Idaho Renews PCC Rivalry When Facing No. 3 Oregon
After a four-year hiatus, the University of Idaho men's basketball team will renew its rivalry with the University of Portland on Friday, December 9th, at the Chiles Center. The game is scheduled to tip off at 9:15 pm PT and will be televised on ESPN2.
The Vandals and Pilots are two of the most successful programs in the Pacific Coast Conference (PCC), combining for over 100 conference championships and 50 NCAA Tournament appearances. The two schools have met 124 times since 1917, with Portland holding a 68-56 advantage.
In recent years, Idaho has struggled to compete with Portland at the same level, having lost the last five meetings between the two schools. However, the Vandals believe that they have a good chance to win this year's game, as they return four starters from last year's team that finished 19-13.
Key Players
Portland is led by sophomore guard Isaiah Johnson, who is averaging 19.3 points per game this season. Johnson is a dynamic scorer who can create his own shot and get to the rim, but he is also a good passer and defender.
Idaho is led by senior guard Mikey Dixon, who is averaging 16.7 points per game this season. Dixon is a versatile guard who can score inside and out, and he is also a good rebounder and defender.
What to Expect
The game is expected to be a close and competitive one. Both teams are well-matched, and it could come down to who makes the big plays in the final minutes.
Idaho will need to play well defensively to slow down Johnson and the rest of the Portland offense. The Vandals will also need to be efficient on offense, and they will need to make their free throws.
Portland will need to control the tempo of the game and not let Idaho get into a running game. The Pilots will also need to make their shots, and they will need to be able to defend Dixon and the rest of the Idaho offense.
Implications
The winner of the game will have a leg up in the race for the PCC regular season championship. Idaho is currently in fifth place in the conference standings, while Portland is in second place.
A win for Idaho would give them a much-needed boost of confidence and would put them in a good position to make a run at the PCC championship. A win for Portland would give them a valuable head-to-head tiebreaker over Idaho and would put them in a good position to win the regular season championship.
Conclusion
The renewal of the Idaho-Portland rivalry is sure to be a memorable one. Both teams are evenly matched, and the game could come down to who makes the big plays in the final minutes.
The winner of the game will have a leg up in the race for the PCC regular season championship. A win for Idaho would give them a much-needed boost of confidence and would put them in a good position to make a run at the PCC championship. A win for Portland would give them a valuable head-to-head tiebreaker over Idaho and would put them in a good position to win the regular season championship.
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