SPOKANE, Wash. -- Whitworth got off to a strong start to Northwest Conference action last weekend with home victories over George Fox and Pacific (Ore.). This weekend the Pirates will hit the road to take on Willamette and Linfield in a pair of key conference contests.

Whitworth, ranked 15th in the latest (Jan. 5) D3hoops.com poll, is 10-1 so far this season. The Bucs won a pair of games at the Ameriprise Whitworth Classic the weekend after Christmas over Simpson (77-56) and Gustavus Adolphus (79-58). The returned home to open the NWC schedule with wins over George Fox (94-60) and Pacific (82-51).

Ross Nakamura

Statistically Speaking: Whitworth's success so far this season is reflected in high rankings in the NCAA Division III statistics in several categories. Offensively the Pirates rank 19th in the nation in field goal percentage (50.2), eighth in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.37) and 16th in assists per game (17.3). Whitworth has been even more impressive on defense. The Bucs rank 7th in scoring defense (58.9 ppg allowed), 9th in three-point FG percentage defense (25.1) and 10th in rebound margin (+8.4).

Whitworth leads the NWC in all of the above categories, which means that the Pirates have been able to outscore opponents by an average of 20.9 points per contest, which ranks fourth in the NCAA DIII statistical rankings.

Nationally Ranked: By winning its four games since the previous rating period by an average of 27 points per game, Whitworth move up to 15th from 19th in the D3hoops.com poll this week. Whitworth finished second in the 2008 NWC Preseason Coaches Poll.

Ross Runs the Ship: Ross Nakamura (Sr., G, Moraga, Calif.) was a steadying influence as the Pirate point guard while leading the team to a 2007-08 Northwest Conference title. A transfer from Diablo Valley JC in Concord, California, Nakamura led all of NCAA Division III in assist-turnover ratio (4.1 assists per turnover) last season. He is averaging 10.0 points per game and has made 46% (16/35) of his three-point tries in 2008-09, while leading the Northwest Conference in minutes played per game (35.3). He is currently first in the NWC and 4th in the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.57).

Soph Shooter: David Riley has taken his game up a notch as a sophomore, tying for the team lead in scoring average (17.2 ppg) and making 57% of his shots from the field, including 49% of his three-point tries (32/65). Riley is the only player in the NWC currently ranked in the top five individually in both three-point percentage (2nd) and three-pointers made per game (2nd at 3.5). He was named MVP of the JHU Blue Jay Invitational after scoring a tournament-record 34 points in the opening win over Brockport State and leading the tournament in scoring. In Whitworth's second game of 2007-08 he broke the school record for three-pointers made in a game when he was 8 for 13 in the win over Caltech.

Big, Really Big: Whitworth's post rotation has lived up to expectations. Calvin Jurich (Sr., 6-6, P, Spokane, Wash.) has averaged 13.3 points per game and is second in the NWC in rebounding (7.6 rpg). On January 2nd he posted the first triple double in recent men's basketball history with 16 points and career highs of 14 rebounds and 10 assists in the win over George Fox. Nate Montgomery (Jr., 6-8, P, Sammamish, Wash.) is tied for the team lead in scoring (15.8 ppg) and adds 6.4 rebounds per game. Felix Friedt (Fr., 6-8, P, Dusseldorf, Germany) has posted solid minutes off of the bench, averaging 4.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per game.

Live Stats: Live statistics of all games played in the Whitworth Fieldhouse will be available all season by opening the following link in your web browser:
http://www.whitworth.edu/Athletics/Teams/Basketball/livestats/xlive.htm

The Opponents: Whitworth will take on not only a pair of schools that play particularly well at home, but the Pirates will be challenged by the two most senior coaches in the NWC. Both Gordie James of Willamette and Larry Doty of Linfield are in their 22nd seasons leading their teams.

Willamette has won five games in a row after an 0-3 start, including last Friday's 88-70 win at Pacific Lutheran. Sophomore post Cameron Mitchell leads the Northwest Conference in scoring (21.9 ppg), rebounding (12.3 ppg) and field goal percentage (59.6). In addition, fellow post Kyler McClary adds 15.3 points per game. Last season the Pirates and Bearcats split, each winning on the other's home court. Whitworth won 72-65 in OT, while Willamette won 82-74.

Linfield is 2-7 overall and 0-1 in the NWC, but that record could be deceiving because the Wildcats had lost four of the games by three points or less. Linfield fell 70-48 at 17th-ranked UPS last Saturday. Sophomore post K.C. Wiser leads the team in scoring (18.0 ppg) and rebounding (6.1 rpg). Erik Olson leads the NWC in free throw percentage (91.2). Last season Linfield knocked off Whitworth 77-70 in the conference opener for both teams in McMinnville. The Pirates defeated the Wildcats 77-68 in Spokane.

The Coach: In seven season's leading the Pirates, Whitworth head coach Jim Hayford has averaged 20 wins a season for a team that can only schedule 25 games a year. Now 150-47 (.761) in his eighth season at Whitworth (187-72 overall in his tenth year as a head coach), Hayford is only the third coach in school history to reach the 100 win plateau. Hayford has won three NWC Coach of the Year awards at Whitworth (2003, 2007, 2008) and led the Pirates to three conference championships.

Coach Hayford's Quotes:

On last weekend's games: "It sure was nice to play on our home court. I think we shoot a little better in those comfortable surroundings."

On this weekend's schedule: "I have read quotes from almost every NWC coach saying they believe this is the toughest the conference has ever been. I agree. Whoever can learn to win on the road will be the champion. We are ready to take on the challenge and hit the Oregon Trail."

2008-09 Schedule

2008-09 Roster

2008-09 Statistics