SPOKANE, Wash. -- Whitworth University will begin its defense of last season's Northwest Conference title this weekend when the Pirates travel to Linfield College and Willamette University to open the 2007-08 NWC schedule. Friday's game at Linfield starts at 8:00 p.m. (following the women's game) and Saturday's contest at Willamette begins at 6:00 p.m. (also following the women's contest). Radio/Internet: All the Pirates' NWC games will be carried live by KSBN 1230 am and Bob Castle will call the play by play. In addition to the on-air broadcast, the KSBN internet simulcast can be picked up either on the Whitworth Athletics site, or at KSBN.net by selecting the "listen now" button. The Pirates: Whitworth has gotten off to a 6-2 start with four new starters in 2007-08. After dropping the season opener, the Pirates reeled off six wins in a row before falling to Bridgewater St. (Mass.) in the championship of the College of Staten Island Tournament of Heroes on December 30th. Along the way the Bucs won the University of Redlands Lee Fulmer Classic and defeated a good team from Richard Stockton (N.J.) at the CSI tournament.
Look Familiar?: While many of the faces may be different, the way the Pirates are winning should be very familiar to Whitworth fans. The Bucs are playing tough defense, leading the NWC in both scoring defense (56.6 points per game allowed) and field goal percentage defense (39.6%). In addition, Whitworth leads the rebounding margin category (+9.4). Also familiar is how efficient the Bucs have been on offense. Whitworth is first in the NWC in assists per game (19.5) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.51 assists for every turnover). Therefore Whitworth shoots at a high percentage (48.6%, 2nd in the NWC) and when the team gets to the free throw line, the Pirates make a league-best 75.0%. Steady Symes: Ryan Symes (Sr., F, Palo Alto, Calif.) is providing the solid leadership that was expected of the team's only returning starter and a returning First Team All-NWC selection. The 6-6 forward is averaging 15.3 points and 5.4 rebounds per game, both the second highest total on the team. He has made 48% of his shots from the field, including 36% from three point range. He has led the Bucs in scoring four times this season.
Frosh Phenom: David Riley (Fr., G, Palo Alto, Calif.) is having a breakthrough freshman season. The 6-5 guard from Gunn High School is leading the team in scoring (15.5 points per game). He has been deadly from three point range, and is the only player in the Northwest Conference to rank in the top five of the league in both three-pointers made per game (4th, 3.5 per game) and three point percentage (2nd, 53.8%). In Whitworth's second game of the season, he broke the school record for three-pointers made in a game when he was 8 for 13 in the win over Caltech. The previous record of seven in a game was shared by three players. Riley has led the Pirates in scoring four times this season. "Will"-do-it-all: One of the best sixth-men in the NWC last season, Colin Willemsen (Sr., F, Moraga, Calif.) has been the do-everything player as a starter for the Pirates this season. Willemsen leads the team and is fourth in the NWC in rebounding (7.4 per game) and leads the league in offensive rebounds (3.13 per game). Willemsen is also fifth in the NWC (second on the team) in assists (4.75 per game). Finally, Willemsen leads Whitworth and is eighth in the NWC in steals (1.63 per game). All of this goes along with a respectable 9.6 scoring average. Each of Willemsen's per game averages would be higher but for five minutes of fill-in duty during the win over Caltech. Ross Runs the Ship: Ross Nakamura (Jr., G, Moraga, Calif.) has been a steadying influence as the Pirate point guard this season. The transfer from Diablo Valley JC in Concord, California, Nakamura is fourth in the NWC in assists (5.38 per game). Perhaps more telling about Nakamura's play this season, he leads the conference in Assist-Turnover ratio (3.31 assists per turnover). His steadiness with the ball is nearly matched by his shooting ability, as he has made 46.2% from three point range this season. Nearly Last: There is one category in which the Pirates nearly rank last in the nation. Whitworth will be the second-to-last NCAA Division III team to play a home game this season when the Bucs tip off against Lewis & Clark College in the Fieldhouse on Friday, January 11th. Only Lawrence College (Wis.) will play its first home game later (by one day). However, the Vikings will have played only seven games to that point, while Whitworth will have played 10 games before getting to play at home.
On the Oregon Trail: Winning on the road in the Northwest Conference has always been a challenge and opening this season's NWC schedule at Linfield and Willamette will be tough. But since the arrival of head coach Jim Hayford for the 2001-02 season, Whitworth has found success playing in the state of Oregon. Including last season's 4-1 mark, the Pirates are 22-8 (.733) in NWC regular season contests played in Oregon during Hayford's previous six seasons. The Opponents: Linfield College looks much improved after posting back-to-back last place NWC finishes in 2006 and 2007. The Wildcats (5-4) are very deep, with 10 players averaging over 12 minutes per game. Junior forward Erik Olson is averaging 12.2 points and he makes 45% of his three-point attempts. Linfield has gotten great contribution from center K.C. Wiser, a 6-8 freshman, who adds 11.4 points and a team-best 5.6 rebounds per game. The Wildcats went 1-2 at the recent Cactus Jam in Phoenix. Linfield defeated Kean (N.J.) 97-66 in the opening before falling to Carroll (Wis.) 84-81 and Wartburg (Iowa) 84-66. Last season Whitworth won twice against Linfield, 77-64 on the road and 71-58 at home. The Pirates have won the last four meetings between the schools. Willamette University has played a tough non-conference schedule and the young Bearcats have struggled to a 2-7 record. But Willamette always is prepared to play well during the NWC schedule. The Bearcats are led by a pair of talented post players in junior Kyler McClary and sophomore Cameron Mitchell. McClary leads the team in scoring (15.2 points per game), while the 6-7 Mitchell leads in rebounding (7.6 per contest, 3rd in the NWC). Willamette has not played since December 21st and 22nd, when the Bearcats fell to NCAA DII Humboldt State (95-71) and NCAA DII Chico State (80-66). The Bearcats will try to break an eight-game losing streak against Whitworth. Last season the Pirates won twice - 79-66 on the road and 81-66 in Spokane. The Coach: Whitworth head coach Jim Hayford became the fastest coach in Pirate history to record his 100th victory as head coach of the Bucs with a win over Whittier on November 25th of last season. Now 125-41 (.753) in his seventh season at Whitworth (162-66 overall in eight years as a head coach), Hayford is only the third coach in school history to reach the 100 win plateau. Hayford has won two NWC Coach of the Year awards at Whitworth (2003, 2007) and led the Pirates to a pair of conference championships. Go to Athletics Home Page > Men's Basketball > Sports Releases > |
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