Re: Challenge in Music City in Nashville

by DoubleDipper Sat Nov 29, 2014 7:52 pm

DeanMurdoch wrote:Another solid win for the Pilots...but looks like it's going to be the sternest test of the year coming up tomorrow. Valpo's 6-9 PF Alec Peters has 26 & 8 already an the Crusaders are up by 18 over Murray State midway through the second half.

Peters scores 26 points in 23 minutes and the entire bench was used.

Didn't see that coming. Was it a Murray St. collapse? Were they worn out after yesterday's game? Their starters played much of both games. Or is Valpo really that good....I guess we'll know tomorrow. It should be a fair championship game as neither team was pushed today, but the Pilot get about 2.5 hours more rest than the Crusaders who will only have about 15 hours between games.

by DoubleDipper Sat Nov 29, 2014 8:57 pm

Based upon today's action, KenPom's computer has changed its prediction and has Valparaiso favored by 1 point over the Pilots in tomorrow's 11 AM start.

The computer ranks the Cavaliers at #100 and the Pilots at #108.

Both team's RPIs increased by 4 spots even though both won their games today. Valpo's RPI went from 112 to 116, while UP's moved to 188 after sitting at 184 yesterday.

Again, Las Vegas is late putting up the opening line on this game....even though all the other games are listed. Rolling Eyes

Meanwhile, Murray St. has the 3rd best RPI for a four loss team at 148.

by Geezaldinho Sat Nov 29, 2014 9:11 pm

DoubleDipper wrote:

Meanwhile, Murray St. has the 3rd best RPI for a four loss team at 148.

Their RPI will have doubled over the weekend if they don't win tomorrow.

by DoubleDipper Sat Nov 29, 2014 9:12 pm

Today's highlights (with music):

(Almost) everyone scores!

by Geezaldinho Sat Nov 29, 2014 9:28 pm

Love the body language from the chick standing in the corner by the drake bench after each shot.

by **PilotNut** Sun Nov 30, 2014 2:06 am

Pilots Remain Unbeaten with 71-59 Win Over Drake

On the Web: http://portlandpilots.com/news/2014/11/29/MBB_1129140041.aspx

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Portland Pilots led from start-to-finish in a 71-59 victory over the Drake Bulldogs on the second day of the Challenge in Music City on Saturday night. Senior center Thomas van der Mars led a balanced attack with 14 points as 12 players scored in the game for the Pilots. Portland improves to 5-0 and matches the third best start to a season in program history.

The Pilots raced to a 24-11 lead midway through the first period and would push the margin 38-22 on a Max Livingston three-pointer just before halftime.

Drake (1-5) made an initial surge to open the second half as senior guard Gary Ricks hit back-to-back three-pointers to pull the Bulldogs within 40-32, but Kevin Bailey answered with a three-pointer. The Bulldogs would cut the deficit to nine points on two more occasions, but the outcome was never in doubt. Ricks finished with a game-high 23 points.

Van der Mars was the only Pilot in double figures. Sophomore point guard Alec Wintering added nine points and eight assists, while senior forward Volodymyr Gerun chipped in eight points and seven rebounds. Bailey and freshman D'Marques Tyson added eight points apiece, while senior center Riley Barker finished with six points and seven boards off the bench.

The Pilots dominated the glass with a 32-20 rebounding margin and also had 14 assists with just eight turnovers. Drake committed 12 turnovers in the contest and gave up 20 second chance points.

Both teams shot the ball well with Drake finishing at 51 percent overall and the Pilots an even 50 percent. Portland made 10-of-12 free throws, while the Bulldogs were 3-of-4 at the stripe. Portland was whistled for just nine fouls in the game.

Head coach Eric Reveno went to his bench early and often on Saturday after sticking with a seven-man rotation in a 64-61 tournament-opening win against Murray State on Friday.

