This article first appeared on SuperWest Sports, a media partner of Oregon Sports News.
Portland State may not be a household name in the college basketball landscape, but the Vikings are making noise. They have won seven straight games and sit undefeated atop the Big Sky Conference.
With a low NET rating, PSU would likely need to win the Big Sky Tournament to earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Still, this weekend sets up meaningful basketball, as the Vikings host the league’s two Montana schools with first place on the line.
A trip to the Big Dance would mark Portland State’s first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2009.
The Vikings host Montana State, currently second in the Big Sky, on Thursday, followed by Montana, which sits third, on Saturday. A sweep of the Treasure State schools would give PSU valuable breathing room as it heads into the back half of conference play.
These games matter even more because Portland State will not have many chances to strengthen its resume. The Vikings are 0-3 against Quad One and Quad Two opponents, with losses to Stanford, San Francisco, and Colorado. Wins over Montana and Montana State would fall into Quad Three, where PSU is 3-1 this season. They are also 6-1 against Quad Four teams.
Head coach Jase Coburn, now in his fifth season, is starting to see his long-term vision take shape. He has guided the Vikings to back-to-back winning seasons, something the program had not done since 2013 to 2015. If PSU finishes above .500 this year, it would mark the first time in 17 years the program has produced three straight winning campaigns.
Coburn is not just a coach, he is a vibe. When he was hired, he made national headlines by saying he skipped breakfast before arriving at the facility because he wanted to “be hungry.” He was also once known for driving a 2003 Chevy Tahoe with no heat or air conditioning. One hopes that situation has improved.
This is not a pampered former athlete who slid into coaching. Coburn is a grinder, someone fighting to build something lasting.
“This is a dream come true for me and my family,” he once said. “I’ve worked my whole life to get to this point.”
The results are starting to follow the story. His teams are built on effort, toughness, and unity, and that identity is clear on the floor.
Portland State allows 70.7 points per game, a number that can be misleading. The Vikings rank 49th nationally in defensive rating, anchoring themselves on the gritty end of the floor.
Offensively, PSU is led by a trio of productive scorers. Forward Terri Miller Jr. leads the way, averaging 19.6 points per game while shooting 55 percent inside the arc. He is also knocking down 41 percent of his three-point attempts and contributes 6.3 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game.
Guard Jaylin Henderson is the team’s second-leading scorer at 17.6 points per contest. While his outside shooting has been inconsistent, he excels as a playmaker, averaging 6.3 assists per game and leading the team with 1.7 steals.
Keyon Kensie Jr. and Tre-Vaughn Minott round out the core, combining for 23.5 points per game. Both are strong on the glass, with Minott leading the team at 8.8 rebounds per game and Kensie Jr. close behind at 7.6.
Portland State is quietly building something real. A sweep this week would put the Big Sky on notice.
Hype or not, there is some very good basketball being played at Viking Pavilion.
Be the first to comment