Howard game tomorrow

So I am hearing some rumor that there is snow or something in Portland. From my recollection, a dusting of snow pretty much shuts the city down. Which means not many people are driving. And all students are gone for winter/ Holiday/ Christmas/ Kwanza/ whatever is appropriate to call it break. From what I have heard, attendance at the games has not been great. Which means it will probably be worse, which means that everyone should be able to squeeze into Howard Hall. Just saying...

I am all for the Howard game in Howard Hall... as long as they all wear throwback uniforms...

I thought it was only us sun babies who freaked out over bad weather. Is it really that extreme that the game had to be cancelled. What about snow chains or winter tires. What's the scoop?

According to the UP web site, the game is still on. Travel is pretty tough due to freezing rain.

Glad the game is going forward. Be careful all you local guys. No game is worth wrecking your car or worse.

The boys are on campus or close to it, and Howard has had all day today to get up here from Corvallis. They just need to get from their hotel to UP. And don't forget the officials have to get in from wherever they are coming from.

Auto--snow is usually fine. Freezing rain that leaves a layer of ice on top of the snow is not so fine. Chains only help so much up in the hills. Generally, Portland overreacts to snow, but today was a good day to stay inside.

We'll still have to be on our A game in this one. Apparently Howard beat OSU earlier this year, and it's the second time the two teams have played:

http://www.howard-bison.com/sports/mbkb/2008-09/news/Oregon_State_Uses_Quick_Start-_Torrid_Shooting_To_Rout_Howard

Mesa and anyone else with video will be seeing more of this game than I will.

I'll be there... I'm fairly certain there will be about 56 of us total...

I'm not sure if I will be... the #44 Bus line has been canceled... ah!

Hoping my dad can come pick me up...

We need this game. Is Ethan out one more or is he coming back? I don't like the idea of dropping to 6-6. Time to win and send 'em packing in the cold weather.

Eek! haha Rochin54 and the Mad Bomber are gonna have to make up for you if you don't go...

Pooh Jeter highlights from the D-League for inspiration. GO PILOTS!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpdUYqrXhqc

Has anyone else noticed how GameTracker has us playing Idaho everygame?

Dang-- No Chalupas 98-73

Nice win. Great games for Raivio and Sikma. Nice games all around. Ethan was rusty, but, it's great to have him back. Some nice steals by TJ too.

Tom is interviewing Luke Sikma on 970 AM streaming radio which is on now. Now he's interviewing Coach Jackson.

Mercy...victory. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilp2UNEyIyY

So . . . I said after the Oregon game that I'd be disappointed with anything less than a 25 point win tonight.



I'm here all month folks!

It would have been WAY worse if we had used our normal sub patterns, but it was good to see Mitrovic and Waterford get some minutes. Nema's shot looked pretty solid, I can say he did a good job and worked hard in the minutes played. Waterford struggled a bit at times bringing the ball up court and handling on the perimeter, but nonetheless it was good to see him get minutes.

Rochin54 mentioned this to me, but it seemed like a lot of times we took a long time to inbound after a made basket, which allowed the other team to set up their press more thoroughly, and there were times where one of our faster players could have actually leaked out behind the defense for a long outlet pass. The latter isn't really that much of a concern, but it seems the slow inbounding could bite us when we face defenses from much more stout teams.

All in all it was good to see us pull out a game that we definitely should have won, haha and free admission/free beer in the Pilot Club for all comers was a pretty good bonus for the wintry journey

yea - it seems to me that we have some problems with handling the full-court presses. One way to avoid those traps is to get the ball out of the hoop after a made bucket and outlet it quickly so we don't let them set up a press. It's wierd, because we tend to fast break after a missed bucket, but walk it up after a made bucket. I'm fine with not running a break if we want to slow up the game a bit, but that doesn't mean we need to lazily get the ball out of the hoop, walk it out of bounds, sometimes even pass it to the ref, then try to inbounds the ball.

Another thing about the other team making made buckets, and maybe it plays into the above, but our post guys seem to get deflated every time the other team scores. I don't get that, no one is ever going to pitch a shut-out in basketball, the other team will always score, you should not let it deflate you.

Either way, it seems that we will need to have a more sound strategy for getting through presses, as I think they seem to have been effective for Oregon and (at times) Howard.

Fun to see a game in person

I agree with you guys. It seems like a Pilot fan needs to hold their breath after a made basket. The fear is the other team will set it's press before we get the ball in.

I would like to see someone like Ethan or Nic grab it out of the net or the ref's quick toss and get it in to TJ. I think either one of them is tough enough and wiley enough to get the ball in real quick if the other is occupied with the last play. Just my opinion, I am sure Rev has a much better strategy then I will ever think of though.

Ho,Ho,Ho,
Merry Christmas Pilot Fans

MesaPilot1

The 20 turnovers were kind of ugly... But I realize a lot of that can be attributed to players playing with others they aren't used to.

Another thing, a lot of times it seemed like there was a hesitation by the big men once they received the ball inside, which allowed the defenders to recover. I understand our bigs are all still pretty young, but its definitely an area I would like to see improve.

4,950 empty seats, and I get some interloper from back east trying to sit in mine!

Lots of things to keep improving on after this win. I agree it was great to see Ethan back in the court. I was struck by how infrequently we tried to get the ball to Robin. He is a scorer, and I'd like to see more opportunities for him. I felt that after their shots stopped dropping and they fell behind, Howard kind of quit on the defensive end, so not a great test for us.

But any win is a good win! Merry Christmas to all PN members.

Was a lot of fun, even with no one there. Definately not perfect, but there are lots of things I'm not used to seeing by a Pilot team. Hitting the floor and taking fouls. Blocking shots. Forcing turnovers. Great passes for dunks/lay-ins.

PPT, you should've said something. I have a 4WD car that's not my new pride and joy...could've brought you. I was IT in the band section! I brought the cameras and had some fun, but I almost went to go grab a cowbell. I'll have to miss the women's game on New Year's eve due to work, but I'll be at all the games I've got left on the ol' calendar...