Rahe guides inexperienced 'Cats

Weber State basketball coach Randy Rahe knows he's got a challenge on his hands. He has 10 players on the Wildcats roster that have never played a Division I basketball game and only one with significant experience as a starter.

But, he can take solace in one thing as he wraps up his preparation for his first season coaching at WSU — a lot of the coaches in the Big Sky Conference are in the same boat.

"We had to change a mind-set and change a philosophy," Rahe said Wednesday during a conference call with all Big Sky coaches. "We had four (players) that were already leaving when we got here and a couple others that didn't fit with what we want to do. The kids that did return are excited about it."

Rahe is one of five first-year head coaches in the Big Sky. Four of those have a lot of player turnover to deal with — Montana's Wayne Tinkle is taking over a program he was an assistant coach with last year.

That means, Rahe said, the league has a few programs that could easily be labeled complete question marks fighting for position behind the two or three top squads.

"This year, it looks like it's separated pretty good," he said.

The Wildcats were predicted to finish sixth by the league's coaches and seventh by the media.

Rahe said WSU will resemble Utah State's basketball team. After spending many years as USU coach Stew Morrill's top assistant, Rahe said he hopes his team can play as well as the Aggies have in recent years.

"If we play half as good as Utah State," Rahe said, "then we'll be doing pretty good."

Seniors David Patten and Dan Henry are the only players returning from last year's 10-17 squad. They have been asked to take a heavy leadership roll as Rahe's coaching staff tries to integrate all the newcomers into their style of basketball.

"It's tough on them," Rahe said. "I've asked them to change their thinking and buy into what we're trying to do. I'm going to lean on them and they're doing a great job."

The Wildcats faced Colorado-Colorado Springs Wednesday night and won 86-67.

They'll be in action again Monday when they face Canada's Laurentian College in an exhibition double header with the WSU women's team.

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E-mail: jeborn@desnews.com