The Pilots will conclude the Challenge in Music City on Sunday with an 11 a.m. (PT) tip-off against the Valparaiso Crusaders (5-1), who face Murray State in Saturday's late game. The game will be aired live on Sports 910 with pregame coverage beginning at 10:30 a.m.

NOTES: Portland also started 5-0 during the 2009-10 season... The Pilots 1995-96 NCAA Tournament team opened with a 6-0 record, while the school best start to a season is 13-0 during the 1978-79 season.

by DoubleDipper Sun Nov 30, 2014 9:08 am

The current line in Las Vegas is Valpo by 2. KenPom picks the Cavs by 1.

by Guest Sun Nov 30, 2014 9:14 am

Crusaders?

by DoubleDipper Sun Nov 30, 2014 10:37 am

DeanMurdoch wrote:Crusaders?

Yeah, those (I think we played the Cavs yesterday)....I should have remembered they were the Crusaders, I was at church when I posted that. Embarassed

Pregame walk-through in the ballroom....great carpeting, even better tape job outlining the court markings...Gat Bol, did you do that?
Challenge in Music City in Nashville - Page 3 B3s0ri10

Challenge in Music City in Nashville - Page 3 B3s0ri10

by Guest Sun Nov 30, 2014 11:52 am

Who let the 1972 UCLA Bruins into this little mid-major tournament??

by newpilotfan Sun Nov 30, 2014 11:55 am

Definition of insanity??? UP Basketball. Kevin and Thomas are getting double teamed. Why aren't we going inside out and creating space to get guys uncontested shots? Bailey in the post was how we got back into the San Jose game. We haven't seen that once. Clearly Valpo did a better scout then we did. You think coach is gonna try and mix it up in the second half or will we continue to do the same thing and hope for a different result?

by Guest Sun Nov 30, 2014 1:04 pm

Glass half full: at least there's stuff to work on getting ready for PSU, and no top ranking to swell any heads.

by newpilotfan Sun Nov 30, 2014 1:09 pm

up7587 wrote:Glass half full: at least there's stuff to work on getting ready for PSU, and no top ranking to swell any heads.

I'm worried after today that those of us that have high hopes for this season are going to come crashing down hard... quickly. Our bigs cannot outcompete aggressive bigs and our conference opponents are aware of this. I hope I'm wrong but I'm feeling like this is sneak peek at what's to come. Somebody please talk me off the ledge.

by Geezaldinho Sun Nov 30, 2014 1:26 pm

Those of you predicting a 10 win non conference season were unrealistic to begin with, so if you come crashing, so be it. The team has a ways to go yet.

There was one bright spot. Expect Tyson will see lots more time. Imagine if he hadn't been on the court!

The rest of the team just couldn't match Valpo energy. We may find that team goes very far. This team isn't good enough to win with the B game.

But we will play another team with an undefeated record in just a couple days. Let's see if we can match a team with a winning record.

by wrv Sun Nov 30, 2014 3:00 pm

A silver lining in a black cloud: man some game by Tyson. That young man is needed for offense.

by PurplePrideTrumpet Sun Nov 30, 2014 7:21 pm

Geezaldinho wrote:
But we will play another team with an undefeated record in just a couple days. Let's see if we can match a team with a winning record.

Well, they're not undefeated anymore either, and they lost by 22. Seems like both teams will be motivated Wednesday.

by wrv Sun Nov 30, 2014 8:13 pm

Does anyone know how many freshman have scored 25 points in a game? Darwin Cook, Jose Slaughter, Rick Ravio, Pooh? It would be interesting to know.

by Guest Sun Nov 30, 2014 8:21 pm

wrv wrote:Does anyone know how many freshman have scored 25 points in a game? Darwin Cook, Jose Slaughter, Rick Ravio, Pooh? It would be interesting to know.

Donald Wilson!

by wrv Sun Nov 30, 2014 8:39 pm

I’ll take Donald. Greg Anthony, 86-87?

by DoubleDipper Sun Nov 30, 2014 9:50 pm

Yeah, I think Anthony scored 31 in one game in 1986-87 before being named WCAC Freshman of the year and moving on to UNLV the following year. In fairness to Anthony, Las Vegas was his hometown.

