Portland @ USD Thursday 7:30pm

Since the game is tomorrow, it's thread time!

This game is interesting, I'm not sure whether to call this team the Torerros or the Fighting Brandon Johnsons. As has been stated, this is a HUGE game, the first must win of the season if we are to lock down the 1 or 2 spot in conference. USD has looked good at times (beating Stanford and Oklahoma, albiet both are VERY down this year), but in others, not so much ... Either way they can't be overlooked by any stretch and again, we need road wins to prove our mettle, gain confidence and to have even a remote chance of an at large bid.

The game IS televised for those of you who have CSN Northwest... AND replayed again at midnight for those of you who just cant get enough, or your DVR breaks down, or you enjoy yelling at the TV late at night....

The internet goods:

UP Audio

Video (Looks like it might be free actually!)

Gametracker

And for Mesa's convenience

Chatbox

I think you may be right about the video being free!



You might have to register with All-Access, but that's free, too.

This is a big one-the kind of game we need to put away if we expect to contend.

Defense defense defense! This includes defensive rebounding! This is what will win us this game. We are a much better team - in all facets - when we play great defense.

If we can shut down Johnson and/or Jackson, we'll be in a good position to come away with a win. I don't get the impression that any of their bigs are significant threats to take over the game like Omar Samhan might on Saturday if we're not careful.

I caught a little bit of the USD @ USF game, and Brandon Johnson and De'Jon Jackson did not start due to disciplinary reasons... discipline (and lack there of) seems to be a common theme in the Grier era at USD... It will be interesting to see how USD comes out after losing to the Dons.

Play solid D, and make free throws, and I like our odds...

For what its worth, this game is currently showing up on one of the alternate sports channels on my DishNetwork guide (in the 440's I believe). Whether the actual game viewing comes to fruition is another matter, but I watched SMC game last week on the ALT channels.

Rochin54 wrote: This includes defensive rebounding! This is what will win us this game.

Seeing that this was one of the main reasons we didn't pull off an upset last weekend, truer words could not be spoken. But again, I think if we play more man than the zone we threw at the Zags a lot, I don't think this will be a problem as long as the effort is there.

And for Mesa's convenience

Chatbox[/quote]

Thanks DTR, your the best. I don't link, and I'm not one of these knuckleheads who dirty's up the internet email system with forwards to their buddy's or relatives. Some day I am going to have to pay for my office program on my Toshiba Laptop instead of being so cheap so I can actually use all the features of it.


MesaPilot1

The PN ChatBox is open for business....

It's nice to see TJ perfect from the free throw line early in the game. That's a good sign. Now, I'd love to see him penetrate and draw contact when we're in the bonus and knock those down. That's the kind of leadership we're going to need in WCC play.

31-30 Pilots at the half. Some sloppy execution towards the end of the half, but good to have the lead at the half, but it could have been more...

Eric Waterford saw some time... good to have him back.

TJ has 2 fouls, but so do a couple Toreros. Jared has yet to take a shot... Let's roll in the second half!

Final score: UP 63, USD 54! Pilots win on the road!

A very physical game, but Pilots make their free throws down the stretch (!) to ice it!

Way to go Pilots, lets take it to SMC on Saturday!

Nice victory. Smeulders played well, and I think the 79.2% from the free throw line was the key. All I have to say about the FT shooting is FINALLY! Overall, we played like a veteran team, and only 11 turnovers isn't bad either...

Solid Play in the second half, Mediocre play in the first half.

Its a win, I'll take it.First time these guys have beaten USD in their gym if not mistaken. Good to get that monkey off their back. Fantastic dipsey do moves by the "Flying Dutchmen" Robin again this game.


Good first win in conference



MesaPilot1

Without big Gino in the middle for USD, the guys did a great job of dominating inside. Won't be so easy Saturday, since Omar is still there. And it looks like the WCC refs are going to "let 'em play" this year, so the guys will have to play through all the contact.

Coach Rev's twitter summary:

Very good win tonight in San Diego. We did a great job defending in the 2nd half, holding USD to 29% then made our free throws to get the W.

YES!!! Great win! These road games can be troublesome, and getting a W on the first one is the way to start.

Good work Pilots - let's keep playin ball!!

Big win. These are the games we need to win to get where we want to go. Especially when the other team has a 30 year old point guard (I am talking about you, Brandon Johnson). Looking forward to Saturday's big win over St. Mary's!!