# '25-'26 WCC Game 2: @ Portland **URL:** \ **Category:** Game Preview/Recap\ **Created:** [December 30, 2025, 1:11am UTC](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/t/25-26-wcc-game-2-portland/1055 "2025-12-30T01:11:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![KourtsideKev11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7ea924/32.png) [@KourtsideKev11](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/u/KourtsideKev11)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2025, 1:11am UTC](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/t/25-26-wcc-game-2-portland/1055/1 "2025-12-30T01:11:19Z")
**Portland Pilots Scouting Report: A Program Finding Its Edge Under Shantay Leggins** For much of the past decade, Portland has been a team Santa Clara fans circled as a “take care of business” game. Under Shantay Leggins, that assumption is getting riskier by the month. Leggins hasn’t magically transformed the Pilots into a finished product, but he _has_ given them an identity, and that alone makes them more dangerous than their record suggests. Portland is tougher, more physical, more disruptive, and far more confident than past iterations. Fall asleep at the wheel, and this is the kind of team that can steal 10–15 minutes of a game and put real pressure on you. **Identity: Defense, Physicality, and Controlled Chaos** Portland’s calling card right now is **defensive effort and effort plays**. The Pilots are not an offensive juggernaut, but they consistently: ``` • **Guard the ball** • **Force turnovers** (13 vs WSU, 15 vs Oregon) • **Crash the offensive glass** (20–6 second-chance edge vs WSU) • **Win the paint battle** , even against more talented teams ``` Against Washington State, Portland held the Cougars to **37.7% shooting** and still nearly pulled the upset despite shooting just **30.8% overall**. That tells you everything about how this team is built: they’re comfortable winning ugly, and they’re comfortable dragging you into it with them. This is not a free-flowing offense. It’s deliberate, physical, and opportunistic—designed to capitalize when opponents lose discipline. **Offensive Reality: Streaky, But Not Toothless** The Pilots’ biggest limitation is still **shot-making** , particularly from three. They’ve shown the full spectrum: ``` • **0-for-11 from three** in the first half vs WSU • **8-for-20 from three** in the second half of that same game • **4-for-17 from three** vs UCSB • **5 made threes total** vs Oregon ``` When Portland shoots it well, they can absolutely hang. When they don’t, they rely on offensive rebounds, turnovers, and transition chances to stay afloat. The danger is that they _can_ flip the switch quickly. Washington State learned that when Portland ripped off a **22–5 run** coming out of halftime. Oregon felt it when Joel Foxwell controlled tempo early in Eugene. **Key Contributors to Know** **Joel Foxwell (Fr., G) – The Engine** Foxwell is the piece everything revolves around. He leads the WCC in assists, can score at all three levels, and plays with poise beyond his years. ``` • 21 points, 8 assists vs Oregon • 15 points, 6 assists vs WSU • Confident shot-maker late in games ``` If Foxwell is dictating tempo, Portland feels dangerous. **Mikah Ballew (G) – The Microwave** Ballew is streaky, but when he gets hot, Portland becomes a different team. His late-game flurry against WSU (10 straight points) nearly stole the game. He’s not always efficient—but you can’t lose him. **Frontcourt by Committee – Effort Over Flash** Cameron Williams, Jermaine Ballisager Webb, Timo George, and Matus Hronsky don’t overwhelm you with size or scoring, but they: ``` • Rebound • Defend • Run the floor • Make life uncomfortable ``` George’s efficiency (top-10 nationally in FG%) is worth noting, he doesn’t force much, but he punishes mistakes. **How Santa Clara Beats Portland** This is not about talent. It’s about **discipline**. ``` 1\. **Value the Ball** ``` Portland thrives on turnovers. Live-ball giveaways fuel their runs and keep their offense afloat. ``` 2\. **Finish Defensive Possessions** ``` If SCU gives up offensive rebounds, Portland will hang around far longer than they should. ``` 3\. **Make Them Shoot Over Length** ``` The Pilots struggle when forced into contested jumpers. Stay down, wall off the paint, and make them prove it from deep. ``` 4\. **Push the Pace Selectively** ``` Portland wants a grind. Santa Clara should pick spots to speed the game up without getting careless. **Final Word** Portland is no longer a “sleepwalk” opponent. Under Shantay Leggins, they’ve become a team that **plays hard, plays connected, and believes** —which is often enough to punish complacency. Santa Clara still has more firepower. But if the Broncos don’t match Portland’s physicality and attention to detail, this is exactly the kind of game that tightens late and becomes uncomfortable. Respect the opponent. Handle the ball. Finish possessions. Do that, and Santa