Game Notes: vs. Lindenwood / at Lincoln

Game 23: TRUMAN (8-14, 5-9 MIAA) vs. Lindenwood (16-7, 9-6 MIAA)

Date: Thursday, February 21, 2013
Time: 7:30 pm CT
Location: Kirksville, Mo. || Pershing Arena
Radio: 99.9 KIRK-FM (Moberly, Mo.) || Listen Online
Video: Watch Online
Live Stats: Regular || Mobile || Media
Game Notes: Truman || Lindenwood
Statistics: Truman || Lindenwood || MIAA
Social Media: @TrumanAthletics

Game 24: TRUMAN at Lincoln (3-22, 2-13 MIAA)

Date: Saturday, February 23, 2013
Time: 3:30 pm CT
Location: Jefferson City, Mo. || Jason Gym
Radio: 104.7 KRES-FM (Moberly, Mo.) || Listen Online
Video: Watch Online
Live Stats: Regular
Game Notes: Truman || Lincoln
Statistics: Truman || Lincoln || MIAA
Social Media: @TrumanAthletics

Opening Tip:
The Truman men's basketball team plays a pair of local rivals this week, as the Bulldogs host Lindenwood (Mo.) on Thursday night for Senior Night before traveling two hours south to face off with Lincoln (Mo.) on Saturday afternoon.

Prior to Thursday night's contest, the Bulldogs will honor seniors Tom Norton and Matt Patterson for their contributions to the Truman men's basketball program. That ceremony will begin at approximately 7:25 pm before the 7:30 pm scheduled tip-time.

Probable Starters:
G – #2 – Seth Jackson – 6'3” – 200 – SO – 11.4 ppg | 4.2 rpg | 1.2 apg | 2012 MIAA FOY
F – #5 – Mike Carlson – 6'9” – 200 – JR – 16.6 ppg | 6.5 rpg | 2.0 apg | 88% FT; 33 blocks
G – #12 – Cory Myers – 6'3” – 190 – FR – 6.3 ppg | 2.8 rpg | 4.5 apg | 40% FG; 31 steals
C – #21 – Marek Bush – 6'6” – 245 – JR – 3.9 ppg | 5.5 rpg | 0.2 apg | 41 O-Reb
G – #22 – Tom Norton – 5'9” – 170 – SR – 13.3 ppg | 0.9 rpg | 0.9 apg | 3.5 3FG/gm

Off the Bench:
G – #3 – Isaac Gardner – 6'4” – 205 – JR – 6.8 ppg | 1.4 rpg | 0.4 apg | 47 3FG
G – #10 – Matt Patterson – 5'10” – 165 – SR – 1.8 ppg | 0.7 rpg | 1.1 apg | 43% 3FG
G – #11 – Cole Myers – 6'3” – 190 – FR – 4.5 ppg | 2.1 rpg | 2.0 apg | 29 steals
F – #15 – Jaylon Jones – 6'5” – 230 – FR – 4.2 ppg | 2.1 rpg | 0.4 apg | 46% FG
G – #20 – Dominic Kacich – 6'3” – 170 – SO – 3.0 ppg | 0.0 rpg | 0.5 apg | 2 GP
F – #33 – Tyler Anderson – 6'5” – 210 – SO – 5.7 ppg | 4.0 rpg | 0.5 apg | 58% FG
C – #35 – Patrick Burmester – 6'9” – 235 – SO – 0.8 ppg | 2.7 rpg | 0.5 apg | 6 GP

2013 Redshirts:
C – #24 – Kiefer Starbird – 6'10” – 200 – FR
G – #30 – Andrew Vander Zwaag – 6'3” – 185 – SO
F – #32 – Connor Erickson – 6'8” – 190 – FR

Coaching Staff:
Head Coach: Matt Woodley
Career Record: 16-34 || .320 || 2^nd season
At Truman: Same
MIAA: 10-24 || .294
Assistant Coaches: Todd Lorensen (2^nd season), Matt Fitzpatrick (2^nd season)

Bulldog Buckets:
·         The Bulldogs are scoring 71.0 ppg on the season (70.0 MIAA), shooting 44.0% from the field (42.9% MIAA), and 36.0% from three-point range (36.7% MIAA). The Bulldogs are connecting at a 71.7% clip from the foul line through all 22 games, with that mark raised to 75.0% in 14 MIAA contests.
·         Truman has already surpassed its 2012 road win total (2-12) through eight road contests (3-5 in 2013) and can match the 2012 home win total (6-7) with a win on Thursday night,
·         The Bulldogs have experienced success in the post this year, averaging 28.3 points from inside the lane. That compares to 25.2 points from in the paint for their opponents, leading to a +3.1 margin by the 'Dogs.
·         Truman has had ten 20+ point outings this season, including a team-best seven by junior Mike Carlson. Carlson (vs. WPU; Nov. 9, 2012) and senior Tom Norton (vs. UNK; Jan. 24, 2013) are tied for the team-high this year with 27-point games.

Top 'Dogs:
·         The Bulldogs are ranked in the top-third of MIAA team statistics in three-pointers made per game (3^rd; 7.8) and assist-to-turnover ratio (4^th; 1.1).
·         Mike Carlson is one of the MIAA's top players statistically this year, ranking third in the MIAA in free throw percentage (88.1%), fourth in blocks (1.5), seventh in both scoring (16.6) and steals (1.5), and 10^th in rebounding (6.5).
·         Tom Norton also ranks amongst the MIAA's elite, pacing the conference in three-pointers made (3.5/game), ranking second in free throw percentage (90.0%), and placing fourth in three-point percentage (42.6%).
·         Isaac Gardner ranks eighth in the MIAA in three-pointers made per game (2.1), while Cory Myers ranks seventh in assists (4.5) and ninth in steals (1.4).

