First games...
Fri., Nov. 10 -- MEN'S BASKETBALL v WASHINGTON (Exhibition), Brougham Pavilion, Seattle, Wa.
Fri.-Sat., Nov. 17-18 -- VITAMILK TIP-OFF CLASSIC, Brougham Pavilion, Seattle, Wa.
Fri., Nov. 17 -- Seattle University v Alaska Anchorage, 5 p.m.; SEATTLE PACIFIC v CAL ST. SAN BERNARDINO, 7 p.m.
Sat., Nov. 18 -- Seattle University v Cal State San Bernardino, 5 p.m.; SEATTLE PACIFIC v SIMON FRASER (Exhibition), 7 p.m.

Complete 2000 Schedule

Curtain about to rise...
A noticeably new cast of characters will be introduced to the men's basketball fans of Seattle Pacific University when the 17th-ranked Falcons raise the curtain on the 2000-01 season next Friday night (Nov. 10) by hosting the Washington Huskies for a preseason exhibition. SPU begins regular season play at home a week later, on Nov. 17, hosting No. 22 Cal State San Bernardino in the first round of the Vitamilk Tip-Off Classic. Seattle Pacific is coming off is most successful season ever, winning 27 games plus conference and regional titles en route to a Final Four appearance at the NCAA Elite Eight.

Our pavilion this time...
Not since they cut down the nets at West Regional in March have the Falcons been back, playing before their home crowd at Brougham Pavilion. Originally they were set to meet the Huskies in the inaugural game at the Bank of America Arena (formerly known as Hec Edmundson Pavilion). However construction delays resulted in the game moving west to the SPU campus. This marks the first meeting between the two teams since 1981-82 and the first time in 10 meetings that Seattle Pacific has played at home.

Key pieces in place...
Coach Ken Bone (11th year), faced with the loss of seven seniors, including four starters, elected to fill most of the openings with transfers, four of them from the Division I ranks. Among his holdovers are two all-Pacific West Conference selections. Brannon Stone (Jr., 6-9, Oak Harbor, Wa.), a multi-dimensional big forward, led the team in rebounds (7.5), assists (3.2), blocked shots (2.5) and steals (1.9) as a sophomore, while averaging 12.6 points and hitting 41 percent of his 3-pointers (73-178). As the sixth man, John Hubbard (Sr., 6-5, Inglewood, Ca./Grays Harbor CC) scored 13.7 per game and shot 51 percent from the floor. Bone plans to make Hubbard the focal point of the offense, much like Jeff McBroom in 1998-99. The top scorer each of the past three seasons has come from the small forward position: McBroom in '98 (18.6) and '99 (24.3); Donte Quinine (17.1) last season.

Falcons with new faces...
For the first time in several seasons one of the Falcons' first options on offense will be the low post. Center Eric Sandrin (Jr., 6-10, Bothell, Wa./Shorecrest-Portland) resumes his collegiate career after transferring from Portland, where he started 15 games before missing last year with a knee injury. Sandrin averaged 3.8 points and 2.5 rebounds in his first two seasons, but has demonstrated both quickness to the hoop and an ability to step outside during preseason scrimmages. Two other newcomers also began last season with the Pilots. Daniel Sandrin (So., 6-7, Bothell, Wa./Bothell-Portland) played in eight games and Jesse Keely (So., 6-7, Fircrest, Wa./Bellarmine-Portland) two. The other transfer with D-I credentials is point guard Darrell Walker (Sr., 6-0, Marysville, Wa./M'ville-Pilchuck-EWU), who was the back-up at Eastern Washington in 1998-99.

Here we go again...
As Bone begins the second decade of his tenure at SPU he faces a familiar rebuilding task; the Falcons also lost four starters in 1999 yet rebounded to go 27-5. They set a school record for victories, took their third PacWest title in six years and made the NCAA Div. II tournament for the sixth time in seven years. Seattle Pacific defeated Central Washington before a raucous Brougham Pavilion crowd to earn its first trip to the Elite Eight since 1965. There, in Louisville, they eliminated Georgia College and held a late lead on Kentucky Wesleyan in the semifinal before falling in overtime. Bone, who inherited a program which had not made the playoffs since 1977, has averaged nearly 21 wins at the helm of his alma mater. His proven ability to rebuild rapidly earned not only a national ranking but a nod from his fellow conference coaches, who installed SPU as the preseason favorite in the PacWest.

Missionary man...
One of Bone's options for the starting point position is neither new nor a returnee. Aaron Bellessa (So., 6-2, Federal Way, Wa./Decatur) is back with the team following a two-year mission for his church. As a freshman in 1997-98, Bellessa led SPU in assists (3.3) and averaged 6.0 points while coming off the bench.

