Complete notes and stats in pdf

PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS vs. USC TROJANS
Saturday, Nov. 15, 2014, 7:30 p.m. • Galen Center (10,258), Los Angeles, CA
 
PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS
2013-14 Record/Big Sky: 17-15/11-9
Head Coach: Tyler Geving (69-85/6th year)
 
USC TROJANS
2013-14 Record/NWC: 11-21/2-16
Head Coach: Andy Enfield (11-21/2nd year)
 
Television: Pac-12 Network
Live Audio Stream: www.GoViks.com (USC radio feed)
Live Stats: http://www.usctrojans.com/gametracker/universe/
 
THE OPENING TIP
The Portland State Vikings open their 2014-15 season this Saturday night when they face the USC Trojans at the Galen Center in Los Angeles. The Vikings and Trojans will meet for the first time in 37 years and just the second time in history.
     
PSU's first game opens a formidable preseason slate that includes six of 10 games on the road. PSU plays two games at Pac-12 schools (USC, Oregon), two at West Coast Conference schools (Portland, San Francisco) and two at Big West foes (Cal State Northridge, UC Riverside). The Vikings' home opener is Nov. 18 against Willamette. PSU also faces SIU Edwardsville, Cal State Bakersfield and Walla Walla at the Stott Center during the preseason.         
     
The Big Sky Conference season starts Jan. 1 with a home game against Southern Utah.
     
Saturday's game will be televised on the Pac-12 Network. A live audio stream will be available at www.GoViks.com.
     
The Vikings, led by sixth-year Head Coach Tyler Geving, come off a 17-15 season - a nine-win improvement over the previous season. And with the strength of the team returning, PSU hopes to push past its Big Sky Tournament semifinal appearance of a season ago.
           
Portland State has six returning letterwinners, three returning redshirts, and had a signing class of six.
 
THE SERIES: PORTLAND STATE VS. USC
• ALL-TIME SERIES: USC leads 1-0
• LAST MEETING, JAN. 20, 1978, in Los Angeles: USC defeated the Vikings, 87-78, in a game played at the Los Angeles Sports Arena. The score was tied 40-40 at halftime. Viking legend Freeman Williams had an off-shooting night but scored 49 points on 23-53 field goals and 3-8 free throws. Bob Sisul grabbed 10 rebounds... The Trojans' Cliff Robinson had a monster game with 35 points (16-28, 3-6) and 28 rebounds... the Vikings were beat on the glass, 61-42.
• PAC-12 HISTORY: PSU has faced 10 of the 12 members of the Pac-12 all-time, compiling a 4-48 record overall. The Vikings have two wins over both Oregon and Arizona State.
• COACHES:  Viking Coach Tyler Geving and USC Coach Andy Enfield have never met on the court.
 
THE USC TROJANS
USC TROJANS: Andy Enfield begins his second season of a rebuilding project at USC. The Trojans were 11-21 last year, 2-16 in the Pac-12. Two starters and nine letterwinners return from that squad... the top returning performer is 6-11 center Nikola Jovanovic who averaged 8.0 points and 4.4 rebounds last season... USC has been picked 10th in both the Pac-12 preseason media and coaches polls... the Trojans played an exhibition game last Saturday, beating Cal State Los Angeles, 87-68. Jovanovic was one of five Trojans in double figures with 16 points and six rebounds. Freshman guard Jordan McLaughlin had a game-high 18 points.
 
LAST GAME, NOV. 8: VIKINGS MANHANDLE LINFIELD IN EXHIBITION, 88-43
Newcomer Braxton Tucker's 16 points led a solid exhibition performance by Portland State as the Vikings beat Linfield College, 88-43, at the Stott Center. 
     
Tucker, a 6-6 sophomore, hit 8-10 shots, and also grabbed five rebounds in 23 minutes. He got the start at forward, along with redshirt senior Tiegbe Bamba, who scored 10 points (4-6 FG) and hauled in nine rebounds in just 19 minutes. Those two were a highlight in the easy Viking win.  
     
Although they trailed through the first eight minutes of the game, the Vikings exploded on a 24-2 run midway through the first half. By halftime, PSU was up 46-18 and was never again threatened.
     
