Saturday, December 14
7:00 p.m.
University of San Francisco
vs
Nicholls State University
Kruize Pinkins ranks second in the WCC in offensive rebounds.
Dons Return to Action Saturday vs. Nicholls State
12/12/2013 9:32:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Follow USF Basketball on Facebook | Purchase Tickets Here
Game #10
USF Dons (5-4, 0-0 WCC) vs. Nicholls State (2-4, 0-0 Southland Conference)
Saturday, Dec. 14, 2013 • 7:00 p.m.
Memorial Gymnasium • San Francisco, Calif.
Series Record: First Meeting
Last Meeting: First Meeting
Audio/Video Streaming: USFDons.com (Pat Olson, Play-by-Play; Jim Brovelli, Analyst)
Television: None
Watch the Game Here
Watch Inside USF Basketball With Rex Walters
Complete USF Game Notes (PDF)
The Dandy Dons
TIP-OFF: Following a two-week break, the USF Dons (5-4, 0-0 WCC) return to action Saturday night to face the Nicholls State Colonels (2-4) of the Southland Conference. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. in Memorial Gymnasium. The Dons are coming off a 90-76 home loss to Illinois State on Nov. 30, while the Colonels defeated Loyola-New Orleans, 87-62 last Saturday for their second consecutive victory after opening the campaign with four straight losses.
SERIES HISTORY: Saturday's game marks the first-ever meeting between USF and Nicholls State. The Dons are 7-1 all-time vs. current schools from the Southland Conference, including Lamar (2-0), McNeese State (1-0), Southeastern Louisiana (2-0), Stephen F. Austin (2-0) and Texas-Corpus Christie (1-1).
LAST TIME OUT: USF dropped a 90-76 decision to Illinois State on Nov. 30 in the Golden Gate Challenge. The Dons trailed at halftime, 34-28 and watched Illinois State can four straight three's coming out of intermission to build a 16-point lead at 46-30 USF could get no closer than 10 and trailed by as many as 24 points in the second half. USF shot 50 percent from the field, but were just 4-of-27 from three-point range. The Redbirds made 13-of-27 3's, including 11-of-17 in the second half. Tim Derksen led all USF scorers with 18 points while Mark Tollefsen added 17.
THE SCHEDULE: After playing nine games in a span of 22 days, USF will play just three games in 22 days beginning with the game against Nicholls State on Saturday. After a road game at St. John's on Dec. 18, USF will wind up its non-conference schedule on Dec. 22 with a home game against American.
HOME AND ROAD: USF is 4-3 at home this season and is 12-10 on its homecourt dating back to last season. The Dons were 41-18 (.694) on the Memorial Gym hardwood between the 2008-09 and 2011-12 seasons. However, USF is 5-1 in its last six road contests dating back to last season.
HIGH-SCORING DONS: USF has scored 90 or more points in five of its first nine games and are now averaging 85.2 points a game, which ranks third in the WCC. The Dons opened the season by scoring 90+ points in four consecutive games, marking the first time in school history USF had scored 90+ in straight games to start a season.
BALANCED SCORING: USF has four players on its current roster averaging in double figures after nine games, with senior Cole Dickerson topping the team's scoring chart with a 14.9 point per game average. The top five scorers on the current roster are averaging between 14.9 and 9.6 ppg. With 18 points vs. Illinois State, Tim Derksen became the fifth player in nine games to take team-high scoring honors.
FROM THE FLOOR: The Dons have shot at least 50 percent from the floor in five games this season and rank third in the WCC in field goal percentage at 49.1 percent. Three starters - Mark Tollefsen (55.3), Cole Dickerson (51.0) and Matt Glover (50.0) - are shooting 50 percent or better from the field, while junior Kruize Pinkins is shooting 55.8 percent coming off the bench.
THE THREE-BALL: After making 28-of-69 (40.5) of its three-point tries over the first three games of the year, USF is shooting just 33.8 percent (46-for-136) from beyond the arc over its last nine games. The Dons rank seventh in the WCC in three-point field goal percentage at 36.1 (74-for-205) and are tied for 45th nationally in team three-pointers attempted. USF led the West Coast Conference and ranked fifth nationally in three-point field goal percentage a year ago, connecting on 40.1 percent (249-for-621) of its long distance attempts. The Dons have set single-season school records for three-pointers made each of the last three seasons.
ON THE LINE: The Dons are shooting just 63.7 percent (151-for-237) from the line this season, which ranks last in the WCC. After making 75 percent (33-for-44) of its charity tries in the first two games of the season, the Dons have made just 118-of-193 (61.1) of its free throws over the last seven games, including a 10-for-23 effort its last time out against Illinois State.
