Cal State Baskersfield and the Roadrunners

Up next Saturday night February 26th and Rowdy the Roadrunner.  Truly Rowdy looks like a roadrunner so that's cool - I could see having a little miniature one in my dorm if I was a student at CSUB.  They are 9-16 and like SU play as an Independent and if you looked lately we are tops as an Independent!  Fortunately for us CSUB is on a 1-10 losing streak since January 1.  That's good news.  Where is Bakersfield?

Bakersfield lies approximately 100 miles (160 km) north of Los Angeles (about a 1½-hour drive on I-5 and State Route 99) and about 300 miles (480 km) southeast of the state capital, Sacramento (about a 4½-hour drive on State Route 99).  The rest you can "Google." if you are interested.  Now this is not a push over game for SU. First, you have tp play on the road and that is not an easy win, unless you are Washington last week, they were not playing on the road, they were playing down the road.  Second, the stats are pretty equal - Roadrunners score 69.8 ppg, Redhawks shoot 68.5 ppg and the rest of the stat line is pretty close as well.  It will be an interesting game, hopefully SU is still riding high after their moral victory against the UW.

Tune into the game on KIRO AM 710 ESPN to hear all the action

Yes, I know not to exciting - but I have my down days too.

The Little kid on the block did good!

UW 95 SU 74 round three.  This is Isabella most likely groaning in pain as Matthew Bryan-Amaning dunks in front of me. I put the game on FSN for my dogs to watch as I was, yes, in the front row live. 

Little independent SU fared well in all areas except for the win column.   11,386 people, a respectable score and great student turnout and hustle on the court by all the Redhawks made this a great city event.  Even the Mayor was there!

Now I am a little groggy for the 'Redhawk' faithful continued through the night well into the wee hours of the morning, also in tow was my Husky friend - who I was able to swat with my "SU Rally Towel" many times as my favorite tactic to beat down my Husky friend decked out in purple in the first half.  Yet, I do have a large bruise on my right shoulder from his slaps witnessing many shots like the one below by the Dawgs.

All in all as the papers reported, as the fans held strong and as I said a game reuniting two kids in the sandbox after being separated for so many years - this intercity rivalry is growing and will continue to grow and it will be good for the schools and good for the city.

 "Ouch, not another dunk over my Redhawks," says Isabella. Have to admit though, those dunks were pretty amazing sitting in the front row!

Love my Redhawks!  You made us proud last night.

Next up Cal State Bakersfield Feb 26th back on the road again - hear it live on KIRO ESPN AM 710 ESPN with Groz and Gary Hill.

Isabella and I will do a scouting report after we recover from our hangover.  Wear Red, Scream Loud and Be Proud

SU Redhawks vs. UW Huskies a "Three Part Series" Part 3 - the finale

It is exactly 8:10 am on Tuesday February 22nd so that makes it 11 hours until SU tips off against UW at KeyArena in a game circled on many fans calendars broadcast on FSN hosted by the smok'in hot Jen Mueller who will be standing just to my left courtside.

As expected and which I am grateful for is the great coverage in the Seattle Sports world of writers and bloggers for the kind words written about my beloved Redhawks and the program and for the expected more than 10,000 fans coming to KeyArena tonight as well.  I am also thankful to all my Husky fans who have been kind enough to not trash me, nor the Redhawks (I have a new appreciation for you) understanding as I said in a previous blog that this is about two kids reuniting in the sand box or on the hardwood, which ever metaphor you would like.  This also is about the city getting excited about a fun intercity rivalry now in its third year.

Year one in 2009 I sat at the end of the teams bench in Hec Ed and watched the Dawgs  win 80-67 it was fun and not so fun.  Year two,  I sat in row three behind the SU bench and was horrified by the drudging UW gave SU in a foul laden marathon game by 47 points. 

Today is different.  Today the game is played in KeyArena, the Redhawk's Elgin Baylor home court and the Redhawk Nation will rise after 31 years to host in front of the city and on the television and will be proud no matter the outcome.  I really don't think any of us wearing red care of the outcome - we just are glad to be back in the situation - back where the historic program belongs - in the limelight!  So I am glad the Husky Nation has helped the cause.

Here's my schedule for SU RED Tuesday
1 pm - Take dogs to park all wearing RED
3 pm - Change clothes into more RED
5 pm - Wait for Husky friend to arrive to take him to game
5:05 pm - Put on Red Converse High Tops they are 6-3 when I wear them to game
5:30 pm - Arrive at KeyArena and attend pregame rally
6:45 pm - Enter KeyArena and take courtside seats and wave to Jen Mueller
7:05 pm - Stand and clap for Redhawks
7:10 pm - Watch a 31 year history gap in the remaking
9 pm - Head to Buckley's with Redhawk Nation and bask in the moment - which moment TBD!