Donald Wilson scored 25 his freshman year (2002-03) against LMU. That's the same season UP beat GU in Spokane.

by DoubleDipper Sun Nov 30, 2014 10:05 pm

PurplePrideTrumpet wrote:Well, they're not undefeated anymore either, and they lost by 22. Seems like both teams will be motivated Wednesday.

Yeah, I watched this game with some interest because of the recent use of RPI on PN as a means of determining team's positioning within D-1.

To me, many of the RPI's seemed out of whack....UO had an RPI of 175 going against PSU's RPI of 77, yet UO won, 81-59.

KenPom had UO rated at #49 and PSU at #216....that seemed more realistic. Both KenPom and Las Vegas favored UO by 15.

On the subject of RPI, Murray St. won today and is #177; Valpo is #77; and UP is #190

KenPom has Murray St. at #132; Valpo at #82; and UP at #128 (6th in the WCC).

Oh, and Portland St.....their RPI is now #103 and KenPom rates them at #225!

(You might be able to tell I had time to look lots of stuff up while Mrs. DD drove us home from the coast today). Rolling Eyes

by DoubleDipper Sun Nov 30, 2014 10:20 pm

Geezaldinho wrote:Those of you predicting a 10 win non conference season were unrealistic to begin with, so if you come crashing, so be it. The team has a ways to go yet.

Exactly! And if anyone is despondent tonight because the Pilots lost, that fine, you're a true fan! But we just have to realize Valpo is a much better team than UP....and apparently getting better.

The loss doesn't diminish the work the guys have put in and their 5-1 record to this point.

This is "Dead Week" coming up with "Finals Week" to follow...so the Pilots have the Vikings, the Beavers, and their studies to occupy them....no time for diversions. tongue

D'Marques Tyson's 25 today only comes as a surprise to those who haven't seen him in practice or in prep school....the kid can shoot. Because of his ability and that of Jason Todd's, I'm wondering if they, at 6-6, are not the wings of the future, and instead of UP pursuing another wing in Florida, maybe they should instead be saving the remaining 1 or 2 scholarships for a post player...just saying.

by NoPoNeighbor Sun Nov 30, 2014 11:04 pm

Will we see any changes to the starting lineup, or to substitution patterns, for Wednesday's game? Will/should Tyson move into the starting lineup, replacing Pressley? Or, at the very least, will Tyson be the first guard off the bench (rather than Sharp)?

A few questions after looking over the box score...
- Why did VDM only play 21 minutes? He was 4-8 from the field, and only had 1 foul. Incredibly, he also had only 1 rebound.
- Why did Bailey play 37 minutes when he was playing so poorly? 1-8 shooting and 5 turnovers.
- With Voldy also having an awful game offensively (1-6), why didn't Gabe Taylor see some more minutes?

Hard to win when your three leading scorers (Bailey, Gerun, Wintering) shoot a combined 3-19. Without Tyson, the game would have truly been embarrassing for the Pilots. He has now moved up to become the team's second-leader scorer at 12 points/game.

by NoPoNeighbor Sun Nov 30, 2014 11:15 pm

DoubleDipper wrote:D'Marques Tyson's 25 today only comes as a surprise to those who haven't seen him in practice or in prep school....the kid can shoot. Because of his ability and that of Jason Todd's, I'm wondering if they, at 6-6, are not the wings of the future, and instead of UP pursuing another wing in Florida, maybe they should instead be saving the remaining 1 or 2 scholarships for a post player...just saying.

With incoming wing player Chiir Maker already signed up for one of those precious scholarships, I completely agree. We are much more thin at the 4 and 5 positions next year than at the 1-3.

by dholcombe Sun Nov 30, 2014 11:59 pm

Tim Douglas who we'll be seeing in green/black this week also scored 25+ as a freshman for the Pilots.