Complete Tournament Notes, Statistics and Updated Player Bios in pdf format
The Portland State Vikings make a return to trip to the NCAA Tournament after capturing their second straight Big Sky Conference Tournament Championship. The Vikings have earned a number 13 seed and will face fourth-seeded Xavier in Boise on Friday in an East Regional Bracket game. Tip off is 5:25 p.m. MT/4:25 p.m. PT.
Getting a 13-seed was particularly sweet for the Vikings - Big Sky Conference Champions two years in a row - after they were seeded 16th last year and had to face eventual national champion Kansas in the first round.
The Vikings have exactly the same record as last year entering the tournament, 23-9, but perhaps a more impressive resume. Although they did not win the Big Sky Conference regular season, they won the Big Sky Tournament on the road, and picked up other wins over number four-seed Gonzaga, beat 2008 conference champion and tournament teams Boise State and Cal State Fullerton, and lost by a single point at fourth-seeded Washington in December.
PSU reached the tournament by securing the Big Sky Conference automatic bid. The only difference is PSU placed second during the Big Sky regular season (11-5), after winning the regular season in 2007-08 (14-2).
Xavier, winners of the Atlantic 10 regular season, are 25-7 overall and were ranked 19th in the last Associated Press poll. The fourth-seeded Musketeers lost in the semifinals of the A-10 conference tournament. PSU and Xavier will meet for the first time in history.
The winner of the Portland State/Xavier contest will face the winner of (5) Florida State/(12) Wisconsin on Sunday in a game to be played at either 11:20 a.m. or 1:50 p.m. PT. The winner of the Boise Regional will advance to the East Regional in Boston on Mar. 28.
2008-09 HIGHLIGHTS FOR PORTLAND STATE
? Portland State has matched the best win total in school history at 23-9 (PSU was 23-10 last year).
? PSU pulled off a first-ever win over a nationally-ranked team this year, beating then-seventh-ranked Gonzaga, 77-70, in Spokane on Dec. 23.
? The Vikings enter the post-season with a six-game winning streak, have won 11 games away from home, and have defeated teams from six Division I conferences outside of the Big Sky Conference.
? Portland State beat three teams that won 2007-08 conference championships and advanced to the 2008 NCAA Tournament (Gonzaga, Boise State State, Cal State Fullerton).
? PSU features first team All-Big Sky Conference guard Jeremiah Dominguez (12.9 ppg, 3.2 apg, 53 steals, 87 3-pt FG), and second team All-Big Sky Conference guards Andre Murray (11.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 2.3 apg) and Dominic Waters (11.5 ppg, 2.9 apg, .462 3-pt FG). Dominguez, the 2007-08 Big Sky Player of the Year, was also named NABC All-District and Big Sky Tournament MVP.
? PSU has established 12 new school records this year.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT PORTLAND STATE
Portland State University, located in Portland, is the largest school in the state of Oregon with more then 27,000 students enrolled in the fall of 2008. PSU was founded in 1946 as Vanport College - a two-year institution.
Athletically, Portland State began as a junior college in 1946-47, but competed in the Oregon Collegiate Conference (NAIA) beginning in 1948-49 to 1964-65. PSU became a four-year institution - Portland State College - in 1955. The Vikings won five OCC titles and competed in the NAIA playoffs twice.
Portland State joined the NCAA in 1965-66. The Vikings reached the College Division playoffs in 1966-67. College Division was the forerunner to Division II. Portland State was given university status in 1969.
During the 1970s, Portland State competed as a Division I program. The Vikings' biggest star was Freeman Williams, who still ranks as the second all-time leading scorer in college basketball history behind Pete Maravich. Williams, a Division I All-American in 1978, scored 3,249 points in his career.
Williams spent seven years in the NBA. Currently, one former Viking competes in the NBA - Ime Udoka of the San Antonio Spurs (and Portland, OR's Jefferson High School).