Here's a little history of this renewed passionate rivalry gratis from SU SID Jason Behenna -

SEATTLE U VS. WASHINGTON: This will be the 26th meeting all-time between Seattle University and Washington, with the Huskies holding a 21-4 series advantage. Washington spoiled Seattle U's first-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament with a 92-70 victory in the 1953 NCAA West Regional in Corvallis, Ore. The intracity rivals did not meet again until the 1969-70 season, when the two schools split the season series with each team winning on their own home floor. Washington won ten straight games from 1971-76 before Seattle U broke through at the start of the 1976-77 season (78-64). Seattle U's only victory at Washington came at the start of the 1978-79 campaign, an 82-78 victory. Washington has won the last five meetings, including an 87-60 victory on March 3, 2009, in the first game between the two schools in 29 years. Last season, Washington jumped out to a 30-3 lead halfway through the first half on its way to a 123-76 victory at Hec-Edmundson Pavilion.

That's it from the Chieftain Chatter and Redhawk Report.  7:10 pm KIRO AM 710 ESPN & FSN

SU Redhawks vs. UW Huskies a "Three Part Series" Part 2

Part two.  Yes, I am sitting with a Husky tomorrow and yes he will be wearing purple and yes it's OK.  Principal Adams as I like to refer to him (that's because he is a Principal) has been a friend of mine since Jr High.  He and his lovely wife Kim (the better half) both graduated from the UW and I really can't hold that against them because they are lovely people.  The only time he wasn't a lovely person was when he was staying with my family and destroyed my brothers Lego airplanes and broke our ping pong table, other than that he has been good.

Now unlike the sometimes nasty (most times really) WSU/UW rivalry, we as Jesuit educated people and the renewed rivalry between SU and UW gets to be kind of "touchy feelgood" only because it's like old friends whom have been apart for a long time and now are back together not to unite the state, but to unite the city - Mountlake vs. Capital Hill, Monster PAC 10 vs. Little Independent.  Realistic high basketball IQ people know it is going to take a few more years before SU can begin to trash talk the Huskies. 

This is about reuniting the kids to play in the sandbox, the hype, the press, the pregame party, the battle at the Needle.  Now, let's be serious, none of you at the game wearing purple are going to be my friends for 40 minutes so let us get that straight. Yet I am glad you came to the party and we our creating an exciting new competition for the city of Seattle & Queen Ann businesses since Howard Schultz blew the last one.

To the right is a picture taken by me at my friend Principal Adams house on Lake Tapps - It was once a big tree that needed to be cut down and so he as a Husky stalwart had the base carved into a UW Husky Dog.  I being a stalwart SU Chieftain...opps I mean Redhawk (whatever) decided to dress up the Husky in the spirit of fun SU competition.  So this is what the renewed rivalry is all about - friends coming together with community of spirit, practical jokes and that is why Principal Adams is sitting courtside with me. I wearing red and he wearing purple.

How will the Redhawks compete tomorrow Tuesday February 22nd at KeyArena in front of 10,000 fans?  That my blog readers you will find out tomorrow morning for it will be all SU Tuesday for me!   Don't forget the pregame rally that night at 5:30 in the Center Pavilion and yes, purple is welcome - but don't expect me to talk to you.  Check out the Cameron Dollar Radio show tonight on KIRO 710 AM ESPN  8 pm with Groz & Gary Hill live at Jimmy's on Broadway.

SU Redhawks vs. UW Huskies a "Three Part Series"

Part One.  I have Courtside Seats and you don't.  Yes that is not me to the left, but Steven Tyler sits pretty close in the Boston Garden in relation to where I sit in KeyArena and yes, I can make that face when Sterling Carter sinks a three pointer! - Of course, then my ribs get poked by Rothrock's elbow.

Now what is this "Three Part Series," about?  It is about history, passion, building the monster, friends and bringing the community together, growing boys to men and a whole lot of other stuff.  So there will be one blog tonight, one blog Monday afternoon and one blog Tuesday morning - which will be devoted to Seattle University Men's Basketball for 24 hours - no job search, no laundry, uh but yes I will need to feed the dogs.

There are five people(s) that are the reason I love Seattle U basketball and why I will sit in the seats I will have for the rest of eternity and why I believe we will be in the NCAA Finals and I will be sitting there too!

1. Former eight year SU coach Joe Callero whom I have know for 38 years who had a dream and jump started the resurgence (I love that word) back to Division I basketball.

2. Athletic Director Bill Hogan who has been a tireless mentor to me and leader to the program and is a kick in the ass to hang out with. (Can I say that NCAA?)

3. Now present Coach Cameron Dollar, who looks at you with superman x-ray vision and makes you freeze to listen to his words.  Who continues the vision, work ethic and mission of building the historic program back to where it belongs or even farther.

4. A special man - John Dougherty who in the 1960's as the President of the Tomahawk Club for SU sat in the exact same seats (then the Coliseum) on the court that I do - as I am the President of the Courtside Club in alumni and community support for the program to resurgence.  John is another tireless warrior to the program.  By the way my seats kick ass!  Just ask the referees.

