DRESS REHERSAL: After four weeks of full team practices, including two intrasquad scrimmages, the Seattle University men's basketball team will face an opponent for the first time this season, welcoming Pacific Lutheran for an exhibition game for the third straight year. With the regular season opener just three days away at Portland State, this game will be used by the Redhawk coaching staff as a chance to finalize the starting lineup and rotation that Cameron Dollar will employ at the start of the year. Live stats, live audio with Gary Hill, Jr., and live video will be available for free on GoSeattleU.com. Tickets for all empty seats, including courtside, are $5 for this game, and a new ticketing policy for students, faculty, and staff is being employed this season.
2010-11 IN REVIEW: For the first time in six years, the Seattle U men's basketball team was unable to post a winning record, finishing the 2010-11 campaign at 11-20. Despite that record, the year still had numerous highlights for the Redhawks. The team's first win of the season came at the expense of Oregon State, as the Redhawks defeated the Beavers for the second consecutive season, 83-80 at KeyArena, behind 22 points from Cervante Burrell, 20 points from Sterling Carter, and a nine-point, 12-rebound effort by Aaron Broussard. The 2010 Elgin Baylor Classic saw Seattle U defeat Idaho, 66-56, with Burrell, named the Classic MVP, scoring 20 points and Broussard notching a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Right before Christmas, the Redhawks traveled across the country and upset ACC school Virginia, 59-53, with Broussard earning another double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds and Carter leading the way with 19 points. Over 6,000 fans were present for the retirement of Tom Workman's #32 during Seattle U's game against Portland. That was just a warmup for the Feb. 22 game against Washington, played in front of 11,386 people, including many fans taking advantage of the upper bowl being opened for a Seattle U game for the first time since the team moved back to Seattle Center. Aaron Broussard, the team leader with 14.5 points and 7.7 rebounds per game, was named to the All-Independent Team.
SCOUTING PACIFIC LUTHERAN: The Lutes enter Saturday's exhibition after posting a 15-10 record in the 2010-11 season, including a 10-6 record in the Division III Northwest Conference. Eight players return for the Lutes, led by senior guard James Conti, who averaged 8.5 points and 3.0 assists per game last season. Drew Ernest is the team's leading returning scorer, averaging 11.9 points per game. He shot 53.2 percent from the field, including 48.4 percent from behind the three-point line, and 88.1 percent from the free throw line. Cameron Schilling also returns for the Lutes after contributing 8.2 points and 4.9 rebounds per game in 2010-11.
SEATTLE U VS. PACIFIC LUTHERAN: In official meetings through the years, Pacific Lutheran holds a 30-24 advantage over Seattle University. This will be the third straight year that the two teams have met in an exhibition game, with Seattle U winning the last two meetings. On Nov. 7, 2009, at the Connolly Center, Charles Garcia earned 27 points and nine rebounds while Chris Gweth contributed 16 points, six rebounds, and four steals as the Redhawks defeated the Lutes, 96-68. Nobody for Pacific Lutheran scored in double figures.
LAST MEETING: Last Halloween, Seattle U shot 60.3 percent from the field and 87.5 percent from the free throw line in a 121-91 offensive shootout at KeyArena. Six players scored in double figures for the Redhawks, including a 15-point, five-rebound effort from Alex Jones. Gavin Gilmore finished with 13 points and nine rebounds, while Cervante Burrell contributed 13 points, three rebounds, and six assists. Victor Bull led the Lutes with 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Kyle MacTaggert added 15 points and Cameron Schilling came off the bench and scored 14 points.
THE LEADER OF THE REDHAWKS: Cameron Dollar is in his third year as the head coach of the Seattle University men's basketball team. Last season, the team continued to make its mark on a national level, defeating Oregon State for the second straight year and also earning a win at Virginia. After leading the team to a 17-14 record in 2009-10, he was named Independent Coach of the Year. The squad picked up victories at Utah, at Oregon State, against Fresno State, and against Weber State during Dollar's inaugural year at the helm. He had been an assistant coach at the University of Washington under Lorenzo Romar for seven seasons. As a player, Dollar helped UCLA win the 1995 NCAA Championship at the Kingdome in Seattle.
THE RELUCTANT WARRIOR: Aaron Broussard has developed into one of the leaders of the Seattle U men's basketball team as he enters his final season with the Redhawks. Last season, he led the team in scoring and rebounding, averaging 14.5 points and 7.7 rebounds per game, earning All-Independent honors in the process. Broussard was also named to the All-Tournament Team at the Irvine subregional of the 2K Sports Classic, scoring 25 points and 26 points in back-to-back games against UC Irvine and Navy. He has scored 963 points so far in his Redhawk career, just 37 points away from becoming the 35th player in Seattle U men's basketball history to reach the 1,000-point mark.
CRACKING THE RECORD BOOKS: Sophomore guard Sterling Carter made 85 three-pointers last season, moving into third place on the Seattle University list for three-pointers made in a single season. The school record for most three-pointers in a season is currently held by Aaron Waite, who made 89 three-pointers in the 1989-90 campaign. Waite also hit 87 three-pointers during the 1990-91 season. Carter set the school record for most three-pointers attempted in a single season with 231 attempts during the 2010-11 campaign.
RETURNING TO FORM: Senior guard Cervante Burrell struggled midway through the 2010-11 season after suffering a knee injury, but he showed signs of recovery near the end of the campaign, and reports from preseason workouts signify that he is all the way back to the form he showed in 2009-10. He still finished last year fourth on the team in scoring, averaging 10.9 points per game, and he led the squad with 106 assists. Burrell also improved his free throw percentage, hitting 72.7 percent (80-of-110) of his attempts from the charity stripe last season. Burrell scored in double figures 15 times last year, including his first career double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds in a 75-68 victory at Cal State Northridge. He also scored a career-high 26 points against Washington on Feb. 22.
SCANNING THE RADIO DIAL: For the third straight season, Seattle U men's basketball games will be aired on 710 ESPN Seattle, with Dave Grosby and Gary Hill, Jr., providing the play-by-play descriptions of the action from courtside. As of right now, it is known that the broadcasts for the Nov. 22 and Dec. 14 games will be delayed until 7 p.m. Pacific time. The Dec. 1 contest against Stanford will not be broadcast on 710 ESPN due to a conflict with the Seahawks.