The university dropped the men's basketball program in 1981 for budgetary reasons. It remained dormant until 1996-97 when basketball was reinstated and Portland State joined the Big Sky Conference. PSU has had seven winning seasons in its 13 years as a member, including four of the of the last five.
Portland State won the Big Sky Conference regular season title in 2004-05 (19-9, 11-3), but lost in the Big Sky Tournament semifinals, missing a chance for the NCAA Tournament.
In 2007-08, the Vikings won the Big Sky Conference regular season and tournament titles going 23-10, 14-2 in the Big Sky Conference. The resulting NCAA berth was the first at the Division I level for the Viking program. The Vikings lost to eventual national champion Kansas, but concluded the most successful season in school history.
This year, PSU has once again won 23 games - matching the school record - and reached a second straight NCAA Tournament after winning the Big Sky Conference Tournament for the second year in a row.
With 46 wins over the last two years (and 65 over three seasons) under Head Coach Ken Bone, PSU is in the midst of its most successful era in school history.
(13) PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (23-9) vs. (4) XAVIER MUSKETEERS (25-7)
Friday, March 20, 2009, 4:25 p.m. PT, Taco Bell Arena (12,380), Boise, ID
Television: CBS Sports (KOIN Channel 6 in Portland) ? Live Webcast and Live Stats: www.ncaa.com
Radio: 800 AM KPDQ, www.kpdq-am.com ? Play-by-play: Tom Hewitt
Pre-game Show: 3:30 p.m. PT ? Tip-off: 4:25 p.m. PT
STORYLINE
Portland State and Xavier will meet for the first time in history on the basketball floor this Friday in an NCAA Tournament first round game. PSU has never played a current member of the Atlantic 10 Conference. The teams have no common opponents this year.... Xavier reached the Elite Eight last year, winning three NCAA Tournament games before losing to UCLA. The Musketeers have been to the NCAA Tournament each of the last three years and 19 times overall (15-19)... PSU is making its second NCAA Tournament appearance (0-1)... Xavier is 6-4 against teams in the NCAA Tournament this year, including wins over Memphis, Missouri, LSU, Temple, Dayton and Robert Morris. Xavier was ranked 19th in the final polls and has been as high as ninth this year... Portland State is 1-1 against NCAA Tournament teams (defeated Gonzaga and lost to Washington).
THE OPPONENT
Xavier enters the NCAA Tournament as a number-four seed with a record of 25-7. At one point this year, Xavier was 18-2. The Musketeers won the Atlantic 10 Conference with a 12-4 record, but were upset in an A-10 semifinal game by Temple, 55-53, on Friday.
The Musketeers are a strong defensive team, holding opponents to 62.4 points and just .389 field goal shooting. They have a huge total of 164 blocked shots. Perhaps more significant to the Vikings, Xavier opponents have shot just .332 from three-point range. Xavier has also outrebounded opponents by 8.4 per game - the fourth-best mark in the nation.
The only perceived weakness for the Musketeers is a -2.2 turnover margin.
A young squad, the Musketeers are led by one of only two seniors, BJ Raymond. The 6-6 swingman averages 14.1 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. He has shot a remarkable .426 from three-point range, hitting 78 threes this year.
Junior forward Derrick Brown averages 13.8 points and a team-best 6.1 rebounds per game. Brown shoots .515 from the field and .438 from three-point range.
CJ Anderson, the other senior on the team, is also a 6-6 swingman, and he averages 10.0 points and 5.4 rebounds.
Xavier starts five players ranging from 6-5 to 6-9 in height.
Head Coach Sean Miller is in his fifth season at Xavier. He has a 118-46 record with the Musketeers, including 4-3 in the NCAA Tournament.
PORTLAND STATE AND THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
Portland State makes its second appearance in the NCAA Tournament in as many years. PSU has reached the NCAA Tournament by winning the Big Sky Conference Tournament and earning an automatic bid each year. They are the only NCAA Division I Tournament appearances in PSU history. (Portland State played in the NAIA tournament in 1955 and 1956, and in the NCAA College Division Tournament in 1967).