5. The alumni.  So many great relationships have sprung from the unity that I may have never discovered, the O'Brien's, the Grimm Brothers, Steve Looney and crew, Terry Thomas, Matt Moran, and Mr. Elbow Rothrock, Bill Eisminger, Anita Willis-Crawford and more and more and more.  Look, this ain't no Academy Award speech here so you get the drift I can't list you all.

The point, Tuesday February 22nd SU host the University of Washington Huskies  in my house KeyArena and I really can't trash them for I have a very high basketball IQ and they are a formidable opponent with a great history in the past with us; which why the renewed rivalry now in year three has brought SU's program back and all the five people(s) listed above for me to love Seattle University Basketball and Seattle University!  And you should too!

Part two on Monday afternoon - "Who gets to sit with me?"

Don't forget the Cameron Dollar show Monday Feb 21st on KIRO AM 710 ESPN with David Grosby and Gary Hill 8 pm at Jimmy's on Broadway.

Yeah. I know this was a pretty "sappy" part one but I believe!

All Hail to Garrett Lever

OK, this was an ugly game from a statistical point.  SU 60 Northern Illinois 48 - but SU held NIU to only 12 points the first half!  Both teams shot in and around the 30% percentile.  But a "W" is a "W" in the win column and the Redhawks showed once again that having a lead at the half they can pull out a "W."  Now 8-2.

Now lets really talk about the keys to the game for SU -

Yes, it's Mr. Defense, Garrett Lever who held the fifth nations scorer Xavier Silas to six points - What?  Get out! Yes, can you believe it? Silas averages 25.6 points a game, he only had six and spent most of the time on the sidelines.  Yep,  So I don't care if Lever averages 3 or so ppg.  I care he is a defensive, "you ain't going to get that ball in the hoop," and "don't try to pass that rock," monster.  Hello Isaiah Thomas of the purple regime at UW ( coming up next) get real!   SU traveled to the Midwest as the only team in the ESPN Bracket Buster series to do that out of their region and the only team as an Independent invited and won!  So suck it WCC!

Quote of the day from Donald Dollar (assistant coach and dad)  on ESPN Radio for next weeks game against the University of Washington "We are going to shock the world."

So it will take me a day or so to formalize an intelligent plan for the next blog coming up with the renewed rivalry and people are going to pack KeyArena (est 10,000) and this will be a big TEST for my beloved Redhawks, but you know what..."I believe we can 'shock' the world!"  Ask Oregon State, ask Virgina and ask that dude from the Washington Post - get out?  Really! Yes he really wrote about SU.  Redhawk Nation on the rise!

Come to Jimmy's on Broadway for the Cameron Dollar show on Monday Feb 21st at 8 pm or hear it on KIRO 710 AM ESPN with my buddies the Groz and Gary Hill then watch Capital Hill battle Mountlake on Tuesday in my house KeyArena Feb 22nd and yes, I will be wearing the Red Converse!  Goseattleu.com for tickets.

ESPN Bracket Busters here we come to Northern Illinois U

NIU is where?  Lets see, you fly into Chicago then you drive somewhere (Dekab Ill.  What the?) for an hour plus, maybe more due to snow and then you find the Northern Illinois University Huskies in Podunk ville. Then you run into the guy to the left, a ridiculous looking midget mascot.  Rudy, you rule over that guy...and frankly you don't rule over many.

Now NIU plays in the Mid American Conference who has 12 teams and two divisions with teams like Western Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Ohio (no, not the really good one) and a host of other Podunk (that's my favorite new word) schools.  The Huskies are 7-17 in play and 3-9 in the conference but let us not look past the farm boys, they breed them big in the mid west and NIU has played formidable teams as in Temple, Missouri and a common opponent in Utah Valley (which we beat in Key Arena) NIU has lost seven of their last eight games with a great losing streak of six.  SU needs to meet more teams with stats like that.

What is the ESPN Bracket Buster?  In lay man's terms it is a hyped up marketing piece to have more games on the TV - god love'em I need more games on the TV.  Here is an interesting bit.  SU is the only school traveling outside their region to play in the ESPN BB. And if you go on the website all the conferences are listed then there is the magical SU marquee.  That's because we are Independent and we don't have a home yet because we are the new kid on the block and all the bully's and yes referees and yes conference commissioners like to abuse us. Suck it!  We will prevail and we will travel umpteen miles and play whomever, whenever. wherever and we will show the Nation that College Basketball is back in Seattle!  Eat that Gonzaga!

OK, not my best writing, but I am saving it up for Tuesday's game against, yes, the University of Washington.

SU vs. NIU 1 pm PST on KIRO AM 710 ESPN in the ESPN Bracket Buster Series.  Go Seattle U! 

Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and rock'd by Gunrock the Mustang

Happy Wednesday!  NOT!  First I am branding this blog to the left picture in many ways.  Seattle U 78 UC Davis (last place in the Big West) 88.  There are many great things about being Division I basketball and playing in KeyArena as your home court and seeing the building of a program from the ground up and participating in a sense of community amongst students and alumni and eating a pregame dinner with a "very attractive friend and her daughter" and also having said "very attractive friend and her daughter" sitting next to you courtside and sitting in seats with others that you enjoy in community. Drinking Irish whiskey with fellow alumnus after the game in laughing, with intellectual conversation that are all great experiences - they add value to life and living.  Those events keep you going and keep you coming back for more.  Much like getting a birdie on the 18th hole, but shooting a 98 for the round.

What is not great is losing!  I know, I know, high basketball IQ people, losing builds on the block of teaching lessons on how to win. Now there are games one gets beat, there are games that one wins, and there are the worst games - the ones you lose that you should win - the ones that totally deflate you - the ones that resonate for days.  We had one of those last night.

First Half - the Good Half  Dr. Jekyll- woot woot!

Totally in control SU shot 50% from the field, 33% from downtown and a commendable 86% from the free throw line and had a lead by 12 - before said "Attractive friend and daughter" are having fun eating red ropes and watching SU play really smart skilled ball and be right where the trends pointed them to be.  OK, I love Sports Center and those crazy shots at the buzzer - but I really did not want to be witnessing "live" a three pointer by UC Davis hitting a 45 footer to end the first half to cut the lead to eight.  Okay, no problem SU is 7-1 leading at the half - its all good.  That is me convincing myself nervously.

Second Half  - the bad half shows with Mr. Hyde and I think it was the Red Ropes

"Attractive friend and daughter," go get popcorn and more red ropes (which I think where manufactured in 1956) and skittles and other treats.  I remain in my seat pondering the first half stats and feel pretty good until Mr, Hyde puts a lid on the SU basket and all hell breaks loose! - A goat rodeo as I like to say.  SU shoots 27% from the field, 21% from behind the arc and a horrible 45% from the free ( I mean its free for crying out loud) throw line!  Up by eight at half and down by 10 - err!  "Attractive friend and daughter," who both have pretty high basketball IQ's comfort me in not worrying - yes actually nine year old Alex did proclaim we will win - plenty of time in the game.  Meanwhile I now watch SU implode, explode, deteriorate and I again watch the guys in Zebra uniforms act like monkey's. I eat more popcorn and really bad red ropes, Now I lean over with 1:56 to play and ask "Attractive friend," can I worry now? Attractive friend says, "Yep."  That's not the answer I was wanting to hear, but was feeling.

I witness errant passes, missed layups, lack of the entry pass to the post, clanging off the rim free throws and really bad red vine ropes all to the end of a game that should of been won by the Redhawks

Adding insult to injury I am reminded at the post game get together in Buckley's that I should not be drinking Bushmills for it is the Protestant Irish Whiskey - I should be drinking Jameson's.  Yes, I know the Catholic version - duh, we are a Jesuit school. How about I have a Jameson when we win?

Well, it was the Bushmills and the company of said "Attractive friend and her daughter" and the company of the Grimm brothers and sons after the game that made the evening enjoyable even though we lost a game we should of won - but hell, we play in KeyArena, the kids played their hearts out, we love the coach, the program is on the rise. On to the next one - SU vs. Northern Illinois in the ESPN bracket buster Saturday - I really hope their Red Ropes are better than at the Key and can only hope only Mr. Hyde stays home.

Listen to the game on KIRO 710 ESPN and get ready for next the match up versus University of Washington next Tuesday February 22nd at Key Arena 7:10 pm- Yep I'll be there


Also thanks to all of you Seattle U Hoops readers - we have passed 1,000 viewers!! and Thanks Attractive friend and her daughter for the company - Go Seattle U!  And thanks KeyArena for really bad Red Ropes!

What the hell is an Aggie?

Seattle University takes on the UC Davis Aggies (Mustangs) Tuesday February 15th in KeyArena and  their mascot is Gunrock.  Actually kind of representing a mustang and actually there is a bar in Davis named the Gunrock Pub.

An "Aggie" is someone who attends an Agricultural College. The Morrell Land Grant of 1865 established A&M (Agricultural and Mechanical) Colleges throughout the country. Many of them are referred to as "Aggies" in reference to the Agricultural part. Some famous Aggie schools are Texas A&M, Florida A&M, Michigan State, Penn State and California-Davis. The Texas A&M mascot is Reveille, a collie dog. Gunrock the Mustang is the mascot for UC Davis.

