Their gym, then ours. A capacity crowd is expected to see the latest installment of the David & Goliath series as slingshot-bearer Seattle Pacific University meets Washington, the 22nd-ranked team in Division I, in the men’s basketball regular season opener for both teams Friday night (Nov. 19) at Bank of America Arena. Whatever the outcome, the Falcons must quickly compose themselves before hosting Chico State in the first home game Saturday night (Nov. 20) in Brougham Pavilion. That contest will wrap-up the Sodexho Tip-Off Classic. Beginning Thanksgiving evening SPU plays three times at the Hilo Shootout on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Where Falcons dare. It’s a dream-come-true for most young ballplayers: to play before a packed house in your hometown, to be the toast of the town, if even for one night. Then imagine pulling off the unthinkable. Yes Virginia, there was a Chaminade. Yet, since the advent of the shot clock, there have been precious few upsets of the stature which Ralph Sampson and the then No. 1-ranked Cavaliers experienced in Honolulu 22 years ago. But the Falcons, picked to finish second in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, can dream and prepare and aim to play their game. And then see what happens against the Huskies, who they have not played in 23 years. SPU has not beaten a Div. I team in its last 14 tries (all on the road), but has proven competitive with an average margin of 13.0 in the last seven such games. The Falcons extended Washington to overtime in a preseason game at Brougham Pavilion four years ago.

A return to earth. Whereas 10,000 will fill Hec Ed, a more intimate gathering awaits the more significant game against Chico State. It’s one of only two intra-region non-conference games, and it could leave lasting impression in terms of selection and seeding for the NCAA Division II tournament next March. The Wildcats made the playoffs last season and SPU is aiming to return to the bracket for the first time since 2002. The Falcons also wish to re-establish dominance in Brougham Pavilion after going just 19-9 there the past two years.

Early returns. Third-year Coach Jeff Hironaka got some glimpses of his team’s capabilities in two preseason outings. In both a 91-85 win over Australia Institute of Sport and a 73-56 road loss to Nevada, the Falcons were effective in hitting the three-pointer (17-46) but suspect on the boards (minus 25). Depth and defense, a strength and weakness, respectively, were inconclusive. The Wolfpack managed to shoot just 41 percent from the field and commit 15 turnovers, yet the SPU bench totaled just 10 points.

Center stage. If there’s a name being circled on opposing coaches’ chalkboards it’s that of center Jason Chivers (Sr., 6-8, Los Angeles, Ca./Highland-L.A. Trade Tech) as he played very well in the pair of exhibitions. Chivers moved inside and outside, hitting 17-31 shots, including his only trey. He also pulled down a team-high 16 rebounds and blocked five shots. Last season Chivers earned first team all-GNAC and second team all-region honors after scoring 16.3 points per game and averaging 11.3 rebounds–tops in the conference and No. 5 in the nation. Chivers became the first SPU center to average a double-double (he had 18 altogether) since Jim Ballard in 1973. And to think he’s been playing organized ‘ball for only four years.

A solid cast. For the Falcons to succeed, Chivers will need help to keep defenses honest. Forward Dustin Bremerman (So., 6-4, Yakima, Wa./Eisenhower) showed he’s up to the task, slashing to the basket and stepping out to the perimeter to score a total of 30 points. Jordan Lee (Sr., 6-1, Tacoma, Wa./Life Christian), last year’s No. 2 scorer (15.9), had 13 versus AIS but just five at Nevada. Lee was among the top Div. II long-range shooters last season at 50 percent.

Wild cards. Hironaka is confident that his cast of wild cards will soon catch fire following a ho-hum preseason. Several of the role players are capable of changing a game single-handidly. Sixth man Ralph Steele (Sr., 6-2, No. Birmingham, Al./Huffman-Citrus JC), who led the NCAA in free throw shooting at 91.1 percent and scored 10.6 per game, is a proven scorer. Few shooters can rival the range and accuracy of Jeff Knudson (Jr., 6-7, Mukilteo, Wa./Kamiak), who has 83 treys in his first two seasons. Point guard Tony Binetti (Jr., 6-1, Enumclaw, Wa.) is particularly effective in transition and newcomer Matt Birkle (So., 6-2, Anacortes, Wa./Anacortes-Whatcom CC) supplied some spark (17 points) in the exhibitions. Chad Williams (Jr., 6-8, Burlington, Wa./Burlington Edison-Whatcom CC) is looked upon for help on the boards and had seven rebounds at Nevada.

Put-backs. The Falcons have won both of their season-openers (each at home) under Hironaka...Last season SPU led Div. II and set a team record by converting 79.4 percent of its free throws...The only other meeting with a CCAA team this season will be Cal State Bakersfield at the high Desert Classic in Las Vegas next month...Former SPU head coach Ken Bone is now one of Lorenzo Romar’s top assistants on the Washington coaching staff. Bone was 251-97, won six conference titles and took the team to the playoffs eight times in his 12 seasons...Paul Brockman (Fr., 6-5, Snohomish, Wa.) whose younger brother Jon signed at the UW last week, is expected to redshirt this season...Another Falcon with a Husky connection is reserve forward Drew Matzen (So., 6-4, Bothell, Wa./Lynnwood), whose father Steve played for Marv Harshman from 1977-80 and was a teammate of Romar.

Coaching Staff. In his first season Jeff Hironaka won more games (16) than all but one other first-year SPU coach. A former aide at Idaho State and The Master’s, Hironaka became Ken Bone’s top assistant in 1991 and from there the Falcons won 236 of 253 games, claimed five outright or shared conference championships and qualified for the NCAA tournament eight times, including a Final Four advancement in 2000. Hironaka is the second Japanese-American head coach of a four-year collegiate program. Brock Veltri is Hironaka’s chief assistant. Veltri spent two years in a similar position with Scottsdale Community College in Arizona. A former Idaho State graduate assistant, he played two years at Peninsula College in Port Angeles, Wa. Scott Reid, a King Co coach of the year at Bellevue’s Newport High School, is in his second season and George Parker, who first served as a volunteer assistant in 1986, returns for his 16th year.

Missing links. For the latest and best information on Seattle Pacific University athletics, stay where you're at -- on The Falcons Online. For updated standings and statistics, see the Great Northwest Athletic Conference web site.