Men’s basketball team looks to get back on track as conference play begins
If the Vikings men’s basketball team hopes to make a run at the Big Sky championship this season, then it’s time to start running.
After a difficult December schedule that saw the Vikings play six of eight games on the road, all resulting in losses, the team will be glad to see the schedule heading into conference play.
“It just takes guys time and that’s why I’ve been encouraged about this team,” head coach Tyler Geving said. “I feel like we’re doing a lot of good things but we’re not quite there yet.”
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Men’s basketball team looks to get back on track as conference play begins
If the Vikings men’s basketball team hopes to make a run at the Big Sky championship this season, then it’s time to start running.
After a difficult December schedule that saw the Vikings play six of eight games on the road, all resulting in losses, the team will be glad to see the schedule heading into conference play.
“It just takes guys time and that’s why I’ve been encouraged about this team,” head coach Tyler Geving said. “I feel like we’re doing a lot of good things but we’re not quite there yet.”
Karl Kuchs / Vanguard StaffTrials and tribulations: Senior forward Chehales Tapscott shoots for the hoop last Thursday against Northern Arizona. Tapscott has been a bright spot in a challenging season.
Portland State will look to take advantage of a home-heavy month in January. The Vikings are 5-1 in the Stott Center thus far and have won six of their last seven at home going back to last season. Eight of the Vikings’ final 14 Big Sky games are at home, including five of seven during the month of January.
One of the more noticeable faults with the Vikings’ performance this season has been the struggles from behind the arc. The team is shooting just 29 percent this season from three-point range.
Despite their long-range shooting woes, the Vikings have been competitive in all four of their conference games so far, but have managed only one win in those games, a 20-point blowout over Northern Arizona on Jan. 5.
“It’s frustrating, we have been getting behind early, and then we start playing hard,” Geving said. “We need to come out from the get-go and play hard.”
The Vikings’ fast-paced offense has produced numerous shootouts with opponents this season. The team managed to outscore Cal-State Bakersfield 91-87 at home on Dec. 15, but they followed that win with back-to-back losses, including a 92-86 heart-breaker against Cal-State Fullerton on Dec. 22. They have also managed to top the century mark twice this season, albeit against lower-division schools.
The team is currently averaging 76.8 points per game, good enough for second in the Big Sky and 38 in the nation.
Senior guard Charles Odum continues to be the go-to scorer for the Vikings, averaging 17.3 points per game, second in the Big Sky behind Weber State guard Damian Lillard, who leads the nation with 26.3 ppg. Odum has also proven to be a lethal free-throw shooter, shooting 86.2 percent from the line this year. He managed a career-high 27 points in the Big-Sky opener against Montana on Dec. 28.
Senior forward Chehales Tapscott continues to impress, averaging 14 points and 9 rebounds per game this season.
Despite his team’s tough month, Tapscott remains confident about himself and his team’s performance.
“I think we’re going to be really tough down low,” Tapscott said. “There are not many guys in the league that can guard Nate [Lozeau] or Renado [Parker] and I don’t think there is anybody who can guard me.”
The Vikings’ next home game will be Jan. 16 when they host the Idaho State Bengals. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at the Stott Center.