Now there is some interesting connections unlike Rudy the Redhawk who isn't a real bird, looks like he just woke up from " an week long bender" and hasn't showered in a month.  [Don't worry Administration, I look forward to your letters :) ] Gunrock is the real deal mascot, nestled in Davis California in an agricultural area has a pub named after him, wines named after him and olive oil named after him - Get out! Really! Although he really doesn't look like a mustang, the linearity is admirable for a mascot so I will opt out to trashing him like Matty the Matador for it seems there is some intelligence to his structure.  Now there is a Rudy's Barber shop in Seattle that is quite popular with many of my friends and people from Seattle.  I would suggest Rudy the Redhawk may want to pay a visit and clean himself up maybe even get his picture in front of Rudy's Barber Shop, which is iconic in Seattle, just like Gunrock has on the internet - Oh, people we have a long way to go on this mascot thing.  OK I'm done...not really hehehe, but for now.

So UC Davis plays in the Big West Conference (oh, the same conference of Cal Poly SLO in second place with former eight year SU coach Joe Callero) yet UCD is in last place at 8-15, 2-8 away and 3-8 in the conference, although note SU lost 58-80 in "Aggie country" on the road this year. Yet the Redhawks are much more mature at this point in the season so this should be a nice competitive game.

Come to the game or hear with lively play by play by The Groz and Gary Hill on KIRO AM 710 ESPN - Hey guys you forgot the roses on Valentines day?  Take her to the game!

Where's Rudy?

Do you know where your students are?

I thought the Playstation game of "The City of Lost Children" quite appropriate for today's topic.  Playstation may even consider creating a new game called "Seattle the University with lost students at KeyArena!"  Maybe the game should be about how to find the Key, navigate your way from Capital Hill, find metro bus schedules, organize a dorm car pooling event or use Microsoft Outlook.

This is a hot topic among alumni  - trust me the conversation comes up every game and so if I can get this blog out maybe some of you can have time to get off Facebook and enlighten us.  OK, I am a rarity, a hoopaholic who haven't missed a game in probably four years and then we can go back to my SU collegiate days from 1981 to 1986 and again begin the streak and to boot back then we were NAIA Division "Squat."  During the Utah Valley game last Wednesday I counted a half dozen or so students in the student section and guess what, one of them was my old roommate so he did not even count..  That is pathetic school spirit!  The "Red Zone" should be called the "No Zone."  You are supposed to be the leaders in spirit and support and right now the army you are leading into battle showing the nation we are "Division I Outstanding" is stuck in the dorms and apartments on Capitol Hill.  Albeit Saturday's game against Portland was awesome, shirtless Redhawks painted in red and flags waiving - an anomaly though,   So what are the excuses we toss around each night over a beer after the game amongst a handful of us stalwart alum?  I do not expect the entire 7,500 enrollment to show up, but how about 5% that's 375.

So enlighten me Redhawk Nation?

Here are some of the excuses.

The Arena is downtown?  Yeah, so what, Gonzaga our evil sister Jesuit school can pack in 10,000 in a stadium that games sometimes are played off campus in downtown Spokane.  Against Memphis last weekend the student section was monstrous.  I am sure if T.S. McHughes offered free beer after the game you could find KeyArena - lame excuse.

It's a weeknight and students are studying.  Give me a break.  An 'ole wise Jesuit once told me if he knocked on the doors of an entire dorm most would be on their IPhones or social networking.  (Okay, yes, I know you all are studying and this is a great educational institution). Part of going to college is to learn how to balance social, class and work schedules.  And yes, part of college is also spirit and pride in representing your school in front of the city.  You are all now part of a rare 375 institutions who compete in the class room and on the athletic field.  Just ask the dawgpound - which to date makes us look like a chic in a birds nest - lame excuse.

We don't have the history yet and the students did not come here because SU is Division I. BS.  We have more history than most schools and I can rattle it off but will spare you.  This is something special, a real life "social economic" change to be involved - this sequence of growth is better experience  and observed than you will ever read in a text book.  And BS again, because I didn't go to school at SU for it wasn't Division I then. I went to learn how to think (and write crap like this) but also knew that I had spirit & pride in my school and for a fact there are more basketball players recognized by name than Rhodes Scholars (nothing against you Rhodes Scholars, just saying.) - lame excuse.

In summation of this rampant diatribe. Students need to know how much support the student-athlete needs to compete on a high level - I have been in Connolly Center in the 90's when there were ten of us in the stands. Juggling school and practice and being away on the road traveling for days at a time is grueling.  Student spirit and support raises the adrenaline & self esteem level of the student-athlete which creates wins, which creates publicity, which creates national awareness, which increases the degree of your diploma!  Oh, did I get your attention?

Show me Redhawk Nation how you will support these hardwood warriors representing your university, who by the way have graduated 100% of their seniors for the last three years, playing 65% of their games on the road and out of the classroom.  Or tell me what else I need to do to get your butts in the KeyArena seats.

Redhawks vs UC Davis Tuesday Feb 15th KeyArena 7:10 pm.  Will I be there?  What do you think?  Will you?  The tally - Last Wednesday Feb 9th Attendance 4,000 - Alumni and non alumni 3,992 SU Students 8 - Pathetic Redhawks Nation.

