Men's Basketball Game Notes: vs. Lincoln/at Lindenwood

Game 11: TRUMAN (4-6, 1-1 MIAA) vs. Lincoln (2-10, 1-1 MIAA)
Date: Thursday, January 3, 2013
Time: 7:30 pm CT
Location: Kirksville, Mo. || Pershing Arena
Radio: 104.7 KRES-FM (Moberly, Mo.) || Listen Online
Video: Watch Online
Live Stats: Regular || Media/Mobile
Game Notes: Truman || Lincoln
Statistics: Truman || Lincoln || MIAA
Social Media: @TrumanAthletics || #miaaMB || #DogMBB

Game 12: TRUMAN (4-6, 1-1 MIAA) vs. Lindenwood (6-3, 0-2 MIAA)
Date: Saturday, January 5, 2013
Time: 3:00 pm CT
Location: St. Charles, Mo. || Hyland Arena
Radio: 104.7 KRES-FM (Moberly, Mo.) || Listen Online
Video: Watch Online
Live Stats: Regular
Game Notes: Truman || Lindenwood
Statistics: Truman || Lindenwood || MIAA
Social Media: @TrumanAthletics || #miaaMB || #DogMBB

Opening Tip:
The Truman men's basketball team returns to MIAA play this Thursday and Saturday after nearly a month absence, hosting Lincoln (Mo.) on Thursday at 7:30 pm before traveling to MIAA-newcomer Lindenwood (Mo.) on Saturday at 3:00 pm.

The Bulldogs (4-6, 1-1 MIAA) last played an MIAA game on December 8, a 70-56 home loss to Missouri Southern following a league-opening 71-69 road win at Missouri Western on December 5. Since then, Truman has gone 1-2, defeating Quincy 76-50 on December 18 and falling to both Northeastern (Okla.) State 72-71 on December 19 and Maryville (Mo.) by a 70-57 tally on December 30.

Probable Starters:
G – #2 – Seth Jackson – 6'3” – 200 – SO – 9.8 ppg | 3.6 rpg | 1.5 apg
F – #5 – Mike Carlson – 6'9” – 200 – JR – 16.6 ppg | 6.5 rpg | 1.9 apg
G – #11 – Cole Myers – 6'3” – 190 – FR – 5.6 ppg | 2.5 rpg | 1.6 apg
G – #12 – Cory Myers – 6'3” – 190 – FR – 6.5 ppg | 2.9 rpg | 3.6 apg
F – #33 – Tyler Anderson – 6'5” – 210 – SO – 7.1 ppg | 4.4 rpg | 0.5 apg

Coaching Staff:
Head Coach: Matt Woodley
Career Record: 12-26 || .316 || 2^nd season
At Truman: Same
MIAA: 6-16 || .273
Assistant Coaches: Todd Lorensen (2^nd season), Matt Fitzpatrick (2^nd season)

Bulldog Tip-Ins:

Truman is shooting 44.0% from the field as a team so far in 2012-13, including a 33.6% mark from three-point range.
Truman is shooting 67.8% from the free throw line this season, up from last year's 65.9% clip.
Despite nearly 40 percent of its total shots coming from three-point range, the Bulldogs are out-scoring opponents by nearly seven per game inside the paint (29.4-22.8).

(All as of Dec. 17)

The Bulldogs rank 3^rd in the MIAA in three-pointers made per game (7.6), fourth in both assist/turnover ratio (1.2) and defensive rebounding (27.6), and fifth in turnover margin (+2.3).
Mike Carlson has stamped his name across multiple MIAA stat categories, ranking 6^th in the league in scoring (16.8), 11^th in rebounding (6.8), 15^th in field goal percentage (52.9%), 5^th in free throw shooting (88.2%), 5^th in blocks (1.3) and 5^th in defensive rebounds (5.0). He also ranks in the top-12 in three-point percentage at 42.3%.
Isaac Gardner continues to be one of the MIAA's top snipers, averaging 2.2 three-pointers per game – good for fifth in the league. Tom Norton has hit 10 three's in four games played (2.50/game) but doesn't yet qualify for the MIAA leaders lists.

Series Notes vs. Lincoln:
Series Record: Truman leads, 43-32
Last Meeting: Truman-74, Lincoln-57 (Feb. 22, 2012 || Kirksville, Mo.)
Series Streak: Truman W-1
Record in Kirksville: Truman leads 28-10 (Truman W-4)
Last TSU win in Kirksville: Truman-74, Maryville-57 (Feb. 22, 2012)
Woodley vs. Lincoln: 1-1

Scouting the Blue Tiger Match-Up:
Thursday night marks the first of two scheduled meetings with Lincoln (2-10, 1-1 MIAA) this season, as the squads are in the same “pod” for scheduling purposes in league play. The teams have split their season series each of the past two seasons, with both winning on their own home court.

Both the Bulldogs and Blue Tigers are coming off losses to GLVC-West division leader Maryville, with the Bulldogs losing on December 30 and the Blue Tigers having not seen the court since a 75-72 loss to the Saints on December 19.

