Jackson State vs. UP Thursday 12/19 @ 7:30

Jackson State could present the Pilots some problems unless UP clamps down on defense and plays transition basketball.

The Tigers, from the Southwestern Athletic Conference, average close to 70 points a game and have a 6-4 point-guard, #4 Tristan Jarrett (he also plays as a SG and SF) who averages 19 points per game, and 6-6 wing, #1 Roland Griffin, who just played his first game of the season and scored 17 points in the team’s 113-67 win over Southeastern Baptist, a game in which Jarrett scored 38 points in 25 minutes.

JSU comes in with a 2-8 record, with both wins over non-D1 opponents, but it could be another one of those games where the team is better than they look on paper.  UP will be the least competitive opponent they’ve played all year except Denver, a game the Tigers lost, 67-58.

Just like Florida A&M, Jackson St. has played all of their D1 games on the road in a quest to add some $$$ to the athletic department’s budget, but once they get home and begin league play, they are expected to go 9-9 for the remainder of the season after stops at very tough Memphis and Baylor.

The Tigers are athletic, but not very tall…I think we can expect the Pilots to once again attempt to pound it inside to Jacob, D, Hugh, and Theo.

(Don’t forget, this game starts at 7:30 and is part of a double-header with the UP Women’s Basketball Team playing Willamette at 5pm in their last non-league game before heading to Spokane on December 29th for the first of three straight WCC games on the road).

It is curious that this is the second straight game against HBCU schools, from the southeastern region. Long way for them to come for games.

I get that the coaches want to work to ball in to the post, but if Taki comes out and makes 4 straight threes again, I hope they throw him the ball some more. Against FAMU, they kept trying to go inside, and Taki never got another look in the first half.

Do we know the status of Porter, Walker or Ferebee?

Bcary91 wrote:Do we know the status of Porter, Walker or Ferebee?

Hmm. Legit Pilots fan, gambler, or Jackson State spy?

I’ll guess gambler. You won’t get any updates on any of these guys until the broadcast starts.

Dean Murdoch wrote:

Bcary91 wrote:Do we know the status of Porter, Walker or Ferebee?

Hmm. Legit Pilots fan, gambler, or Jackson State spy?

I’ll guess gambler. You won’t get any updates on any of these guys until the broadcast starts.

Ha, those were my exact thoughts when I saw 91's first-ever post.

In the PNW for the first time in over 18 months,  and I'm going to try to get the game tomorrow night but hope the Chiles Center is warmer than here in Bend, as living in PR for the last few years has really made me a whimp.

Haha you got me. But I did watch most of the FAMU. That big guy killed y’all inside but White had a great game. Just curious because Pilots are only favored by -6.5 and that is so low against a very bad Jackson State team.

StudentPilot wrote:In the PNW for the first time in over 18 months,  and I'm going to try to get the game tomorrow night but hope the Chiles Center is warmer than here in Bend, as living in PR for the last few years has really made me a whimp.

Same! Being a whimp about the cold and coming to the game (hopefully)!

Bcary91 wrote:Do we know the status of Porter, Walker or Ferebee?

Yes.

Bcary91 wrote:Haha you got me. But I did watch most of the FAMU. That big guy killed y’all inside but White had a great game.  Just curious because Pilots are only favored by -6.5 and that is so low against a very bad Jackson State team.

If you're going to bet, might as well bet on the Pilots.

bobtcat2 wrote:If you're going to bet, might as well bet on the Pilots.  

Pilots are now favored by only 4 points with a 133.5 o/u.

DoubleDipper wrote:

bobtcat2 wrote:If you're going to bet, might as well bet on the Pilots.  

Pilots are now favored by only 4 points with a 133.5 o/u.

Sold!

A long-time friend, who is employed by one the Las Vegas casinos, tells me the "random game between Portland University and Jackson St. is getting a ton of betting action...more than other games, including the NBA."

Hmm, that doesn't sound good to me, somehow...

DoubleDipper wrote:A long-time friend, who is employed by one the Las Vegas casinos, tells me the "random game between Portland University and Jackson St. is getting a ton of betting action...more than other games, including the NBA."

Hmm, that doesn't sound good to me, somehow...

Really? Did he say why he thinks that is? Very odd.

UP now favored by 6! O/U 132.5

Before the game, Jackson St was described as undisciplined. Pilots said, "Hold my beer."

This year’s Grambling, I guess.

This team and throwing away the ball, name a more iconic duo.

Took Jackson State +6. Hoping for a better performance for the Pilots against Houston.

Interesting comments by Coach Geving on the post-game radio interview. He did not call the team "soft", but he said several times they have to get tougher. He said JSU came into their gym and punked them, and they just sat back and took it. He mentioned having 4 turnovers and giving up several offensive rebounds before the first media timeout. Credited JSU with coming in hungry and playing with intensity, and faulted the Pilots for not responding. Said the coaches have to get onto the players at practice and get them to play tougher, or the next game will be a 40 point blowout loss.

This is why the game was getting so many bets. It was posted about by action network, which is the espn of sports betting .

Maybe those folks will learn to never bet on the Pilots.

up7587 wrote:Maybe those folks will learn to never bet on the Pilots.

Wouldn't count on it! Realtimerpi now shows Pilots 1-15 in WCC. Wonder if Kenpom says the same.

bobtcat2 wrote:Realtimerpi now shows Pilots 1-15 in WCC.  Wonder if KenPom says the same.

Yup, KenPom is predicting UP's only win the rest of the season will be at home against LMU by 1 point.  

(LMU lost at home to PSU last night...apparently the Lions weren't quite ready for the helter skelter Vikings, as PSU ran out to a 51-29 halftime lead.)

up7587 wrote:Interesting comments by Coach Geving on the post-game radio interview.  He did not call the team "soft", but he said several times they have to get tougher.  He said JSU came into their gym and punked them, and they just sat back and took it.

It's pretty easy to get "punked" when the other team is so much more athletically talented and entertaining.

When #4 Tristan Jarrett (33 points) was assessed an in-your-face technical in the first half it set the stage for what was essentially a beat-down.  I really don't think the Pilots are capable of playing any tougher than they did, they are just not talented enough to play such a fast moving, fun loving group of athletes like Jackson St.

I can't criticize the Pilots as much as I can applaud the Tigers for their performance.  At the end of the season they will certainly have more wins than UP.

My apologies as I was the bad luck charm.

I have to echo DD's comments that JSU put on quite the performance and had more energy to play than us. No one for the Tigers embodied their spirit more so than whichever staffer was behind the bench celebrating and jingling the keys at the end. He was quite entertaining and I enjoyed it, honestly!

It was great to be back in Chiles and remember why I love this university and the people that are part of it, though! Cheers all.  

(Back into hibernation for me)