A resolute team and coaching staff promise to deliver passionate play
By Dannielle Lowe
They may not be winning every game, but the Pilots are staying true to their word.
A few months ago, back before finals and winter break, Coach Eric Reveno made a promise to the student body. He vowed that men's basketball will be one of the most disciplined teams on campus, playing their hearts out every game to give the fans a basketball ride worth cheering for.
So far, the Pilots have done just that. The Pilots already have more wins than they did last year at this time. According to junior guard Walter Thomspon, the men hope to continue to play hard.
"Our season is going well," Thompson said. "We have had our ups and downs, but our confidence has started to build. We just are looking to go forward with confidence and to win games."
If the season has been anything, it has certainly been a rollercoaster ride.
The Pilots kicked off conference play with a bang, defeating Pepperdine 82 - 78. Senior Sherrard Watson put up 22 points for a season high.
But the victory was short lived. The Pilots dropped the next three games, losing one 73-68 on the road against Loyola Marymount and then a 60-59 nail-biter against San Francisco at home. A three-point buzzer beater pushed San Diego ahead 64-61 on Monday to give the Pilots their third straight conference lost.
The Pilots are keeping games close, which is encouraging considering last season where the men were being defeated by much higher margins. The team attributes these close games to stronger defense.
"We're really focused this year on defense and rebounding," Thompson said. "Our goal is to be as consistent as possible in all that we do."
Despite a young roster, the Pilots have put together a total of six wins out of 19 games this season, keeping opponents to a 36 shooting percentage and 26 percent from three-point range.
New faces, such as sophomores Nik Raivio and Robin Smeulders, are supplying the Pilots with offensive depth. Raivio, the current leading scorer, has averaged 13.5 points per game and has padded his resume with three 20-point outings. Smeulders is also contributing by averaging 9.9 points per game and 5.5 rebounds.
The players believe they have what it takes to finish well. According to Thompson, they are depending on three factors to help them succeed: teamwork, competitiveness and a willingness to get better every day.
Next up for the Pilots is California State Bakersfield. Portland plays at 7 p.m. tomorrow in the Chiles Center.
