I am counting down the top 20 players that are departing the Big Sky via graduation, transfer, or any other way.
After his junior year, Renado Parker for Portland State showed a game that suggested he could be an all-conference first team performer if things broke right for him as a senior. In his first year for the Vikings, he averaged 9.8 points and 5.1 rebounds (in 24.4 minutes), and showed himself to be an extremely efficient and effective post scorer, shooting 57% from the field. He was also a capable offensive rebounder, with an 11.0% offensive rebound rate.
Last year, it wasn't an easy transition moving from the shadow of Chehales Tapscott in the post to being at the center of opposing defenses gameplans. He shot 45% from the floor (though he did improve as a foul shooter), and also saw a decrease in his offensive rebounding rate. It helps to have a player as good as Tapscott (and Nate Lozeau) next to you on the frontline.
Still, Parker did show some other improvement his senior year. His TO Rate dropped big-time, to the point that he became dependable with the ball. His assist rate also raised slightly. He nabbed a few more offensive rebounds, and used quick hands to double his steal percentage. While his shooting percentage dropped, his teammates still benefited from the attention he got.
Parker's senior year was a bit disappointing, but he showed himself to be a skilled post scorer and rebounder. I suspect everyone on PSU might find a little less room to operate offensively next season.
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Showing posts with label Renado Parker. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Renado Parker. Show all posts
Monday, July 1, 2013
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Portland State Falls to Pac-12 Team
It was a rare case of a Pac-12 team visiting the home gym of a Big Sky team, and for a while it looked like Portland State might pull off the upset. They jumped out to an early lead over Oregon State, leading 22-13 after 11 minutes, as they were forcing turnovers and taking care of the ball.
However, it was then that the Beavers put on a 1-3-1 trap and did some other things to put pressure on the Vikings, which allowed them back in the game. Eventually, it was Oregon State winning 79-74.
However, they also turned it over 19 times, including 4 from PG McMullan.They made just 2/11 from downtown, and struggled to get to the free throw line (just 4/7 on the night). When you aren't hitting from outside or getting easy points at the line, that puts a lot of pressure on the offense to keep hitting their shots. Even though they did, they couldn't overcome the -14 advantage that OSU had at the line.
The Vikings fall to 1-5 on the season with the loss.
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However, it was then that the Beavers put on a 1-3-1 trap and did some other things to put pressure on the Vikings, which allowed them back in the game. Eventually, it was Oregon State winning 79-74.
"Everything went the way we wanted it to go the first 10 or 12 minutes," said Viking Coach Tyler Geving but acknowledged his team's downfall. "You can't simulate their length and quickness (in the 1-3-1 zone). We got in trouble against it even though we worked on it (in preparation). When (Moreland) is at the top of that thing it is hard to go from one side to the other and attack gaps. All of a sudden they are trapping you with two big, athletic guys."Portland State did some things really well. They shot 56% from the floor, with guys like Renado Parker (16), Lateef McMullan (16), and Aaron Moore (14) providing efficient scoring threats. They rebounded well, staying even with the Beavers in that category. They forced 18 turnovers.
However, they also turned it over 19 times, including 4 from PG McMullan.They made just 2/11 from downtown, and struggled to get to the free throw line (just 4/7 on the night). When you aren't hitting from outside or getting easy points at the line, that puts a lot of pressure on the offense to keep hitting their shots. Even though they did, they couldn't overcome the -14 advantage that OSU had at the line.
The Vikings fall to 1-5 on the season with the loss.
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Saturday, November 3, 2012
Portland State Holds Off Concordia 96-93 in Exhibition
Portland State took on Concordia in their exhibition, and it probably was not quite as smooth as Coach Tyler Geving was hoping for. PSU needed a basket in the final minute (and a final defensive stop) to hold off Concordia, winning 96-93.
Coach Geving has said this preseason that he expects the Vikings defense to be improved this year, but giving up 93 points in an exhibition is not a promising start. Ultimately, the exhibition doesn't matter, and perhaps it will not be a harbinger, but certainly they were hoping for a better showing.
Offensively, newcomer Dre Winston was the star, scoring 25 points on 10/18 shooting. Renado Parker had 18 points, and Lateef McMullan chipped in 17 as well.