Clara should take care of business. Ignore those details, and Portland will happily make it interesting. ---
**Author:** ![PattyMac](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.wakeupswig.com/pattymac/32/15_2.png) [@PattyMac](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/u/PattyMac)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2025, 7:41pm UTC](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/t/25-26-wcc-game-2-portland/1055/2 "2025-12-30T19:41:24Z")
Santa Clara has its best intra-WCC record against Portland of all other conference opponents, I believe. The Broncos have taken something like 19 of the past 20 matchups. It’s hard for me to see the Pilots winning here, but hey, I told my fiancee that Santa Clara would beat the Ramblers by 25! **86-68 Santa Clara.** Bukky manages to log 21 min without fouling out 🙏 ---
**Author:** ![buckets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@buckets](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/u/buckets)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2025, 9:49pm UTC](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/t/25-26-wcc-game-2-portland/1055/3 "2025-12-30T21:49:42Z")
> [@PattyMac](#): > > Bukky manages to log 21 min without fouling out 🙏 It’s sad that we have to pray for him to only commit 4 fouls in half a game. 🤣 ---
**Author:** ![Sedulous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac91a4/32.png) [@Sedulous](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/u/Sedulous)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2025, 10:21pm UTC](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/t/25-26-wcc-game-2-portland/1055/4 "2025-12-30T22:21:45Z")
Bukky still thinks he is a point guard, whch he was at the beginning of his basketball journey. ---
**Author:** ![bronco25](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47774/32.png) [@bronco25](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/u/bronco25)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2025, 12:03am UTC](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/t/25-26-wcc-game-2-portland/1055/5 "2025-12-31T00:03:40Z")
I’m hoping tonight’s the night for Normand. So excited to see him play and what he could potentially do for this team. Let’s go Broncos! ---
**Author:** ![getnashty](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.wakeupswig.com/getnashty/32/1253_2.png) [@getnashty](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/u/getnashty)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2025, 2:09am UTC](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/t/25-26-wcc-game-2-portland/1055/6 "2025-12-31T02:09:47Z")
We won in Portland 97-50 last year, best away result ever… Would need to do it again to make the computers as happy as they were with our Corvallis performance, considering Portland is so much further down. I’ll take any kind of win. Oh Broncos, 6 points away from being a one loss team and me being a very happy man! Let’s keep winning and see what can happen. ---
**Author:** ![Haywardbronco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/fbc32d/32.png) [@Haywardbronco](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/u/Haywardbronco)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2025, 3:02am UTC](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/t/25-26-wcc-game-2-portland/1055/7 "2025-12-31T03:02:49Z")
Chiles center is cool also! About 60 scu fans in the house ! ![IMG_6406](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/uploads/wakeupswig/original/2X/5/5acdce161e423c7d78ac66f3367d963c91aebdbd.jpeg) ![IMG_6408](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/uploads/wakeupswig/original/2X/5/5a35247509c5bd0c5b166c328a7b351343913611.jpeg) ![IMG_6407](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/uploads/wakeupswig/original/2X/5/5cedf3bb483313e66fda982b29bc8dcb75facd68.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![LucasLandon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9d8465/32.png) [@LucasLandon](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/u/LucasLandon)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2025, 3:07am UTC](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/t/25-26-wcc-game-2-portland/1055/8 "2025-12-31T03:07:16Z")
Usually 90 seconds into the game Bukky has two fouls, not two baskets lol ---
**Author:** ![SC7](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/73ab20/32.png) [@SC7](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/u/SC7)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2025, 3:13am UTC](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/t/25-26-wcc-game-2-portland/1055/9 "2025-12-31T03:13:30Z")
Looks like they’re finally starting to realize how much they can abuse his athleticism on offense. ---
