SPOKANE, Wash. -- Whitworth College, ranked 18th in the latest D3hoops.com top 25 poll, will play its first home games of the 2006-07 season this week when the Pirates host Walla Walla College on Wednesday night and then Pacific University and Lewis & Clark College in Northwest Conference clashes on Friday and Saturday. Whitworth has opened the season 6-0, the team's best start since beginning the 2002-03 season with 12 straight wins.

Williams is averaging 10.2 apg and 11 ppg

The Pirates: Whitworth has already established an identity as a team that will create match up problems for every opponent. All five starters are currently averaging double figures in scoring, demonstrating a balanced attack that could lead to a break out game by any one of the five.

James Jones (Sr., G, Manchester, England - Univ. of St. Mary) leads the team with a 15.4 points per game average, followed by Ryan Symes (Jr., F, Palo Alto, Calif. - Delta College), who averages 14.0 points per game. Kevin Hasenfus (Sr., C, Lodi, Calif. - Delta College), who poured in 29 points in a win at Whittier, is averaging 13.6 points a game, while Jon Young (Sr., G, Tracy, Calif. - Tracy) has scored 12 points per game. Bryan Williams (Sr., G, Spokane, Wash. - Mead) is averaging nearly as many assists per game (10.2) as points per game (11.0).

Nationally Ranked: Whitworth's perfect start has earned the attention of the voters in the D3hoops.com top 25 poll. The Pirates are ranked 18th in the week 1 release of the poll, after earning a position among "others receiving votes" in the preseason poll. The last time Whitworth was ranked was January 11, 2004. Click here for the entire poll.

Globetrotters: The Pirates traveled more than 9,300 miles around the United States over the course of eight days to pick up their first six wins of the season. Whitworth won two games at the Lee Pfund Classic hosted by Wheaton, Illinois on November 17th and 18th. Then the Bucs won both of their games at the US Bank - Whitworth Maui Classic in Hawaii on November 22nd and 23rd. The Pirates closed the trip in Southern California with the two wins at the Caltech/Whittier Thanksgiving Classic last weekend.

SATURDAY START TIMES: The Northwest Conference has allowed for earlier start times for games involving Whitworth and Whitman that occur on Saturdays. This allows for an earlier return home. Therefore, the Lewis & Clark double header on Saturday will begin with a women's game at 4:00 p.m. followed by the men's game at 6:00 p.m.

Hayford Nets His 100th: Whitworth head coach Jim Hayford became the fastest coach in Pirate history to record his 100th victory as head coach of the Bucs. Now 101-35 (.743) in his sixth season, Hayford is only the third coach in school history to reach the 100 win plateau. Hayford was the 2003 NWC Coach of the Year.

Dick Kamm (1961-64, 66-69) was the first, but he did it at the end of his seventh season. He was 110-99 in eight years. Warren Friedrichs (1986-2001) is Whitworth's all-time winningest coach (251-195, 16 years), but he didn't get his 100th win until his 7th season.

The Shooter: Jon Young holds the Whitworth single season records for most three pointers made (92) and attempted (225), set in 2004-05. At the end of last season he broke Ryan Nelson's (1998-01) career marks for three pointers made (252) and attempted (583). Young has made 266 career three pointers in 653 tries (.407). He is also the 16th player in Whitworth history to score more than 1,000 career points, surpassing that total in last season's NWC Playoff Championship at UPS.

The List of 1,000 Point Scorers: Bryan Depew (2001-04) 2,013; Rod McDonald (1964-67) 1,807;Jim Doherty (1951-53) 1,726; Nate Dunham (1994-97) 1,551; Marv Adams (1955-57) 1,457; Todd Martin (1987-90) 1,403; Tommy Stewart (1982-85) 1,358; Jason Hull (1991-94) 1,348; Ralph Polson (1951-52) 1,302; Bob Mandeville (1981-84) 1,296; Brian Meyers (1984-87) 1,107; Jon Young (2002- ) 1,070; Ryan Nelson (1998-2001) 1,069; Doug Loiler (1991-92) 1,060; Chase Williams (2000-2003), 1,053; Phil Jordan (1953-55) 1,024.

The Opponents: Walla Walla College comes into Wednesday night's game with a 2-7 record, but that includes an 80-75 win over Concordia (Portland) in the Wolves' last game (Nov. 26). WWC came back from a 12 point halftime deficit to get the win. Clay Cuny scored 20 points and 6'-6" post Ryan Wilson had 16 points and 15 rebounds. The Wolves have taken more three point shots than two point attempts this season. Whitworth defeated Walla Walla 79-72 on December 12, 2004 in the teams' last meeting.

Pacific University enters the week with an 0-3 record. The Boxers are hosting Multnomah Bible on Tuesday night. Sophomore forward Ross Bartlett is averaging 13.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. Newcomer Don Harrison-Davis is also scoring 13.3 points per game. Whitworth swept a pair of meetings with Pacific last season, winning 86-73 in Spokane and 66-60 in Forest Grove, Oregon.

Lewis & Clark College is 3-2 heading into the week. The Pioneers will open NWC play at Whitman on Friday night. L&C went 2-2 during a four game stretch in Hawaii, that included a win at NCAA DII Hawaii-Hilo (coming back from a 25 point halftime deficit) and a one-point loss to NAIA power Concordia. Point guard Thomas Tillery is providing all-around contributions with 13.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game. Whitworth swept L&C in a pair of meetings last season, winning 89-66 at home and 78-70 on the road.

2006-07 Schedule

2006-07 Roster

2006-07 Statistics