Week of reckoning. There figures to be points a plenty, not to mention intensity which could match that of March when the Seattle Pacific University men’s basketball returns to the court. Now ranked higher than ever at No. 3 in the nation, the Falcons (5-0, 13-1) face the two other top teams in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference standings. First comes a trip to Central Washington (4-1, 9-5) Thursday night (Jan. 19). On Saturday night (Jan. 21) it’s the national marquee matchup of the week when SPU visits No. 2 Western Washington (5-0, 13-1). A four-game home stand begins Jan. 26 versus Saint Martin’s.

Best yet. Seattle Pacific has broken new ground with this week’s elevation to No. 3 in the NCAA Division II coaches poll. The Falcons earned one of eight first-place votes for the second week. Montevallo (Al.) is No. 1. By winning 13 of their first 14 games they have matched the best start in the program’s existence, equalling that of 1979-80 and 2001-02. Both of those teams eventually went 15-1. All that is just fluff, however. The most meaningful measurement will come when the NCAA announces its first regional rankings Wednesday (Jan. 18). At the end of the regular season, the West’s top team will host the regional tournament. Coach Jeff Hironaka’s squad is undefeated against Div. II opposition and 10-0 versus West Region teams (including five on foreign or neutral courts).

Tough ol’ birds. While some teams feathered their schedules with home games and easy wins early on, Hironaka chose the path less traveled. SPU spent most of the season’s first two months on the road. It toughened the team, building character which will be called upon in hostile environments such as Ellensburg and Bellingham. Unlike the freewheeling Falcons who have been seen at home in Brougham Pavilion, the road version of the team resembles some tough ol’ Birds. In seven Div. II away and neutral court contests, they are allowing only 72.4 points per game, and allowing opponents to shoot just 42.0 percent, with only one foe shooting better than 46 percent.

City slickers. At home last week, Seattle Pacific twice overcame some early foul trouble to post victories over Alaska Anchorage (87-80) and Alaska Fairbanks (93-66). Shutting down defensively, sharing the ball on offense, the Falcons put together two impressive second halves, running their visitors out of town by a combined score of 102-74 in those periods. Moving the rock, 29 of 35 baskets were set-up by assists. Over the eight-game win streak, players have executed exceptionally well on offense, averaging 91.9 points, shooting 56.5 percent from the field (46.8 on three-pointers) and committing only 12.5 turnovers per game.

Trigger man. He’s but one of a dozen or so parts, but as point guard Tony Binetti (Sr., 6-1, Enumclaw, Wa.) often serves as the spark which ignites the Falcons’ fire. And sometimes he is the flame as well. Binetti earned his second GNAC player of the week award by doing a bit of everything against the Alaskans. He passed (15 total assists, a career-high 11 vs. UAA), rebounded (13) and hawked the ball (six steals). He also shot the ball very well, hitting 5 of 7 threes and 14 of 21 shots overall while scoring 42 points. During the win streak Binetti is averaging 20.0 points and shooting 68.8 percent, both inside and outside the arc. He leads the league in three-point accuracy (.545) and would also lead the NCAA, if he had enough threes to qualify. Binetti is now averaging 18.0 points overall. He also demonstrated some steely nerves, drilling a key trey with 24 ticks to go against the Seawolves.

Heroes galore. So balanced was SPU last week that once the opponents took away one offensive option and another materialized. Six different players scored in double figures, among them was forward Chad Williams (Sr., 6-8, Burlington, Wa./Burlington-Whatcom CC). In the two contests, Williams totaled 33 points, including a season-high 19 vs. Anchorage. For the week he made 5 of 8 threes. Starting wing Drew Matzen (Jr., 6-4, Bothell, Wa./Lynnwood) was deadly, drilling 8 of 11 shots (4-6 treys). Lest anyone think SPU is solely a finesse team, center Robbie Will (So., 6-10, Seattle, Wa./O’Dea-Bellevue CC) put the oomph in the offense, with 13 (6-6 FGs, two dunks) second-half points against the Seawolves. Sixth man Mike Bushmaker (Sr., 6-7, Yakima, Wa./Eisenhower) had 15 points and four assists vs. UAF. Will, Williams and Bushmaker are all averaging above 10 points overall.

Tenacious D. On a given night, reserve guard Jared Moultrie (Jr., 6-2, West Point, Ut./Clearfield-Salt Lake CC) is worth 10-15 points, although his stat line reads far less. That’s the beauty of his game. Moultrie has put the brakes on more than a couple scorers over the last few games. Last week, his defense of UAA’s Kemmy Burgess in the second half allowed the Falcons to come from behind, and it was a Moultrie steal and layup which put SPU in front to stay in the final three minutes.

Put-backs. The eight straight wins matches the longest streak during Hironaka’s tenure. The record is 15 in a row, set in ‘01-02...SPU has shot 55 percent or better in each of the last five outings, and hit 58.8 percent from the three-point line (20-34) in last week’s two contests...After a quiet night (9 points) vs. UAA, Dustin Bremerman (Sr., 6-4, Yakima, Wa./Eisenhower) hung 17 on UAF, sinking 7 of 11 from the field...Over the first five GNAC games, SPU is averaging 98.0 points, shooting 59 percent and 51 percent on threes...Seattle Pacific is No. 1 in conference field goal percentage defense (.432) and blocked shots (4.3). It is No. 2 in overall shooting (.518, fourth in the NCAA) and No. 3 in three-point accuracy (.397). Individually, Will leads in blocked shots (2.21). Bushmaker is No. 4 in field-goal percentage (.652). Binetti is No. 5 (.601), No. 5 in assists (5.1) and eighth in steals (1.78)...Both games can be heard live on webcasts at wildcatsports.com and wwuvikings.com, respectively.

Coaching Staff. In his first season Jeff Hironaka won more games (16) than all but one other first-year SPU coach, and he took a team to the NCAA tournament in only his third year–faster than any predecessor. His record entering this season is 50-33. 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 conference championships and qualified for eight NCAA tournaments, including a Final Four in 2000. Hironaka is the second Japanese-American head coach of a four-year collegiate program. Brock Veltri is in his second season as the chief assistant.

Tickets, please. Reserved tickets for all SPU home games are priced $7 and $6. General admission is $5 with youth, students and senior citizens $3 with proper identification. Groups can qualify for discounts by calling (206) 281-2085 in advance.

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.