Lucas Gebhart
Staff Writer
Most students look forward to Thanksgiving break as a time to relax, spend time with family and reconnect with old friends. Both Idaho State University basketball teams do not have that luxury, as neither the men nor women had Thanksgiving off this year.
This is commonplace for NCAA athletes.
The Bengals played the University of Denver Pioneers at Magness Arena on the day before Thanksgiving and then traveled to Salt Lake City on Thursday morning for a Friday night game at the Jon M. Huntsman Center against the University of Utah Runnin’ Utes.
It is not unusual for student-athletes to have to play a game or travel during the holidays, with in-state rival Boise State having played on Thanksgiving, defeating UC Irvine 71-64 in the DirecTV Wooden Legacy tournament in Fullerton, California, one of many college basketball tournaments that took place over the Thanksgiving holiday.
The Bengals had a bit of a different plan for their Thanksgiving, as ISU was not in a tournament, but did play three road games during the break.
The team got to Denver on Tuesday afternoon, where they practiced and got to bed early.
A morning walkthrough and film session was in order before a 4 p.m. tip-off, Wednesday, at Magness Arena in Denver.
There was something special about this game for ISU redshirt sophomore Justin Smith.
It was Smith’s homecoming.
Originally from Colorado Springs, Colorado, Smith’s home is only a 50-minute drive from Denver.
“That will be a lot of fun to go back home and see a lot of people,” Smith said in the days leading up to the game. “I have a lot of family and friends going too. It will be a lot of fun.”
Though the Bengals fell to the Pioneers 79-69, it was still a very memorable game for Smith.
“It was nice to have all these people here supporting me,” said Smith. “I owe it all to them.”
Fortunately for the Bengals, a Thanksgiving meal came this year, even though the team was on the road, with Smith’s mother inviting the team to her Colorado Springs home Wednesday night.
Eight turkeys were sacrificed in order to prepare the team’s Thanksgiving feast.
“It was nice to have some home-cooked food,” Smith said. “I am thankful that my mom offered to have the team over.”
This was an offer that may have Smith’s mother winning the Mother of the Year award, as she had dinner cooking while attending her son’s basketball game.
The Smith’s are an athletic family.
Alexa Smith, sister of Justin, is in her freshman year at Purdue where she plays volleyball. The 6’ 1’’ outside hitter was named Prep Volleyball’s National Junior Player of the Year in 2013-14, while also earning MaxPreps All-America honors. In addition, she was named Colorado High School Activities Association 4A Player of the Year.
In the matchup against Denver, older brother Justin earned a start and played 17 minutes. He had two points and four rebounds in the contest.
“Coach Evans has been great and he is the main reason I came here,” Smith said. “I have been very happy with my decision to come here. I was excited to go home and play in Denver with Coach Evans.”
Homesickness can play a factor in how a college basketball team performs, especially during the holiday season.
“It is a difficult thing I can relate to,” said Head Coach Bill Evans.
If homesickness has affected Smith, he sure hasn’t showed it.
“I really like playing away,” said Smith. “It is a more difficult situation with the fans, but that is just more motivation.”
It is important for athletes to stay in a routine, and traveling can disrupt that routine.
“Traveling gets you out of your routine a little bit, but it’s not too bad,” Smith said. “You just have to push through it, prepare in the hotel and stuff and always try to get better. It’s all part of college basketball season.”
The road trip is far from over for the Bengals as they take on Lamar University in Texas and the University of Portland on Dec. 5 and Dec. 8 before finally returning home on Dec. 12 for one of two home games in the month of December as they take on Utah Valley in Holt Arena.
