The Pilots defeat Concordia University in the 2010-11 exhibition game
By Nicholas Slepnikoff
This past Thursday, the Pilots kicked off their basketball season in a foul strewn first game. Playing Concordia University, men's Basketball started the season right, beating the Lutheran University in an impressive 106-78 victory.
With this Portland's first exhibition of the season, the Pilots had a high 50.9 percent completions (field goal) for their two-point shots from the paint. Shooting many from the bottom of the key, laying up and taking some threes, the Pilots also brought a diversity of shots to the game, which helped push the Pilots to their stunning 28 point win.
Junior Luke Sikma, who scored 13 points and had 10 rebounds on the night, secured a double double.
"For the first game, we did some things well, played hard and have a lot to improve on getting ready for our season opener against Eastern Washington," Sikma said. "Defensively, I think we have to be more solid, we were letting guys get a lot of easy catches in the post."
Pilot defensive principles stress pressure in the post, and Sikma avows that the team needs to continue to tighten up as the season goes on.
He also felt the team managed to work together and also rebounded well. Sikma also stressed the team has to improve for their big Eastern Washington game on Nov. 11.
"If we think the effort we gave tonight is going to beat Eastern Washington at their place, we'd be fooling ourselves," Sikma said. "We have to keep on improving each day and hope everything turns out."
Senior Nik Ravio also scored double digits Thursday night. He made 14 points from the paint, two out of four three-pointers, and a free throw. Ravio also managed to record seven rebounds.
Ravio thought his achievement was great and said he also enjoyed playing basketball again.
"It feels really good ... just coming out playing against different guys besides my teammates," Ravio said. "We've been playing against each other, beating up on each other ever since May, so ... it feels great come out here and play against different bodies."
In the first half, the team encountered plenty of early fouls immediately following the opening whistle. With enough charges to win a trip from Visa, Concordia's Gage Aker sent plenty of Pilots sprawling to the court.
Bouncing back from offensive fouls, the Pilots succeeded in breaking through the porous defense and scoring tough shots on the other Oregon team.
With a 51.4 percent field goal percentage and a 40 percent three point field goal, the team was also accurate in the first half.
Cheered on by both soccer players and volleyball players in the somewhat empty grandstand, the team ended the second half with a 57-39 lead.
In the second half, perseverance, practice and patience continued to push the Pilots forward.
Maintaining control of the game, showing no signs of fatigue and retaining the lead they established in the first half, the team also succeeded in improving their shots.
Making 57.1 percent of normal shots and 42.9 percent of three pointers, the team seemed composed and collected.
Connecting with passes and seeing open men, the Pilots honed their skills in the second half, scoring another 49 points before the last whistle.
Head Coach Eric Reveno, who tried different offensive and defensive setups, felt the night was a learning experience for the team.
"We still need to find ways to refining [our game] ... and I think we were able to see some of that," Reveno said. "On the defensive end, I thought we did fine, but I think sometimes we gave too many uncontested shot and ... got driven on a little bit."
Offensively, the coach said the team still needed to clean up their game. But with blocks in place and team members performing, Reveno thought the team needed to sharpen up a bit.
"We took advantage of some things like a veteran team would, so it was a mixed bag," Reveno said.
Reveno also stressed the main focus of the squad for the season is to work on their defense.
"We're looking to defend better," Reveno said.
He is also trying to ensure players play with and improve on their strengths.
The coach thinks the team has substantially improved their defense since last year, but needs to continue developing their defensive abilities.
"We have to defend, go, be smart, make good decisions, find the open guy and make plays like that," Reveno said.
