2021 Offseason

It takes an extra five seconds to get into Providence park than it does when they didn’t do the Covid card check. Just before the TSA check there is someone standing there to view the picture on your phone. Then you flip to the ticket in your seat geek app and scan it at the end of your belongings check. You can do the whole thing at walking pace.

They scan your season card at UP, but the idea would be the same. I’ve even seen some of the same employees at both venues. Just have the picture queued up on the phone.

Beginning next Thursday, September 2, students, staff, and faculty who do not comply UP’s vaccination policy won’t be allowed on campus.

"Students who are still unwilling to work with University staff to either seek an exemption or submit proof of vaccination will ultimately lose ID access and will be prohibited from campus until their case is resolved through the student conduct process," students were told in an email.

Currently, 93% of students have submitted their vaccination status or reason for exemption, leaving 252 students who are not compliant. UP employees are compliant at a rate of 99.72%.

Kevin wrote:Any word on if fans will be required to be vaccinated to attend games?

Geezaldinho wrote:It takes an extra five seconds to get into Providence park than it does when they didn’t do the Covid card check…

Details to follow, but I am told that beginning with the men's soccer game against OSU this coming Friday September 3, and continuing until further notice, fans must prove they are vaccinated or show proof of a negative COVID test within the past 72 hours before they are admitted to any UP sporting event.

Prior to having their ticket scanned, fans will be required to show their photo ID and either their vaccination card or a photo of their card on their phone.

UP students and employees will not have to show their cards, just their UP ID, as they have already been vetted by the university.

So a week into classes now, I guess it’s safe to say the team is set and that last scholarship won’t be filled?

Maybe instead we could have one of those awesome “you’re on scholarship now” clips for Miles Turner or Wyatt Watson. I could watch those all day long.

Dean Murdoch wrote:So a week into classes now, I guess it’s safe to say the team is set and that last scholarship won’t be filled?

Maybe instead we could have one of those awesome “you’re on scholarship now” clips for Miles Turner or Wyatt Watson. I could watch those all day long.

A "you're on scholarship now" would be nice, but neither Wyatt nor Miles has a need, nor do the other FOUR walk-ons who include Coleman Lemke, Chika Nduka, Liam Faler, and now as of a couple of days ago, returning player from last season, Cly Griffith, Jr.  Yup, 6 walk-ons!   

Not sure if Cly will get to wear his old number 0 this year after freshman Yaru Harvey claimed it, but Cly is a hardworking, high energy, and high character guy who deserves an opportunity to show he can play…and I am told he will get that chance.

So, are you saying Griffith played on scholarship last year, and will be a walk-on this year?

Griffith played in all 21 games last year, starting none, averaging 14.8 minutes/game. He was basically the 7th man. His shooting and scoring did not match his CC performances, shooting 36% (vs. 51%) and 4.9 points/game (vs. almost 21). Hopefully he can improve his game under a new coach. Since there are only 6 scholarship players who transferred in with D-1 experience, Griffith could be a key substitute as the freshmen are getting acclimated to playing at this level.

up7587 wrote:So, are you saying Griffith played on scholarship last year, and will be a walk-on this year?

Yes!

Cly took classes and worked-out with the team all summer while the staff looked for opportunities for him at other schools, and it turned out the best opportunity was to stay at UP, get some academic scholarship money, and help the team.

Dean Murdoch wrote:So a week into classes now, I guess it’s safe to say the team is set and that last scholarship won’t be filled?

It is kind of a head scratcher.

It is possible the staff expects to show the program is turning around by winning quite a few more games than predicted…and then use the leverage of the team’s winning ways and the 13th scholarship to attract a player who might be considering transferring from his major school to get more playing time…maybe even at mid-season.

Or not…

DoubleDipper wrote:Not sure if Cly will get to wear his old number 0 this year after freshman Yaru Harvey claimed it, but Cly is a hardworking, high energy, and high character guy who deserves an opportunity to show he can play…and I am told he will get that chance.

Cly is now "officially" on the roster, but will be wearing a new jersey number this season...#31!

Has UP MBB ever had a #31?  I cannot think of any player wearing that number in at least the last 30 years.  

Sid Watson in the early '80s.

lomiton wrote:Sid Watson in the early '80s.

