MBB HOLDS SHOOTING CLINIC August 22, 2010
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The WolfPack men’s basketball team held a shooting clinic for high school players on August 21 and 22. Chas Kok was the main instructor.
MBB FALL TO TOREROS IN EXHIBITION ACTION August 9, 2010
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- Standing for National Anthem
It looked like preseason, but still basketball fans in Kamloops were impressed. The University of San Diego Toreros became the first NCAA Division I team to ever play in the BC Interior. They showed why they are in the top university basketball league in the world by downing the hometown Thompson Rivers University WolfPack 73-64 before 150 fans at the Tournament Capital Center.
Both teams showed some rust, but fans were left in awe of the speed and finesse of the Toreros. At the same time, they saw a lot of promise out of the hometown WolfPack, who sported a new head coach and many new players.
San Diego
The Toreros led wire to wire: up 19-12 after the first quarter and held a 39-27 advantage at the half. San Diego had three players in double figures. Cameron Miles (guard, Dallas, Tx) had 15 points. Chris Manresa (forward, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA) had 13 points and a team high 11 rebounds. Matt Dorr (guard, Spokane,WA) added 11 points.
TRU was led by Greg Stewart (5th year, forward, Kamloops, BC) who had a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds. “Its not very often that you get to play a Div one team,” said Stewart. “The experience was very good. We did fairly well considering we had only two practices.”
Stewart thought the speed and size were the main differences between the two teams. “It was overwhelming at times,” he said. “Their ‘bigs were big’. They were 6’8” or 6’9” but they were strong and physical. Overall, I wasn’t expecting those types of things.”
Kevin Pribilsky (3rd year, guard, Victoria, BC) had 11 points to be named the TRU “Leader of the Pack” player of the game. “ I thought in the first half they broke us down,” he said afterwards. “ They got out of the transition very well. They created mismatches at the half court and we had trouble getting offensive rebounds.”
Rookie forward Brett Rouault (Vernon, BC) had 11 points as well.
“I thought the big kid (Stewart), played very well.”stated San Diego coach Bill Grier stated as he assessed his opponent. “Its amazing how he plays. I thought the WolfPack competed hard. I know Scott (Clark) has always had good teams. I like their style of play.”
Clark said the exhibition was a good chance to evaluate his players and give them a chance to play a top calibre opponent. “ It takes a while for the new players go get used to my system,” he assessed. “The other thing we learned tonight that we need to be in better shape and make better decisions. At times, we did some things that were ok, but other times we were poor. But we try to build upon our successes.”
Clark thought his young squad had some difficulty dealing with the faster pace set by San Diego. “ They are a good basketball team obviously. Athletically they had some kids who were quick and they broke our defence down. Early in the season, you don’t have a rotation in place to help stop those breakdowns.”
TRU’s chances weren’t helped when they lost fourth year guard/forward Chas Kok (Lynden, WA). He left with just over six minutes left in the second quarter with a twisted ankle.
The WolfPack now go back into training and don’t have a preseason game until October 15 th when they entertain the Langara College Falcons of the BC College Athletic Association at the Tournament Capital Center. The Toreros continue their BC trip with a game in Abbotsford on Wednesday (Aug 11) against the University of Fraser Valley Cascades. San Diego closes out their BC adventure one night later as they visit UBC in Vancouver.
FOUL SHOTS: Grier on why the Toreros came to BC: “We have a young group of guys this year.Ten of our group are freshmen or sophomores. I really felt this was the year that we needed to come somewhere and practice, spend time together and experience a different culture would be beneficial. I really love it up here (BC)”
Clark on Pribilsky’s play: “I thought it was a very courageous effort by a player who usually plays 28 minutes a game. Tonite, he played 35 minutes against a top flight team-he is fatiqued. He is an older kid and directed the floor well as a point guard. He is maturing into the player that we want: who can direct things out there.”
Pribilsky credited his performance on experience. “ I have had more experience with the offense Scott wants to run here. I knew what I was doing out there so I tried to help them out there. As the season goes on, the offense will click. Once it does, it is a very, very potent offense and we’ll be able to play very well.”
WOLFPACK PREPARE FOR TOREROS ( August 8, 2010
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It may only be an exhibition game, but members of the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack men’s basketball team are treating it as a big challenge. The WolfPack are gearing up to take on the University of San Diego Toreros at the Tournament Capital Center on Monday night (Aug 9). It’s the first time an NCAA Division I school has played basketball in Kamloops.
Fourth year forward Chas Kok (Lynden, Washington) says although it is only an exhibition tilt and they have had only two practices. He doesn’t want to come up with a poor effort. “We need to compete,” he says. “We need to work our butts off. If we compete: I don’t care what the score is. But if we don’t, I’ll be disappointed.”