On guard...
For the past few seasons, Seattle Pacific has employed some long bombers at shooting guard. The candidates to succeed Drake Hudgins are tame by comparison. Nick Johnson (Jr., 6-3, Burlington, Wa./Burlington-Edison) has added more and more polish to his perimeter shot, but heretofore his M.O. is driving and defense. Coming off the bench is Adrian Egger (Jr., 6-2, Kirkland, Wa./Eastside Catholic-Olympic CC), who has versatile offensive tools.

Put-backs...
Abe Fox (So., 6-8, Port Townsend, Wa.) figures to have an enlarged role in the frontcourt. Fox averaged 7.7 minutes last season...Each of the team's true freshmen--Jordan Lee (Fr., 6-0, University Place, Wa./Life Christian), Nate Bramlette (Fr., 6-0, Issaquah, Wa./Skyline) and Garrett Stone (Fr., 6-4, Oak Harbor, Wa.)--are expected to redshirt. Stone is the younger brother of Brannon and both are the sons of Jeff Stone, who played at SPU from 1972-74...New to the coaching staff this season is Tyler Geving, formerly on the staff at both Central Washington and Highline Community College. Geving joins Jeff Hironaka (10th year), Ben Scheffler (3rd year) and George Parker (13th year) on Bone's staff...The Falcons play 11 of their first 18 counting games on the road, but finish with a five of the last seven at Brougham. PacWest play begins Nov. 30 at Western Washington...Next year SPU will join nine other Northwest schools in leaving the PacWest and forming a new conference.

Opponent, series notes...
Not since the 1997-98 season has Seattle Pacific played a Div. I program in the regular season. The last victory over a D-I was at Eastern Washington in in 1986-87, although Stanford was extended to overtime on The Farm in '87-88, and Arizona State ('89-90) and Oregon State ('92-93) were pushed to the limit...The Huskies are coming off a 10-20 campaign and lost three starters...The Falcons defeated Cal State San Bernardino, 70-64, on the road Dec. 22. The Coyotes had beaten SPU in the 1999 West Region final. Last year they were eliminated by Central Washington in the semifinal round.

Ticket information...
Reserved seating tickets for all home games are priced $7 and $6. General admission is $5 for adults, $3 for students, youth and senior citizens. Group rates are available by call (206) 281-2085 in advance. Ticket windows open one hour prior to tip-off.

S-P-U on the W-E-B...
You can follow Seattle Pacific via the world wide web. The Falcons Online features weekly releases, rosters, schedules, updated results, histories and coaching profiles for all 12 varsity sports. You're already here!

Personnel notes...
No Player Yr-Exp Hgt '99-00 stats Hometown Notes
1 Jordan Lee Fr-HS 6-0 18.0/6.0 ast (HS) University Place, Wa. Life Christian grad likely to redshirt
3 Adrian Egger Jr-TR 6-2 16.8# (JC) Kirkland, Wa. Last played at Olympic CC in '99
4 Abe Fox Jr-2V 6-8 1.9/1.4 reb Port Townsend, Wa. Played in 18 games, shot 63 pct.
10 Adam Harris So-1V 6-0 0.5/0.4 reb Fox Island, Wa. Gig Harbor grad played in 15 gms
11 Aaron Bellessa* So-1V 6-2 6.0/3.3 ast+ Federal Way, Wa. Returns after 2-year church mission
12 Garrett Stone Fr-HS 6-4 12.8/4.0 reb (HS) Oak Harbor, Wa. Younger brother of Brannon to redshirt
15 Nate Bramlette Fr-HS 6-0 14.0/7.0 ast (HS) Issaquah, Wa. Skyline grad likely to redshirt
20 Darrell Walker Sr-TR 6-0 4.3/1.6 ast# Marysville, Wa. Back-up point at Eastern Washington in '99
21 Brannon Stone* Jr-2V 6-7 12.6/7.5 reb Oak Harbor, Wa. All-conf.; led in ast (3.2), blk (2.5), stl (1.9)
22 Jesse Keely So-TR 6-7 0.0/0.0 rb (2gm) Fircrest, Wa. Bellarmine grad trans. from Portland in Jan.
23 Nick Johnson* Jr-2V 6-3 4.2/2.9 reb Burlington, Wa. Avg. 15.6 min., shot 53 pct. as top reserve
30 Gene Woodard So-1V 6-4 1.1/1.0 reb Edmonds, Wa. Played in 16 games, avg. 5.3 min. as frosh
32 John Hubbard* Sr-1V 6-5 13.7/2.9 reb Inglewood, Ca. Only all-conf. selection who was non-starter
34 Eric Sandrin* Jr-TR 6-10 3.9/2.2 reb# Bothell, Wa. Started 15 games at Portland ('97-98, '98-99)
40 Daniel Sandrin So-TR 6-7 1.0/0.3 reb Bothell, Wa. Played 8 games at Portland in '99-00
42 Chris Cohen Fr-RS 6-8 17.3/11.3# (HS) Saint Helens, Or. Redshirt as true frosh in '99-00
*projected starter +1997-98 season #1998-99 season
Coach: Ken Bone (SPU '83) 11th year (208-86/.707)