Portland State shot .532 from the field, while holding the Wildcats to just .267 shooting. PSU made 33 of 62 shots as Linfield hit only 12-45. The Vikings forced 24 turnovers, scoring 33 points off those Linfield mistakes.
     
Senior guard DaShaun Wiggins had 11 points, three assists and four steals in 19 minutes. Sophomore guard Zach Genger hit all three of his shots from the field and finished with 10 points and three assists in 17 minutes. Redshirt junior Sebastian Suarez added 10 points and four assists in 15 minutes off the bench.
     
Sophomore transfer Bryce White had six assists to lead the Vikings. Centers Brandon Cataldo and Dorian Cason combined for 13 points, hitting 5-5 field goals, seven rebounds and two blocked shots in 19 minutes of action.
     
WILL HE OR WON'T HE?
Junior forward Collin Spickerman was the only Viking among the 15 on the active roster not to play against Linfield. The 6-8 Spickerman, the NWAACC West Region Most Valuable Player at Clark College last year, was expected to be a starter inside for the Vikings this season. However, Spickerman suffered an ankle sprain in early season practice and has been out for two weeks. He is expected to return to practice this week.
     
The good news is 6-6 sophomore forward Braxton Tucker has played very well in the preseason and earned the starting nod against Linfield. Tucker went on to score 16 points and grab five rebounds in 23 minutes of the game. If Spickerman can't go, Tucker is expected to start again.
 
SUSTAINABLE AND RECYCLABLE VIKING QUICK NOTES
WINNING LINES
• Portland State was 17-15, 12-5 at home, 4-9 on the road, 1-1 in neutral site games in 2013-14.
• The Vikings went 11-9 in the Big Sky Conference, 7-3 at home and 4-6 on the road.
• With 17 wins, PSU more than doubled the previous year's win total (8-20).
• PSU was 10-6 in close games (seven points or less) and 3-1 in overtime.
• The Vikings came back to win seven games when trailing at halftime - the most by any team in the Big Sky Conference.
• Portland State won four games in a row three times during the 2014-15 season.
• Portland State is 14-4 in home opening games since joining the Big Sky Conference in 1996-97.
And The Trivial
• Portland State is 26-24 all-time in overtime. Coach Tyler Geving is 4-4 all-time in overtime. The Vikings are 3-1 in overtime this season. The four overtime games match a school record (also 3-1 in OT in 1998-99).
• PSU is 2-15 against nationally-ranked opponents since joining the Big Sky Conference in 1996-97.
• Head Coach Tyler Geving is 1-2 all-time against ranked opponents.
• Portland State is 17-41 in games televised in the Portland area since joining the Big Sky Conference in 1996-97. That includes a 9-7 home record and 8-34 road record.
 
2014-15 PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS TEAM NOTES
• Portland State will try to build on its 17-15/11-9 finish of 2013-14. The Vikings more than doubled their previous years' win total (8-20/5-15). The last time PSU won more than 17 games was a 23-10 season in 2008-09.
• Portland State begins its 19th season as a member of the Big Sky Conference in 2014-15. PSU won Big Sky regular season titles in 2004-05 and 2007-08. The Vikings won Big Sky tournament titles, advancing to the NCAA Tournament in 2007-08 and 2008-09... PSU's trip to the CollegeInsider.com post-season tournament in 2013-14 was its first Division I post-season tournament other than its previous NCAA trips.
• The Big Sky expands to 12 schools with the return of the University of Idaho. The conference schedule will be reduced to 18 games. As a result, PSU will not travel to Montana and Montana State this season, and will not host Weber State and Idaho State... the Big Sky Conference Tournament also expands to the top eight teams (from seven) with no first-round byes.
• The Tyler Geving Basketball Show is available on Blog Talk Radio. The show will take place each Wednesday night, 10:30-11:00 pm, PDT. The link to listen changes each week, but the weekly link can be found at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/tylergevingshow. Geving, a 10-year veteran of the Viking basketball program, is in his sixth season as head coach. He will talk Viking basketball, Big Sky basketball and review and preview games. Greg Crawford hosts the show.
 