**Author:** ![buckets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@buckets](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/u/buckets)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2025, 3:22am UTC](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/t/25-26-wcc-game-2-portland/1055/10 "2025-12-31T03:22:45Z")
Pilots’ zone D is causing problems for the Broncs ---
**Author:** ![buckets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@buckets](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/u/buckets)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2025, 3:29am UTC](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/t/25-26-wcc-game-2-portland/1055/11 "2025-12-31T03:29:03Z")
So apparently, if you don’t actually employ a zone D for your own squad, your boys also don’t know how to break a zone D either. ---
**Author:** ![BroncoBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a3d4f5/32.png) [@BroncoBob](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/u/BroncoBob)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2025, 3:30am UTC](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/t/25-26-wcc-game-2-portland/1055/12 "2025-12-31T03:30:45Z")
I guess you have a pre-game rotation plan but if I am up 11-0 then I am keeping my starters in rather than subbing them out at the 15:31 mark. ---
**Author:** ![buckets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@buckets](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/u/buckets)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2025, 3:34am UTC](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/t/25-26-wcc-game-2-portland/1055/13 "2025-12-31T03:34:44Z")
And the Head Lump seemingly doing nothing but standing there with his arms crossed looking like a 62 year old version of Alfred E Neuman. How many times do you have to get beat on back cuts before you do something about it? ---
**Author:** ![buckets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@buckets](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/u/buckets)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2025, 3:40am UTC](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/t/25-26-wcc-game-2-portland/1055/14 "2025-12-31T03:40:06Z")
9 turnovers in 14 minutes. Pathetic. Lazy passing and suddenly no movement. ---
**Author:** ![Dualthreat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@Dualthreat](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/u/Dualthreat)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2025, 3:45am UTC](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/t/25-26-wcc-game-2-portland/1055/15 "2025-12-31T03:45:49Z")
Darlan 7pts in 7min to lead all Bronco scorers with 3min left in the half. Need to continue to see Darlan improving like this. ---
**Author:** ![buckets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@buckets](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/u/buckets)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2025, 3:48am UTC](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/t/25-26-wcc-game-2-portland/1055/16 "2025-12-31T03:48:18Z")
Yes, but his technical foul was idiotic. ---
**Author:** ![JM1996](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3be4f8/32.png) [@JM1996](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/u/JM1996)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2025, 3:52am UTC](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/t/25-26-wcc-game-2-portland/1055/17 "2025-12-31T03:52:17Z")
Need Hammond to start scoring. Defense was too soft for a lot of the first half. ---
**Author:** ![BroncoBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a3d4f5/32.png) [@BroncoBob](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/u/BroncoBob)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2025, 3:53am UTC](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/t/25-26-wcc-game-2-portland/1055/18 "2025-12-31T03:53:52Z")
Their bench went 12-15 from the floor with one guy going 8-8 and another 3-3. Unbelievable. And their PG has 9 assists and only one turnover. Good job of identifying him by their staff. ---
**Author:** ![buckets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@buckets](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/u/buckets)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2025, 3:55am UTC](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/t/25-26-wcc-game-2-portland/1055/19 "2025-12-31T03:55:42Z")
So Legans makes a major adjustment at the first media timeout (subs out all of the starters, shifts to a zone). What adjustment did HS make? ---
**Author:** ![LucasLandon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9d8465/32.png) [@LucasLandon](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/u/LucasLandon)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2025, 3:56am UTC](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/t/25-26-wcc-game-2-portland/1055/20 "2025-12-31T03:56:00Z")
That’s the 3rd technical he’s received this season for talking shit to the opponent’s bench [Next page](https://forum.wakeupswig.com/t/25-26-wcc-game-2-portland/1055.md?page=2)