Re: 2024 Pilot Non-Conference Games

by Geezaldinho Tue Dec 03, 2024 4:48 pm

The college insider top 25 is out.

UP moved up one spot to #4 with 4 first place votes.

Princeton is #7 , which should make this weekend interesting.

And the Zags dropped to #16 with no first place votes.
The Zags are the only team in the top 20 with a losing record.

https://collegeinsider.com/womens-mid-major-top-25

by wrv Wed Dec 04, 2024 7:12 am

Geezaldinho wrote:The college insider top 25 is out.

UP moved up one spot to #4 with 4 first place votes.

Princeton is #7 , which should make this weekend interesting.

The Princeton Tigers have beaten Villanova, Rutgers, Temple and Seton Hall this year. Could be the Pilots toughest opponent to date.

The winning streak is on the line Friday.

BTW, the Zags lost by 41 to FSU, in addition to their loss to Missouri State. Also lost to Texas Tech by 18.

by DoubleDipper Wed Dec 04, 2024 11:34 pm

wrv wrote:The Princeton Tigers have beaten Villanova, Rutgers, Temple and Seton Hall this year. Could be the Pilots toughest opponent to date.

The winning streak is on the line Friday.

If Portland can pull off a win on Friday at 6pm, they will have beaten the fourth 2024 league champion this year.

(Pilot Club members, the Pilot Club will open at 5pm serving Enchiladas)

Hawaii - Big West
Eastern Washington - Big Sky
Cal Baptist - WAC
(Princeton - Ivy League)

College Insider #7 Princeton's two losses have been by 10 points to Duquesne in the first game of the season, and by 8 points to #10 Quinnipiac.

#3 Ivy League Columbia beat USF earlier today, 81-79. Columbia's two losses have been by 1 point to Villanova and 10 points to Indiana.

by DoubleDipper Fri Dec 06, 2024 12:50 pm

Princeton players to pay attention to tonight:

#23 5-10 Madison St. Rose, a very athletic guard who has a knack for getting inside to score and rebound. Averaging over 17ppg and 7 rebounds, although she may be injured as she has not participated in Princeton's last three games.

#10 5-9 Skye Belker and #13 5-8 Ashley Chea, both averaging over 13ppg, both of whom can be deadly from mid-range and outside.

Princeton does not play an especially tall lineup, but they are athletic, good shooters, and create some havoc on defense.

#3 Tabitha Amanze at 6-4 is their tallest player and grabbed 11 rebounds against Temple.

I believe the key to UP winning the game will be to create Princeton turnovers while limiting their own turnovers.

by Sound Voltex Fri Dec 06, 2024 8:54 pm

DoubleDipper wrote:I believe the key to UP winning the game will be to create Princeton turnovers while limiting their own turnovers.

Created 29, gave up 20.

I'd say "limit" is a stretch, but regardless, the streak stays alive!

by **Rob's Jacket** Fri Dec 06, 2024 9:12 pm

Sound Voltex wrote:
DoubleDipper wrote:I believe the key to UP winning the game will be to create Princeton turnovers while limiting their own turnovers.

Created 29, gave up 20.

I'd say "limit" is a stretch, but regardless, the streak stays alive!

Where the difference really shows up is in points off turnovers: UP got 32 points off 29 forced turnovers, while Princeton only scored 12 off the Pilots' 20. Relatedly, fast break points were 20-2.

Really, really, really impressive win. Princeton has won six Ivy League titles in a row and made the second round of the NCAA's twice in the last three years. Beating them by 19 is a *statement*.

by DoubleDipper Sat Dec 07, 2024 9:10 am

Player-first culture and buy-in hallmarks of Portland women's basketball's record 9-0 start...

https://www.portlandtribune.com/sports/player-first-culture-and-buy-in-hallmarks-of-portland-womens-basketballs-record-9-0-start/article_94e114aa-b353-11ef-b6fc-df8948725c98.html

by DoubleDipper Sat Dec 07, 2024 10:56 pm

Rob's Jacket wrote:Obviously NET rankings don't mean much of anything at this point in the season, but the fact that the Pilots have--at any point in the season--the best NET ranking in a league that includes Gonzaga, Oregon State, and Washington State, is something that just makes me happy.

Although it may be too early for NET rankings to mean much, it does give us some indication of how UP compares to Sunday's opponent, UTEP.