Whew! SU holds off Utah Valley in KeyArena

Trends as rules can always be broken, but, trends are trends for a reason because they point toward a future outcome. (by the way, statistics was my favorite class at SU)  Now in the blog below I told you SU Men's Basketball was 6-1 when leading at the half and 1-12 when trailing.  Yep, yep I know they had a 16 point lead off a 15 to 4 run by UVU that was dwindled down to 3 at half - duh. I was there.  Who cares - they where leading at the half and they won 63-57 to a good team that was 6-1 leading the Great West Conference or as I refer to The Great "whatever" Conference.  SU now is 7-1 when leading at the half hence keep the trend going please.

Highlight of the game came late in the second half when Cervante Burrell was on the break and passed to himself behind a wolverine defender then drove to the basket for a lay up - this was ESPN top 10 material!  It was fricken amazing to watch it happen from my end court seats!  Too bad we haven't reached the D-I level in the video department yet or it would of made ESPN.


The team held its composure, fought to the end, didn't crumble and shows it has heart behind the leadership of the coaching staff.  What is disappointing again is the student section turnout?  I will have to think a little harder on writing something intelligent about this - it burns me up so see it so many empty seats with the opportunity to participate in a program so special in its infancy - truly many alumni have commented on this numerous times - but that will be another blog.

SU tees off with UC Davis Tuesday Feb 15 (hey, take your Valentine) in KeyArena 7:10 pm and on KIRO ESPN 710 radio.  Also join us Monday Feb 14 (yep, I got no Valentine - can you believe that? Get out!) for the Cameron Dollar Radio Show live at Jimmy's on Broadway or listen on again, KIRO 710 ESPN with Groz & Gary Hill.

Go Seattle U and yours truly the passionate one behind SU MBB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Willy and the Wolverines are back at the Key

Utah Valley invades KeyArena tonight Feb 9th at 7:10 pm and it's not looking pretty.  UVU is 14-9 and 6-1 atop the Great West Conference.  In the last meeting in Orem Utah SU was dredged 89-73...but we played much the same team last year and downed the Wolverines 74-64...but this years Redhawk team is minus 3 starters and a red headed long ball shooter.  Regardless, it's a home game for SU and there should be a good crowd.  I already had to apologize for slightly trashing Will the Wolverine who puts shame to Rudy the Redhawk as in my couple of previous blogs so I really don't want to have to bow down to him again, although I have a great respect for Willy (you should 'you tube' him) he sky dives, wake boards and dunks off a trampoline. I won't even go there with Rudy.

The key to the game is going to be for SU to get off to a good start and not go into their proverbial 'sink hole' in the opening minutes for my heart is going to fail if I have to witness another 10 point deficit mid first half - lets ski down the mountain rather than try and cross country ski up the mountain - PLEASE.  The Redhawk defense is so ferocious that if it can just get early baskets then they for once in a long time they can have control - you with HIBSIQ know this - for thos of you with an IQ of 6 it means in lay terms - get a lead early and play good defense!

I'll be looking for the refs at tip off and if I see that "jack wagon" who did the Portland game I am going to go ballistic on him.  Yeah, I know this blog is not very inspirational or insightful today. Sometimes you have to wait for the chips to fall before one gets inspiration.  I have mixed feelings about this game and my hope, of course, is at the final buzzer I can stand on the court and clap and yell "Shove it Willy!"

Tip off at KeyArena 7:10 broadcast on KIRO 710 ESPN with my buddies Dave Grosby & Gary Hill and don't forget the pregame rally at 5:30 in the Center Pavilion (you can even meet the guy that writes this crap) and also tune in to the Cameron Dollar show (if you don't know who Cameron is then there is no hope for you) every Monday live at Jimmy's on Broadway 8 pm with the Groz & Gary Hill.

Go Seattle U!

Seriously  Rudy, get it together tonight

Top Ten things to understand about 2011 Redhawk Basketball

To begin, two things.  One, Saturday Feb 5th Portland 71 Seattle U 55.  U of P now 17-7 and SU now 8-15.  Second, I have been to the "Late Show" and have been watching it for its entirety even when it was on NBC.  I will be always a Dave fan, I have a Late Show coffee mug and I have (or had) a Late Show sweatshirt until my dog chewed it up - I don't believe it had anything to do with his aversion to Dave or affection to Jay Leno, it was really my fault for leaving it on the bathroom floor unattended.  What does this all have to do with the SU Basketball Program you are thinking?  I love top ten lists and The Top Ten things you need to understand about why SU is 8-15 with 8 games left to go.  But why Steve are you not going to recap the Portland game?  Go to Goseattleu.com or read Bob Condatta or Jayda's Seattle Times Stories to get that.

