CALIFORNIA DREAMING: After all the snow and ice that affected the area around Seattle University last week, the men's basketball team welcomes a chance to fly to California, making the first of two trips to the state this season for a Tuesday night contest against UC Irvine. The Redhawks have won two straight games and look to maintain that momentum into a stretch of three road games in the next four contests. All three previous meetings between the two teams have been close.
PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP
Seattle University
- Guard: #5 Cervante Burrell - 5-10, 170 - Sr.
- Guard: #10 Sterling Carter - 6-0, 200 - So.
- Forward: #2 Aaron Broussard - 6-5, 225 - Sr.
- Forward: #25 Eric Wallace - 6-7, 233 - Sr.
- Forward: #31 T.J. Diop - 6-8, 215, Jr.
THE UTAH STATE GAME: Four players scored in double figures as Seattle University continued to perform on both ends of the floor in picking up its second straight home victory, a 73-66 win over Utah State Thursday night at KeyArena at Seattle Center. Aaron Broussard led Seattle U with 17 points, seven rebounds, and two steals, while Sterling Carter hit four three-pointers for a 12-point performance. Eric Wallace and Prince Obasi scored 10 points apiece, and Cervante Burrell contributed seven points, five rebounds, and five assists. Seattle U shot 53.2 percent (25-of-47) from the field, including 8-of-14 from behind the three-point line, and 65.2 percent (15-of-23) from the free throw line. The Redhawks won the rebounding battle, 35-24, which helped overcome 17 Seattle U turnovers that led to 23 points for the Aggies.
NATIONAL STATISTICAL RANKINGS: Senior Aaron Broussard is 35th in the country in scoring average at 18.5 points per game. As a team, the Redhawks are tied for 13th in Division I in rebounding, averaging 40.0 rebounds per game.
SCOUTING UC IRVINE: The Anteaters come into Tuesday's game with a 6-13 overall record after losing to Cal State Fullerton Saturday, 92-84. UC Irvine is just 3-4 at home so far this season. The Anteaters are scoring 66.4 points per game and giving up 71.4 points per contest. As a team, UC Irvine is shooting 40.1 percent from the field, including 37.0 percent from behind the three-point line, and 65.8 percent from the free throw line. Daman Starring leads the team in scoring, averaging 11.9 points per game, with Michael Wilder close behind at 11.7 points per contest. Wilder is also tied with Will Davis II for the rebounding lead at 5.5 boards per game, with Chris McNealy and Adam Folker both averaging 5.4 rebounds per game. McNealy leads the Anteaters with 60 assists, with Derick Flowers right behind him with 59 assists.
SEATTLE U VS. UC IRVINE: This is the fourth straight year Seattle U is facing UC Irvine, with the Redhawks holding a 2-1 series edge. The first meeting took place in Irvine Dec. 16, 2008. With Seattle U ahead by just one and UC Irvine holding possession, Mike Boxley made a steal and layup, and then he grabbed a defensive rebound, drew a foul, and made two free throws to give the Redhawks a 55-52 victory over the Anteaters. Back in Seattle Dec. 15, 2009, 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, 82-81. Garcia notched a double-double with 29 points and 13 rebounds, while Alex Jones came off the bench and contributed 16 points. Last season, during the Irvine subregional of the 2K Sports Classic, the Anteaters earned their first victory over the Redhawks, earning an 85-77 victory Nov. 20, 2010. Aaron Broussard led Seattle U with 25 points and nine rebounds, with Jones contributing 19 points and Garrett Lever pulling down 10 rebounds. Patrick Rembert led UC Irvine with 21 points, and Darren Moore notched a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds.
IT STARTS WITH AB: After passing the 1,000-point mark Nov. 22 at Montana State, senior Aaron Broussard is working his way up the Seattle U all-time scoring list. He currently has 1,278 career points, currently 17th on the all-time list. The next name on the list for Broussard to pass is Carl Ervin, currently in 16th place with 1,304 career points from 1976 to 1980. Broussard also has 148 career steals, passing Kenny Bush into fourth place on the career steals list. Broussard was named the Jesuit Player of the Week by the Jesuit Basketball Spotlight after his all-tournament performance in the Elgin Baylor Classic. He has also been named Independent Player of the Week by College Sports Madness twice this season, including Monday after scoring a career-high 34 points against Eastern Washington and following that with a 17-point, seven-rebound effort against Utah State.
RETURN TO FORM: Two Redhawks who had not played in a collegiate basketball game since the 2009-10 season are having significant impacts on this year's Seattle U squad. Sophomore Clarence Trent sat out the 2010-11 campaign after transfering from the University of Washington. This season, he is second on the team in scoring with 10.3 points per game and third in rebounding with 4.7 boards per contest. After Seattle U seemingly did not have many dunks last season, Trent has added athleticism and excitement to the program this year. He has reached double figures in scoring nine times, including 16-point efforts at Portland State and at Arkansas State as well as three 15-point performances. Eric Wallace, a senior transfer from DePaul, spent the 2010-11 season rehabbing after suffering a severe leg injury during preseason workouts. Since coming west, Wallace has averaged 9.6 points and a team-high 7.4 rebounds per game. He scored 19 points against Nebraska Omaha and 18 points in games at Montana State and at Utah Valley. Wallace has notched two double-doubles so far this season: 12 points and 15 rebounds against Stanford, and 12 points and 13 rebounds at Arkansas State.
FROM WAY DOWNTOWN: In less than two seasons, Sterling Carter has already moved into eighth place on Seattle U's all-time list for made three-pointers with 124. He is five behind Bernard Seals' career total of 129 made three-pointers, currently seventh-most in school history.
BACK AT JIMMY'S: The Cameron Dollar Coaches Show returns to Jimmy's on Broadway Monday, Jan. 30, beginning at 9 p.m. Hosted by Dave Grosby and Gary Hill, Jr., the show features interviews with Coach Dollar, a selected player, and a selected member of the basketball staff.