Complete Release (PDF) I Live Audio I Live Stats
Portland Pilots (12-3) at Gonzaga Bulldogs (10-5)
January 8, 2011 • 5:30 PM • Spokane, Wash. (McCarthey Athletic Center - 6,000)
TV: FSN Northwest
Radio: 800 AM (KPDQ)
Live Audio/Stats: PortlandPilots.com
Series: Gonzaga leads 86-65
Last Year:
Gonzaga 81, Portland 78 (1/9/10 at UP)
Gonzaga 76, Portland 49 (2/4/10 at GU)
This Week in Pilots Hoops…
The Portland Pilots (12-3) carry a five-game win streak into their West Coast Conference opener with the Gonzaga Bulldogs on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. at the McCarthey Athletic Center. Portland has won eight of its last nine games, while the Bulldogs (10-5) enter the contest having won their last six games.
Game Coverage
Saturday’s game will be aired live on FSN Northwest with Greg Heister and Craig Ehlo providing the call. All Portland games will be aired live on the radio in the Portland market on 800 AM (KPDQ) with Bill Johnson providing the play-by-play, including a 30-minute pregame show. The radio feed will be simulcast online at PortlandPilots.com.
Portland Briefly...
• The Pilots improved to 8-0 at the Chiles Center with an 88-79 come-from-behind win over Utah on New Year’s Eve. Nemanja Mitrovic scored 21 points, including 18 in the second half, as the Pilots overcame an 11-point deficit to remain perfect at home.
• Portland is ranked No. 11 in the latest CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 (Jan. 3).
• The Pilots are rated No. 37 nationally according to the NCAA as of Jan. 3 (highest in the WCC).
• Portland’s best start was 13-2 during the 1979-80 season. This year’s Pilots matched the 1958-59 and 1994-95 teams with 12-3 starts.
• Portland is No. 1 in the nation in team three-point percentage (.444).
• Jared Stohl (47) and Nemanja Mitrovic (46) have made the most three-pointers of any teammates in the nation (93). Mitrovic is No. 2 nationally in three-point percentage (.548).
• Luke Sikma is leading the WCC and is 12th in the nation in rebounding (10.7).
• Stohl led the nation in three-point percentage last season (.478) and could become the first player in NCAA history to do it two years in a row. He is 47-for-103 this season (.456).
• Stohl passed Blake Stepp of Gonzaga and moved to No. 2 all-time in the WCC in career three-pointers made after drilling five versus Utah. He currently has 292 career threes and trails only Jeff Fryer (LMU, 363).
• Portland has led by 12 or more points in all eight home wins this year and is now 33-4 at the Chiles Center since the beginning of the 2008-09 season.
• Stohl was named to the 10-player WCC Preseason All-Conference Team.
• Portland returns one starter from last year’s 21-11 squad (Kramer Knutson) along with Sikma and Stohl, both All-WCC honorable mention honorees last season.
• Head coach Eric Reveno returns with his staff for their fifth season together at Portland. He is the third longest tenured head coach in the WCC.
About Gonzaga
• The Bulldogs (10-5) have won six games in a row and are receiving votes in both national polls.
• Signature wins have come against Marquette, Baylor, Xavier and Oklahoma State.
• Losses have come to San Diego State, Kansas State, Illinois, Washington State and Notre Dame.
• Senior G Stephen Gray leads the Bulldogs in scoring (14.6) and is joined in double figures by junior C Robert Sacre (13.1) and sophomore F Elias Harris (12.3).
• Gonzaga is 82-5 all-time at the McCarthey Athletic Center and 7-1 this year in the building.
• The Bulldogs have won 10 consecutive WCC regular season titles and were picked as the preseason favorite this year by the league’s head coaches.
• Head coach Mark Few returns four starters and seven lettermen from last year’s team that finished 27-7 overall and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
• Gonzaga leads the all-time series with Portland by an 86-65 margin. The Bulldogs have won 14 in a row over the Pilots and 28 of the last 29 meetings. UP’s lone victory since the 1995-96 season was 72-68 upset at the old Kennel in Spokane during the 2002-03 season.
