CREATING EXCITEMENT: Over the past four games in the last two seasons at KeyArena, Seattle University has won by an average margin of four points, including two one-point contests. Thursday night's game against Oakland University is set up to be another close one, featuring two of the top players in the country with Oakland's Keith Benson and SeattleU's Charles Garcia. The Redhawks put a 14-game home winning streak on the line in their final home game of the 2009 calendar year.
THE UC IRVINE GAME: Charles Garcia hit two free throws with 16 seconds left and Seattle University's defense prevented UC Irvine from taking a final shot as the Redhawks pulled out another nailbiter at Elgin Baylor Court at KeyArena, 82-81, Tuesday night. Down by five points with 1:11 remaining in regulation, UC Irvine's Michael Hunter hit two free throws and a three-pointer to tie the game at 79-79. Garcia hit one of two free throws, but Hunter responded with a jumper with 36 seconds remaining to pull the Anteaters ahead, 81-80. Garcia was fouled by Eric Wise and made his two free throws to create the 18th lead change of the game. After a timeout by UC Irvine, Hunter dribbled at the top of the key looking to find an opening, but SeattleU's defense would not give him any room. Garrett Lever tipped the ball away from Hunter, who stumbled and was unable to recover, giving the Redhawks the chance to run out the clock for their third home victory of the season by less than five points. Garcia notched his sixth double-double of the season with 29 points and 13 rebounds, hitting 11-of-20 shots from the field, including a three-pointer, and 6-of-12 attempts from the free throw line. Alex Jones had his best game so far this season, going 4-of-5 from the field and 8-of-10 from the free throw line for 16 points and five rebounds.
SCOUTING OAKLAND: The Golden Grizzlies come into Thursday's game with a 5-5 record after defeating UW-Green Bay, 76-52, at home on Sunday. Oakland has faced Wisconsin, Kansas, Memphis, and Michigan State so far this season. The Grizzlies average 69.8 points per game and give up 71.5 points per contest. As a team, Oakland is shooting 41.4 percent from the field, including 29.3 percent from the three-point line, and 70.7 percent from the free throw line. Keith Benson, the reigning Summit League Player of the Week, leads the team with 18.2 points, 11.4 rebounds, and 3.9 blocked shots per game. He is shooting 53.4 percent from the field and 80.6 percent from the free throw line. Johnathon Jones is averaging 13.0 points, 5.4 assists, and 2.0 steals per game, and Derick Nelson is contributing 12.8 points and 6.4 rebounds per contest.
REACHING THE SUMMIT: This will be only the second time Seattle University has faced a current member of the Summit League. During the 1996-97 season, Southern Utah picked up a 73-42 victory over SeattleU in Cedar City, Utah. Last season, the Redhawks faced future Summit League member South Dakota twice, sweeping the season series over the Coyotes, 73-59 on Feb. 14 in Seattle and 87-85 on Feb. 28 in Vermillion, S.D.
SMILE, YOU ARE ON CAMERA: Seattle University is scheduled to be on FSN Northwest four more times this season. The Dec. 22 game at Denver will be shown on a tape-delay basis beginning at 10:30 p.m. The games against Harvard (Jan. 2), Oregon State (Jan. 6), and Washington (Jan. 26) will be carried live by the cable channel.
THE KEY TO FUTURE SUCCESS: The Seattle University men's basketball team returns to downtown Seattle this season, playing all regular season home games at KeyArena at Seattle Center. The team will play eight of its last 13 games at home after starting the season with just five of the first 18 games at KeyArena. Back when it was known as the Seattle Center Coliseum, Seattle University used the downtown arena as its home court from 1964 to 1980. SeattleU closed out its stay at the Connolly Center in style last season, winning all nine regular season games in the North Court as well as the Janaury 1 game at KeyArena against Loyola Marymount, 49-39. Overall, SeattleU has won 14 straight home games, the seventh-longest home winning streak in program history.
JEFF SAGARIN SAYS: The Sagarin ratings is one of the most popular tools for comparing two teams and attempting to predict the result. As of Dec. 16, UC Irvine is 131st in the Sagarin ratings at 74.73 and Seattle University is 182nd with a rating of 72.08. Taking into account a 4.01 home advantage, the Sagarin ratings would predict that SeattleU would squeak by Oakland by one point.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING: As part of the reclassification process, Seattle University is not eligible to officially win any statistical awards. However, if SeattleU was eligible, Charles Garcia would be fifth in scoring at 25.0 points per game and 22nd in rebounding with 10.5 boards per contest. As a team, Seattle University would be 30th in scoring offense, averaging 80.8 points per game.
THE RIGHT LOOK IS IMPORTANT: This season Seattle University has gone with three different uniforms with varied results. So far the team is a perfect 3-0 in the grey uniforms, 2-3 in the black uniforms, and 1-2 in the red uniforms. The team pulled out the red uniforms Thursday and earned their first victory in those outfits.
SPREADING THE WORD: Seattle University men's basketball games will be broadcast all season long on 710 ESPN Seattle, the sports station that also carries Seattle Mariners and Seattle Seahawks broadcasts as well as local shows featuring Brock Huard, Kevin Calabro, and John Clayton. Long-time Seattle sports talk radio personality Dave "The Groz" Grosby will handle the play-by-play duties with Gary Hill alongside. Gary Hill also posts on his blog, www.seattleufan.com, during the broadcasts as well as during the week.