BOARD WORK: USF has outrebounded its first six opponents by an average of 36.7 to 32.3, quite an improvement from last year when the Dons finished eighth in the conference in rebounding (32.5) and ninth in rebound margin (-2.5), despite having the top rebounder in the WCC in Cole Dickerson (9.8). The Dons have won the battle of the boards in six of nine games this season and rank fifth in the WCC in rebound margin (+4.3). Dickerson currently leads the team in rebounding with a 8.2 average, with Kruize Pinkins (6.2), Mark Tollefsen (5.1) and Matt Glover (4.3) all averaging more than 4.0 boards a game. Dickerson (3), Tollefsen (1) and Pinkins (1) have all recorded double-doubles this season.
SECOND CHANCES: USF is averaging 14.1 offensive boards a game, which is the second best average in the WCC behind Loyola Marymount (14.6). Last year, the Dons averaged just 8.2 offensive rebounds a game, which ranked last in the WCC. The difference? Kruize Pinkins, who is averaging 2.2 o-rebounds a game, the second best mark in the WCC.
THE BENCH: USF's bench is averaging 27.6 points (249 total) a game thus far this season. In four of the Dons' nine games this season, a non-starter has taken game high scoring honors (Kruize Pinkins 3; Chris Adams 1). Pinkins is averaging 13.6 points off the bench this season.
DEFENSIVELY: The Dons have allowed 90 point or more in all four of their losses this season, including a season-high 100 points at Oregon. USF is yielding a conference-high 80.2 points a game this season and also rank last in the conference in field goal defense (48.7) and three-point defense (41.7). USF ranks 316th of 345 Division I teams in scoring defense, 333rd in 3-point field goal defense and 324th in opponent field goal percentage.
STOP! THIEF!: USF is averaging 8.0 steals per game, which leads the WCC and is tied for 50th nationally. Sophomore Avry Holmes is averaging 1.6 steals per game, which ranks sixth in the conference, while Matt Glover ranks eighth with a 1.4 per game average.
DICKERSON'S NUMBERS: In three games in the Golden Gate Challenge against Sonoma State, Vermont and Illinois State, Cole Dickerson averaged 21.3 points and 7.7 rebounds a game, while shooting 61.1 (22-for-36) from the field, including 53.8 percent (7-for-13) from three-point range. He opened the tournament by scoring 26 points against Sonoma State and came back two nights later to score a season high 28 points vs. Vermont and finished with a 13-point effort against Illinois State. Dickerson, who averaged a team-high 15.2 points a game last season, currently leads the Dons in scoring with a 14.9 ppg mark.
TIM'S TIME: Sophomore Tim Derksen also enjoyed a productive Golden Gate Challenge, averaging 13.0 points and 3.0 rebounds while shooting 72.7 percent (16-of-22) from the field. Derksen scored a season-high 18 points against Illinois State to become the fifth Dons player to take team-high scoring honors this season.
THREE'S BETTER THAN TWO: In nine games this season, junior Chris Adams is shooting 42.1 percent (16-for-38) from long distance. Of his 70 career field goals, 62 have come from beyond the arc.
DICKERSON'S DOUBLES: Senior forward Cole Dickerson posted his third double-double of the season and 17th of his career against Sonoma State, finishing with 26 points to go along with 10 rebouds. Dickerson finished with conference-high 13 double-doubles (points-rebounds) last season, a figure that ranked 24th nationally among Division I players. He was also a point or rebound away from a double-double in five other games. Dickerson pulled down 10 or more rebounds in 14 games, including a career-high 20 boards against Montana on Nov. 30.
Game #10
USF Dons (5-4, 0-0 WCC) vs. Nicholls State (2-4, 0-0 Southland Conference)
Saturday, Dec. 14, 2013 • 7:00 p.m.
Memorial Gymnasium • San Francisco, Calif.
Series Record: First Meeting
Last Meeting: First Meeting
Audio/Video Streaming: USFDons.com (Pat Olson, Play-by-Play; Jim Brovelli, Analyst)
Television: None
Watch the Game Here
Watch Inside USF Basketball With Rex Walters
Complete USF Game Notes (PDF)
The Dandy Dons
- Now 5-4 on the season after suffering a 90-76 home loss to Illinois State on Nov. 30 in the Golden Gate Challenge...posted wins over Sonoma State (96-73) and Vermont (72-61) to start the tournament.
- After a two-week break, face Nicholls State of the Southland Conference on Saturday in the first-ever meeting between the two schools...Colonels have won two straight after opening the season with four consecutive losses.
- Are 4-3 at home this season and 12-11 on the Memorial Gym hardwood over the last two campaigns.
- Have scored 90+ points five times this season and are the WCC's third-highest scoring team averaging 85.2 ppg...however, are allowing a 80.2 points per game, most in the WCC.
- Also rank last in the conference in field goal defense (48.7) and 3-point defense (41.7).