The Blue Tigers enter 2013 having gone 2-10 to start the season, but sit as part of a four-way tie for sixth in the MIAA at 1-1 after winning at Nebraska-Kearney 72-61 on Dec. 5 before losing 57-45 to Northeastern State on Dec. 8 in Jefferson City. Lincoln is 1-4 in true road games and 1-7 overall outside of the capital city this season.

Cedric Ridle (G) is leading Lincoln at 16.9 ppg, while Charles Cole (F) is adding 14.4 ppg and 6.8 rpg. The Blue Tigers are shooting 44% overall (31% 3FG) and 67% from the free throw line this year.

John Redmond is in his fourth season as the Blue Tiger head coach.

Notably vs. Lincoln:

In two career games, Mike Carlson is averaging 17.0 points and 10.0 rebounds per game. He is shooting 64% from the floor with three total blocks.
Isaac Gardner has made 10 three-pointers in four games, averaging 10.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.
EJ Hicks shot 58% and averaged 8.5 points and 2.5 assists in two starts last season.
Seth Jackson scored 13 ppg and went 12-of-13 from the free throw line in two starts last season.
Tom Norton has 10 triples in four games, averaging 9.5 points and 2.5 assists per game.

Series Notes vs. Lindenwood:
Series Record: Truman leads, 2-0
Last Meeting: Truman-96, Lindenwood-57 (Nov. 25, 1983 || Kirksville, Mo.)
Series Streak: Truman W-2
Record in Kirksville: Truman leads 2-0 (Truman W-2)
Last TSU win in Kirksville: Truman-96, Lindenwood-57 (Nov. 25, 1983)
Woodley vs. Lindenwood: 0-0

A Look at the Lion Match-Up:
The Bulldogs and Lions are on opposite sides of the MIAA's revolving door in the 2012-13 season, as Lindenwood joined the 15-team league on July 1, 2012 as part of its transition into the NCAA Div. II ranks. With Truman exiting the league on July 1, 2013 for the GLVC, Saturday afternoon marks the first of the only two games the two teams will ever play barring future non-conference scheduling.

It will be the first time since the 1983-84 season that Truman and Lindenwood have met, with the Lions taking on Webster (Mo.) in a non-conference tune-up on Wednesday, January 2 before welcoming Truman on Saturday. The Lions are 3-1 at home this season prior to Wednesday's contest, having most recently lost a double-overtime game to Pittsburg State on Dec. 8. The Lions opened MIAA play on Dec. 5 at Northwest Missouri and fell 73-66 in overtime.

Senior guard Alex Bazzell, a UMKC transfer, is the team's leading scorer at 17.3 ppg and is averaging more than five assists per game. Senior forward Cody Sorenson is the other double-digit scorer at 12.1 ppg, while senior forward Richie Thompson is averaging nearly a double-double at 9.6 ppg and 8.3 rpg. The Lions shoot 48% from the floor, 37% from three-point range and 68% from the foul line.

Brad Soderberg, formerly the head coach at Saint Louis University, is in his fourth season at Lindenwood.

Notably vs. Lindenwood:

No Bulldog was born the last time the squads met.

Dialing Long Distance:
The Bulldogs have taken an average of 21.4 three-point attempts per game so far this season, including a 10-year high of 37 against Missouri Western on December 5. Truman ranks third in the MIAA in three-pointers made per game at 7.6 and has hit eight or more in all four wins this season.

Deep Rotation:
The Bulldogs are averaging 25.3 points per game from their bench, accounting for nearly 36% of the total scoring this season. Truman has gone with the starting lineup of Carlson, Seth Jackson, Cole Myers, Cory Myers and Tyler Anderson for eight of the team's 10 games this season, with that five-man combo posting a 4-4 record in games they start.

Five Peas in an MIAA Pod:
For the 2012-13 season, the MIAA will be invoking a “pod” system for basketball scheduling, resulting in 18 league matches for all 15 of the conference's schools. While all 15 teams will fall under set of standings with no delineation between pods, Truman will play Central Missouri, Lincoln, Southwest Baptist and newcomer-Lindenwood twice each as part of one five-team grouping.

Emporia State, Missouri Southern and Pittsburg State will join with newcomers Central Oklahoma and Northeastern State as a second pod, while Northwest Missouri, Missouri Western, Washburn and Fort Hays will align with the final newcomer, Nebraska-Kearney, in a third pod.

At the end of the season, the top 12 teams will compete for the MIAA men's basketball championship. First-round games will be played on Monday, March 4 on campus sites with the top-4 teams and the first-round winners advancing to Kansas City for the remainder of the tournament as usual.

For a full game-by-game breakdown of MIAA standings and schedules, check the full set of game notes linked at the top of this page.

Up Next:
The Bulldogs play two at home next weekend, hosting another MIAA-newcomer, Central Oklahoma, on Thursday, Jan. 10 at 7:30 pm before welcoming Emporia (Kan.) State on Saturday, Jan. 12 at 3:00 pm.

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