'Cats open league play tonight

OGDEN — Randy Rahe started his rookie season as a head coach with 13 new players, a new style of basketball and unknown expectations.

All the new Weber State basketball coach really wanted from his team was effort — 40 minutes of effort every time the Wildcats put on their uniforms.

"We're not the most talented team in the world," Rahe said Tuesday in a leaguewide conference call. "But we've got kids with a lot of character that are buying into what we're trying to do — and that's helped a lot."

Rahe and his Wildcats open the Big Sky Conference season tonight at Northern Colorado. At 7-6, WSU is a little ahead of where Rahe said he expected the team to be.

The Wildcats have had a mixed schedule. As expected, WSU has picked up wins over schools like Montana Tech and Colorado Christian, while struggling against Utah State, BYU and Washington. Three non-Division I wins have been paired with wins over Southern Utah, Troy and Portland (twice) to offset the rugged instate schedule.

"Overall," Rahe said. "I might say we're a little bit ahead of where I thought they would be. I guess they figured out the system quicker than I thought they would."

Weber State enjoyed some solid shooting and defense as the team opened the season. Limiting opponents to just 42 percent shooting and 64.7 points per game — both Big Sky bests — WSU's defense is giving its offense a chance to stay in games. With dead-eye shooters like Juan Pablo Silveira and Tyler Billing both connecting on better than 56 percent of their 3-point attempts, the 'Cats are near the top in the Big Sky.

But Rahe is growing tired of ball-control issues.

Only two conference teams have more turnovers than the Wildcats, and WSU is right in the middle of the league in assists.

"If we shore up those areas," Rahe said, "we'll be OK in league."

Rahe would love to see the ratio improve but is having a hard time settling on a point guard.

Eric Turner opened the year as the starter, was replaced by Brody Van Brockling for five games and now Dezmon Harris has started the last two games.

Where the Wildcats have strength, though, is in the paint.

Senior forward David Patten, though a little erratic and emotional, leads the team in scoring with 11.5 points per game and 4.4 rebounds. Junior center Arturas Valeika grabbed a team-high 5.5 rebounds while scoring 8.8 per game.