- Have allowed 90 points or more in all four losses this season, including a season-high 100 points at Oregon on Nov. 24.
- Have shot 50 percent or better from the floor in five of nine games this season and are shooting 49.1 percent on the season, third-best in the WCC.
- Made just 4-of-27 (14.8 percent) of its three-point tries against Illinois State and are now shooting 36.1 percent from long distance this season, sixth best in the WCC...shooting 33.8 percent (46-for-136) from beyond the arc over the last six games.
- Shooting 60.1 percent (95-for-158) from the line over the last six games, dropping the season percentage to its present mark of 63.7, which ranks last in the WCC.
- Have outrebounded six of its first nine opponents and hold a 36.7-32.3 advantage on the boards nine games into the season...were outrebounded by over 2.0 boards a game last year.
- Top five scorers are averaging between 14.9 and 9.6 points per game...five different players have taken team high-scoring honors in nine games this season.
- USF's bench is averaging 27.6 ppg (249 total) this season...the Dons have led in scoring by a non-starer in four of nine games on the year (Kruize Pinkins 3; Chris Adams 1).
- Senior Cole Dickerson is averaging 21.3 points and 7.7 rebounds while shoorting 61.1 percent (22-for-36) from the field, including 53.8 percent (7-for-13), from 3-point range, over his last three games.
- Sophomore Tim Derksen is 16-for-22 (72.7) from the floor and is averaging 13.0 ppg over the last three contests.
- Over the last six games, junior Kruize Pinkins is averaging 14.7 points (88 total), 7.5 rebounds (45 total) and is shooting 66 percent (33-for-50) from the field...Pinkins ranks second in the WCC in offensive rebounds per game at 3.3.
- Will play its third and last non-conference road game of the season next Wednesday at St. John's.
TIP-OFF: Following a two-week break, the USF Dons (5-4, 0-0 WCC) return to action Saturday night to face the Nicholls State Colonels (2-4) of the Southland Conference. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. in Memorial Gymnasium. The Dons are coming off a 90-76 home loss to Illinois State on Nov. 30, while the Colonels defeated Loyola-New Orleans, 87-62 last Saturday for their second consecutive victory after opening the campaign with four straight losses.
SERIES HISTORY: Saturday's game marks the first-ever meeting between USF and Nicholls State. The Dons are 7-1 all-time vs. current schools from the Southland Conference, including Lamar (2-0), McNeese State (1-0), Southeastern Louisiana (2-0), Stephen F. Austin (2-0) and Texas-Corpus Christie (1-1).
LAST TIME OUT: USF dropped a 90-76 decision to Illinois State on Nov. 30 in the Golden Gate Challenge. The Dons trailed at halftime, 34-28 and watched Illinois State can four straight three's coming out of intermission to build a 16-point lead at 46-30 USF could get no closer than 10 and trailed by as many as 24 points in the second half. USF shot 50 percent from the field, but were just 4-of-27 from three-point range. The Redbirds made 13-of-27 3's, including 11-of-17 in the second half. Tim Derksen led all USF scorers with 18 points while Mark Tollefsen added 17.
THE SCHEDULE: After playing nine games in a span of 22 days, USF will play just three games in 22 days beginning with the game against Nicholls State on Saturday. After a road game at St. John's on Dec. 18, USF will wind up its non-conference schedule on Dec. 22 with a home game against American.
HOME AND ROAD: USF is 4-3 at home this season and is 12-10 on its homecourt dating back to last season. The Dons were 41-18 (.694) on the Memorial Gym hardwood between the 2008-09 and 2011-12 seasons. However, USF is 5-1 in its last six road contests dating back to last season.
HIGH-SCORING DONS: USF has scored 90 or more points in five of its first nine games and are now averaging 85.2 points a game, which ranks third in the WCC. The Dons opened the season by scoring 90+ points in four consecutive games, marking the first time in school history USF had scored 90+ in straight games to start a season.
BALANCED SCORING: USF has four players on its current roster averaging in double figures after nine games, with senior Cole Dickerson topping the team's scoring chart with a 14.9 point per game average. The top five scorers on the current roster are averaging between 14.9 and 9.6 ppg. With 18 points vs. Illinois State, Tim Derksen became the fifth player in nine games to take team-high scoring honors.
FROM THE FLOOR: The Dons have shot at least 50 percent from the floor in five games this season and rank third in the WCC in field goal percentage at 49.1 percent. Three starters - Mark Tollefsen (55.3), Cole Dickerson (51.0) and Matt Glover (50.0) - are shooting 50 percent or better from the field, while junior Kruize Pinkins is shooting 55.8 percent coming off the bench.
