MARCH MADNESS IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER...
HOW CRAZY WILL IT GET FOR THE VIKINGS?
February 7, 2012
by Mike Lund, Athletics Media Relations Director
Don't look now, but the Viking basketball teams are poised for a big run at the post-season.
That doesn't quite sound right considering both teams are currently in the middle of the pack of their respective Big Sky Conference standings.
But take a look at this:
The Viking men are 11-12 on the season, 5-6 in the Big Sky. Picked for fifth in preseason polling, that is exactly where the Vikings currently reside, and have already matched last year's seventh-place win total (5-11).
The top six teams will get to the Big Sky Conference Tournament, beginning Mar. 3. And, once you get to the one-and-done format, anything can happen.
Presently, Weber State and Montana (both 10-1) have the top two spots and quarterfinal round byes all but locked up. After that, it's anyone's race for third- and fourth-place as four teams are all within a game of one another. The significance of third and fourth is a quarterfinal round home game against either fifth or sixth in the standings.
The real good news for the Vikings is they play one team a game ahead of them (at Idaho State on Thursday, 6-5) with a chance to tie them in the standings. Then the schedule is truly favorable with three home games and one on the road. Better yet, PSU plays no team ahead of them in the standings (they face 3-8 Sacramento State two times), and Eastern Washington (5-6) and Northern Colorado (4-7) at home to close out the conference schedule.
If that doesn't set up well for the Vikings, nothing can.
This Thursday's game can go a long way toward a quarterfinal hosting opportunity for the Vikings. A win over the Bengals would create no worse than a tie for fourth place (and possibly even third depending on the outcome of the Montana State at Sacramento State game). In addition, it would give the Vikings a sweep over ISU (PSU beat the Bengals, 80-68, on Jan. 16) and a tie-breaker advantage if needed.
Although the Vikings lost a pair of close games at home to Montana State and Montana in the last week of January, they have played well overall since the beginning of the new year (they are 5-4 with the other two losses to first-place Weber State).
"I told the guys, (last week's loss at) Weber State could go either way. After that, the schedule favors us. Stick together and believe," Coach Tyler Geving told me.
Since then, the Vikings won convincingly at Northern Arizona, 76-65. And now, the home stretch...
Better still, senior leaders Charles Odum and Chehales Tapscott are producing big numbers. Odum is averaging 18.6 points and shooting 54% from the field. And I have to believe there is no other 6-footer in the country who gets more shots around the rim over bigger players (and the resulting free throws as well) as Chuck, who also ranks in the top 30 in the nation in scoring.
Tapscott is as much a beast as a lean 6-5 power forward can be. Former Viking Julius Thomas may have been my all-time favorite basketball player, though not for talent (in truth, he had average Division I basketball ability), but for effort and athleticism. I loved watching how hard he played and how he turned his average ability into a very above average basketball player. He too, was a 6-5 power forward.
Tap can fill up a boxscore like nobody the Vikings have seen in some time. He averages nearly 14 points a game, but also leads the Big Sky Conference in rebounding (9.0), and leads the team in steals (43) and blocked shots (28) - not to mention dropping two dimes a game. And he does it all with an ever-present smile on his face.
The only things that may prevent Tapscott from passing Thomas on my all-time favorite list are the facts that JT played four years (and set four school records) to Tapscott's two years, and he also had the crushing Big Sky Conference Tournament winning dunk in 2009 with two seconds to play - sending the Vikings to the NCAA Tournament for a second year in a row.
But hey, Tapscott still has a chance to match JT on that last point…
The key point for these Vikings is virtually every regular player is performing better now than they were early in the season, and any one of seven can get you double figures on any night. The key for this squad is to take care of the ball (they have a -2.0 turnover margin) and just keep shooting it. When the Vikings outshoot their opponents - they are league's best shooting team at .483 from the field - they are 11-0 this season.
On the women's side of the ledger, Sherri Murrell's Vikings were the preseason favorite to the win the Big Sky Conference. Unfortunately, it hasn't all gone to plan. The Vikings have a very respectable record at 13-9, but have stubbed a few toes in conference, going 5-5 so far. They stand in sixth with a two-and-a-half game lead over seventh-place Sacramento State - and like the men, two chances to play the Hornets down the stretch. Play has been inconsistent, but that only means the Vikings have better basketball in them this season.
"While I truly believe in my team, I'm not sure I would have picked us to win the conference like the other coaches did," said Murrell. "It is a conference this year that so many teams can win. What we have run into every night is a good solid team from top to bottom. And, if you are not playing your best that night you are going to get beat. I don't think we have played our best basketball. We did in the preseason. But we have struggled to finish out games (in conference). I didn't feel like we put a good 40-minute game together until this (last weekend's two wins)."
The women's tournament is six teams, but unlike the men, all at one site - the home of the champion. PSU is four games out of first place with six to play. So, climbing the standings won't get the women a home game, but it will get them a more favorable first round matchup. In addition to the games with Sacramento State, the Vikings play Northern Colorado (right in front of them at 6-4), Montana (6-3) and this Saturday at the first-place Bengals (8-1). That schedule is likely more challenging than the men's, but the women also have some of the league's premier talent.
The addition of Kate Lanz, the team's leading scorer (16.4) and rebounder (7.9) has been a godsend - and she is only a sophomore! She has joined the Big Sky reigning Player of the Year Eryn Jones (13.2 ppg, 4.3 apt, 58 3-pt FG) - who has battled injuries all year - and the talented Courtney VanBrocklin (13.9 ppg, 2.7 apg) to give the Vikings true fire power.
But, to go anywhere in the post-season - or even get there - it takes a village.