VIKINGS PICKED FIFTH, SEVENTH IN BIG SKY PRESEASON POLLS
The Portland State men's basketball team has been picked to place fifth in the 12-team Big Sky Conference this season in a poll of league coaches. Big Sky media have the Vikings tabbed for seventh place.
     
Defending champion Weber State is the pick once again in both the Big Sky coaches and media polls. Eastern Washington was second in the coaches poll, followed by Northern Arizona. Those teams were flip-flopped in the media poll. Sacramento State was fourth in both polls.
     
Portland State was a much-improved team in 2013-14, going 17-15 and 11-9 in the Big Sky to tie for fifth place. The Vikings reached the Big Sky Tournament semifinals before getting knocked out by North Dakota. PSU went on to compete in the CollegeInsider.com post-season tournament.
     
The 2014-15 Vikings, led by sixth-year Head Coach Tyler Geving, has six returning letter winners including its top three scorers in senior guards Gary Winston (2nd team All-Big Sky, 11.3 ppt, 42% 3-pt FG), DaShaun Wiggins (co-6th Man of the Year, 12.9 ppg) and Tim Douglas (11.8 ppg, 3.2 apg).
     
PSU has three returning redshirts to go with a signing class of six in the off-season. Senior forward Tiegbe Bamba is expected to play a big role this year, while JC transfers Collin Spickerman (6-8, F, NWAACC West Division MVP, 17.9 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 2.9 bpg) and Bryce White (6-5, G, NWAACC South Division MVP, 27.5 ppg, 7.2 rpg) are expected to earn starting roles as well.
     
PSU begins its 19th season as a member of the Big Sky Conference in 2014-15. The Vikings won Big Sky regular season titles in 2004-05 and 2007-08. The Vikings won Big Sky tournament titles, advancing to the NCAA Tournament in 2007-08 and 2008-09. PSU's trip to the CollegeInsider.com post-season tournament in 2013-14 was its first Division I post-season tournament other than its previous NCAA trips.
 
Big Sky Conference Coaches' Poll
1. Weber State (8), 117
2. Eastern Washington (1), 100
3. Northern Arizona (2), 99
4. Sacramento State (1), 90
5. Portland State, 80
6. Northern Colorado, 73
7. Idaho, 65
8. Montana, 56
9. North Dakota, 38
10. Idaho State, 35
11. Montana State, 24
12. Southern Utah, 15
 
Big Sky Conference Media Poll
1. Weber State (31), 424
2. Northern Arizona (4), 339
3. Eastern Washington (1), 318
4. Sacramento State, 298
5. Montana, 297
6. Northern Colorado, 242
7. Portland State, 227
8. Idaho, 207
9. North Dakota, 175
10. Idaho State,125
11. Montana State, 104
12. Southern Utah, 52
 