After its win over Princeton, UP (9-0) is up from #96 to #72 (first in the WCC), and UTEP (4-2) after its Thursday night loss to BYU, went from #124 to #127, (fourth in Conference USA).

The UTEP player to watch is Penn State transfer, #3 5-7 guard Ivane Tensale who is coming off a 21-point performance against BYU and is shooting 50.0% from beyond the arc with 4.3 made 3-pointers per game, while averaging 17.5 points.

Dyani is not expected to play but is getting in a little more practice each day.

Game time is 2pm and then it's into the books as Finals Week begins on Monday... study

by up7587 Sat Dec 07, 2024 11:35 pm

DoubleDipper wrote:After its win over Princeton, UP (9-0) is up from #96 to #72 (first in the WCC), and UTEP (4-2) after its Thursday night loss to BYU, went from #124 to #127, (fourth in Conference USA).

For what it's worth, Princeton (5-3) fell from 47 to 55 after losing to UP

by DoubleDipper Sun Dec 08, 2024 9:46 am

DoubleDipper wrote:Game time is 2pm and then it's into the books as Finals Week begins on Monday...

Game Day!!

Today's game is a pretty quick turnaround from the emotional and physical win over Princeton on Friday night...

...but this team should be mature and fit enough to respond positively! Basketball

by up7587 Sun Dec 08, 2024 4:02 pm

Nice 83-67 win. Won every quarter. Shot 33% 3P (10-30), 67% 2P (20-30), 100% FT (13-13). 22 assists, 10 steals. Burnham with 25 pts, Shearer with 16, Mark and Meek with 14 each.

by DoubleDipper Sun Dec 08, 2024 4:53 pm

up7587 wrote:Nice 83-67 win. Won every quarter. Shot 33% 3P (10-30), 67% 2P (20-30), 100% FT (13-13). 22 assists, 10 steals. Burnham with 25 pts, Shearer with 16, Mark and Meek with 14 each.

As those I sit near can attest, this game was a lot closer than the score would indicate...and was in some ways the team's biggest test to date.

Both teams were gassed by the fourth quarter of this up-and-down the court game, but it was only the Miners who had their hands on the thighs while gasping for air.

by wrv Sun Dec 08, 2024 5:55 pm

It had earlier been suggested that Central Michigan was a long and athletic team. The Miners were every bit as athletic as CMU, if not more. I agree the game felt closer than the final score

Alexis Mark has something like Dennis Rodman in her determination to get rebounds against taller opponents. But of course she is also a boon to the Pilots offense, as was pointed out earlier by Bullwinkle.
Where we are going to get three point shooters next year without Maisie, Emme and Mckelle is not clear with the exception of Ananiev.

Nice win truly over a skilled, athletic opponent.

by bullwinkle Sun Dec 08, 2024 11:20 pm

These last two games both felt like they were won on defense. Our team is so effective and confident in our press that it just intimidates our opponents - and we keep getting better. UTEP tried several different strategies to break it - none were particularly effective. While it's physically taxing on our players, I think it's even harder on our opponents, both psychologically and physically.

It was nice to see McKelle get more aggressive and shoot more in the second half. While we count on Maise, Emme, and Alexis every game, we are increasingly seeing other players step up when given the opportunity. As the coach said, it's a deep roster. I hope the bench gets enough playing time to set them up to take over next year.

by Geezaldinho Mon Dec 09, 2024 4:24 pm

Emme received last Weeks’s POW award.
This week it’s Maisies turn.

WCC wrote: CREDIT UNION 1 WCC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK – MAISIE BURNHAM, SR. – PORTLAND
Senior Maisie Burnham has guided Portland to its best start in program history at 10-0. The Pilots are one of just three undefeated teams in the nation with at least 10 wins, and the only team to win every game by double digits. Burnham averaged 21.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists to lead Portland to wins over Princeton and UTEP this past week. She also contributed 1.0 steal and 1.5 blocks per game. Burnham scored a season-high 25 points against UTEP, finishing 10-of-20 from the field and 4-of-10 from three-point range. The UTEP game was Burnham’s fourth 20-point game this season, making her the first Pilot since Alex Fowler in 2022-23 to have four games of 20 points or more in a single season. She filled up the stat sheet against Princeton, posting 18 points, five rebounds, four assists, two blocks, and two steals.

by wrv Tue Dec 10, 2024 4:07 pm

by Geezaldinho Tue Dec 10, 2024 4:08 pm

The latest Collegeinsider mid major poll has UP moving up a spot this week to #3, with only 1 first place vote. Ahead of them are South Dakota State and Harvard, who gobbled up the rest of the first place votes.