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Coach Geving has said this preseason that he expects the Vikings defense to be improved this year, but giving up 93 points in an exhibition is not a promising start. Ultimately, the exhibition doesn't matter, and perhaps it will not be a harbinger, but certainly they were hoping for a better showing.
Offensively, newcomer Dre Winston was the star, scoring 25 points on 10/18 shooting. Renado Parker had 18 points, and Lateef McMullan chipped in 17 as well.
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Sunday, March 11, 2012
Portland State Ends The Season With a Loss
Portland State had one game left on their schedule after the Big Sky Tournament, as they traveled to Seattle on Saturday. Earlier in the year, they beat them 66-65, but things didn't go as well this time around, as they lost 94-83 to the Redhawks.
It is hard to imagine that PSU was incredibly motivated for this game after losing in the Big Sky tournament last week, and it showed. They allowed Seattle to shoot over 50%, and they were outrebounded 47-27.
Vikings fans did get a glimpse of next season, however. Renado Parker led the team with 20 points off the bench, shooting 8/13 from the field. He could be one of the best inside scorers in the conference next year, and we will talk plenty about him in the offseason. Gary Winston also had 19 points (including five treys) off the bench,, and the freshman has a bright future. He should step into Charles Odum's starting spot next year.
For Odum, the end comes with 19 points in his final collegiate game. Chehales Tapscott had 10 points, seven rebounds, and four assists to end a great two-year career. Both players were first- team conference players.
Portland State ends the year with a record of 17-15.
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It is hard to imagine that PSU was incredibly motivated for this game after losing in the Big Sky tournament last week, and it showed. They allowed Seattle to shoot over 50%, and they were outrebounded 47-27.
Vikings fans did get a glimpse of next season, however. Renado Parker led the team with 20 points off the bench, shooting 8/13 from the field. He could be one of the best inside scorers in the conference next year, and we will talk plenty about him in the offseason. Gary Winston also had 19 points (including five treys) off the bench,, and the freshman has a bright future. He should step into Charles Odum's starting spot next year.
For Odum, the end comes with 19 points in his final collegiate game. Chehales Tapscott had 10 points, seven rebounds, and four assists to end a great two-year career. Both players were first- team conference players.
Portland State ends the year with a record of 17-15.
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Saturday, March 3, 2012
Semifinals Are Set as Portland State Rolls to Victory
I knew Montana State was going to have trouble scoring enough to keep up with Portland State. I also knew that the teams were coming in with opposite momentum. However, I didn't expect PSU to dominate the game like they did on Saturday night, beating the Bobcats 75-53 in the Big Sky quarterfinals.
It was a familiar script for Portland State. Excellent production from their stars, Chehales Tapscott (20 points, 12 rebounds) and Charles Odum (16 points, seven rebounds); and solid efforts from a couple of role players, Lateef McMullan (14 points, four assists, and Renado Parker (13 points, nine rebounds off the bench). More or less, this is what they have done all season long.
Montana State came out of the gate playing pretty well because of their defense. They ran multiple zone looks, and it confused the Vikings early. PSU turned the ball over often early on, and MSU was able to get some easy baskets. That was big for them, and it was an eight point deficit at the break, as the Viks were unable to create a ton of separation in the first half.
However, PSU began to figure out the zone in the second half, and Montana State simply didn't have the weapons to respond. They needed a big day from Shawn Reid, but he was held to four points on 2/10 shooting. Simply put, the Bobcats were unable to consistently get good looks from their half-court offense. They weren't hitting anything from the outside (3/16 threes), and they weren't able to aggressively attack the rim (11 free throws). They simply didn't have the personnel to score effectively or consistently in the half court offense, and once they stopped forcing turnovers, PSU ran away from them.
It ends a disappointing season for Montana State. After a 6-2 start to the Big Sky season, their world ends with a whimper. Montana State fans have seen this movie before, and I am not sure how much longer they will tolerate it. Obviously we will look at everything more in depth in the offseason, but safe to say Brad Huse probably doesn't head into next season feeling too comfortable about job security.
For Portland State, the dream lives on. They get Weber State in a neutral court game, and if they can find a way to slow down Damian Lillard (who has torched them this season), they will have a chance. They have the offensive talent, it is all about digging in defensively. They will meet on 5:30pm Tuesday night, in what should be an outstanding game.
