| 05 January 2011
Update: The Portland State Vikings announced today they have added Renado Parker to the team for winter term. Parker - a 6-5 forward who has two years of eligibility remaining - transferred to PSU from the University of Idaho, will be eligible for competition at the end of fall term 2011. "Renado brings an inside presence as a back-to-the-basket player," said Viking Coach Tyler Geving. "He can score in the paint, has a strong body and is a good rebounder.
There is a lot of basketball left to be played for the Portland State Vikings, but it hasn't been an easy start to the season by any means.
On Saturday, Portland State takes on the Eastern Washington Eagles (4-9, 1-1 conference ) in another Dam Cup conference match-up sure to be a tough contest. With the Vikings having considerable success at home, and with the Eagles winning no games on the road thus far this season, this seems to be the perfect game for the Vikings.
The Eagles are scoring on average, 73 points per game, while they allow about 76 points per game. They struggle against teams that get out in transition , a weakness the Vikings should be able to exploit. The Vikings defense, which has been dismal, should be able to keep the Eagles away from the basket, in doing this, forcing outside shots, where the Eagles have struggled this season (35.9% from the three point line).
Will this be the chance for Portland State to turn around what has been a mediocre start to their year?
To open the 2010-2011 season, the Vikings beat Pepperdine 83-81 behind the hot hand of Melvin Jones who shot 54%, garnered 23 points, dished out 5 assists and splashed 5 three pointers. The high preseason expectations seemed to be validated after such an exciting and efficient effort for the close win.
Now that the middle of the season is upon Vikings’ fans, reality has crept in. The Vikings are 8-6, 1-1 in conference play, and a dismal 1-4 on the road. It seems as if Portland State has been unable to recreate the magical, conference championship earned just a few short years ago; a season that also saw the exit of several seniors, and a while later, head coach Ken Bone to Washington State. Many fans were hoping for a better start to the season. But sitting at number four in Big Sky conference standings, and with 8 more games on the road, the outlook for the second half of the season is not rosy.
Portland State's offense is scoring 1.06 points per possession while their defense is giving up almost an identical 1.05 points per possession. Averaging just 71.6 possession per game, the Vikings’ slow pace, perhaps implemented to assert more control and a set, half court , offense, can indeed be attributed to the almost equal amount of points allowed per possession on defense. And while the Vikings are hitting 51.1% (eFG) from the field, they are allowing a whopping 52.3% (eFG) on defense.
Portland State has also struggled to grab offensive rebounds (31.3%) and corral a lower-than-average number of defensive rebounds (66.6%). The disconcertingly low percentage of rebounds is even more so considering the depth at the forward position (5 ) for the Vikings. Freshman center Brandon Cataldo, standing at 6’11 and Junior center Nathan Lozeau, also 6’11, make this team one of the tallest frontcourts in recent memory.
Regardless of the Vikings’ conference standing, recent road woes, and their troubles on defense however, Portland State is remarkably competitive in the Big Sky Conference.
After two games, the Vikings are shooting 59.5% (eFG) and 52.7%(eFG) on defense. Perhaps most importantly, within conference play, the Vikings’ defensive rating hovers around 77%, a small bastion of hope to be sure.
Against Idaho State, a team nipping at the heals of the Vikings in conference standings, Portland State was able to overcome sluggish and typical road play, with the once again, hot shooting from three point land.
This season, however, seems to be a first step in rebuilding the Vikings’ men’s basketball program back up to greatness. With only 3 underclassmen and 5 seniors, second year head coach Tyler Geving will - if he’s given the opportunity to survive a young team going through some growing pains - be able to carefully rebuild the program through solid recruits.
But for now though, Portland State is merely trying to survive within the Big Sky conference.
photo: seattleu
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