VIKING ONE-LINERS (and sometimes two)
• Portland State has two players from foreign countries on its roster; Tiegbe Bamba (France) and Sebastian Suarez (Chile). Since joining the Big Sky Conference in 1996-97, Portland State has also had players from England, Canada (3), Nigeria and Lithuania.
• FR G Zach Gengler was the Oregon 5A High School Player of the Year in 2012-13.
• PSU has three players that competed for other Division I schools: Tim Douglas (Portland), Calaen Robinson (Arizona State) and Dorian Cason (Portland). Robinson will redshirt this season due to his NCAA transfer status.
• JR F Collin Spickerman and SO G Bryce White have both returned home after earning NWAACC Region Player of the Year awards. Spickerman prepped less than 10 miles from the PSU campus at Portland's Jesuit High School. He spent one season at Alaska Anchorage and one season at Clark (WA) College. Last winter he was the NWAACC West Region Player of the Year after averaging 17.9 points, 9.1 rebounds and 2.9 blocked shots per game. White prepped less than five miles from the PSU campus at Portland's Benson Tech. He was named the NWAACC South Region Player of the Year after averaging 27.5 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.6 assists at Chemeketa CC.
• With three fourth-year players on the roster this season (Gary Winston, Brandon Cataldo, Joel King), it marks only the second time the Viking program has had three fourth-year seniors in their Big Sky history (also 1999-2000 with Derek Nesland, Ivan Garner, Hasan Artharee).
• FR G Iziahiah Sweeney won the 2014 Ballislife All American Dunk contest. The video is available on YouTube (you won't be disappointed).
• Portland State is in its 18th season as a member of the Big Sky Conference and Division I. PSU played basketball from 1946-1981 before discontinuing the program. Basketball was reinstated for the 1996-97 season.
• The Viking basketball program has graduated 16 of 18 players who have completed their eligibility under Head Coach Tyler Geving.
• SR F Tiegbe Bamba, JR G Sebastian Suarez and JR G Kyler Shula were all redshirts for the Vikings last season.
• Portland State basketball fans will have the opportunity to Get Stuffed again this winter at the Stott Center. Any fan purchasing a ticket for a seat at the Peter W. Stott Center will receive free concessions. That's right, all the food you can eat from the concession stand. Portland State students, with student tickets, can also take advantage of this promotion. It's just that simple. Buy your ticket and you eat for free. Last year, more than 15,000 free hot dogs were eaten at Portland State men's and women's basketball games.
• Head Coach Tyler Geving and Associate Head Coach Jeff Hironaka were both assistant coaches on the 2000-01 Seattle Pacific basketball staff.
• Special Advisor Barry Adams, a high school coaching legend in the state of Oregon, was elected to the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame on March 10, 2014. Adams spent more than four decades as a prep coach in the state.
• Over the summer, fifth-year Assistant Coach Anthony Owens was named the new Head Coach at the University of Great Falls, his alma mater.
• Former Viking Ime Udoka played seven seasons in the NBA. He started 75 games for the Portland Trail Blazers in 2006-07. Udoka is now an assistant coach with the San Antonio Spurs.
• Julius Thomas, who holds Portland State records for games played (121), field goal percentage in a season and career (.671/.663), and career wins (78) is now the starting tight end and a Pro Bowler for the Denver Broncos. Thomas played on two Big Sky Conference Championship/NCAA Tournament teams (2007-08, 2008-09) at PSU. He competed in Super Bowl XLVIII last February.
 
WATERS DRAFTED TO NBDL - WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
Former Portland State basketball star Dominic Waters was selected in the third round of the NBA Developmental League draft on Sunday by the Grand Rapids Drive.
     
Waters, who played at Portland State from 2008-10, is now a member of the 18-team NBDL. Grand Rapids is an affiliate of the NBA's Detroit Pistons. The NBDL begins play on Nov. 14.
     
Waters, a 6-1 guard, has played professionally in Europe as well as some NBA summer league since leaving Portland State.
     
A native of Portland and Grant High School, Waters led the Vikings in scoring (18.6), assists (4.7), three-point percentage (.424) and free throw percentage (.902) as a senior in 2009-10. He was named second team All-Big Sky Conference as both a junior and a senior and was a three-time Big Sky Player of the Week in his career.
     
In addition to Waters, here is a list of some recent Vikings and where they are in the professional sports world:
 
Ime Udoka, 6-5, F, 1999-2000, retired NBA, assistant coach, San Antonio Spurs
Jeb Ivey, 6-1, G, 2001-03, Denain Voltaire, France
Seamus Boxley, 6-7, F, 2000-05, Limburg United, Belgium
Scott Morrison, 6-11, C, 2004-08, Aishin Sea Horses, NBL, Japan
Andre Murray, 6-2, G, 2007-09, Bambitious Nara, BJ league, Japan
Julius Thomas, 6-5, F, 2006-10, Denver Broncos, NFL
Dominic Waters, 6-1, G, 2008-10, Grand Rapids Drive, NBDL
Chehales Tapscott, 6-5, F, 2010-12, Bambitious Nara, BJ league, Japan
Kyle Richardson, 6-8, F, 2013-14, Aomori Watts, BJ league, Japan
Aaron Moore, 6-8, F, 2012-14, Amistad de Chuquisaca-Sucre Liga Superior, Bolivia