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Friday, March 2, 2012
Montana State @ Portland State Quarterfinal Preview and Prediction
The Big Sky Tournament is finally upon us! On Saturday, there will be two quarterfinal games being played. In the three vs six matchup, we will see Montana State travel to take on Portland State. Let's break it down and offer up a prediction.
PREVIOUS MATCHUPS
You wouldn't guess this, but it has been Montana State that has swept the season series. They beat Portland State 86-73 in late December, and then 70-65 in late January.
BACKCOURT
Portland State is led by all-conference player Charles Odum, who is second in the conference in scoring. He is an excellent offensive player, and he shoots 62% from inside the arc, an astounding number for a 6'0'' guard. He is a master at getting in the lane and to the line, where he has shot more than seven FTs per game (making 83% of them). He is flanked by Lateef McMullan, who struggled early in the year but has had some nice moments. They need more consistent play from him, but he is capable of producing. Michael Harthun is in the wing spot, and he has been a quietly efficient player. He shoots 43% from downtown, and doesn't take much off the table.
Montana State has been hurt by attrition. Jamie Stewart was academically ineligible, and of course Xavier Blount got injured in an off-court incident. That has stretched their depth. Rod Singleton is their (much-maligned, by fans) senior leader and PG, but he turns it over more than he gets assists. Shawn Reid has stepped into the lineup in Blount's absense and been probably their best player over the last month. He is a guy they look to as their go-to scorer. Christian Moon is a nice outside shooter, but he has been slumping a bit. If he starts to hit some shots, they will have a chance.
EDGE: I give the edge to Portland State simply because they have Charles Odum. He is a difference-maker.
FRONTCOURT
MSU usually starts Mohammed Fall and Tre Johnson in the post, two guys that have different skill sets. Fall is an athletic guy, solid defender and rebounder, and a guy that cleans up on the offensive glass with putbacks. He is one of the best shot blockers in the conference, and a guy that can cause teams problems down low. Tre Johnson is more offensive minded, and is a little bit better at creating shots.
For PSU, they are led by Chehales Tapscott, another first teamer and probably the best frontcourt player in the Big Sky. He does it all for the Viks. He is a solid scorer, the best rebounder in the Big Sky, one of the best shot blockers, and also gets his fair share of steals. He is a fun guy to watch, and the conference will miss him. He is joined in the frontcourt by Nate Lozeau, a guy that started out the year very strong, but has had less of impact as the season has gone on. Still, he is a big man that rebounds and shoots a very nice percentage.
EDGE: I give Portland State a slight edge in this one, because Tapscott is just that good.
BENCH
Portland State has the best bench player in the game and one of the best in the conference in Renado Parker, an adept scorer and rebounder. He has a chance to be a 15/8 player next year and forms a formidable offensive duo with Tapscott. Gary Winston has been a nice player in the backcourt for them, showing a nice outside touch. He is a likely starter next year and can be a solid bench player for them.
Montana State, as we've said, struggles with depth because of their personnel losses. Mike Dison is their lone backcourt sub that gets a lot of time, but he struggles to make an impact as a freshman. In the frontcourt, Jeff Budinich is a nice player. He has a sneaky solid outside shot, and his high release means he can get shots off almost whenever he wants. Jourdain Allou is a solid, athletic big that is a good offensive rebounder and efficient scorer.
EDGE: This one is too close to call, so I will say even. Each team has one or two guys that can make plays off the bench, but they are not very deep. The starters will decide this game.
WHO WINS
These are two teams trending in opposite directions. The Vikings have won six straight conference games, while the Bobcats have won once in their last nine games. As I have been saying (including on a podcast with Gidal), MSU relies heavily on Shawn Reid and Christian Moon for their scoring, but they are not necessarily ready for those roles.
Portland State, meanwhile, is well defined in that they have their two stars (Odum and Tapscott), and then everyone else falls in after that. They will be the two best players on the court, and combined with the fact that this game is in Portland, I like the Vikings to win this game.
PORTLAND STATE 80, MONTANA STATE 70
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PREVIOUS MATCHUPS
You wouldn't guess this, but it has been Montana State that has swept the season series. They beat Portland State 86-73 in late December, and then 70-65 in late January.