12-3 Start Tied for Second Best in School History
Portland collected its 10th win of the season before Christmas for the first time in school history with victory over Boise State on Dec. 22. The Pilots are now 12-3 overall, which is tied for the second best start through 15 games in school history. Below is a detailed breakdown:
Year Thru 14 Finished
1979-80 13-2 18-10
2009-10 12-3 ?
1958-59 12-3 19-8 (NCAA Tournament)
1994-95 12-3 21-8
Pilots No. 1 Nationally in Three-Point Percentage
Portland leads the nation in team three-point percentage (.444). Last year Portland finished fifth nationally as a team in three-point percentage (.407), while the Pilots finished second nationally in 2008-09 (.418).
Chiles Center Dominance
The Chiles Center has become quite comfortable for the Pilots over the last three seasons as Portland has rattled off a 33-4 home record. Signature home wins have come against Washington, Oregon, Nevada and Saint Mary’s twice. Portland is off to an 8-0 start at the Chiles Center already this year and have had at least 12-point leads in each of the eight victories.
Stohl/Mitrovic Top Three-Point Combo in the Nation
Jared Stohl and Nemanja Mitrovic have combined to make 93 three-pointers, the most of any duo in the nation. Stohl is tied for third nationally in three-pointers made (47), while Mitrovic is tied for sixth (46). Already the Portland leader in career three-pointers made (292), Stohl moved into second place in the WCC record books after drilling five treys against Utah on Dec. 31. He is now chasing the WCC record of 363 held by Jeff Fryer of LMU (1987-90).
Sikma 12th Nationally in Rebounds
Senior F Luke Sikma is leading the WCC and ranks No. 12 nationally in rebounding average (10.7). Sikma has corralled double-digit rebounds in eight of the team’s first 15 games and already has five double-doubles this season. He matched his career-high with 19 rebounds versus Florida Atlantic on Nov. 14 and grabbed 18 at Idaho on Nov. 20.
Mitrovic Catching Fire
Junior G Nemanja Mitrovic has scored 20-plus points in each of the last three games. He went 7-of-9 shooting against Boise State on Dec. 22, including 5-for-5 from three-point range for a career-high 22 points. He matched that total on Dec. 27 vs. Nevada as he was 8-for-15 from the field and 4-of-9 from beyond the arc to earn WCC player of the Week honors. The Toronto native scored 18 of his 21 points in the second half against Utah on Dec. 31 to lead a second half comeback. Mitrovic was named the WCC-Co Player of the Month after leading the Pilots to a 7-1 record in December. He is No. 2 nationally in three-point percentage (.548) according to NCAA Statistics and has made five treys in four of the last six games. Mitrovic has reached double figures in scoring a team-high 12 times this season.
Sikma Climbing UP Charts
Luke Sikma has put up big numbers in a variety of statistical categories throughout his career on The Bluff and could end up as the school’s career leader in rebounds. He currently ranks fourth in the UP record book with 811 career rebounds. Rick Raivio (1976-80) is the all-time leader with 910 rebounds. Sikma also ranks in the school’s top 10 in blocked shots (4th, 74) and field goal percentage (6th, .535). The Bellevue, Wash. native is also in the Top 20 in career assists (20th, 205) and steals (20th, 96).
Stohl Joins 1,000-Point Club
Senior G Jared Stohl became the 33rd player in school history to eclipse 1,000 career points after his 24-point effort on Sunday versus Florida Atlantic on Nov. 14. Stohl entered the season with 951 points. He ranks 15th in Portland history with 1,163 career points.
Stohl Looks to Make NCAA History
Junior sharpshooter Jared Stohl led the nation in three-point percentage according to the final 2010 NCAA statistics. The Marysville, Wash. native finished 98-205 (.478) on the season. As a sophomore in 2009, he finished third nationally at 45.6 percent. Stohl can become the first player in NCAA history to lead the country in three-point percentage two years in a row. He is off to a good start at No. 21 nationally (min. 2.5 made per game), going 47-for-103 (.456) through 15 games from beyond the arc.
