The Falcons Online -- Seattle Pacific University Athletics

Hiro Hopes Up & Comers Offset Losses
Bremerman Leaves On Top; Euro Tour on Tap for September
June 7, 2007

Put-backs

Seattle Pacific repeated as conference champion for the first time since 1995-96. The GNAC has yet to have a three-time defending champion...The Falcon Golf Classic is slated for Sept. 8 at Mukilteo’s Harbour Pointe. Proceeds benefit the basketball scholarship fund. Reservations are $175 and can be made by calling (206) 281-2085 before Aug. 24...Bremerman made both the NABC and Division 2 Bulletin All-America teams after making all-region earlier. He was later chosen to play in both the Division II All-Star game in Springfield, Mass., and the College Basketball Invitational, a 60-player combine in Wadsworth, Ohio...Yuen was one of two featured speakers from the senior class at the SPU Athletic Awards presentations May 31. Bremerman was one of seven recipients of the Falcon Award for Excellence for career achievement in athletics, academics and leadership. Other team awards went to Bremerman (MVP), Reed (most improved) and Lynch (coaches)...In the first-round NCAA tournament loss to Grand Canyon, SPU had a season-low seven assists and shot just 39 percent from the field–second-lowest of the season. The 87-65 margin made it the largest defeat in the last 54 games and worst in the last 10 years of postseason activity...Next year’s schedule begins with a preseason exhibition at Washington. There are non-conference dates with Cal State Monterey Bay, Cal State San Bernardino, Western State (Co.), Alderson Broaddus (WV) and Concordia (NY) at home; BYU Hawaii (away); and Bloomfield (Pa.) and Colorado School of Mines at neutral sites. GNAC play begins Jan. 3 at home against Central Washington. Montana State Billings joins the league next season...Bremerman finished eighth in NCAA free throw shooting and the team was third in assists (19.25), 18th in field-goal percentage (.497) and 20th in foul shooting (.748)...Besides Will, Echols was the Falcons’ other GNAC leader, in three-point accuracy. Bremerman was fourth in scoring, Diederichs sixth in field-goal percentage. SPU was No. 2 in scoring (79.8), shooting and three-point shooting (.392). The offense generated scored 98 or more points five times and shot 60 percent or higher six times, including four of the final 11 outings. Six players scored more than 8.0 points per game...Diederichs’ 246 points trailed only Bremerman (312) and Brannon Stone (264) for a freshman over the last 18 seasons. He averaged 8.8 per game and 0.551 per minute, compared to Bremerman’s 0.545..Seattle Pacific was 15-1 when ahead at halftime, 17-0 when leading with 5:00 remaining. It was 11-1 when shooting 50 percent or higher, 12-2 when opponent shots below 46...Bremerman has scored 13 or more points in his final 22 collegiate games...Former player and assistant coach Ritchie McKay took over as coach at Liberty (Va.) following five seasons at New Mexico.

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Chemistry 101. While the losses appear insurmountable on paper, Seattle Pacific University’s basketball biggest fortunes have always been more about teamwork. Going into the 2007-08 season, the Falcons may possess not only sufficient talent but also the the necessary intangibles to make another visit to the men’s basketball Elite Eight. Two starters from the conference championship squad and five of the top eight in the rotation will be joined by some young newcomers next fall.

Big and bigger. Many of the key pieces are in place for the Falcons to contend for an unprecedented third straight Great Northwest Athletic Conference title. Coach Jeff Hironaka has a potential All-American in center Rob Will (Jr., 6-10, Seattle, Wa./O’Dea), a second-team all-GNAC selection. Will was the team’s No. 2 scorer (13.0) and top rebounder (6.4). He led the GNAC in blocked shots (2.0). The other returning starter is forward is JoJay Jackson (Jr., 6-5, Fairfield, Ca./Vallejo-Solano JC), who averaged 9.4 points and 4.8 boards.