Portland State is led by all-conference player Charles Odum, who is second in the conference in scoring. He is an excellent offensive player, and he shoots 62% from inside the arc, an astounding number for a 6'0'' guard. He is a master at getting in the lane and to the line, where he has shot more than seven FTs per game (making 83% of them). He is flanked by Lateef McMullan, who struggled early in the year but has had some nice moments. They need more consistent play from him, but he is capable of producing. Michael Harthun is in the wing spot, and he has been a quietly efficient player. He shoots 43% from downtown, and doesn't take much off the table.
Montana State has been hurt by attrition. Jamie Stewart was academically ineligible, and of course Xavier Blount got injured in an off-court incident. That has stretched their depth. Rod Singleton is their (much-maligned, by fans) senior leader and PG, but he turns it over more than he gets assists. Shawn Reid has stepped into the lineup in Blount's absense and been probably their best player over the last month. He is a guy they look to as their go-to scorer. Christian Moon is a nice outside shooter, but he has been slumping a bit. If he starts to hit some shots, they will have a chance.
EDGE: I give the edge to Portland State simply because they have Charles Odum. He is a difference-maker.
MSU usually starts Mohammed Fall and Tre Johnson in the post, two guys that have different skill sets. Fall is an athletic guy, solid defender and rebounder, and a guy that cleans up on the offensive glass with putbacks. He is one of the best shot blockers in the conference, and a guy that can cause teams problems down low. Tre Johnson is more offensive minded, and is a little bit better at creating shots.
For PSU, they are led by Chehales Tapscott, another first teamer and probably the best frontcourt player in the Big Sky. He does it all for the Viks. He is a solid scorer, the best rebounder in the Big Sky, one of the best shot blockers, and also gets his fair share of steals. He is a fun guy to watch, and the conference will miss him. He is joined in the frontcourt by Nate Lozeau, a guy that started out the year very strong, but has had less of impact as the season has gone on. Still, he is a big man that rebounds and shoots a very nice percentage.
EDGE: I give Portland State a slight edge in this one, because Tapscott is just that good.
BENCH
Portland State has the best bench player in the game and one of the best in the conference in Renado Parker, an adept scorer and rebounder. He has a chance to be a 15/8 player next year and forms a formidable offensive duo with Tapscott. Gary Winston has been a nice player in the backcourt for them, showing a nice outside touch. He is a likely starter next year and can be a solid bench player for them.
Montana State, as we've said, struggles with depth because of their personnel losses. Mike Dison is their lone backcourt sub that gets a lot of time, but he struggles to make an impact as a freshman. In the frontcourt, Jeff Budinich is a nice player. He has a sneaky solid outside shot, and his high release means he can get shots off almost whenever he wants. Jourdain Allou is a solid, athletic big that is a good offensive rebounder and efficient scorer.
EDGE: This one is too close to call, so I will say even. Each team has one or two guys that can make plays off the bench, but they are not very deep. The starters will decide this game.
WHO WINS
These are two teams trending in opposite directions. The Vikings have won six straight conference games, while the Bobcats have won once in their last nine games. As I have been saying (including on a podcast with Gidal), MSU relies heavily on Shawn Reid and Christian Moon for their scoring, but they are not necessarily ready for those roles.
Portland State, meanwhile, is well defined in that they have their two stars (Odum and Tapscott), and then everyone else falls in after that. They will be the two best players on the court, and combined with the fact that this game is in Portland, I like the Vikings to win this game.
PORTLAND STATE 80, MONTANA STATE 70
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Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Portland State Evens Big Sky Record
After Idaho State's thrilling comeback over Sacramento State on Saturday, they had a lot of confidence.They started out this game playing well, jumping out to a 9-2 lead, and it looked like they may have found some magic. However, Portland State regained their composure, kept it close for a while, and then made a big second half run, eventually winning 70-62.
The star for the Vikings was guard Charles Odum, who finished with a career-high 29 points. As has been the case most of the season, it was an efficient scoring output, as he was 10/18 from the field (including 3/5 from downtown) and 6/7 from the stripe. Off the heels of being named Big Sky Player of the Week, he had an impressive outing.
Chehales Tapscott also filled the stat sheet for the Vikings as usual. He had an efficient 15 points, six rebounds, five steals, and four blocks. There is no doubt that he is one of the more versatile guys in the nation. Lateef McMullan and Renado Parker also contributed with 10 points each in the win.
