Portland Looks to Keep Momentum Rolling Against LMU
By Josh Horton
Dec 6, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Loyola Marymount Lions guard Anthony Ireland (3) dribbles the ball against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the second half at the Petersen Events Center. Pittsburgh won 85-68. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Portland Pilots (2-3, 10-7) at Loyola Marymount Lions (10-8, 2-4)
Date: Thursday, January 16, 2014
Location: Gersten Pavilion, Los Angeles, Calif.
Time: 7:00 PM PST
TV: None
Video: theW.tv
LiveStats: http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=33868
Last Season: Portland won both matchups
PROJECTED STARTERS
Loyola Marymount
Portland
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The Portland Pilots, who are coming off arguably their best victory in the last decade after defeating Gonzaga for the first time in the Chiles Center since 1996, will look to take their momentum into Los Angeles, Calif. with aspirations of beating the Loyola Marymount Lions on their home court.
LMU, who has hit a skid recently with the Lions dropping their last four games, are looking to get back on track and defend Gersten Pavilion. Some home cooking could do the Lions some good, considering LMU played entirely on the road during its losing streak.
Keys to the Game
Portland
Road Warriors: Portland has yet to play a game away from the Chiles Center in conference play. The WCC is looking to be a complete free-for-all this year, and defending your home court, as well as picking up some wins on the road will be crucial. The Pilots dropped 3 out of its first 5 home games, making their upcoming road-trips even more important.
The Pilots need to make plays in order to silence the opposing crowd. One way to do that is make threes. The Pilots are currently shooting 35.8 percent from three-point land this season, which will likely not get it done moving forward.
How the Pilots will perform on the road is a bit of a mystery. The Pilots have played only three games on the road this season, and hold a 1-2 record away from the Chiles Center. The Pilots two losses came against Michigan State and Oregon State – two major programs – and their win came against crosstown rival Portland State.
Loyola Marymount
LMU starting backcourt to starting frontcourt: “A little help please”: A few quick facts for everyone: The LMU starting backcourt – which features only two players opposed to the frontcourt, which includes the other three – accounted for 67.9 percent of the Lions starting lineup point output during the Lions losing streak. LMU freshman Gabe Levin has not posted double-digit points once either.
It’s pretty simple; LMU needs a lot more production from its big men in order to end this losing streak. Too much attention is being paid to Anthony Ireland and Evan Payne, since the Lions do not have a consistent scoring threat down in the low post. In particular, Gabe Levin needs to play much better. His success, along with that of the other LMU bigs, could be crucial for the Lions in the near future.
Matchup of the Game
The wily Vet versus the freshman
Portland and Loyola Marymount are in different phases of point guard play. Portland has an upcoming point guard – freshman Alec Wintering – while LMU features a seasoned point guard that has been towards the top in the WCC in points and assists the last few years.
This is possibly the toughest test Alec Wintering will have seen in his young college basketball career. Unless head coach Eric Reveno decides to mix-it up and run a zone or put someone else on Ireland, Wintering will go toe-to-toe with the ultra-quick high scoring guard that is Ireland.
Prediction
Portland has a tendency to be unpredictable and it is tough to project what form of the Pilots will come out. Will it be the team that lost against Montana State or North Texas? Will it be the team that knocked off Gonzaga?
I say a version of the team that beat Gonzaga last Thursday comes out. Portland 82, LMU 73.