2020-2021 WCC Games

Coming off a big win over BYU, USD has now paused activity due to a positive COVID test and has postponed its next 5 games.

Picked to finish 4th behind GU, BYU, and UP, the Toreros game at UP on January 23rd, that was to have been televised, is one of the postponed games.

The season is looking less and less feasible with infection skyrocketing to new heights.

It’s not worth killing players or staff so we can watch video.

Call it until vaccinations are available.

wrv wrote:We'll dang, game postponed.

The makeup date for the postponed UOP game that was originally scheduled for January 2, is Monday, February 8 at 2pm in the Chiles Center.

(I'm told UOP was in town for the originally scheduled game, but 90 minutes prior to tip-off they informed UP they would not be playing.  They played at GU two days later, and lost 79-59).

As a result of the postponed USD game that was scheduled for January 23, the Pilots have scheduled a scrimmage with St. Martin's College on Sunday January 24 at 4pm.

Still no makeup date for the USD game, and it's possible there won't be one with USD postponing at least six WCC games after canceling two preseason games.  

All UP men's and women's games are streamed at https://wccsports.com/index.aspx

It should be a nail biter on the road in San Francisco this evening at 6pm. The Pilots (3-1) are favored over the Dons (1-4) by 5 points.

I think they can do better, but only if they can overcome the stingy USF defense and score some points...something UP could not do against GU.

Well the team shot 33% as a unit, with Andrew the only one is double figures, and 7 of her 15 points were from the line. Usually  prolific Fowler only got 6 points from the field amd 3 from the line.

Nobody else scored more than 2 buckets.

USF shot 43% and had three players in double figures. Those three only got 6 points combined from the line.

UP had about a 4:00 minute drought with no field goals. USF couldn’t get a bucket for the last 5:15


I’d call this the encyclopaedia definition of winning ugly.

Geezaldinho wrote:I’d call this the encyclopaedia definition of winning ugly.

This game was so ugly I put the more enjoyable to watch men's game up on the big screen while watching the women on my laptop.

Two games in row now where the Pilots have had no offense...opposing coaches will not be caught flat-footed this season.

For my money the women's games remain the more watchable, even if the recent games have been ugly, with random brick after brick bouncing off the rim. Regardless, there is something to mattering, to being a factor of sorts, something to winning
The pall hanging over the men's program is too much, and that need not be elaborated.

wrv wrote:For my money the women's games remain the more watchable, even if the recent games have been ugly, with random brick after brick bouncing off the rim. Regardless, there is something to mattering, to being a factor of sorts, something to winning.

Oh I hear you, but I was getting much too worked-up and was yelling at the screen while watching the women because they were playing awful but still had a chance to win.

On the other hand, it was obvious the men were going to lose, so I could just sit back and watch some pretty good basketball without my blood pressure rising.

Not impressed by the Pilots play over the past two games, those who make such predictions are favoring the Broncos (3-3) over UP (4-1) by 10 points in today's 2pm game.

Don't expect to see the fancy Leavey Center floor today, the game has been moved to the Kaiser Permanente Arena in Santa Cruz due to COVID restrictions in Santa Clara County.  The Golden State Warriors G League team plays there.

82% ?

Really?

Geezaldinho wrote:I’d call this the encyclopaedia definition of winning ugly.

Today's game was the encyclopedia definition of a trouncing!

SCU had only 38 points in the paint? Seemed like more!

We gave up after three quarters. SCU was playing the way I expected the Pilots to play this year.

It appeared Santa Clara was doing a good job beating our press. They got a number of open shots. Santa Clara's point guard was making a number of plays, untroubled by our press. I am not sure that we have the speed defensively to continue to press full court as often as we do.

Tonight's home game against BYU has been postponed "due to COVID-19 protocols and out of an abundance of caution..."

"Portland is still currently scheduled to play Saint Martin's in a non-conference match-up on Sunday at the Chiles Center..."

DoubleDipper wrote:"Portland is still currently scheduled to play Saint Martin's in a non-conference match-up on Sunday at the Chiles Center..."

WRONG!!

The St. Martin's game is canceled, and instead UP will host Gonzaga at 4pm on Sunday!  

Just like UP, GU was originally scheduled to play USD and BYU this weekend, but those two teams are undergoing COVID related protocols.

The makeup date for the USD game is Monday, February 1 at 2pm. No makeup date for the BYU game has been announced.