For others like fifth year forward Greg Stewart (Kamloops, BC), the exhibition game will prove to be his first opportunity to impress new head coach Scott Clark. “ That is why we are hosting this game,” he says. “ He (Clark) wants to see where our team is at in the area of talent. He wants to find out which players have been working out and how we can come together as a team. “
Clark makes no secret of the fact that win or lose on Monday night, he will be evaluating the talent. “ The first thing is that we hope some people come out and see us play and we have some fun with that. But the biggest thing is that I’ll be able to evaluate the players in a competitive situation. “
San Diego coach Bill Grier explains why they are coming to play the WolfPack: “The NCAA allows Division I schools a “foreign” tour once every four years. In April, the NCAA made a rule change allowing incoming freshmen and transfers to participate in a foreign tour effective August 1, 2010 (this was never allowed in the past). We have a very young team (only 3 upper classmen; 10 freshmen and sophomores). I felt this was the right year to take this tour to help us get a young group ahead and jump start our year.”
The Toreros went 12-21 overall last season. Grier says they started out last season with victories over Stanford, Oklahoma and Houston. “ From that point on though,” he says “We struggled with poor chemistry and lost six games by five points or less and a seventh game in overtime.”
San Diego comes to BC missing three players-including two of their biggest players (one a projected starter).
“ The two most important parts of this trip are the practices and the time spent together developing chemistry,” Grier adds. “ We return a post player that was on the All-Freshman team in our conference last year, Chris Manresa (Sophomore, Rancho Santa Margarita, Ca). Ken Rancifer (sophomore, Oakland, Ca) is a wing player that came on strong toward the end of last year and will be a sophomore this year. Matt Dorr, our senior guard, is a very good shooter and is from Spokane, WA. We have a talented Junior College point guard, Darian Norris (Junior, Las Vegas, NV). Then we have a bunch of freshmen and sophomores trying to prove themselves.”
The game will be the first of three in three nights for the Toreros, who also take on the University of the Fraser Valley (Aug 11) and UBC (Aug 12).
Tip off is 6 pm at the Tournament Capital Center. Admission is $5.00 at the door.
MBB PREPARE TO FACE SAN DIEGO July 31, 2010
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Coach Scott Clark explains what to do
It was a glimpse of what is yet to come. Returning veterans and rookies with the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack men’s basketball team got a taste of what practice would be like under new head coach Scott Clark on Friday (July 29). Eight members of the team were put through their paces as Clark gears up for an exhibition game August 9 th at the Tournament Capital Center against the NCAA Division I University of San Diego Toreros.
Clark put the players through a nearly three hour practice. “There is some rust on everybody but that is to be expected,” he said afterwards. “ What I was trying to establish is a routine of how practice will be when we start in September. We could get all get caught up in the fact we have a game, but we don’t really want to get all caught up in that. We’ll play hard of course but things will be won in November, December and January.”
From fundamentals to work under the basket, the players got a good idea that when it comes to practice with the WolfPack, every minute will be utilized.
Chaz Kok (4th year, forward, Lynden, Wash) is used to Clark’s routine. He played under him at Simon Fraser University last season. The Canada West 2nd team all-star found himself answering a lot of questions in his first workout with his new team. “ It was a long practice but it was good to meet the guys that I haven’t met yet. Im starting to figure out how our team will look when the season starts.”
Greg Stewart
Greg Stewart (5th year, forward, Kamloops, BC) is the Canada West Defensive Player of the Year. The first practice under Clark was something he wasn’t used to. “Very intense,” he said. “ We were trying to focus in on a mental game. We have to be ready to perform every minute of practice. I learned a few things tonite. But, the message is clear that we have to focus on basketball when we are out here.”
Stewart and Kok both believe they have a good group who will achieve some success this season.
The WolfPack will have one more practice before they take on San Diego. Tip off time on August 9 th is 6 pm. Tickets are $5.00 at the door.
NCAA DIV 1 SCHOOL TO PLAY BASKETBALL IN KAMLOOPS July 28, 2010
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Greg Stewart (A. Snucins photo)
For the first time in its history, Thompson Rivers University will be hosting a NCAA Division I basketball team. The WolfPack men’s basketball team will be entertaining the University of San Diego Toreros in an exhibition game Monday August 9 th. Tip off will be 6 pm at the Tournament Capital Center.
“San Diego approached me when I was coaching at Simon (Fraser University) “ said WolfPack head coach Scott Clark. “I met San Diego assistant coach Mike Burns when he was with Central Washington. When SFU decided not to play them, I invited them here.”
Clark is having the Toreros come to the BC Interior for two reasons. “ First, I want to raise the profile of the sport of basketball. Secondly, it’ll be a good day of basketball for our guys. You can’t get better competition that what San Diego will provide.”
San Diego went 12 and 21 overall (league, tourney and playoffs) in 2009-10. Bill Grier is their head coach and enters his fourth season on the bench of the Toreros, who will also play the University of the Fraser Valley and UBC on their British Columbia excursion.
The WolfPack plan to have their returning veterans along with some of their new recruits in the line up for the exhibition encounter. “We’ll have a couple of practices before we hit the floor,” stated Clark.
Clark hopes that the visit by San Diego will be the first of many from top American and Canadian university basketball programs to the Interior. “ It would be great to make a game like this an annual affair,” he adds.
“I hope we’ll be able to get a lot of people out to enjoy the game.”
Tickets for the August 9 th exhibition game will be $5.00 across the board and available at the door.