SU at Harvard

Seattle U (2-3) at Harvard (7-0, 0-0 Ivy)

Worthington Arena (Bozeman, MT)

Sunday December 4, 2011 11:00 am

RADIO: 710 ESPN Seattle

Series- Harvard 1-0

Last Meeting- 1/2/10- Harvard 92-71

Scouting Harvard:

Tommy Amaker has guided Harvard to heights never seen in their long history of basketball. The 5th year coach has led the Crimson to back to back 20 win seasons and their first ever Ivy league title a year ago. Harvard had to split the title with Princeton a year ago and lost the invitation to the NCAA tournament at the buzzer in a one game playoff with Princeton. It was a stinging defeat for a program that has been to the NCAA Tournament just one time- 1946. Harvard is on a mission to get to The Dance this year. They return 13 players and all 5 starters from a year ago. Amaker is back as well after flirting with Miami in the offseason. This experienced crew has ripped off 7 wins in a row to start their season which is the best start from an Ivy school since the 1997-98 Princeton team who also happed to beat UNLV in round 1 of the NCAA Tournament. Harvard has already knocked off Utah, Central Florida and #20 Florida State. It was just the second time in their history that Crimson brought down a ranked team. They have won 18 home games in a row, but they have only appeared on their home floor one time.  They are 14th in RPI which is their highest ever and if they can stay undefeated through the week there is a great chance they will be a Top-25 team when the next poll is released.

The Ones to Watch:

Keith Wright- 6’8 240 SR F- 12 ppg 7 rbds  0 assts

Wright was the IVY Player of the Year a year ago- 15 points and 8 rebounds a game. He is a force around the basket- shooting 63% from the field which is 15th best in the country. He hurt Seattle U two years ago with 16 points. He will cause as many problems for foes offensively as defensively.

Kyle Casey- 6’7 225 JR F- 11 ppg  5.5 rbds

If Wright does not repeat as IVY POY it may be because his teammate will take the honor. Casey in an explosive athlete who finished 2nd team Ivy a year ago. He torched Seattle U for 19 points two years ago as well. He shoots above 50% from the floor and teams with Wright to from a dynamic duo up front for the Crimson.

Keys to the Game:

1-     Hit the 3- SU will have to shoot it well to take down Harvard and they must hit from distance. They are just 28% from 3 on the year.

2-     Wallace and Trent- They will have their hands full with the duo of Wright and Casey, but they need to keep them out of paint and off the glass.

3-      Keep Rivard quiet- Laurent Rivard is instant offense off the bench for the Crimson averaging 9.5 points per game and shooting 40% from 3. SU can not let him change the game.

Numbers to Know:

- 52- The number of points Harvard gives up a game which is 9th best in the country.

- 13.7- The Crimson scoring margin this year.

- 9.6- The number of rebounds Eric Wallace is averaging a game.

Seattle U looks for the upset today- tune in at 11:00 on 710 ESPN Seattle.

 

Seattle U vs Evergreen Preview

Seattle U (1-2) vs The Evergreen State College (1-6, 0-0 CCC (NAIA)

Showare Center (Kent, WA)

Monday November 28, 2011 7:00 pm

RADIO: 710 ESPN Seattle

Series- Tied 7-3

Last Meeting- 2005-06 SU 51-29

Scouting Evergreen:

Evergreen has made 3 runs the past 11 years to the NAIA National Tournament. Former USC Trojan and local standout Quincy Wilder teamed with sharpshooter Andre Stewart to form a devastating offensive duo during the 2001-02 season. The Geoducks won a school record 20 games in a row at one point and took down Seattle U in impressive fashion 71-59. Wilder played for former Seattle U coach Joe Callero at Highline CC and USC. Evergreen again made back to back trips to the National Tournament under Jeff Drinkwine in 08-09 and 09-10.  Nate Menefee was one of the top college basketball players in the state regardless of level. He averaged nearly 25 points a game for his career and exploded for 57 in one night. The two-time All-American led Evergreen to a win over Seattle U in exhibition action in the first transition year for Seattle U.  Hard times have hit Evergreen since the departure of Menefee and his coach Drinkwine. Former Tacoma Community College coach Arvin Mosley took the helm last year as the short-handed Geoducks stumbled to a 20-loss season. Evergreen is off to a very tough start this year as well as they try and recapture their past basketball glory.

The Ones to Watch:

Marice Tolliver- 6’6 220 SR F- 19 ppg 8.8 rbds  3.4 assts

Tolliver does it all for Evergreen and they lean on him heavily on the offensive end. He nearly averages 20 and 10 and has a green light on the offensive end. He has not received a great deal of help from his supporting cast so far this season.

Keys to the Game:

1-     Stop Tolliver- It will be interesting to see to draws the assignment on the main Evergreen man.

2-     Frontline Repeat- The SU frontline dominated Montana State on both ends of the floor which led to the first win of the year.

3-      Patience-Seattle U was very patience on the offensive end the last time out and it resulted in easy buckets.

 Numbers to Know:

- 1- SU is one win away from .500 on the year.

- 9 – The number who played against the Bobcats as Cameron Dollar tightened the rotation.

Don’t forget- Don’t go to the KEY! We are in Kent tonight, and you can always find us on 710 ESPN Seattle.

Seattle U at Montana State

Seattle U (0-2) at Montana State (2-1, 0-0 Big Sky)

Worthington Arena (Bozeman, MT)

Tuesday November 22, 2011 7:00 pm

RADIO: 710 ESPN Seattle

Series- Tied 7-7

Last Meeting- 11/29/10- SU 72-70

Scouting Montana State:

This is a tough team to figure out. They had a great deal of roster turnover from a team that finished 13-18 and 7-9 in the Big Sky. They only return one starter and they welcome in a handful of JC transfers. Despite the heavy losses they have impressed early on this season. They are coming off of a 70-64 win over Pac-12 Utah on the road and they gave Arizona State a good game before falling 78-72 in the opener. They blasted a lower division team for their other win. On paper they should struggle to score the basketball, but the numbers are masked by the 111 points they put up in Game 2 of the season.

The Ones to Watch:

Rod Singleton- 5’10 185 SR G- 12 ppg 2.3 rbds  4 assts

Singleton is the key to the Bobcats. He is the only returning starter averaging 8 points and 3.5 assists a game last year. He will need to shoulder much more of the scoring load this year and SU will key on him. He is off to a blazing start this year having scored 18 points against Utah. He is shooting 61% from the floor, 62% from 3 and 75% from the free-throw line.

Shawn Reid- 6’5 195 SO F- 12.5 ppg  5 rbds

Reid came off the bench last year to average 5.7 points a game, but he torched SU for 23 points at Key Arena. He was 3-6 from downtown in that game, but he was quiet his last time out against Utah- 6 & 4..

Keys to the Game:

1-     Stop Singleton- He makes this team go and Obasi will be charged with stopping him.

2-     Find the offense- SU struggled from the field so far this year. They have played well enough to win defensively, but they need to improve on 39% from the field and 25% from 3.

3-      Crash the glass- A surprising number is -8.5. That is margin SU is being outrebounded by. They have  a chance tonight to dominate the paint with the sizeable and athletic front line.

Numbers to Know:

- 1- The number of points Aaron Broussard needs to reach 1,000 for his career becoming the 35th played in Seattle U history to do it.

- 1-1- The record for the Bobcats against the Pac-12 this year.

- 2-14- The combined shooting from the Seattle U backcourt in the last game against San Francisco. .

Seattle U looks for win number 1 tonight- tune in at 7:00 on 710 ESPN Seattle.

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