This blog is about insightful information to educate the idiots that I get texts, emails, read and listen to from time to time that have a basketball IQ of 6.  Now this particular blog came about while sitting with many Highly Intelligent Basketball & Sports IQ people after the Portland game, which I was totally dejected about losing by 16 points and had to walk three blocks to move my car just one block to clear my head, that got me thinking.  I am going to refer to intelligent basketball people from now on to HIBSIQ and if you can't figure that out then I am glad some of you are reading.  Those with HIBSIQ we will do high fives later.

One of my HIBSIQ friends asked me if I had a 24 hour rule before I started blogging?  What?  Oh yeah - I get it - don't write something stupid and emotional.  Instead, think then write something intelligent and emotional.  Well I thought about it (hence the 24 hour delay) and that is why he has a HIBSIQ.  Also, I ran into an old SU college room mate at the Portland game who also has a HIBSIQ and he enlightened me on something even I didn't think about.  His regular IQ has always better than mine. So here we go...

#10 - To the right is a sink hole.  SU is 6-1 when leading at the break and 1-12 when trailing.  U of P blazed off to a 19 - 4 start hence creating a sink hole - even your IQ's of 6 should get this.

#9 - Look people, this is year two of full Division I play, yes last year was a winning season (17-14) but look at NJIT who came in at the same time and have won like 8 games in the last three years.

#8 - Because of number nine above the community expectations are high, which is great, but ensure you criticize with realistic criticism.  Cheer with your heart, think with your head, support with your soul!

#7 - This is a transition team, the whole team is not the recruiting class of the present coaching staff, albeit the guys have stepped up phenomenally, but it is a little like one chef starting a recipe and then walking out of the kitchen leaving the next chef to take over.  (Although I highly respect the last chef and the present chef - you with HIBSIQ understand this)  In a few years refer back to number eight and the last sentence.

#6 - Like baking a pie sometimes you run out of dough and have to improvise - the roster at the start of the season is not the same as it is today.  You play with the cards you are dealt and I think there are some aces still left in the deck.  If not, bluff or run the 1-2-1 press more often.

#5 - This is a marathon not a sprint - look, we already last year set a modern NCAA record for most wins in Division I transition!  We have an Independent Coach of the Year and an Independent Player of the Year.  Look at the historic records of Seattle U they lasted decades not a season.

#4 - Oh yes, speaking of "Independent," this is like being on the playground rousing around without supervision. Woot woot!  Yet, being the new kid on the block you get into class and all the kids and the teacher are looking at you with a skeptical eye.  HIBSIQ will get this.  Those of you who do not, it means the people in Zebra uniforms really warrant that you prove yourself if you want to be "in the club." - I think as a college freshman they call that hazing?

#3 - This program is not about the Chieftains, the Redhawks, or the Peacock mascot - it is about the competitiveness of Seattle University Basketball to be on par with the educational arm and the alumni arm in harmony to the vision of the President and the mission of the university to educate leaders for a just and humane world! Period! We should all be engaged behind it and ensure you use your HIBSIQ - or keep following this blog so you can increase that HIBSIQ.

#2 - If you want to stand on the sidelines and wait chitter chattering you are like the dog staring in his water reflection seeing the bone in his mouth and dropping the bone for the one he can't have.  This is a program in the infancy of something special - in all aspects. If you drop the opportunity now (the bone) don't come calling me when we are in the NCAA Tournament - I will already have my tickets.

#1 - If you want to criticize the coaching strategy game to game or program from year to year from your couch or your seat I suggest you rewind life and spend the 30 years of experience it takes to get to the spot they are at and you are not.  Or, increase your HIBSIQ and I encourage all to question the programs progress from a perspective in the spirit of the Jesuit Catholic teaching - its called learning how to think!

SU vs. Utah Valley this Wednesday at home in KeyArena and I will be scouting Willy the Wolverine Tuesday after I attend the SU Woman's game at SU 7 pm

Go Seattle U! - Don't forget Coach Dollars show Feb 7th 8 pm on KIRO 710 ESPN

Scouting Wally the Pilot. What? And U of P

How ugly are you Wally, plus your name is even more ridiculous (no offense to all the Wally's of the world), but most mascots are named like Rudy the Redhawk, Willy the Wave, Willy the Wolverine, Squatch the Sonic (RIP) etc.  Are you going to make it up to Seattle and KeyArena to face off with my redhawks or are you going to wuss out like all the other lame ducks?  (No offense Oregon, you are one of the mascots I admire).  Now here is something interesting, if you 'google' University of Portland Mascot the following picture comes up below. I know! I'm serious it really did!  Now that's a mascot!  Do you know how powerful a recruiting tool that could be?  "Penelope the Pilot" - I wanna be on that flight!

Now that I have had my fun let's get serious.  UP is good and this game is not going to be very easy for SU, but at least we are back home and maybe, just maybe, we get the guys in zebra stripes that have 20/20 vision and for the love of god can call a game within reason or for sure my buddy Scott Grimm will attempt to get kicked out of his courtside seat.

