2020-21 Out-of-Town Scoreboard

Opening day:

Fresno State beat the Pilots' Saturday opponent William Jessup 87-47.

Montana State may be a problem this year. They went on the road and hammered UNLV 91-78 in a score that was flattering to the Rebels.

#1 Gonzaga 102, #6 Kansas 90
San Francisco 79, Towson 68
Saint Mary's 66, Northern Iowa 64
BYU 86, New Orleans 61

In addition to those results, USF beats No. 4 Va. today. Pilot men's bball program this year unlikely to be successful in conference, though most already knew it

wrv wrote:In addition to those results, USF beats No. 4 Va. today. Pilot men's bball program this year unlikely to be successful in conference, though most already knew it

How bad does that loss to UMass Lowell look for USF now? They're looking at a top 25 ranking if they don't drop that game.

Heck, maybe they'll still be top 25 after this one. Hope their next game isn't at home to PSU.

Dean Murdoch wrote:Heck, maybe they'll still be top 25 after this one. Hope their next game isn't at home to PSU.

Still too soon...

PU finally succumbed to #22 UCLA in 3 OTs today, but Romar has built a team/program in Malibu that will have to be reckoned with this season and beyond.

Colby Ross drops 33 in the loss, but just think, the senior can come back for another "free" year if he wants.

Being a college hoops fan in 2020... moving around your schedule to cheer on Baylor today, only to see the game postponed due to Gonzaga's COVID issues. Sigh.

Dean Murdoch wrote:Being a college hoops fan in 2020... moving around your schedule to cheer on Baylor today, only to see the game postponed due to Gonzaga's COVID issues. Sigh.

I too was disappointed, but have been enjoying the replay of the 2019 National Championship game between Virginia and Texas Tech that CBS is showing in its place.

And quickly spotted the connection between that Champion Virginia team and the current Pilots team...

DoubleDipper wrote:And quickly spotted the connection between that Champion Virginia team and the current Pilots team...

Uhhh.... you got me... unless it's that both teams were winless against the WCC that year?

Dean Murdoch wrote:

DoubleDipper wrote:And quickly spotted the connection between that Champion Virginia team and the current Pilots team...

Uhhh.... you got me... unless it's that both teams were winless against the WCC that year?

Haha, Good answer! Probably better than the answer I was looking for.

Faris Wassim!

Faris has been UP’s Director of Basketball Operations since the summer of 2019 after four seasons as the team manager at the University of Virginia as an undergraduate…including the Cavalier’s 2019 National Championship.

At UP Faris assists in scheduling, team travel, practice operations, and video breakdown.

Dean Murdoch wrote:Being a college hoops fan in 2020... moving around your schedule to cheer on Baylor today, only to see the game postponed due to Gonzaga's COVID issues. Sigh.

Because they represent the WCC I generally cheer for GU every time they play outside the conference. Admittedly, I do not do the same for BYU.  

More members of GU's team and staff have tested positive for COVID-19 over the weekend and the team is flying back to Spokane.

As is usual for the GU, they have been taking charter flights to all their games, and this year they have been on larger than usual aircraft without boosters flying with them to mitigate the virus risk, but the virus is now spreading, and they have shutdown practice until December 14.  Their home games against Tarleton State, Southern, Northern Arizona, and Idaho, as well as Baylor game in Indianapolis, have been canceled.

Does this mean West Virginia, Auburn, and Kansas will have to sequester?

DoubleDipper wrote:Because they represent the WCC I generally cheer for GU every time they play outside the conference. Admittedly, I do not do the same for BYU.  

Congratulations on not being bitter and petty like me! Honestly, I respect their program but it still feels better for me to cheer against them rather than for them. Even in out-of-conference play.

I don't think I mentioned this on here, but I went with a buddy to Spokane last February for the SMC/GU game. Great game, great fun before and after the game. GU fan, SMC fan, or random Pilots fan there for some reason... everyone bonded over their mutual dislike of BYU

Geezaldinho wrote:Does this mean West Virginia, Auburn, and Kansas will have to sequester?

If it does, then that's bad news for SMC. They played Nicholls State last week and I saw today that the Colonels are shutting it down for 10 days due to a positive COVID test.

The Pilots are scheduled to play their first WCC game of the season against UOP in Stockton on January 2.

Yesterday the UOP men's basketball team shut down operations until December 16 due to "COVID concerns"....still giving them the opportunity to play four already scheduled games before facing UP.

CSUN, Fullerton, St. Katherine's, and our friends from William Jessup.

Seems all the teams are now following the newest CDC guideline of quarantining for 10 days...

USD came off their quarantine a couple of days ago and are scheduled to play five good D1 teams, including UCLA on 12/9, before beginning WCC play in San Francisco on New Year's Eve...in a normal year, a great place to be.

