AMERICA'S PLAYGROUND: After one of the most important victories for the Seattle University men's basketball program in this new Division I era, the team headed straight to Las Vegas Wednesday to prepare for two games of the HoopTV Las Vegas Invitational at the Orleans Arena. SeattleU will take on Presbyterian College of the Big South Conference, currently in Year Three of reclassification (one year ahead of SeattleU), and Wofford College from the Southern Conference. Many of the players will have family to support them over the holiday weekend, a factor that can only add to the confidence already within the squad after three straight victories in the span of six days.
THE UTAH GAME: Seattle University intensified its defense and took better care of the basketball in the second half, holding Utah to 29.6 percent shooting from the field after halftime and committing only three second half turnovers in upsetting the Utes, 77-74, Tuesday night at the Huntsman Center. The lead seesawed until Ricky Berry hit a three-pointer with 8:11 left to give the Redhawks a 63-61 advantage. Cervante Burrell hit a jumper and Charles Garcia made two free throws to put SeattleU back on top, 69-65, with less than five minutes remaining. A layup by Aaron Broussard with 1:07 showing on the clock extended the SeattleU advantage to five at 77-72, but two more Brown free throws and a SeattleU missed shot allowed Utah one final chance to tie the game. Shawn Glover tossed up a contested three-point attempt, and Burrell grabbed the rebound that clinched SeattleU's biggest victory since the beginning of the transition back to Division I. Garcia went 13-of-15 from the free throw line in leading all players with 24 points, plus he pulled down eight rebounds, blocked a shot, and earned two steals. Burrell collected 12 points, six rebounds, and four assists, and Chris Gweth put up another solid effort with 12 points and five rebounds.
SCOUTING PRESBYTERIAN: The Blue Hose enter Friday's game with an 0-4 record, losing to Clemson (84-41), Furman (68-64), Illinois (94-48), and Bradley (71-58). As a team, Presbyterian is shooting 40.7 percent from the field, including 32.9 percent from the three-point line, and 66.7 percent from the free throw line. Jake Troyli leads the team with 14.8 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. Zach Faircloth is also averaging double figures in scoring with 10.3 points per game. Chase Holmes is contributing 9.3 points and 4.5 rebounds per game, and Khalid Mutakabbir is adding 7.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per contest. The Blue Hose are being outrebounded by over 11 boards per game (26.8 vs. 38.0).
SCOUTING WOFFORD: The Terriers come into the weekend with a 2-3 record, including a 60-57 victory at Georgia on Nov. 17. Wofford lost by only three points at Pittsburgh (63-60), by just two points at Bradley (56-54), and by 14 points at Illinois (78-64). As a team, the Terriers are shooting 41.4 percent from the field, including 34.8 percent from the three-point line, and 73.8 percent from the free throw line. Wofford is a deep team, with ten players seeing action in all five games and one other taking part in four of the five contests. Noah Dahlman leads the team with 14.4 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. Brad Loesing is dishing out 4.2 assists per game. Junior Salters is the team's three-point threat, hitting 12-of-35 long distance attempts so far this season.