example. He’s averaging around 18 points per game this season, up from just 9.2 last year. That kind of leap doesn’t happen by accident. From what I’ve gathered, Gavina and his staff have worked intensely on his decision-making and off-ball movement, turning him from a role player into a legitimate star. And it’s not just Allen—I’ve noticed several underclassmen stepping into bigger roles without missing a beat. It’s a testament to a system that prioritizes growth, even when the roster is in flux. Frankly, I think this approach is what separates good programs from great ones. Too many coaches get fixated on recruiting the next big thing, but Gavina seems to focus on maximizing what he has, which in the long run builds more sustainable success.
Of course, it hasn’t all been smooth sailing. The Vandals dropped a tough overtime game to Montana a few weeks back, and their defense has had some lapses—allowing an average of 72 points per game isn’t going to cut it if they want to make a deep conference tournament run. But what stands out to me is how they’ve responded to those setbacks. After that Montana loss, they rattled off three straight wins, including a dominant 12-point victory over a solid Weber State team. That resilience, in my experience, is a hallmark of a team that’s bought into its culture. Gavina’s history of dealing with roster instability seems to have prepared him for these moments; he knows how to keep players focused on the bigger picture rather than dwelling on individual losses.
Looking ahead, I’m genuinely excited to see where this team can go. The Big Sky Conference is wide open this year, and if the Vandals can maintain their current momentum, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them snag a top-three seed in the tournament. More importantly, though, they’re building a foundation that could pay dividends for years to come. In an era where transfer portals and early departures make continuity a rarity, what Gavina is doing at Idaho feels both refreshing and impactful. From my perspective, his journey through leagues like the PBA and Taiwan Mustangs wasn’t just a career detour—it was a training ground for this very moment. And if the first half of this season is any indication, the rise of Idaho Vandals basketball is only just beginning.