"What we have is really good guard play, but the missing link has been consistent post play," said Murrell. "When our post players step up and play well, we are hard to beat. We have been giving up way too many points in the paint, and when we get consistent scoring from our posts it makes a difference. I think how our post play finishes out, that will be the key for us. This time of the year when teams are broken down, it is going to be who is the toughest and plays the best."
A history lesson may also help. In 2009-10, the Viking women won the Big Sky Tournament and made their first-ever trip to the NCAA Division I Tournament. Their record and finish that year? 9-7 in the Big Sky… and fifth place.
Big Sky Conference men's tournament
Mar. 3 Quarterfinal round games hosted by the third- and fourth-place teams
Mar. 6-7 Semifinals/Finals hosted by the regular season champion
Big Sky Conference women's tournament
Mar. 8-10 Quarterfinals/Semifinals/Finals hosted by the regular season champion
VIKING VISION IS WATCHING YOU
January 18, 2012
by Mike Lund, Athletics Media Relations Director
If you haven't been into the Stott Center in the past week, you haven't seen the new "Viking Vision" video board in action. After a challenging set-up period, Portland State athletics has gotten the board operational and it will greatly enhance the fan experience at Stott Center. Fans sitting in the reserved section now have someone(something) looking over their shoulder.
PSU will be working hard to enhance the appearance and content on Viking Vision as the season progresses. Marketing Director Kenny Dow hasn't promised any "KISS CAMS" on Viking Vision… yet. But you never know what will get air time in the coming weeks as Big Sky basketball comes down the home stretch. Already, there are entertaining intro videos for the men's and women's teams, and throughout the game the live action plays on the board. There is no video replay at this time. Associate Athletics Director Zack Wallace says, "we simply don't have the computer hard drive space or video equipment for that yet."
Viking Vision is actually the old video board from JELD-WEN Field, so it was designed for a much larger venue. So, in the dinky little Stott Center, Viking Vision looms over all, kind of like Big Brother. I propose that Portland State has the largest video screen per arena square foot, or seating capacity - however you want to slice - of any arena in the country.
I kind of like the "infinity" shot. When the action moves to the west end of the court, the camera angle has Viking Vision appear in the background of the shot. And inside of that shot, and inside of that shot, and inside of that shot…
Now if the marketing folks could only find somebody to finally, FINALLY, complete the Viking logo puzzle during the fan promotion timeout. The logo is right on the floor in front of them when they try to put the puzzle together. C'mon people, it's only 12 pieces. How hard can it be? You have to see it to believe it...
Here are link to the intro videos that will play every night at Viking home games:
MEN'S BASKETBALL INTRO VIDEO
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL INTRO VIDEO
IN CASE YOU NEEDED ANOTHER REASON THAN ANY OF THE ABOVE...
Do yourself a favor and get to the Stott Center to watch Viking basketball. The women, currently 11-6/3-2, are picked to win the Big Sky Conference again this season. Big Sky Player of the Year Eryn Jones and sensational newcomer Kate Lanz are worth the price of admission by themselves.
The men also have two stars that are exciting to watch. Senior Charles Odum - second leading scorer in the league - and Chehales Tapscott- the Big Sky's leading rebounder - are the stars on an improved Viking team. PSU is currently 9-9/3-3 on the season and has been playing better in recent weeks.
Check them all out. The race to the Big Sky Tournament is fun and intense.
Also, on Jan. 26, the Green Man Group will debut prior to the men's game with Montana State. The GMG promises to add to the fun in the Stott Center, if not set back fashion a few decades.
SPEAKING OF TELEVISION
What does the new Big Sky Conference television contract mean to the Vikings? Exposure.
Portland State fans can look forward to more televised opportunities for football and basketball. And there will be a greater reach and easier access as the TV contract is with DIRECTV Sports Networks and its' Root Sports regional networks, which of course have a base in Seattle.
The contract consists of 18 football games a season, scheduled to come in the form of nine doubleheaders (likely 12:30 and 4 p.m. PT) during the conference schedule. That means the Vikings can expect at least a game or two on Root Sports this fall, as well as other televised games to be named. Root is expected to select the 18 games it wants by March 15. Other TV networks and affiliates would then select from the remaining games.
Root will also televise about a dozen Big Sky Conference basketball games over the winter, as well as Big Sky Tournament games to be named.
In the end, this is all good for Viking fans with more televised games, home and road, that have high-quality production value. It can't hurt the Viking coaches either when it comes time to recruit and they can offer up more televised appearances for PSU athletics to potential student-athletes.
The full story is here. Check out the accompanying video - wide receiver Roston Tatum gets some good face time, "We're Comin!"
SIGNING DAY EXTRAVAGANZA
The February 1 National Letter of Intent Signing Day approaches with great anticipation from those inside the football program and those that follow it. On GoViks.com we will release the names of the signees as they come in. Bios and video will accompany the list.
Fans can find out and see more at the Signing Day Party, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at the Lloyd Center Buffalo Wild Wings, located at 1200 NE Broadway.
Football Signing Day Central
CONGRATULATIONS TO NIGEL, CONNOR, ERYN
The Oregon Sports Awards, the annual trophy grab for top athletes, teams and performances from the Beaver state and those who call Oregon home, is coming on Feb. 12. Three Vikings have reached the finalist stage of the balloting from the many that were nominated.
Football coach Nigel Burton is a finalist for the Slats Gill Sportsperson of the Year Award for top coach or administrator in the state.
Quarterback Connor Kavanaugh and basketball player Eryn Jones are Hayward Award finalists (in the male and female categories) for top amateur athlete in the state.
Viking athletes have won several honors over the years, but the last Viking to win the Hayward Award was four-time All-American volleyball player Leanne Peters (1993).
For the complete story, along with past PSU winners, click here.
Another story to look at
Michael Harthun feature in the Medford Mail Tribune
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