The Really Big One.. Zags

by PurpleGeezer on Sun Jan 30, 2011 10:41 pm

This one would be huge - maybe bigger than beating a ranked team, because, well, we haven't done it in a very long time at home. It would be a huge step for Rev's program.

Kerry Eggers gets us started:
http://www.portlandtribune.com/sports/story.php?story_id=129642702352857100

by **up7587** on Mon Jan 31, 2011 1:02 am

I'd love to see a nice steady 15 and 12 from Luke, and have everyone else replicate their effort from the SMC game. Kinda funny, how Luke has 2 points and the team rolls, while he had 29 against SCU and the team stunk it up. Everybody needs to be on the same page Thursday.

GU brings a different challenge than St. Mary's. They aren't big on shooting the 3P shot as a team, although Gray takes as many as McConnell. When SMC's 3's weren't falling, they had no other attack. Not so for GU with Sacre. And you can't foul him like you can Mitchell Young; he makes almost 85% of his FT's. Plus their back-up center, freshman Sam Dower, had 15 against SMC and 27 against USD. They play more players; while SMC plays basically 7 or 8, the Zags go about 10 deep. And they'll be well rested; SMC was obviously gassed by our running strategy.

I can't wait to see how the Pilots rise to the challenge! bounce

by PilotDrummer on Mon Jan 31, 2011 7:22 am

SMC was a big deal because we knocked off the #1 team in conference. This one's a big deal because the last time we beat Gonzaga was in Spokane my freshman year. I'm not sure when we actually beat them at home last. The current group of seniors hasn't ever beaten them, and I for one would like to send the GU fans home very quiet. I thought it was possible when the season started...I know it's possible after watching Saturday's game.

I know we're 12-0 in the Chiles Center - out of curiosity, I went back and looked at last season. We went 7-0 in the Chiles Center after our loss to Gonzaga on 01.09.10. 19-0 at home since last year's season opener? That's not too shabby.

I think if the same team that showed up Saturday shows up this Thursday, Gonzaga's going to be in trouble.

by **Rob's Jacket** on Mon Jan 31, 2011 11:53 am

PilotDrummer wrote:I'm not sure when we actually beat them at home last.

1995-96. Yeah, it's been that long.

by PurpleGeezer on Mon Jan 31, 2011 2:09 pm

Yeah, but in 1996 we beat them twice, once at Home, once in the WCC tournament final. Very Happy

Now, there's a goal....

by **PilotNut** on Mon Jan 31, 2011 5:14 pm

Misc. tid bits:

Portland Team Notes
*The Pilots (16-6, 4-3) are 12-0 at the Chiles Center this year after Saturday’s 85-70 win over No. 24 Saint Mary’s
*Portland and Gonzaga (14-8, 4-3) are currently tied in the West Coast Conference standings, two games behind league-leading Saint Mary’s
*UP is rated No. 56 nationally in the latest RPI released today by the NCAA: http://www.ncaa.com/rankings/basketball-men/d1
*The Pilots are No. 3 nationally in team 3-point percentage (.423)
*Freshman PG Tim Douglas was named the WCC Co-Player of the Week after averaging 20.0 points and 5.0 assists in two wins last week
*Senior G Jared Stohl is four points shy of cracking UP’s career top 10 scoring list (1,258 points)
*Senior F Luke Sikma leads the WCC with 10 double-doubles this season and ranks 11th nationally in rebounds (10.6)
*Junior G Nemanja Mitrovic is No. 4 nationally in three-point percentage (.481) and Stohl is No. 16 (.446)
*Thursday’s game is nationally televised on ESPN2 with an 8 p.m. tipoff… The game is sold out

by PurplePrideTrumpet on Mon Jan 31, 2011 5:38 pm

Rob's Jacket wrote:
PilotDrummer wrote:I'm not sure when we actually beat them at home last.

1995-96. Yeah, it's been that long.

I was a high school freshman. Those were the years the student section would yell "Too cheap to fly!" because the Zags would take a bus down.

by **Stonehouse** on Mon Jan 31, 2011 7:44 pm

PurplePrideTrumpet wrote:I was a high school freshman. Those were the years the student section would yell "Too cheap to fly!" because the Zags would take a bus down.