Don't know how it will effect BYU's postseason chances, but in a fun game to watch today, Colbey Ross led Pepperdine from 11 points down to beat the Cougars by 3 in Malibu.

In Colbey's last four games he has averaged 21.8 PPG, 9 APG, and he has just 6 turnovers in his last 145 minutes.

Gonzaga visits Malibu on Saturday.

Ross, a senior, has a free year like everyone else, but I'd be surprised if he didn't seek some $$$ somewhere next year.

BYU avoids losing two in a row by finally beating UOP in 2-OT in Provo tonight.  

A loss could have meant the WCC would have only GU in the Tournament.

Stat of the Day -

Somehow, two of the three D1 teams that the Pilots beat this year will play in their respective conference's tournament championship game tomorrow. Oregon State against Colorado and Montana State against Eastern Washington (which happens to be coached by future Pilots head coach Shantay Legans).

Dean Murdoch wrote:... Eastern Washington (which happens to be coached by future Pilots head coach Shantay Legans).

You and DD have been promoting Legans as UP's next coach, but does anyone know what Leykam is thinking and who he is interviewing?

Not sure why Legans, a California guy, would leave EWU except for a bigger opportunity, but does UP represent anything close to an "opportunity?"

Looking at the latest head coach openings in the west, UP, San Jose St., New Mexico, and Denver are open, but if Legans were to move, wouldn't he be looking at New Mexico because of the money and program reputation?

StudentPilot wrote:You and DD have been promoting Legans as UP's next coach, but does anyone know what Leykam is thinking and who he is interviewing?

Not me! No clue if Legans is even on the list, but he just seems to make the most sense to be the top target.

StudentPilot wrote:Not sure why Legans, a California guy, would leave EWU except for a bigger opportunity, but does UP represent anything close to an "opportunity?" Looking at the latest head coach openings in the west, UP, San Jose St., New Mexico, and Denver are open, but if Legans were to move, wouldn't he be looking at New Mexico because of the money and program reputation?

If New Mexico came calling then absolutely that would be his best move, and I wouldn't be surprised if they did at least interview him. But the Lobos appear to be targeting even more established D1 coaches (Tim Miles, Richard Pitino, etc.)

As for "opportunity" - Coach Legans has built that team within the constraints of EWU's $1.6m annual budget. Yes, this team has been a dumpster fire for five years but you better believe that UP's $3.6m budget would be at least a little bit enticing. Denver also represents a significant upgrade on EWU in terms of budget, but moving from the Big Sky to the Summit isn't exactly a big jump.

Great to see our friend, and UP's former coach, Eric Reveno, head to Indianapolis after Georgia Tech upset Florida St. to win the ACC Tournament Championship.

Could it be UP's former coach and UP's future coach both punched their ticket to the NCAA Tournament on the same day!?

Dean Murdoch wrote:Stat of the Day -

Somehow, two of the three D1 teams that the Pilots beat this year will play in their respective conference's tournament championship game tomorrow. Oregon State against Colorado and Montana State against Eastern Washington (which happens to be coached by future Pilots head coach Shantay Legans).

One of the two ended up winning their conference tournament (Congrats Oregon State?)

RANK PORTLAND YOU COWARDS

DoubleDipper wrote:Great to see our friend, and UP's former coach, Eric Reveno, head to Indianapolis after Georgia Tech upset Florida St. to win the ACC Tournament Championship.

Could it be UP's former coach and UP's future coach both punched their ticket to the NCAA Tournament on the same day!?

#9 Georgia Tech play #8 Loyola Chicago on Friday at 1pm on TBS.

#14 EWU plays #3 Kansas on Saturday at 10:15am on TBS.

In other games of local interest:

#12 Oregon St. plays #5 Tennessee on Friday at 1:30pm on TNT.

#6 BYU plays #11 Michigan St. or #11 UCLA Saturday at 6:40pm on CBS.

#1 Gonzaga plays #16 Appalachian St. or #16 Norfolk St. on Saturday at 6:20 on TBS.

#7 Oregon plays #10 VCU on Saturday at 6:57pm on TNT.

https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/2021-march-madness-tv-schedule-tip-times-how-to-watch-the-ncaa-tournament-tv-announcer-assignments/

On Wednesday in the NIT being played in Frisco, Texas #2 St. Mary's plays #3 Western Kentucky at 6pm on ESPN2.

https://www.ncaa.com/_flysystem/public-s3/images/2021-03/2021-nit-bracket.jpg

SMC had two missed one-and-one front ends with under two-minutes to play, a turnover on the way to the basket with less than 10 seconds left in the game, and a foul with 3 seconds to go that led to 2 points for the Hilltoppers, and Western Kentucky downs the St. Mary's Gaels 69-67 in the first round of the NIT.

Over the past 5 years I've been very impressed with WKU's recruiting as time and time again they have snagged high school and JUCO players that other schools, including UP, were going after...and they looked good tonight.