Stohl Obliterates UP Three-Point Record
With four three-pointers at Santa Clara on Jan. 30, 2010 Jared Stohl became the Portland career leader in three-pointers made. Stohl now has 292 career threes, 81 more than second place Casey Frandsen (211, 2000-04). Stohl also ranks second in career three-point percentage (.453), trailing only format teammate T.J. Campbell (.478). He led the WCC last season in three-pointers made per game (3.1) and his 98 three-pointers tied for second place in UP single-season history, eight shy of Peter McKelvey’s record from the 1991-92 season. Stohl also owns the UP single-game record by drilling 10 three-pointers on Dec. 22, 2009 against Idaho, breaking his own school record. He finished 10-for-15 from three-point range for 30 points. He set the previous record by going 9-for-13 against San Francisco on Jan. 15, 2009.
Pilots Among WCC Statistical Leaders
Luke Sikma leads the WCC in rebounds (10.7) and also ranks in the Top 15 in field goal percentage (.528, 5th), steals (1.1, 9th), blocked shots (0.7, 11th), assists (2.3, t-14th) and scoring (12.4, 15th). Jared Stohl is third in the league in free throw percentage (.846) and is second in three-pointers made per game (3.1). Stohl is also eighth in scoring at 14.1 points per game.
Douglas Breaks Out
Freshman PG Tim Douglas (Cerritos, Calif/Mayfair HS) was named the WCC Player of the Week on Dec. 20 after scoring a season high 27 points against Portland State. He was 10-of-13 from the field and 6-for-8 from the foul line. It was the most points in a game by a Portland freshman since Greg Anthony had 31 against Pepperdine on Jan. 17, 1987. It also marked the third straight game in double figures for Douglas who had 12 at then-No. 21 Washington and 10 at Denver.
Pilots No. 11 in CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25
Portland moved up one spot to No. 11 in the Jan. 3 CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25. Fellow WCC power Saint Mary’s came in at No. 2 this week and league rival Gonzaga is No. 4.
Rodgers’ Role
Sophomore JC transfer PG Derrick Rodgers has worked his way into the regular rotation of late with excellent perimeter defense. He did a little bit of everything against Portland State on Dec. 18 finishing with a season high 12 points, four rebounds and four assists with zero turnovers.
Pilots Earn Tournament, Conference Honors after Big Weekend
Senior F Luke Sikma was named the AIA Classic Most Valuable Player and was also named the WCC Co-Player of the Week on Nov. 15 after leading the Pilots to three wins and the AIA Classic title. He averaged 11.3 points and 13.0 rebounds, including a dominating 15-point, 19-rebound performance in the de facto championship game against Florida Atlantic on Nov. 14. Senior G Jared Stohl and freshman G Tanner Riley joined Sikma on the all-tournament team.
Sikma to Provide Season-Long Blog on PortlandPilots.com
Get behind the scenes anecdotes and information on the University of Portland men’s basketball team through the eyes of senior captain Luke Sikma. The Bellevue, Wash. native will give a unique, in-depth look at the UP basketball program. Fans can also send questions and comments to Luke, so make sure to bookmark www.portlandpilots.com/SikmaBlog!
Stohl Earns Preseason All-Conference Nod
Senior G Jared Stohl was recognized the WCC coaches as one of the top 10 returning players in the WCC as a member of the preseason all-conference team. Stohl has earned All-WCC honorable mention honors each of the last two seasons.
Staff Stability
Eric Reveno was named the 2009 WCC and District 9 Coach of the Year after leading UP to a 10-win improvement during the 2008-09 season. Now in his fifth year on The Bluff, Reveno credits the stability of his coaching staff as key to the program’s turnaround. All three assistants that joined Reveno when he was hired in April of 2006 have remained on the Portland bench ever since. No other team in the WCC has kept an entire staff together the last five years. Reveno is the third longest tenured WCC coach behind Gonzaga’s Mark Few (12) and Saint Mary’s Randy Bennett (10).
Three Recruits Inked During Early Signing Period
Portland signed Kevin Bailey (Clovis, Calif./East Clovis HS), Dorian Cason (Fontana, Calif./Summit HS) and David Carr (Portland, Ore./Central Catholic HS) to National Letters of Intent during the early signing period, head coach Eric Reveno announced. Bailey is an athletic and skilled 6-5 wing who is rated a top 150 national recruit according to Rivals.com and is the No. 11 prospect in the state of California. Cason is a long and mobile 6-7 power forward, also rated as a top 25 California prospect. Carr is a sharpshooting 6-2 guard that also led his high school team in rebounding and assists last season.
