Q: what's the matter with Idaho?

A: nothing.

PTW has nothing against the citizens in the great state of Famous Potatoes.

Additionally, we feel no acrimony against the Vandal basketball program.

However, there is a sense -- correct or not -- that Idaho is underperforming right now. Fans -- again right or wrong -- expected more this season after last year's 18-14, 9-7.

But why?

What was this rosy outlook based on?

Jeff Ledbetter, the leading scorer at 12.8 points per game and the on-court leader, graduated. Second-leading scorer Kyle Barone has returned (10.5 points) but the third and fourth scorers, Luiz Toledo (9.2 points) and Shawn Henderson (8.9 points) also departed.

Those are some major losses.

Returnee Deremy Geiger was coming off shooting 32% overall, 31% from long distance. Note: in conference action so far, he is at 15-38 overall, 12-26 on trey attempts.

Plus, the Vandal program enjoyed a sum-being-better-than-the-personnel-parts season, something that is extremely difficult to duplicate considering the changes year-to-year in talents and personalities.

Don Verlin's squad is currently tied for fourth place in early league play. For reference, the WAC coaches have predicted a fifth place finish, as did the media, for Idaho.

So what's to complain about at this point?

Yes, allowing its 2011-2012 WAC opponents to date to shoot 51% overall and 47% from three-point range are frightening statistics especially compared to 41% and 30% from last season (for the record, Verlin's team is current squad is at 44% and 36% shooting respectively).

But while 60 turnovers to 57 for opponents is not exactly smile-inducing for head coaches, it's not necessarily a guaranteed ticket to mediocrity.

Power recruits Desmond Starke (now departed) and Wendell Faines, fair or not, brought a sense that Idaho would be a force in the paint but that hasn't materialized.

Absorbing all this, maybe the Vandals are where they should be at, at least in the standings? The defensive numbers must be improved in order for Idaho to make an upper division run but right now it sure seems all is as should have been expected.

Fire away.