Sid wore #31 and his son, Sherrard, wore #34 about 15 years ago...interesting.

I did not see Sid play, but Sherrard, with his long and loping strides, could light it up on occasion.

DoubleDipper wrote:If Ali were to actually enter the portal, I'm of the opinion he is going to need some luck fighting the NCAA to play elsewhere except professionally.

As expected, Ahmed Ali has signed to play professionally in Croatia.

DoubleDipper wrote:#13 Eddie Davis from Port Salerno, Florida, and arguably one of the two best players on last year's squad (remember his 22 points and 9 rebounds against OSU?), has finally found a new school...Tarleton St. in Stephenville, Texas.

I am told Coach Legans would like to have kept him on this season's roster if Eddie had been doing better in the classroom.

No idea what went down, but Eddie is now at D2 Cal State San Bernardino.

It could be he just couldn't get along with Coach Billy Gillespie at Tarleton St., if so, he wouldn't be the first.

Truly a D1 quality player, he should tear it up in the CCAA.

Veteran transfers Chris Austin and Moses Wood helping raise the bar for Portland Pilot men's basketball...

https://pamplinmedia.com/pt/12-sports/534656-427922-veteran-transfers-helping-raise-the-bar-for-portland-pilot-mens-basketball

DoubleDipper wrote:Veteran transfers Chris Austin and Moses Wood helping raise the bar for Portland Pilot men's basketball...

https://pamplinmedia.com/pt/12-sports/534656-427922-veteran-transfers-helping-raise-the-bar-for-portland-pilot-mens-basketball

Non-paywall version: https://archive.md/uJewc

StudentPilot wrote:Hayden Curtiss is in the transfer portal...

Seems like he's going to be a good one!

After one year at UP, Hayden Curtiss was one of the first of many Pilots in the portal, then he was staying, then he left for Portland St. He got less time than his year as a Pilot, playing in 17 games there, starting none, getting 8 mpg and averaging 3 ppg.

up7587 wrote:

StudentPilot wrote:Hayden Curtiss is in the transfer portal...

Seems like he's going to be a good one!

After one year at UP, Hayden Curtiss was one of the first of many Pilots in the portal, then he was staying, then he left for Portland St.  He got less time than his year as a Pilot, playing in 17 games there, starting none, getting 8 mpg and averaging 3 ppg.

From what I could determine, the UP staff thought Hayden could develop into a starter with some hard, hard work...unfortunately, Hayden's heart just didn't seem to be into it.

DoubleDipper wrote:

Dean Murdoch wrote:

@24_7IEBP wrote:Eastern Washington transfer Kim Aiken @k24aiken has heard from the following: New Mexico, Arizona, San Diego St, University of Portland, Fresno  State, USC, Cal Baptist.

Pretty darn good player for EWU these past three seasons...

Aiken, Jr. is VERY good!  First team All-Big Sky and Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year.

Of the seven EWU players who entered the transfer portal, Kim Aiken, Jr. and Tanner Groves, First Team All-Big Sky and the Big Sky Player of the Year, are the most likely to end up at a high-major next season.

As you may recall, Aiken decided to attend Arizona, but after playing in only 7 games there this past season he stepped away from the team for unknown reasons, and now he is back in the portal...still as a grad-student.

I was told UP has no intention of reaching out to him…

Dean Murdoch wrote:

@VerbalCommits wrote:PORTAL: Washington G Marcus Tsohonis (SO) has entered. https://verbalcommits.com/players/marcus-tsohonis

After this post over a year ago, Tsohonis played a year at VCU after playing two years and transferring from UW.

It was reported Saturday that Tsohonis went into the portal again, and on the same day he committed to play at Long Beach St....although I am not sure how he'd get a waiver to play next season having already gone from a 4-year to a 4-year just last year.

I am not implying this is the case with Tsohonis, but the most abused transfer portal rule is the one that says those in the portal must NOT have contact with another school before officially going into the portal.  Cheating by tampering is rampant, according to many coaches, and it is getting worse as there are no consequences except to perhaps make your team better than before.

At Portland, we know it happened when Deng Dut went to Wyoming, but for the most part, it is the majors who are the culprits…