Last year, PSU entered the NCAA Tournament as a number 16 seed and faced eventual national champion Kansas at Qwest Center Omaha in Nebraska. The Jayhawks won that game 85-61.
Returning Vikings who competed in the NCAA Tournament last year against Kansas include SR G Jeremiah Dominguez (13 pts, 4 ast, 2 reb), SR G Andre Murray (5 pts, 4 reb), JR F Kyle Coston (5 pts, 4 reb, 2 ast), JR F Julius Thomas (4 pts, 1 reb), SR G Mickey Polis (3 pts, 2 reb) and JR F Tyrell Mara (5 pts, 1 reb).
THE BIG SKY CONFERENCE AND THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
Big Sky Conference teams are 17-52 all-time in the NCAA Tournament - Portland State is 0-1. Since the tournament field expanded to 64 (then 65) teams some 26 years ago, Big Sky teams have won games three times (14th-seeded Weber State over Michigan State in 1995; 14th-seeded Weber State over North Carolina in 1999; and 12th-seeded Montana over Nevada in 2006).
Only four times has the Big Sky received a seeding better than 13, and five other times Big Sky teams have received a 13 seed. Last year, PSU was a number 16 seed.
VIKINGS VS. NATIONALLY-RANKED TEAMS
Portland State is 1-12 against nationally-ranked teams since reinstating the basketball program for the 1996-97 season. The Vikings have played nine nationally-ranked opponents under Head Coach Ken Bone (1-8). PSU faces a Xavier team ranked 19th in the final polls.
This year, PSU is 1-1 against ranked teams. The Vikings defeated then-seventh-ranked Gonzaga on Dec. 23, 77-70. The Vikings lost to Baylor, then-ranked 19th, on Dec. 29, 79-66. Washington was unranked when the Vikings lost in Seattle, 84-83, on Dec. 14.
Last year, the Vikings played three teams ranked in the top eight in the nation, losing to national champion Kansas, national runner-up UCLA and Washington State.
THE ROAD BACK TO THE POST-SEASON
Defending Big Sky Conference Champion Portland State entered the 2008-09 men's basketball campaign as the league favorite for the first time in history. The Vikings were selected by the coaches and the media to capture the Big Sky Conference men's basketball preseason polls.
Portland State had impressive wins over Gonzaga, Cal State Fullerton and Boise State - all 2007-08 conference champions and NCAA Tournament teams - in non-conference games. In fact, PSU's win over then-seventh ranked Gonzaga was its first ever over a nationally-ranked team. PSU finished 11-5 in the Big Sky to earn a number-two seed, and went 21-9 overall - exactly the same regular season mark as 2007-08.
But, four road losses in the middle of the Big Sky regular season cost the Vikings a chance at a second regular season title. However, the Vikings won the Big Sky Conference Tournament for the second year in a row and enter the NCAA Tournament with exactly the same record as last year (23-9).
THE 2008-09 BIG SKY CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT
Portland State won its second straight Big Sky Conference Tournament this season. The Vikings won a semifinal game over Idaho State, then defeated Montana State in the championship game. The tournament was hosted by Weber State - the regular season champion - in Ogden, UT.