THE THREE-BALL: After making 28-of-69 (40.5) of its three-point tries over the first three games of the year, USF is shooting just 33.8 percent (46-for-136) from beyond the arc over its last nine games. The Dons rank seventh in the WCC in three-point field goal percentage at 36.1 (74-for-205) and are tied for 45th nationally in team three-pointers attempted. USF led the West Coast Conference and ranked fifth nationally in three-point field goal percentage a year ago, connecting on 40.1 percent (249-for-621) of its long distance attempts. The Dons have set single-season school records for three-pointers made each of the last three seasons.
ON THE LINE: The Dons are shooting just 63.7 percent (151-for-237) from the line this season, which ranks last in the WCC. After making 75 percent (33-for-44) of its charity tries in the first two games of the season, the Dons have made just 118-of-193 (61.1) of its free throws over the last seven games, including a 10-for-23 effort its last time out against Illinois State.
BOARD WORK: USF has outrebounded its first six opponents by an average of 36.7 to 32.3, quite an improvement from last year when the Dons finished eighth in the conference in rebounding (32.5) and ninth in rebound margin (-2.5), despite having the top rebounder in the WCC in Cole Dickerson (9.8). The Dons have won the battle of the boards in six of nine games this season and rank fifth in the WCC in rebound margin (+4.3). Dickerson currently leads the team in rebounding with a 8.2 average, with Kruize Pinkins (6.2), Mark Tollefsen (5.1) and Matt Glover (4.3) all averaging more than 4.0 boards a game. Dickerson (3), Tollefsen (1) and Pinkins (1) have all recorded double-doubles this season.
SECOND CHANCES: USF is averaging 14.1 offensive boards a game, which is the second best average in the WCC behind Loyola Marymount (14.6). Last year, the Dons averaged just 8.2 offensive rebounds a game, which ranked last in the WCC. The difference? Kruize Pinkins, who is averaging 2.2 o-rebounds a game, the second best mark in the WCC.
THE BENCH: USF's bench is averaging 27.6 points (249 total) a game thus far this season. In four of the Dons' nine games this season, a non-starter has taken game high scoring honors (Kruize Pinkins 3; Chris Adams 1). Pinkins is averaging 13.6 points off the bench this season.
DEFENSIVELY: The Dons have allowed 90 point or more in all four of their losses this season, including a season-high 100 points at Oregon. USF is yielding a conference-high 80.2 points a game this season and also rank last in the conference in field goal defense (48.7) and three-point defense (41.7). USF ranks 316th of 345 Division I teams in scoring defense, 333rd in 3-point field goal defense and 324th in opponent field goal percentage.
STOP! THIEF!: USF is averaging 8.0 steals per game, which leads the WCC and is tied for 50th nationally. Sophomore Avry Holmes is averaging 1.6 steals per game, which ranks sixth in the conference, while Matt Glover ranks eighth with a 1.4 per game average.
DICKERSON'S NUMBERS: In three games in the Golden Gate Challenge against Sonoma State, Vermont and Illinois State, Cole Dickerson averaged 21.3 points and 7.7 rebounds a game, while shooting 61.1 (22-for-36) from the field, including 53.8 percent (7-for-13) from three-point range. He opened the tournament by scoring 26 points against Sonoma State and came back two nights later to score a season high 28 points vs. Vermont and finished with a 13-point effort against Illinois State. Dickerson, who averaged a team-high 15.2 points a game last season, currently leads the Dons in scoring with a 14.9 ppg mark.
TIM'S TIME: Sophomore Tim Derksen also enjoyed a productive Golden Gate Challenge, averaging 13.0 points and 3.0 rebounds while shooting 72.7 percent (16-of-22) from the field. Derksen scored a season-high 18 points against Illinois State to become the fifth Dons player to take team-high scoring honors this season.
THREE'S BETTER THAN TWO: In nine games this season, junior Chris Adams is shooting 42.1 percent (16-for-38) from long distance. Of his 70 career field goals, 62 have come from beyond the arc.
DICKERSON'S DOUBLES: Senior forward Cole Dickerson posted his third double-double of the season and 17th of his career against Sonoma State, finishing with 26 points to go along with 10 rebouds. Dickerson finished with conference-high 13 double-doubles (points-rebounds) last season, a figure that ranked 24th nationally among Division I players. He was also a point or rebound away from a double-double in five other games. Dickerson pulled down 10 or more rebounds in 14 games, including a career-high 20 boards against Montana on Nov. 30.
MBB | USF vs. Oregon State Postgame w/ Chris Gerlufsen, Ryan Beasley and Tyrone Riley IV
Monday, March 09
MBB | USF vs. Portland Postgame w/ Chris Gerlufsen, David Fuchs and Tyrone Riley IV
Sunday, March 08
MBB | USF vs. Santa Clara Postgame w/ Chris Gerlufsen
Sunday, February 22
MBB | USF vs. Gonzaga Postgame w/ Chris Gerlufsen
Thursday, February 19
