Re: 2022 Offseason

by up7587 Wed Aug 24, 2022 9:47 am

Who had the ankle breaking move at :35?

by DoubleDipper Wed Aug 24, 2022 11:35 am

up7587 wrote:Who had the ankle breaking move at :35?

I believe the young man with the moves at :35 and :48 are one in the same...Mississippi State transfer, Alden Applewhite.

by Dean Murdoch Mon Sep 05, 2022 7:06 am

https://collegehoopstoday.com/index.php/rothstein-files/wcc-offseason-breakdown-3/

by DoubleDipper Mon Sep 05, 2022 9:03 am

Dean Murdoch wrote:https://collegehoopstoday.com/index.php/rothstein-files/wcc-offseason-breakdown-3/

6. Portland

Projected Starting 5:
G Mike Meadows
F Moses Wood
F Tyler Robertson
F Kristian Sjolund
C Joey St. Pierre

Projected Bench: Juansee Gorosito, Vukasin Masic, Alden Applewhite, Wyatt Lowell, Chika Nduka, Jack Perry, Vasilie Vucinic, Chris Austin

Key Losses: None

Key Newcomers: Juansee Gorosito, Vukasin Masic (Maine), Alden Applewhite (Mississippi State), Wyatt Lowell (JUCO), Joey St. Pierre (Milwaukee)

I think that is a good assessment at the beginning of the season, but Masic, Applewhite, and Lowell should also get some starts, and because of his hard-nosed play, one can never count out Nduka.

One name left off the list is Aussie big man, Bol Dengdit, who is looking good in practice, but could end up redshirting just because there may not be much room on the court for him, and the same goes for Gorosito. Although Vucinic is looking so much stronger and better in the offseason, he may also have trouble getting court time because of the experienced players ahead of him.

It will likely take until WCC play to bring Perry and Austin back from injury, and although it is hard to believe, Austin seems to have added even more muscle to football player body.

by Dean Murdoch Tue Sep 06, 2022 11:46 am

First record projection is out! barttorvik.com has the Pilots at 17-12 overall, 8-8 in WCC. The two missing games are the second and third PK85 games.

https://barttorvik.com/team.php?team=Portland&year=2023

The WAB column is "wins against bubble" and suggests that the Pilots will need to be 12-3 through non-conference to be in the at-large conversation.

Projected WCC standings by Bart: GONZ 15-1, SMC 10-6, BYU 9-7, USF 9-7, SCU 8-8, PORT 8-8, USD 7-9, LMU 6-10, PEP 5-11, PAC 4-12. Kind of in line with everything else we've seen, no reason the Pilots can't be in the battle for a first-round bye in Vegas and maybe even more.

by DoubleDipper Fri Sep 09, 2022 9:27 am

WCC Announces Extension With The Orleans Arena - 2025

More opportunities for Deaner and the gang to come south of the border for some late winter sunshine...

https://wccsports.com/news/2022/9/6/mens-basketball-wcc-announces-extension-with-the-orleans-arena.aspx

by Dean Murdoch Fri Sep 09, 2022 11:10 am

DoubleDipper wrote:More opportunities for Deaner and the gang to come south of the border for some late winter sunshine...

My liver has requested that it goes from a 6-day tournament to a 4-day tournament after BYU leaves.

by Geezaldinho Mon Sep 12, 2022 4:35 pm

Dean Murdoch wrote:
DoubleDipper wrote:More opportunities for Deaner and the gang to come south of the border for some late winter sunshine...

My liver has requested that it goes from a 6-day tournament to a 4-day tournament after BYU leaves.

Take drugs for two days and shift some of the load to your lungs and kidneys.

by DoubleDipper Tue Sep 20, 2022 5:05 pm

I generally like listening to Dan Dickau as an analyst, but this preview of UP's coming season was done with very little study or insight.

In other words, he could have done a lot better if he had put some effort into it.

https://cdn.jwplayer.com/previews/dZABAs9Z

by DoubleDipper Thu Sep 29, 2022 10:37 am

Portland Basketball to host Purple and White scrimmage on Saturday, October 8.

"Fans will get their first chance to see the University of Portland women's and men's basketball teams in person as the teams will host Purple and White Scrimmages on Saturday, Oct. 8 at the Chiles Center. The event is free and open to the public with doors opening at 1:30 p.m.

The Pilot women will scrimmage from 2-3 p.m. and the men between 3:30-4:30 p.m. Both teams will be formally introduced between the two sessions."

https://portlandpilots.com/news/2022/9/28/mens-basketball-portland-basketball-to-host-purple-and-white-scrimmage-on-saturday-oct-8.aspx

by DoubleDipper Fri Sep 30, 2022 10:13 pm

I have not seen it in writing yet, but I am told the WCC Coaches picked UP to finish in 5th place this coming season.