Up and coming. Vying for increased playing time and frontline starting roles are Rob Diederichs (Fr., 6-8, Shoreline, Wa./Shorewood) and Casey Reed (So., 6-5, Canby, Or./Canby-Navy). Diederichs was impressive off the bench as a redshirt freshman, and his points and assists per minute led the team while he was second in rebounding. Reed gathered steam in the second half, finishing No. 2 in blocks and providing not only relief to Will but a spark with his quickness underneath.

They can handle it. Hiroanaka lost his starting backcourt to graduation, yet has two ready-made potential starters among the returnees. Jared Moultrie (Sr., 6-2, West Point, Ut./Clearfield-Salt Lake CC), who began the season as the starting point guard, is expected to make a full recovery from knee surgery. Marques Echols (Jr., 6-2, Seattle, Wa./ Garfield-Peninsula CC) played the most minutes of any non-starter, and hit 50.6 percent on three-pointers and 80.7 percent from the foul line in averaging 8.4 points. Brandon Larrieu (Fr., 5-10, Puyallup, Wa./Franklin Pierce) and Adam Wardell (So., 6-2, Sedro Woolley, Wa.) will press for more significant roles.

Bremerman be gone. Make no mistake about it, there will be a sizable void left by the seniors, and one in particular. Dustin Bremerman (Sr., 6-4, Yakima, Wa./Eisenhower) was only the program’s fourth consensus All-American and the GNAC player of the year as a senior. Bremerman became just the second SPU player with two 500-point seasons and finished as the No. 2 career scorer (1797) and three-point shooter (243). He scored 18.9 points per game. Also departing are starters Drew Matzen (Sr., 6-4, Bothell, Wa./Lynnwood) and Brian Lynch (Business, Sr., 3.52, Missoula, Mt./Great Falls). Matzen played four years, starting two on the wing. Lynch led the team in assists. Reserve Austin Yuen (Sr., 5-8, Mercer Island, Wa.) was voted most inspirational.

European adventure. The Falcons will take flight Sept. 9 for a 10-day playing tour of Belgium and Holland. Hironaka will take his returnees on the junket, the program’s fourth overseas venture. SPU went to Holland and Germany in 1995, Brazil in 1999 and Australia in 2003. Although the final schedule is still to be determined, 4-5 exhibitions are planned with professional clubs prior to the start of fall classes.

Effectively re-loaded. Seattle Pacific completed recruiting by signing Chris Banchero, one of the stars for Seattle’s O’Dea, the state 3A champion. The 6-1 Banchero averaged a team-high 15.1 points as a senior. Forwards Jeffrey Downs and Chauncey Campanaro had committed in the fall. Downs scored 24.2 points per game for Bellevue Christian and Campanaro starred for JSerra in Corona Del Mar, Calif.

Camps coming up. Both sessions of the Falcon Basketball Camp for Boys are filling up fast. Players entering grades 4-10 can enroll in sessions July 9-12 or July 16-19. The cost is $200 and early registration is encouraged. For forms, click on the www.spu.ed/depts/athletics/sportscamps.htm.

For the record. Three schools records were broken or tied. Will erased the single game blocks mark with nine vs. Cal State L.A., and the team tied its mark of 11. Bremerman tied the record of nine three-pointers vs. BYU Hawaii Dec. 2 and his 12-12 free throws Jan. 13 vs. Western Washington tied him for single game percentage. Elsewhere, Bremerman is now No. 3 in single game scoring (43, vs. BYUH), No. 2 in career scoring, No. 5 in career foul shooting (.855) and his season accuracy of .883 rates fourth all-time. Echols’ three-point percentage ranks No. 3 for a season. Will moved up to No. 3 in career blocks (119) and No. 4 in career field-goal percentage (.590).

SPU Coaches. 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. Hironaka broke new ground again in 2006, as his team reached the Final Four, winning both GNAC and regional titles, and he was voted the West Region Coach of the Year. His record entering this season is 76-39.

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.