Live Video I Live Audio I Live Stats I Complete Release (PDF)
Game Information
The University of Portland returns home to the Chiles Center and will conclude its non-conference schedule against the Seattle University Redhawks on Sunday at 2 p.m. Seattle (8-5) is coming off of a 49-39 victory over Loyola Marymount, while the Pilots (8-6) defeated Cal State Bakersfield in overtime on the road Tuesday, 79-76.
Game Coverage
Sunday’s game will be aired live on AM 970 (KCMD) with a live simulcast on the web at portlandpilots.com. Live video of the game is available at pilotsvideo.com and live stats can be found at portlandpilots.com.
About The Pilots
Portland (8-6) recorded a 79-76 overtime victory over Cal State Bakersfield on Tuesday at Rabobank Arena. Junior G Nik Raivio scored a career-high 33 points in the win, the most points scored by a Pilot since Pooh Jeter had 33 against Pepperdine on Jan. 10, 2004. Sophomore G Jared Stohl added 17 off the bench, while sophomore F Luke Sikma matched a season-high with 13 rebounds. Portland played without starting sophomore C Kramer Knutson (concussion) for the third straight game and he will miss Sunday’s game as well.
Raivio leads four Pilots averaging double figures and is fourth in the West Coast Conference in scoring at 16.6 points per game. He also averages 6.0 rebounds per game, good for ninth in the league. Junior F Robin Smeulders is 11th in the conference in scoring (12.3). Knutson is shooting 70 percent from the field (35-50) to lead the league, while Stohl paces the conference in three-pointers made per game (2.6).
Junior PG T.J. Campbell has been a strong addition to the roster and averages 10.6 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 field goal percentage (.470) and is second in both three-point field goal percentage (.374) and assists (15.2). The team’s 71.6 points per game average is third in the league and 8.5 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, the Pilots are off to their best start since the 2004-05 team opened with a 10-4 mark. 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 Seattle
The Redhawks (8-5) defeated Loyola Marymount University 49-39 Thursday night at KeyArena in Seattle, improving the team’s record to 4-5 against Division I opponents. Chris Gweth led Seattle with 12 points and eight rebounds against the Lions, while Austen Powers contributed nine points and 11 boards. Seattle limited LMU to 2-for-18 shooting in the second half and 26 percent for the game. Gweth paces the Redhawks and averages 12.3 points per game, while Powers adds 10.6 points and 6.0 rebounds. Seattle averages only 61.8 points, but is limiting opponents to just 60.6 per game. Notable wins included road victories at Cal Poly (60-59) and UC Irvine (55-52). Head coach Joe Callero is in his eighth year at Seattle and posts a 104-102 record. He returns three starters and eight letterman from last year’s team with finished 18-9 at the Division II level in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. Seattle University is in its first year of transitioning back to NCAA Division I status. A former member of the West Coast Athletic Conference (since renamed the WCC), Seattle will be eligible for RPI inclusion next season and NCAA postseason beginning in 2012-13.
Portland-Seattle Bakersfield Series Notes
All-Time: SU leads 72-28
At UP: SU leads 32-15
At SU: SU leads 35-5
At Unknown: UP leads 8-5
Last Five: UP leads 4-1
Current Streak: SU 1 win
Last Meeting: Seattle 88, Portland 85 - Nov. 23, 2005 at Portland