Seems fair, but I am sure the team is aiming for even higher...

by Sound Voltex Tue Oct 04, 2022 2:59 pm

https://wccsports.com/news/2022/9/20/wcc-announces-2022-23-espn-networks-mens-basketball-telecast-schedule.aspx

2022-23 WCC MEN'S BASKETBALL ESPN SELECTIONS

Day Date Time (PT) Away Home
Friday Nov. 11 TBA Michigan State Gonzaga
Wednesday Nov. 16 6:30 PM Gonzaga Texas
Sunday Nov. 20 4:30 PM Kentucky Gonzaga
Wednesday Nov. 23 2:00 PM BYU USC
Wednesday Nov. 23 9:00 PM Saint Mary's Vanderbilt
Thursday Nov. 24 10:00 AM North Carolina Portland
Thursday Nov. 24 9:30 PM Portland State Gonzaga
Saturday Dec. 3 6:30 PM Saint Mary's Houston
Thursday Dec. 22 8:30 PM Pepperdine Hawai'i
Thursday Jan. 5 8:00 PM Gonzaga San Francisco
Thursday Jan. 5 8:00 PM BYU LMU
Thursday Jan. 12 6:30 PM Gonzaga BYU
Thursday Jan. 12 8:00 PM San Francisco Portland
Saturday Jan. 14 7:00 PM Portland Gonzaga
Thursday Jan. 19 8:00 PM Saint Mary's Pepperdine
Saturday Jan. 28 7:00 PM Saint Mary's BYU
Thursday Feb. 2 8:00 PM San Francisco Saint Mary's
Saturday Feb. 4 7:00 PM Santa Clara San Francisco
Saturday Feb. 4 7:00/7:30 PM Gonzaga Saint Mary's
Thursday Feb. 9 6:00 PM San Francisco Gonzaga
Saturday Feb. 11 7:00 PM BYU Gonzaga
Saturday Feb. 18 7:00 PM BYU Saint Mary's
Thursday Feb. 23 8:00 PM San Diego Gonzaga
Saturday Feb. 25 7:00 PM Saint Mary's Gonzaga
Saturday Feb. 25 7:00 PM San Francisco BYU

2022-23 WCC MEN'S BASKETBALL CBS SPORTS NETWORK SELECTIONS

Day Date Time (PT) Away Home
Saturday Dec. 17 3:00 PM Utah BYU
Wednesday Dec. 21 7:00 PM Arizona State San Francisco
Thursday Jan. 12 TBD LMU Saint Mary's
Thursday Jan. 19 8:00 PM BYU Santa Clara
Saturday Jan. 21 5:00 PM BYU San Francisco
Thursday Feb. 2 6:00 PM LMU BYU
Thursday Feb. 2 8:00 PM Santa Clara Gonzaga
Thursday Feb. 9 8:00 PM BYU Pepperdine
Saturday Feb. 11 TBD Saint Mary's Portland
Thursday Feb. 16 6:00 PM Santa Clara BYU
Thursday Feb. 16 8:00 PM Gonzaga LMU
Thursday Feb. 23 8:00 PM Portland San Francisco

by Sound Voltex Thu Oct 06, 2022 11:41 am

DoubleDipper wrote:I have not seen it in writing yet, but I am told the WCC Coaches picked UP to finish in 5th place this coming season.

Seems fair, but I am sure the team is aiming for even higher...

Right you are, DD.

https://wccsports.com/news/2022/9/28/athlete-awards-gonzaga-picked-to-win-11th-straight-wcc-championship.aspx

2022-23 WCC Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll
Place Team First Place Points
1. Gonzaga 9 81
2. Saint Mary's 1 73
T-3. BYU 57
T-3. San Francisco 57
5. Portland 48
6. Santa Clara 43
7. Pepperdine 33
8. San Diego 31
9. LMU 17
10. Pacific 10

2022-23 Men’s Basketball Preseason All-WCC Team
Name Yr. Pos. School
Rasir Bolton Sr. G Gonzaga
Alex Ducas Sr. F Saint Mary's
Logan Johnson Sr. G Saint Mary's
Keshawn Justice Sr. F Santa Clara
Houston Mallette So. G Pepperdine
Tyler Robertson Jr. F Portland
Khalil Shabazz Sr. G San Francisco
Julian Strawther Jr. G Gonzaga
Drew Timme Sr. F Gonzaga
Fousseyni Traore So. F BYU

by ExpatPilot Thu Oct 06, 2022 12:31 pm

I'm a BIG fan of this cursive script font. I know that Nike has been rolling it out with just about every other team recently, but I'm a fan simply because it reminds me of the old wheel logo. I don't mind the Impact script font with the river between the T and L, but I REALLY like this cursive.