Portland plays in the...yes...West Coast Conference the WCC vain of my hoopaholic world and are very respectable except for Wally.  Portland is 16-6, 12-3 in conference play and shoots the lights out of the court with a blistering 47% from the field, 42% from behind the arc and 75% from the charity stripe - they have a + 1.1 turnover to assist ratio and average 72 point a game. They hail senior Luke Sikma ( uh, yes we all remember his dad) and have three players scoring in double figures - this story line isn't turning out to be a very good one.  I may have apologize to Wally on Sunday, but then again I believe just like the Cougars did last week - any given day - remember Oregon State and Virginia!

Now here is the kicker...Portland plays Gonzaga tonight and either way if they beat the bulldogs they can come up to Seattle overconfident or if they lose could be leg weary (ESPN2 @ 8 pm)  Trust me I'll forgo watching The Office and 30 Rock tonight just for the better entertainment of seeing the Zags coach Mark Few squirm - don't forget Rome is Burning in Spokane - just like Bud Withers from the Seattle Times wrote today.

There is lots of SU Men's Basketball happening this weekend - Lunch with Coach Dollar at FX McRory's at noon on Friday and if you miss that then a pregame rally on Saturday Feb 5th in the Center Pavilion at 5:15 to hear for free Coach Dollar again speak sponsored by my school of choice the Albers School of Business & Economics.

Wally I just don't get it?  Why is your mug in the WCC and Rudy is not?
For now I'll accept it ... but don't underestimate the power of the SU Alumni...I think Bob Dylan wrote "The Times they are a changing." Yep

GO Seattle U!

Chieftain Chatter and the Redhawk Report: Coach Dollar gets ejected - Redhawks get hacked - ...

Chieftain Chatter and the Redhawk Report: Coach Dollar gets ejected - Redhawks get hacked - ...: "Now that's not Coach Dollar, but since the game was in Gersten Pavillion in LA against Loyola Marymount and I could not be there I can only ..."

Coach Dollar gets ejected - Redhawks get hacked - Maybe not the Refs?

Now that's not Coach Dollar, but since the game was in Gersten Pavillion in LA against Loyola Marymount and I could not be there I can only imagine through Dave Grosby's radio words this is what it looked like.  "Technical foul number two bye bye coach."  Except coach didn't want to leave and was escorted by security off the floor - you da man C-Money!  8:08 left in the second half - who takes over?  Pops. Donald Dollar - coaches dad - you da man Pops!

LMU 81 (9-13) SU 64 (8-14) - I am sure the entire WCC was happy about that score since they have shunned us the last three years.  We are not done knocking on the door WCC.

In my opinion and yes, this is about my opinion - that's why you are reading this - the most critical piece of not being associated with a conference and being independent is not having any friends in zebra motif uniforms.  Listening to the game last night and watching Game tracker on my computer I think Alex Jones probably flew home encased in ice packs to help with swelling from being "hacked" with no fouls called so many times.  I know a lot of referees and many coaches and let me tell you the stories (oops I can't) about bias.  Well at least in a conference you have some friends in stripes and at home you get a few better calls. Even as an independent at home in KeyArena times are suspect - truly sitting in the front row I have had an official look me in the eye and say, "Yeah I am not very good about calling traveling."  What?

So reviewing the stats from last nights 17 point loss it really doesn't show suspect to bias.  SU at the line 32 times, LMU at the line 34 times seems pretty fair, LMU had 20 personal fouls and SU had 27. So should I really point the finger at the referees?  Its always easy to point the finger at someone else when you actually are pointing four of your five fingers back at yourself.   Of course what is suspect is what fouls where not called?  The truth of the matter is that this team does not shoot well - last night 31% from the field, 26% from 3 point range (4 of 15) and another dismal 62.5% from the line. For the year the Redhawks are shooting 39.8% from the field, (ranked 313 in the country)  66% from the free throw line and 28% (ranked 337 in the country) from behind the arc.  LMU had 32 defensive rebounds against SU's 19 that will change the tables dramatically?  Hell yes.

Do I love this team?  Hell yes!  Do I believe?  Hell yes!  But I am being more of a believer that we need to find a conference so that 63% of our games are not on the road and we can have some referees like the one below

Lots going on this week.  Listen to the Cameron Dollar show tonight @ 8 pm on KIRO 710 ESPN live at Jimmy's on Broadway and you can actually meet the guy who writes this crap - Seattle U returns home to my house - KeyArena Feb 5th against Portland featuring the Albers School of Business & Economics and there's lunch with Coach Cameron Dollar Friday Feb 4th - noon @ FX McRory's 419 Occidental.  Go Seattle U! - on a Mission!




"Hi, I am Suzie the referee and I love Seattle U Men's Basketball - Go Redhawks!"