Live Video I Live Audio I Live Stats I Complete Release (PDF)
Game Information
The University of Portland continues West Coast Conference men’s basketball action by hosting the Santa Clara Broncos on Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Chiles Center. The Pilots (10-7, 1-1) posted a 78-60 victory over San Francisco on Thursday, while the Broncos (7-12, 0-3) dropped a 95-53 decision at Gonzaga.
Game Coverage
The game will be televised live on Comcast SportsNet Northwest and CSN California. Tod Pickett and Bill Krueger will call the action. A live video stream is available at pilotsvideo.com. All UP games are also on the radio at 970 AM and simulcast live at portlandpilots.com.
About The Pilots
Portland (10-7, 1-1) had a record setting day at the Chiles Center in a 78-60 rout of San Francisco on Thursday. Sophomore G Jared Stohl set a new school record with nine three-pointers made and the team matched a program mark with 14 treys. The nine threes for are tied for third most in an NCAA game this season. Stohl also shattered his previous career-high by finishing with 33 points. Portland’s 10 victories surpassed the team’s win total of nine for each of the last two years. The Pilots did lose junior F Ethan Niedermeyer to an ankle sprain and he is listed as doubtful for Saturday against Santa Clara.
Junior G Nik Raivio leads four Pilots averaging double figures and is fourth in the West Coast Conference in scoring at 15.8 points per game. Junior F Robin Smeulders is 12th in the conference in scoring (12.3). Stohl is 14th overall in scoring (11.8), but is leading the league in WCC scoring (21.5) early on. He also paces in the conference in three-pointers made per game (3.1). Sophomore C Kramer Knutson is shooting 67 percent from the field to lead the league.
Junior PG T.J. Campbell has been a strong addition to the roster and averages 10.2 points and 4.9 assists. A Glendale (Ariz.) Junior College transfer, Campbell is among the conference leaders in six statistical categories.
Portland leads the WCC in assists (15.2), three-point percentage (.383) and three-pointers made (7.8) and is second in field goal percentage (.466). The team’s 70.7 points per game average is third in the league and 7.6 points higher than last year’s average.
Head coach Eric Reveno returns 80 percent of the team’s scoring and 87 percent of its rebounding from last year’s squad. Picked to finish sixth in the WCC Preseason Coaches’ Poll, Reveno’s roster features eight underclassmen and no seniors.
One of the main focuses for the program throughout the offseason was improving in the weight room. The results are noticeable, as every player has either added good basketball weight or dropped pounds, if necessary. Reveno describes sophomore center Jasonn Hannibal as the “poster boy” for the strength and conditioning program. Hannibal dropped 30 pounds and reduced his body fat to below 10 percent.
The Pilots will be competing with perhaps the best returning core group of players in WCC basketball history. After a banner year in which the league sent a record three teams to the NCAA Tournament, 13 of 15 starters will be returning to those squads. Gonzaga, Saint Mary’s and San Diego are the favorites to compete for the WCC crown again this year as the league moves the WCC Tournament to a neutral site (Las Vegas, Nev.) for the first time in history. The Pilots will play 11 total games this season against teams that advanced to postseason play last year.
About Santa Clara
The Broncos (7-12, 0-3) opened WCC play with losses at Saint Mary’s (63-62) on Jan. 9 and at home to San Diego (55-50). Santa Clara fell at Gonzaga (95-53) in Spokane on Thursday. Against the Bulldogs, for the first time since Dec. 28, 2007, Santa Clara did not record one block. It also grabbed the fewest steals by a Kerry Keating-coached team (2) and gave up the most points under Keating as well (95). Santa Clara played four games in seven days two weeks ago. The Broncos won the 42nd annual Cable Car Classic with an 83-80 win over Belmont on Dec. 29 and then an 89-88 win vs. UTEP in overtime on Dec. 30. Senior C John Bryant was named the MVP of the Classic with Kevin Foster and Ben Dowdell being named to the All-Tournament team. The next day they traveled East; and lost at Harvard on Jan. 2, 73-68; and then lost 58-54 at New Hampshire on Jan. 4. Bryant is averaging a double-double of 17.2 points and 12.1 rebounds per game. He leads the WCC in both rebounds and blocked shots (2.5). Foster, a freshman, is the only other Bronco scoring in double figures (12.9 ppg). Keating is in his second season at the helm of SCU. He finished 15-16 in his first season and fourth place in the WCC. The Broncos were picked to finish fourth again this season.
Portland-Santa Clara Series Notes
All-Time: SCU leads 53-23
At SCU: SCU leads 29-6
At UP: SCU leads 20-16
At Neutral: Tied 1-1
At Unknown: SCU leads 3-0
Current Streak: UP, 1 win
Last Meeting: Portland 64, Santa Clara 58 (3/1/08, at Portland)