https://twitter.com/PortlandMBB/status/1578108998108078080?s=20&t=D2sCt5Xx8yNs1giNnPINBw

by up7587 Mon Oct 10, 2022 11:56 pm

@mid_madness wrote:Portland comes in at 5 in the WCC Preseason Poll. What Shantay Legans has done there is one season is IMPRESSIVE.

If all goes right, the Pilots could compete for a tournament bid this season. Will have huge resume building chances at the Phil Knight Tournament.

Pilots went on a six-game winning streak towards the end of the season, which included a win over San Francisco.

They’re young and hungry. Return quite a bit and bring in a couple nice pieces. Gonna be a fun season on the bluff.

by Dean Murdoch Tue Oct 11, 2022 11:53 am

up7587 wrote:
@mid_madness wrote:If all goes right, the Pilots could compete for a tournament bid this season.

All aboard the Pilots hype train!!

by Dean Murdoch Tue Oct 11, 2022 6:20 pm

https://watchstadium.com/not-so-secret-list-of-2022-college-basketball-scrimmages-10-07-2022/

Pilots at Utah Valley in a secret scrimmage, Oct 29.

by DoubleDipper Tue Oct 11, 2022 8:39 pm

Dean Murdoch wrote:https://watchstadium.com/not-so-secret-list-of-2022-college-basketball-scrimmages-10-07-2022/

Pilots at Utah Valley in a secret scrimmage, Oct 29.

Good matchup for both teams, and a really good move to get the Pilots an off-campus game.

Utah Valley, a member of the WAC, finished last season at 20-12 with wins over BYU and UW, and an impressive NET of 116, while UP's NET was 181 with a record of 19-15.

Both teams had two wins over non-D1 opponents.

by Dean Murdoch Sun Oct 16, 2022 10:02 am

It's Kenpom Day!

kenpom.com

Pilots ranked 121. 17-12 overall and 7-9 in WCC is the prediction (missing the second 2 PK85 games).

Kenpom is giving the Pilots "semi-home" consideration against its #9 team, North Carolina. Just a 13-point MOV predicted for UNC in that game...

by DoubleDipper Fri Oct 21, 2022 10:08 am

Excellent WCC Preview of all 10 Teams...here's UP:

