OGDEN -- The Wildcats have slogged their way through setbacks to forge a tie for first place at just over the halfway point in the Big Sky race, but there are a lot of miles left on the highway ahead.
As Weber State (16-4, 8-1 Big Sky) prepares to face Portland State (10-11, 4-5) tonight at 7 p.m. at the Dee Events Center, the path so far has been bumpier than the Wildcats' glossy record indicates.
Coach Randy Rahe hopes to finally see some continuity after the toll injuries have taken on Weber State's season.
"We're 8-1 and the kids have done a really good job up to this point. I've really been happy with them, dealing with all the stuff we've had to deal with," he said. "These kids just keep hanging in there and right now, we're at a point where we just need to get better. There's a long ways to go."
Rahe said it's difficult to watch players get hurt, then come back only to get hurt again.
"What we've been dealing with is we haven't had our full team," he said.
"We're always adjusting; roles are changing when that happens. Guys get more minutes here, then all of a sudden (senior forward Kyle Bullinger) has to play two different positions because someone gets hurt. You don't find that rhythm. So what we're hoping for is some stability from a personnel standpoint so we can take some time as a team so we can get better."
Rahe said if the Wildcats can get that, "I really feel positive in the next two to three weeks, we're going to start playing our best basketball. That's what I'm hoping for."
Bullinger returned from a dislocated elbow that cost him more than a month to post his highest-scoring game of the year in last Saturday's buzzer-beater loss to Idaho State, but junior forward Frank "Mook" Otis, who missed nine games with a dislocated knee, tore an MCL in the opposite knee in practice and will be done for the season.
The Wildcats hoped to see redshirt freshman center James Hajek (dislocated knee) return soon, but he was banged up again in practice this week and will be re-evaluated.
Weber State is 18-1 all-time against Portland State in Ogden, but the Wildcats needed 38 points from point guard Damian Lillard and a furious second-half rally to escape Portland with an 88-81 win Jan. 7.
"We showed a lot of toughness and determination that game," Rahe said. "We had to really dig down deep and find a way."
Lillard has been the top scorer in the country (24.4 ppg) since November, but Vikings senior guard Charles Odum is second in the league behind Lillard in scoring at 18.2 ppg.
PSU senior forward Chehales Tapscott leads the Big Sky in rebounding (9.1 rpg).
"They've got two first-team all-league players," Rahe said. "It starts with those two guys."
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