The Sunday game replaces the originally scheduled game on February 6 between the Pilots and Zags, and it will be streamed on the WCC Network.

It didn't help not having Jayce and Maddie during today's loss to GU, but #18 GU is very, very good.

Their ball movement is about as good as it gets and their height advantage not only helps around the glass, but gives them the opportunity to shoot over the defense from short and mid range.

Jayce is apparently done for the season with a broken hand, and Maddie is out for an undetermined amount of time with a wrist injury.

Next up, at SMC at 1pm Thursday, at very tough UOP at noon on Saturday, and back home in a big game against USD at 2pm on Monday.

It was a struggle, but UP prevailed over SMC by one point today in Moraga.

Good to see a third scorer, Emme Shearer step-up with 16 to compliment Fowler and Andrews who each scored 18 today...which means the rest of the team only scored 17 points in the 69-68 win.

Last time out the Pilots dominated SMC, 81-58, but for the third game in a row the UP's offense struggled because of turnovers and terrible outside shooting without Maddie.

UP had lost 2 in a row, and SMC had won 3 in a row coming into the game, and SMC was favored by 2 points.

It would be nice if Lucy Cochrane would show up to help inside, but apparently she has no plans to come to the States until we get this COVID under control...so not until next fall at the earliest.

In a game UOP was favored to win by 13, and in which they outrebounded the Pilots 39-24 including 16 offensive boards, the Pilots still prevailed, 65-59.

Clutch shooting, including free-throws down the stretch by Haylee, McKelle and Emme and defensive pressure that forced 22 Tiger turnovers were part of the team win, but it was Haylee's taking charge and scoring 24 that carried the day for the Pilots.

UOP was bigger and more athletic, but the UP defense held them to their lowest point total of the year (tied with GU doing the same four weeks ago).

Next up, USD on Monday a 2.  The Toreros will have been off for six days, while the Pilots will be playing their 3rd game in five days.

The Pilots are probably looking forward to a week off from games, but first it's the very long and athletic Toreros this afternoon at 2.

USD was one of three WCC teams to sweep the Pilots during the regular season last year before UP won the WCC Tournament Championship in Las Vegas by beating USD in OT.

USD has been a little nicked up this season, and have had to twice pause activity due to COVID precautions, but they are coming into this game well rested and are favored to win over the Pilots who are playing their 3rd game in 5 days.

The Pilots have struggled on offense, USD's defense allows only 58 points per game, and their eye-popping defensive stat is they steal the ball almost 14 times per game...3rd best in the nation, and they are 4th best in the nation at causing turnovers.

The Pilots have not been good from behind the arc (less than 30%) and consequently have been passing up a lot of open long-range shots to work the ball inside.  Not sure when Maddie will be back, but someone is going to have to get hot from outside to keep USD from clogging the paint.

Regardless, the Pilots could get blown-out if they don't limit their turnovers!!

I know COVID has made scheduling virtually impossible this year, but it feels absolutely ridiculous to have a game between a team playing its third game in five days--with travel between each game--and a team that hasn't played in a week.  I'm impressed the Pilots were even able to get back into the game in the second half.

UOP at UP at 1pm today!

My WCC rankings:

1. GU
2. BYU
3. SCU
4T. UP
4T. UOP
4T. USD

It should be a good one!

DoubleDipper wrote:UOP at UP at 1pm today!

It should be a good one!

And it was...with UP's winning shot coming with 0.9 seconds remaining.

It was tied 29-29 at the half, and with 15 seconds left in the game it was 67-67 when Haylee missed two free-throws.

But Alex grabbed the rebound, Coach Meek called a timeout, and then Haylee does what Haylee does, a combo hook/scoop shot that won it for the Pilots.

UOP was the more athletic team, but UP remained tenacious and outshot the Tigers except from the free-throw line, where the Tigers shot 21-26 to the Pilots were 9-12...and yes, I was yelling at the refs much of the game.

Here you go, UP over UOP, 69-67.

Thanks!

bullwinkle wrote:We gave up after three quarters.  SCU was playing the way I expected the Pilots to play this year.  

New time for Thursday's rematch against SCU -- 1pm

Less than a month ago SCU literally ran through the UP defenders to drub the Pilots 84-65...

This game is for the all important sole ownership of 4th place in the WCC.