Well, that's because their AD/head coach Dan Fitzgerald kept most of their money in his secret slush fund, which he was then busted with major NCAA violations for. But, I suppose that's neither here nor there... Wink

by onetouchfutbol on Mon Jan 31, 2011 9:48 pm

Yes, we haven't beat Gonzaga for a long time, but, let's put this in perspective. Last year, we lost at home partly because of a missed last second 3-pointer. Gonzaga is a down team and an inconsistent team right now. We've got every reason to believe that we will win this game.

RealTime RPI prediction: Portland 76- GU 71.

--------------------------------------

By the way BIG CONGRATS TO TIMMY D. FOR WCC CO-PLAYER OF THE WEEK...only the 5th freshman to ever win the reward multiple times:

http://www.portlandpilots.com/news/2011/1/31/MBB_0131114615.aspx?path=mbball

by **DaTruRochin** on Mon Jan 31, 2011 10:23 pm

Well I don't know if I'd put much faith in a mathematical computation for win predictions. To borrow a term from Stonehouse, the Zags are very much a "wounded animal" right now capable of doing anything to survive.

Their record and their talent are in no way congruent, there really is no excuse or logical explanation to their record (well except the lack of a consistent ball handler, but the talent level should make up for that) I guess what I'm trying to say is never ever underestimate Gonzaga. (Yep, totally ripping of Geez's women's soccer credo)

But all things considered, if the Pilots team that showed up Saturday comes to Chiles on Thursday, I definitely like our chances!

Oh and Stoney... TOO SOON. Rolling Eyes

by PurpleGeezer on Mon Jan 31, 2011 10:35 pm

It's not his fault. He got baited by ppt.

by onetouchfutbol on Tue Feb 01, 2011 10:06 am

DaTruRochin wrote:Well I don't know if I'd put much faith in a mathematical computation for win predictions. To borrow a term from Stonehouse, the Zags are very much a "wounded animal" right now capable of doing anything to survive.

Their record and their talent are in no way congruent, there really is no excuse or logical explanation to their record (well except the lack of a consistent ball handler, but the talent level should make up for that) I guess what I'm trying to say is never ever underestimate Gonzaga. (Yep, totally ripping of Geez's women's soccer credo)

But all things considered, if the Pilots team that showed up Saturday comes to Chiles on Thursday, I definitely like our chances!

Oh and Stoney... TOO SOON.

Hmmm...I wouldn't attribute their problems to a lack of a consistent ball handler. Demitri Goodsen is tournament tested, and he's done just fine in that area. He arguably has as much or more quickness than Pargo did. But, I'd say hands down we have better perimeter shooters than Gonzaga, and that used to be their trademark... Once you get past Steven Gray few other guys can hit their outside shots. We know what happened in the last game. We shot the ball well, but, turned the ball over too many times. If we cut down turnovers (and with Timmy D. running the point, I'm optimistic) and have a good shooting day again, I like our chances.

by **DaTruRochin** on Tue Feb 01, 2011 10:27 am

Uhhhh, are you serious? Goodsen is nowhere the ball handler of Bouldin, Pargo, Raivio, Dickau, Stepp or Quentin Hall's caliber (Oh I guess I should probably mention that Stockton guy who always looked like such a sourpuss). This is the first year they haven't had a really good handler/passer in over a decade... Now true, the distance shooting is still suspect, but with a decent PG Sacre and Harris' numbers would be through the roof game in and game out.

by **up7587** on Tue Feb 01, 2011 10:32 am

There is much debate on the GU board about moving young Stockton into the starting PG role.

by onetouchfutbol on Tue Feb 01, 2011 10:43 am

DaTruRochin wrote:Uhhhh, are you serious? Goodsen is nowhere the ball handler of Bouldin, Pargo, Raivio, Dickau, Stepp or Quentin Hall's caliber (Oh I guess I should probably mention that Stockton guy who always looked like such a sourpuss). This is the first year they haven't had a really good handler/passer in over a decade... Now true, the distance shooting is still suspect, but with a decent PG Sacre and Harris' numbers would be through the roof game in and game out.

I guess I respectfully disagree. I agree that Pargo, Raivio, and Bouldin were good ball handlers. I'm not so sure about Dickau and Stepp. But, Goodsen's end-to-end last minute game winner in the tourney about two seasons ago was something that showed his talents. They miss Bouldin's assists more than his ball-handling. But, they don't have a great back up ball handler to Goodsen, and their outside shooting is lacking.

Does the ball handling in the clip below really look suspect?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtIak2ouNTE

You could say that he's underachieved in his career; I'll give you that much...

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