6. PORTLAND– Well, the secret’s out on Shantay Legans- another year like last season and he’s off to Oregon State. The Pilots’ turnaround from one of the worst programs in the country to .500 in the WCC gauntlet is as impressive as it gets (although Portland was aided by the easiest in league schedule due to covid cancellations and some seriously bizarre WCC rescheduling drama), and Portland should be able to build on that with virtually everyone returning. Legans brought his brand of hyper inverted, positionless basketball that saw Eastern Washington nearly take down Kansas in the NCAA Tournament to Portland, and the constant off ball screening that often saw all 5 Pilots on the perimeter- Portland had a top 40 off screen rate nationally with a top 50 efficiency, per ShotQuality. Legans’ offense also created the league’s 2nd highest catch and shoot rate with the 2nd best efficiency cashing them in. It should be noted the Pilots also posted at the league’s 2nd highest rate, as Legans incorporated a few swing elements into the offense with his guards posting as frequently as anyone in the league. While the Pilots didn’t have a high rim rate overall, they still led the league in FT rate, as well as assist rate. With virtually everyone returning, Legans’ system should be a well oiled machine in year 2, starting with do-everything Tyler Robertson, who I’m not even going to try to slap a position label on. Robertson lead the team in post rate and efficiency, but also shot 160 threes at a 35% clip and posted the WCC’s third highest assist rate and FT throw rate as the embodiment of Legans’ offense (it obviously helped he followed Legans from Cheney). That all led to a top 20 OBPR per EvanMiya, the only non Zag, Gael, Don, Bronco, or Cougar in the top 20. Robertson was far from the only versatile big on the roster, as Moses Wood and Kristian Sjolund both shot nearly 150 threes each, with Wood pouring them in at 46% in WCC play. Wood shot FTs at the 4th highest rate in the league, rebounded well, and was an excellent weakside shot blocker. Sjolund was essentially the same player as Wood, just not as consistent of a shooter. That versatility that defined the frontcourt extended to the wings as well, as Chika Nduka (who was a walk on last year, a testament to Legans’ ability to develop players) was the team’s primary post defender, remarkably holding opposing posts to .65 PPP at the third highest post defense rate in the league per Synergy. Nduka is 6’5, and was behind only Yauhen Massalski in post defense efficiency! Naturally Nduka was a plus rebounder for his size, and graded out as Portland’s best overall defender, per EvanMiya. Offensively, Nduka wasn’t a primary option by any stretch, but he still led the team in FG% at the rim at 67% per hoop-math, with a 42% rate. Nduka’s role might change a bit this year, as Legans brought in legitimate size to defend the post with Joey St. Pierre from Milwaukee and Wyatt Lowell, who has D1 stops at BYU and Utah Valley on his resume. St. Pierre led the Horizon in block rate and held opposing posts to .64 PPP per Synergy, plus he was an effective back to the basket scorer, giving Legans a legitimate block 5 that he didn’t really have last season. Lowell meanwhile is more in the vein of Wood and Sjolund, but with even more size. Mississippi State transfer Alden Applewhite figures to have a role in the frontcourt as well with the team’s highest recruiting pedigree overall and best potential ball skill game of the suddenly deep unit. The backcourt took a hit when Chris Austin suffered a horrific leg injury against Southern Utah in The Basketball Classic, and his return is slated for WCC play at the earliest (given the nature of the injury, you have to be concerned about his effectiveness when he does return). Austin was Legans’ primary post up guard, but was a plus shot creator as well. His role will be filled by Maine transfer Vuka Masic, who is a total Legans guard with his court vision and ability to play around the rim at 6’5 while also capable of knocking down jump shots. Jack Perry got an extra year after being hurt last season, and his deadly spot shooting and institutional knowledge of Legans’ offense is invaluable, as this will be his 6th season in the system. Mike Meadows returns as the nominal PG, and he should have a more consistent offensive season as a rim runner after a laundry list of injuries derailed his year. If St. Pierre brings the bulky rim presence and rebounding that the Pilots lacked last year, cracking the vaunted WCC top 4 or even 3 seems like a real possibility, especially with Santa Clara seemingly taking a step back this year.

https://staringatthefloorboards.wordpress.com/2022/10/20/wcc-2022-23-season-preview/

by Oldguyfan Fri Oct 21, 2022 11:12 am

Oregon State, really? Is that just conjecture or do you know something we all don't know. For future games let's personally thank Shantay.

by DoubleDipper Fri Oct 21, 2022 11:56 am

Oldguyfan wrote:Oregon State, really? Is that just conjecture or do you know something we all don't know. For future games let's personally thank Shantay.

Total conjecture at this point!

However, to add even more conjecture, I would not be surprised to see Legs head to Cal beginning with the 2024-25 season when Coach Fox's contract ends.

In addition to his salary being tripled (at least), he would finally arrive where all coaches want to be, at a Power 5 conference.

By all accounts, Legs loved his time in Berkeley as a student-athlete and left for Fresno St. his senior year out of love and loyalty to his mentor while growing up.

by Snus Junction Fri Oct 21, 2022 9:19 pm

I will buy into this gossip when we beat North Carolina.
Until then, let’s focus on the first exhibition game. Smile

by Dean Murdoch Sat Oct 22, 2022 9:09 am

Well you guys are a little depressing today!! If only there was an example of a WCC head coach taking a perennially losing team, turning it into a program that annually contends for at-large berths, and remaining at that school despite constant overtures from teams in so-called higher-profile conferences.

(I'm talking about Bennett in case it's not obvious)

It can be done, folks. And it can be done at Portland.

by DoubleDipper Sat Oct 22, 2022 9:47 am

Dean Murdoch wrote:Well you guys are a little depressing today!! If only there was an example of a WCC head coach taking a perennially losing team, turning it into a program that annually contends for at-large berths, and remaining at that school despite constant overtures from teams in so-called higher-profile conferences.

(I'm talking about Bennett in case it's not obvious)

It can be done, folks. And it can be done at Portland.

Randy's story at SMC is dandy, but an even bigger example of a coach remaining in the WCC to do GREAT things is Mark Few.

Few was an assistant at Gonzaga starting in 1989, and in the mid to late 90s GU was just a regent vote away from dropping to D3 because the school was in financial straits and the basketball program was a drain.

But then, BAM!! In 1999 GU beats Minnesota, Stanford, and Florida to advance to the Elite 8. Head Coach Dan Monson takes the money and runs to Minnesota, Few is elevated to head coach, and the rest is history.

So sure, it can be done...let's dare Coach Legans to get it done at UP!