For Idaho State, they didn't play too poorly, they just didn't have the firepower. Chase Grabau continued his excellent senior season with 18 points, eight rebounds, and four assists, and Kenny McGowen also chipped in 20. However, they just didn't have the talent to keep pace with the Vikings on their home court.
Portland State moves to 9-9 on the year, 3-3 in the Big Sky, while Idaho State drops to 4-14 and 2-4 in the Big Sky. PSU will take on Eastern Washington on Saturday in what should be a fantastic matchup, as both teams currently sit tied for fifth in the Big Sky.
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Thursday, December 29, 2011
Montana Holds Court Over Portland State
Montana shot 58% in the first half (including 7/9 from beyond the arc), which enabled them to get a 19 point lead going into the break. Portland State had a couple solid runs in the second half to cut the deficit down a bit, but they never really made it too interesting.
Kareem Jamar led the team with 17 points, also contributing 4 rebounds and 4 assists. He had a couple of great looks that led the easy baskets for the Griz, and he is really growing to be a great playmaker for them. The announcers of the game were heaping a lot of praise on Jamar near the end of the game, and it was hard to argue with anything. He is very talented offensively, and very advanced for being a sophomore.
Will Cherry also played well, with 15 points, including knocking down some outside shots, which is huge for him. He also had the play of the day... on a fast break, he threw up a beautiful alley oop that was completed by Art Steward (who also had 15) for an athletic finish (highlights can be found here). Cherry had a cramp later in the game, but should be fine for Friday. Cherry opposing Lateef McMullan (0/7, 0 points) was a huge mismatch in this game.
Derek Selvig and Eric Hutchison did not contribute a bunch offensively, but they were very sound defensively against a strong offensive frontcourt of PSU. In particular they played outstanding defense against Nate Lozeau.
It will not be a game Lozeau will want to remember. Coming into the day he was shooting 64%, but he was just 1/8 from the floor for 4 points and 3 rebounds, while also battling foul trouble. Chehales Tapscott didn't do much better offensively with 7 points, but he did have 12 rebounds and is just very active on the glass. Renado Parker had another great effort (16 points, 8 rebounds), and is one heck of a player down low, but it was not enough.
The bright spot for PSU was Charles Odum, who had a very efficient 27 points, taking only 13 shots. He got to the line well, and got into the lane for some easy shots. He is really an excellent player, though some of the points did come in garbage time.
Montana came out firing and played great, setting up an early season game against Eastern Washington to determine who will be #2 in the perception of those following the league. Meanwhile, PSU falls to 0-7 on the road this year, and has to turn around in 2 days to take on Montana State. It is a win they could definitely use.
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Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Player To Watch: Renado Parker of Portland State
If there is one guy you may not know yet, but could be a big factor in the Big Sky race this year, it is Renado Parker. Parker is a transfer that has become eligible now that the first semester is over, and he could be a huge boost off the bench for a Portland State team that is not very deep.
Here is what Coach Tyler Geving had to say about him before the season:
“Renado has done a great job in early season workouts. When you get him the ball on the block, even though he is only 6-5 or 6-6, he is as good as anyone getting the ball in the basket.”He played two solid seasons at community college, and then went to Idaho. He was in the Vandals program for one semester, and may have been the most talented recruit for Idaho. He decided to move on, and has found a home at Portland State now that he has become eligible. An article from his high school days talks about his talent then, though he had some academic issues (which is likely why he went the JUCO route).
In his sophomore season, he averaged about 14 points and 6 rebounds from the floor, showing an efficient low-post game. He showed all of that talent in his first game back for the Vikings. In 23 minutes, he has 12 points (on 5/6 shooting) and 8 rebounds (including 4 offensive). Teams would take that level of production from their starters, let alone their third big. The key will be whether he can play defense, and that is a huge area of need for the Vikings.
For a team that already has potential All-Conference players in Chehales Tapscott and Nate Lozeau but little depth behind them. That should change now, as Parker is in the mold of Tapscott. He is undersized but he simply gets it done, and should put up nice numbers at the Big Sky level. His production and continued development could be a big factor in whether or not Portland State is a player in the Big Sky.
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