Big Sky Conference Tournament Quarterfinal games, Saturday, March 7 at home sites
#6 Montana State 56, @ #3 Montana 54
@ #4 Idaho State 67, #5 Northern Colorado 60
Big Sky Conference Tournament Semifinals, Tuesday, March 10 at Dee Events Center, Ogden, UT
#2 Portland State 61, #4 Idaho State 53
#6 Montana State 70, #1 Weber State 61
Big Sky Conference Championship, Wednesday, March 11 at Dee Events Center, Ogden, UT
#2 Portland State 79, #6 Montana State 77
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM: Jeremiah Dominguez, PSU (MVP); Andre Murray, PSU; Julius Thomas, PSU; Divaldo Mbunga, MSU; Erik Rush, MSU; Will Bynum, MSU
PSU's TOURNAMENT SUMMARY
What started as another big shooting night for Portland State turned into a grind-it-out affair in a 61-53 semifinal win over Idaho State... the Vikings scored 42 points in the first half, but just 19 in the second... PSU started slow offensively, but improved their ball movement as the first half wore on. The result was several open three-point field goals. The Vikings hit seven straight three-point attempts during one stretch, turning an early 6-4 deficit into a 36-17 lead late in the half. The advantage was 42-23 at halftime. PSU made 13-23 shots (.565) in the first half, 7-13 from three-point range. Meanwhile, the Bengals perimeter players hit only 1-17 shots in the half, and the Bengal team was only 7-24 at halftime (.292)... unfortunately for the Vikings, the roles reversed in the second half. PSU made just one of its first 14 field goal attempts as the Bengals went on an 18-3 run. Idaho State hit 6-9 during that span, and 6-7 at the line. Lucas Stiejn scored 10 of the points and that pulled ISU within 45-41 with 12:02 to play... finally, a driving layin by Andre Murray with 10:16 to play broke the spell. PSU had gone eight minutes, 43 seconds without scoring... an inside basket by Jamie Jones with 5:34 left got the Vikings back to a 52-43 lead. But, Amorrow Morgan scored three short baskets, narrowing the margin to 54-51 with 1:23 left... the Vikings made 7-9 free throws in the closing minute to hang on for the win... PSU hit only 5-23 shots in the second half (.217) and finished the game at 18-46 overall (.391). The Vikings were buoyed by the fact that ISU was 0-13 from three-point range and shot only .345 overall in the game.
VIKING FAST BREAKS
THE SAME, ONLY DIFFERENT
Portland State has exactly the same record it had entering the NCAA Tournament in 2007-08: 23-9. The Vikings finished at 23-10 last year... with a 23-9 record, the Vikings now have back-to-back 20 win seasons for the first time in school history as well as the two best Division I seasons in school history.
MORE ON 20-20
Last year, for the first time in school history, both the PSU men's and women's basketball teams won 20 games in the same season. The men were 23-10, and the women were 22-9. This year, they have done it again, as the Viking men are 23-9, and the women are 22-9. The women are awaiting word on an WNIT bid this week... The 20-20 feat has now been accomplished by a Big Sky Conference school 13 times in the 21-year men's/women's history of the conference. Including the years BSC women played in the Mountain West Conference (1982-88), it has occurred 18 times... the two teams have combined for a 23-3 record at home and 25-7 Big Sky record this year... PSU's men's and women's teams were a combined 26-2 at home and 25-7 in Big Sky Conference games last year... the two teams are 90-38 in the past two years.
WINNING LINES
? Portland State has won six straight games - five against Big Sky Conference opponents and one against Boise in the ESPNU BracketBusters game. It is PSU's longest winning streak this year.
? Portland State was 12-1 at home this season and 25-2 at home over the last two seasons... PSU has won seven straight home games.
? The Vikings are 11-8 away from home, 7-7 in road games, 4-1 in neutral site games... PSU went 4-4 in Big Sky road games.
? PSU is 4-1 in neutral site games this year, with wins over Northern Illinois, Seattle, Idaho State and Montana State, and a loss to Hampton... all NCAA Tournament games are considered neutral site contests.
? With 23 wins this season, PSU has tied for the most wins in a season in school history.
? Portland State has the first back-to-back 20-win seasons in school history (23-10 in 2007-08, 23-9 in 2008-09)... with 65 wins over the past three seasons (19, 23, 23), the Vikings have their best three-season win total in school history.
? Portland State has had seven short winning streaks this year - one six-game winning streak (current), a four-game winning streaks, three three-game winning streaks, and two two-game winning streaks.
