Scouting the Portland State Vikings

Cal State Fullerton (7-3) will try to win its fifth in a row for the first time since its run to the 2007-08 NCAA Tournament when they play their final pre-Big West Conference schedule game tonight vs. Portland State (6-5).

The Titans (7-3) face Portland State (6-5). Tip-off is today at 7:00 PM in Dilapidated Titan Gym.

The Rankings

	W. Nolan	NPI	KenPom	RealTime	Sagarin	AVG
PSU	127	186	233	131	184	172.2
CSF	214 (11)	109 (6)	173 (1)	228 (12)	141 (33)	173.0

Portland State Vikings Scouting Report

• Notable wins include Bakersfield (by 4 at home) and Seattle (by 1). Close loss to Wyoming (by 6 on the road). Also lost to Oregon by 9 on the road.
• The Vikings have a pair of 6-10, 270+ centers who could give the Titans problems. The good news is that only one, senior Nate Lozeau, gets significant minutes. Lozeau averages 12 points (3rd best) and 7 rebounds (2nd) per game. He also shoots 64% from the floor and 69% on FTs. He has improved significantly from last year and, if history is any indication, 6-5ish forwards Omondi Amoke and Andre Hardy will be tasked with guarding him.
• Senior 6-0 guard Charles Odum is the leading scorer for the Vikings at 17 ppg. He also co-leads the team in assists at 28.
• Chehales Tapscott, a 6-5 senior forward, leads the team in rebounds (9 rpg) and is second in scoring (14 ppg). He has been playing extremely well of late and is the Vikings best all-round player.
• PSU has seven players averaging seven or more points. They do like to run and have -- and use -- a very deep bench as they will go 9 or 10 deep in close games.
• The Vikings haven't shot well from behind the three-point line but have come on strong of late. They will definitely launch it when they are open so Titans have to prevent the open looks. Best shooters are 6-3 junior Michael Harthun and freshman Gary Winston.
• PSU does not appear to shy away from a fast paced game but that may change as that plays right into CSF's hands. Best bet for Portland State would be to work an inside/outside game and get Amoke in foul trouble but have a hunch, based on the scores, they just may try to run. If so, could be an fun game to watch.
• Keys to game for Titans: Some big (literally) match-up problems for the Titans so they will need to contain Lozeau and the other 6-10, 290 freshman center Brandon Cataldo, avoid foul trouble by Amoke and prevent the Vikings from making three's. If they do those things, Titans will win by 15.
• Vegas: Titans by 10, 83-73

Links

• TV/Radio: Live Video (Big West TV) | CSF Radio (Internet)
• Forums: Oregon Live | Big Sky Fans
• Cal State Fullerton release
• Portland State release vs. Cal State Fullerton
• Schedule
• Roster
• Statistics