College basketball is less than a month away and a new chapter of University of Portland men’s basketball is upon us. The season officially starts for the Pilots on Nov. 11 against UC Riverside. But for the first time in a decade, Eric Reveno is not at the helm.
First-year head coach Terry Porter, a Portland Trail Blazer legend and former NBA coach, has taken the reigns and will look to propel Pilot basketball into a new era.
“I think the most important thing is just trying to build a culture,” Porter said. “I think that’s important for us to have success.”
A winning culture is desperately needed. Portland had a disappointing 12-20 record last year, third worst in the West Coast Conference. Inconsistency was a glaring problem. While upsetting BYU at home and two victories against a strong Pepperdine squad showcased the potential of the group, disappointing losses were far too common.
All-conference guards Alec Wintering and Bryce Pressley scored nearly 43 percent of the Pilots’ points. Pressley graduated and there is uncertainty as to who will help Wintering on the scoreboard.
For Porter, the preparation begins off the hardwood with each player.
Porter said that his NBA days taught him that first, players must commit to eating right. They must be in great shape in order to be competitive. Because of that, Porter requires each player to maintain a certain body fat percentage, depending on their position on the court.
Sophomore guard Jazz Johnson sees individual accountability leading to a greater sense of team discipline.
“It should breed a winning mentality,” Johnson said.
On the hardwood, the old sets and plays have gone out the window. Porter will have the team run an NBA-style offense. Pick-and-roll and motion action will be the norm. The ball-handlers will be trusted to make the decisions.
But perhaps the biggest advantage the Pilots have now are Porter’s resources. He’s surrounding the team with basketball’s elite. An NBA scout came by practice. Rick Adelman, who is the ninth winningest coach in NBA history and coached Porter when he was with the Blazers, stopped by practice to watch. Adelman is expected to speak with the players down the line.
Great to have former NBA Head Coach Rick Adelman at practice today. He won over 1000 games as NBA coach. Go Pilots ! Good practice! pic.twitter.com/r5JSPvBwv3
— Bob Cantu (@coachbobcantu) October 4, 2016
And a team trip to Seattle during Fall Break was more than just a bonding opportunity. They visited the Seattle Seahawks, who won a Super Bowl two seasons ago. They watched a championship-level team prepare and practice.
Thank you to Coach @PeteCarroll and the Seattle @Seahawks for hosting the UP Men's Basketball team at practice today! #GoPilots pic.twitter.com/10VGZDfqc3
— Portland Pilots (@PortlandPilots) October 19, 2016
“With the Seahawks being such a successful organization, we can see how things are done the right way,” Wintering said.
Gonzaga, Saint Mary’s and BYU are still the three-headed monster of the WCC. That won’t change in 2016-17. But the rest of the teams in the conference will jostle for positioning as the season plays out. Four of the remaining seven teams have new coaches, including Portland.
Porter gives the Pilots a chance. His NBA experience as a player and coach gives the team an edge on the sideline that hasn’t been seen in the Chiles Center. Many players are excited for the fresh opportunity that the national spotlight will present.
The team is ready to re-write the Portland basketball script.
“TP has those connections and he’s showing us that if you do the right thing, he could help us get to the next level,” Johnson said.
But Porter won’t measure success by win totals this season. He’s looking for progress in each game and practice. But with a big name comes big expectations. Porter may not be counting wins, but everyone else will be.
It’s been two decades since the Pilots last made the NCAA tournament. Reveno couldn’t get the team over the hump. So Porter will be expected to produce a contending team as coach.
But one thing is for certain. It will take time for the players to fully acclimate to Porter’s system.
After all, winning cultures aren’t developed overnight.
The Pilots will hold an open scrimmage this Friday in the Chiles Center at 5 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.