Princeton dropped to #14 after a tough loss to Utah 76-79 in Salt Lake.

The zags are still hanging in the top 25 at #22 after losing to Colorado State 72-74 in OT in Fort Collins. The (lady?) Rams sold seats for $1.00 to fill the arena. Musta worked.

The Zags and Drake(24) are the two teams in the top 25 with losing records.
No other WCC teams are mentioned.

Hawai’i lost their first conference game to Long Beach state and dropped out of the ranking and into receiving votes

https://collegeinsider.com/womens-mid-major-top-25

by Geezaldinho Tue Dec 10, 2024 4:09 pm

Oops, beat me to it.

by DoubleDipper Tue Dec 10, 2024 10:02 pm

Geezaldinho wrote:The latest Collegeinsider mid major poll has UP moving up a spot this week to #3, with only 1 first place vote. Ahead of them are South Dakota State and Harvard, who gobbled up the rest of the first place votes.

https://collegeinsider.com/womens-mid-major-top-25

After looking at South Dakota State's and Harvard's schedules, I can see why they got the nod over UP.

https://gojacks.com/sports/womens-basketball/schedule/2024-25

https://gocrimson.com/sports/womens-basketball/schedule/2024-25

by wrv Wed Dec 11, 2024 6:28 pm

by bullwinkle Fri Dec 13, 2024 12:56 am

The Vikings are up next at 6pm. PSU is 3-4 this year, though the team is probably much better than the record suggests. They were short 2 starters for their last 2 games and a third joined them. One may return for our game. Opponents we've had in common include Hawaii (a loss) and Seattle U (a win). PSU also lost to USF. They rely on a tough defense, holding oppnents to under 40% shoorting for their last five games.

Normally I get nervous when starters are out. A change in the line-up can be a change in the dynamics of the game. But in this case I need to quote Maise from her interview with Andrew before the last men's game. He asked how many different full court press options the Pilots practice. Maise's reply was along the line of, "Too many, but coach says we don't know what we're doing half the time anyway so we can really confuse the other team." LOVE IT. Let's see what PSU brings.

by DoubleDipper Fri Dec 13, 2024 8:16 am

bullwinkle wrote:The Vikings are up next at 6pm. PSU is 3-4 this year, though the team is probably much better than the record suggests.

On paper this 6pm game favors the Pilots over the Vikings by double figures, but it’s the end of exam week, practice has been limited, regular meal service ended last night, and virtually all the students have left campus not to return until January 13.

On a positive note, Dyani should see limited action tonight after sitting out for almost a month.

It is the last preseason game for UP before WCC play begins next Thursday with UP visiting LMU before returning to the Chiles Center on Saturday to play in the second game of a doubleheader at 3:30 against UOP. (In the first game, the men will play Lafayette at 1pm).

NOTE: Fans are encouraged to bring teddy bears and stuffed animals to tonight’s game for the halftime Teddy Bear Toss. All stuffed animals will be donated to Doernbecher Children's Hospital.

by **Rob's Jacket** Fri Dec 13, 2024 3:58 pm

DoubleDipper wrote:
bullwinkle wrote:The Vikings are up next at 6pm. PSU is 3-4 this year, though the team is probably much better than the record suggests.
On paper this 6pm game favors the Pilots over the Vikings by double figures, but it’s the end of exam week, practice has been limited, regular meal service ended last night, and virtually all the students have left campus not to return until January 13.

A ranked* Pilots team playing host to Portland State as a big favorite in early December, what could possibly go wrong?

*The Mid Major Top 25 this time, obviously, but what's a little PTSD among friends ...

by Sound Voltex Fri Dec 13, 2024 8:34 pm

Rob's Jacket wrote:A ranked* Pilots team playing host to Portland State as a big favorite in early December, what could possibly go wrong?

Apparently not a whole lot tongue

by DoubleDipper Fri Dec 13, 2024 9:04 pm

Rob's Jacket wrote:
A ranked* Pilots team playing host to Portland State as a big favorite in early December, what could possibly go wrong?

*The Mid Major Top 25 this time, obviously, but what's a little PTSD among friends ...

For the new kids on the block, it was December 2, 2009 -- UP 82-PSU 86 (MBB).

The Pilots still finished the 2009-10 season ranked #79 by KenPom, behind only nationally ranked GU and SMU in the WCC that season.