? Head Coach Ken Bone is 77-48 in four seasons at Portland State, 335-166 in 17 seasons as a collegiate coach. Bone is 44-25 in Big Sky games (39-23 regular season, 5-2 tournament).
? The Vikings are 39-12 since the start of the calendar year of 2008. PSU is 46-19 over the past two seasons.
? PSU is 2-1 in overtime games this year, 22-20 all-time. The Vikings are 5-3 in overtime games under Ken Bone.
? PSU has gone 93-29 in 121 games at the Stott Center since the 1996-97 season. Including home games at Memorial Coliseum (12-6) and the Rose Garden (19-9), the Vikings are 124-44 at home over 13 seasons.
THREES WITH EASE
The Portland State Vikings currently rank fourth in the nation in three-point field goals made per game (9.7). The Vikings lead the Big Sky in three-pointers made for the second season in a row... with 309 three-pointers made this year, PSU has broken the school and Big Sky records of 294 set last season... with 814 attempts, PSU has also broken the school and Big Sky record for attempts (749), set last year as well... SR G Jeremiah Dominguez ranks 16th in the nation in three-point percentage (.437) and 33rd in three-pointers made (2.9 per game).
NON-CONFERENCE SUCCESS
Portland State is 10-4 in non-conference games (13-5 against Big Sky teams), marking the most non-conference wins by a Viking team since basketball was reinstated for the 1996-97 season. In its non-conference schedule, PSU has beaten teams from six different Division I conferences (Conference USA, the West Coast Conference (twice), the Big West Conference, the Mid-American Conference, the Southwestern Athletic Conference and the Western Athletic Conference)... PSU's previous best was 9-5 in non-conference games in 2006-07.
ROAD WARRIORS
Portland State won its final road game at Eastern Washington, ending a four-game Big Sky road losing streak. The losing streak came immediately following a school-record nine-game Big Sky road winning streak... PSU has gone 11-8 in games away from home this year (including 7-7 in road games, 4-1 in neutral site games and 4-4 in Big Sky road games). Last year, the Vikings were 10-9 in road games (8-7 away, 2-2 neutral), matching the most road wins in school history (10-9 in 1975-76)... this year's road highlights:
? A 78-74 season-opening win at Rice (11/15).
? The biggest regular-season win in school history, a 77-70 victory over seventh-ranked Gonzaga (12/23).
? A four-overtime thriller at Northern Arizona (1/4), 92-91 - the longest game in PSU history.
? The Vikings beat Northern Colorado, 57-43 (1/18), setting a school record for fewest points allowed to a Big Sky opponent.
? PSU stretched its school-record Big Sky road winning streak to nine games before losing at Montana (1/29).
? The Vikings captured a second straight Big Sky Conference Tournament Championship, beating Montana State, 79-77, in Ogden, UT (3/11).
PORTLAND STATE ON TV
On Feb. 21 ESPN televised a basketball game from the Portland State campus for the first time in history. The game was live on ESPNU and the Vikings pulled out a 93-81 win over Boise State. With two more televised wins in the Big Sky Conference Championship Tournament, PSU is 7-3 in games televised in the Portland area this year... PSU has wins over Gonzaga (77-70), Northern Arizona (92-91, 4OT), Northern Colorado (57-43), Sacramento State (59-42), Boise State (93-81), Idaho State (61-53) and Montana State (79-77) in televised contests. Losses have come to Washington (84-83), Hampton (77-71, OT) and Montana State (85-82)... last year, the Vikings were on ESPN2 in a game televised from the Rose Garden as they defeated Northern Arizona in the Big Sky Conference Tournament Championship. That was PSU's first-ever appearance in an ESPN televised game. This year's title game was also on ESPN2... PSU has now played in 38 games televised locally since the return of basketball to the Park Blocks in 1996-97. This year, the Vikings have played in an all-time high 10 televised games, and have been in 16 in the past two seasons.. PSU is 15-23 all-time in televised games, 8-4 in televised home games.