Series Notes vs. Lindenwood:
Series Record: Truman leads 2-1
Last Meeting: Lindenwood 96-82 (Jan. 5, 2013 || St. Charles, Mo.)
Series Streak: LWU W-1
Record in Kirksville: TSU leads 2-0 (TSU W-2)
Last Game in Kirksville: Truman 96-57 (Nov. 25, 1983)
Woodley vs. Lindenwood: 0-1

Scouting the Lions:
The Lions come into Thursday night off an 87-76 home victory against Southwest Baptist, snapping a two-game road losing streak at Northeastern State and Central Missouri. Lindenwood is the MIAA's top scoring team (78.2/game) and leads the league in rebounding margin (+6.8). They are led by Alex Bazzell's 17.0 ppg and Richie Thompson's 7.3 rpg marks.

Earlier this season, Seth Jackson led four Bulldogs in double-figures – scoring 20 in 29 minutes – but Truman fell 96-82 at LWU's Hyland Arena on Jan. 5. Mike Carlson added 17 points, and Cory Myers went for 14 points and eight assists in the fast-paced game. Bazzell scored 22 points (13-13 FT) and added 11 assists to lead the Lions.

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

Series Notes vs. Lincoln:
Series Record: Truman leads 44-32
Last Meeting: Truman 84-64 (Jan. 3, 2013 || Kirksville)
Series Streak: TSU W-2
Record in Jefferson City: LU leads 22-14 (LU W-2)
Last Truman win at Lincoln: Truman 62-53 (Dec. 3, 2005)
Woodley vs. Lincoln: 2-1

Scouting the Blue Tigers:
Losers of eight straight dating back to a 70-65 road win at Northwest Missouri, Lincoln welcomes Truman to the capital city on Saturday afternoon following a 107-103 loss at Southwest Baptist on Tuesday night. The Blue Tigers are 1-9 at home this year, including an 0-7 mark in MIAA play.

The Blue Tigers rank fourth in the MIAA in three-pointers made per game (7.7) but shoot just 31% from long-range. Lincoln also is a top-5 conference team in turnover margin (+1.4) but shoot an MIAA-low 41% from the floor and 67% from the line. Cedric Ridle is the MIAA's top individual scorer at 19.9 per game, while Charles Cole is averaging 14.8 points and 7.0 rebounds per contest.

Earlier this season, Jaylon Jones scored 19 points, Tom Norton scored 17 points, and Mike Carlson added 13 points and seven rebounds to lead Truman to an 84-64 home win. Ridle led all players with 21 points but was saddled with foul trouble and played just 25 minutes.

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

Looking Around the MIAA:
With four games to play for most teams in the 2013 regular season, the standings have begun to take more shape in the race for MIAA tournament seeding.

Prior to the midweek games beginning on Tuesday night, Truman and Missouri Western are currently tied for 12^th at 5-9, trailing both Missouri Southern and Southwest Baptist by a half-game for 10^th. Emporia State, at 6-8, leads MSSU and SBU by a half-game in 9^th. All of those teams, plus Pitt State at 8-6, however, benefit from Lindenwood currently sitting tied for sixth, as LWU is not eligible for the MIAA tournament this season due to its reclassification to NCAA Div. II. As a result, every team below them will slide up one spot come tournament time.

The Bulldogs also hold a two-game lead on 14^th-place Nebraska-Kearney (3-11) and a three-game lead on Lincoln. Truman holds the tiebreaker against UNK and will be after a season sweep of LU this week.

At the top, it appears to be a two-team race for the title, as Central Missouri and Fort Hays State sit atop the perch at 11-4. Central Oklahoma and Washburn are both 9-5 and 1.5 games back, while Northeastern State is also 1.5 games back with a 10-6 MIAA mark.

Bring Some Chips to the Block Party:
Junior Mike Carlson has a team-high 33 blocks this season, giving him 58 through 50 career games as a Bulldog. He is all alone in ninth all-time in Truman history and is nine back of Brian Brown's 8^th-place total of 67, set from 1997-2000.

Norton Patrol:
Senior guard Tom Norton is now 18^th all-time on Truman's scoring chart, having scored 1,091 career points. He is just seven points behind Chip Sodemann (2002-06), eight back of Austin Kirby (2003-07) and 15 behind Jack Beck (1951-1955) to reach 15^th on the all-time chart.

In addition, Norton has 261 career three-pointers, ranking second all-time at Truman. Steve Schieppe's top mark of 300 appears safe through another generation, as Norton would need to average 9.0 triples per game to tie his mark in the remaining four regular season games.

“Free”bies:
Overall through 14 MIAA games, the Bulldogs are shooting 75.0% (222-for-296) from the charity stripe. Helping contribute to those numbers is a combined 174-for-208 (83.7%) line from Mike Carlson, Tom Norton, Seth Jackson, Isaac Gardner and Cory Myers – Truman's top five scorers in league play.

Making a Splash from Downtown:
The Bulldogs have made at least one three-pointer in every game since Feb. 12, 2003, a stretch of 274 consecutive games.

Up Next:
The Bulldogs close the regular season against two teams currently in the top-half of the MIAA standings, as Truman heads to Central Missouri next Wednesday (Feb. 27) before traveling to Northwest Missouri next Saturday (March 2).

* * *
Want to stay up-to-date with what's going on with the Bulldogs? Follow @TrumanAthletics on Twitter, become a fan of Truman Athletics on Facebook, subscribe to your favorite team's newsletters/releases, and receive text alerts of scores and big news to interact with all of Truman's 20 athletic programs. For more information, visit our website – TrumanBulldogs.com.

Print Friendly Version