Game 20: TRUMAN (7-12, 4-7 MIAA) at Pittsburg (Kan.) State (13-6, 6-5 MIAA)
Date: Thursday, February 7, 2013
Time: 7:30 pm CT
Location: Pittsburg, Kan. || John Lance Arena
Radio: 104.7 KRES-FM (Moberly, Mo.) || Listen Online
Video: Watch Online
Live Stats: Regular || Media/Mobile
Game Notes: Truman || Pittsburg State
Statistics: Truman || Pittsburg State || MIAA
Social Media: @TrumanAthletics
Game 21: TRUMAN at Northeastern (Okla.) State (15-5, 8-4 MIAA)
Date: Saturday, February 9, 2013
Time: 3:30 pm CT
Location: Tahlequah, Okla. || Jack Dobbins Fieldhouse
Radio: 104.7 KRES-FM (Moberly, Mo.) || Listen Online
Video: Watch Online
Live Stats: Regular || Media/Mobile
Game Notes: Truman || Northeastern Oklahoma
Statistics: Truman || Northeastern Oklahoma || MIAA
Social Media: @TrumanAthletics
For Starters:
The longest road trip of the season awaits the Truman men's basketball team, as the Bulldogs go in search of a pair of wins at Pittsburg (Kan.) State and Northeastern (Okla.) State this Thursday evening and Saturday afternoon.
The Bulldogs (7-12, 4-7 MIAA) are coming off a three-point loss at Southwest Baptist last Saturday (Feb. 2) and will close out a three-game road trip with games at PSU and NSU this weekend. Truman will visit Pittsburg State on Thursday (Feb. 7) at 7:30 pm before facing Northeastern State for the second time this season on Saturday (Feb. 9) at 3:30 pm.
The Gorillas come into Thursday night currently tied for seventh in the MIAA at 6-5 (13-6 overall), while the Riverhawks are tied for third at 8-4 (15-5 overall). Truman is currently tied with Missouri Southern for 10th at 4-7 in league play.
Probable Starters:
G – #3 – Isaac Gardner – 6'4” – 205 – JR – 6.7 ppg | 1.5 rpg | 0.4 apg | 40 3FG
F – #5 – Mike Carlson – 6'9” – 200 – JR – 16.6 ppg | 6.5 rpg | 2.1 apg | 87% FT; 30 blocks
G – #12 – Cory Myers – 6'3” – 190 – FR – 6.5 ppg | 2.8 rpg | 4.4 apg | 43% FG; 25 steals
G – #22 – Tom Norton – 5'9” – 170 – SR – 13.9 ppg | 1.1 rpg | 1.1 apg | 3.9 3FG/gm
F – #33 – Tyler Anderson – 6'5” – 210 – SO – 5.7 ppg | 4.0 rpg | 0.5 apg | 58% FG
Off the Bench:
G – #2 – Seth Jackson – 6'3” – 200 – SO – 11.0 ppg | 4.2 rpg | 1.3 apg | 2012 MIAA FOY
G – #10 – Matt Patterson – 5'10” – 165 – SR – 2.2 ppg | 0.8 rpg | 1.3 apg | 46% 3FG
G – #11 – Cole Myers – 6'3” – 190 – FR – 4.6 ppg | 2.3 rpg | 1.8 apg | 25 steals
F – #15 – Jaylon Jones – 6'5” – 230 – FR – 4.3 ppg | 1.9 rpg | 0.4 apg | 44% FG
G – #20 – Dominic Kacich – 6'3” – 170 – SO – 6.0 ppg | 0.0 rpg | 1.0 apg | 1 GP
C – #21 – Marek Bush – 6'6” – 245 – JR – 3.5 ppg | 4.7 rpg | 0.3 apg | 31 O-Reb
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: 15-32 || .319 || 2nd season
At Truman: Same
MIAA: 9-22 || .290
Assistant Coaches: Todd Lorensen (2nd season), Matt Fitzpatrick (2nd season)
Bulldog Buckets:
· The Bulldogs are scoring 71.5 ppg on the season (70.6 MIAA), shooting 44.7% from the field (43.8% MIAA), and 37.1% from three-point range (38.7% MIAA). The Bulldogs are connecting at a 71.0% clip from the foul line through all 19 games, with that mark raised to 75.0% in 11 MIAA games.
· Truman has already surpassed its 2012 road win total (2-12) through five road contests (3-3 in 2013) and is two wins away from matching the 2012 home win total (6-7) with two to play within the friendly confines of Pershing Arena.
· The Bulldogs have experienced success in the post this year, averaging 28.4 points from inside the lane. That compares to just 24.3 points from in the paint for their opponents for a +4.1 margin by the 'Dogs.
· Truman has had nine 20+ point outings this season, including a team-best six 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.
'Dogs Amongst the League Leaders:
· The Bulldogs are ranked in the top-third of MIAA team statistics in three-pointers made per game (2nd; 8.1), assist-to-turnover ratio (4th; 1.1), three-point field goal percentage (5th; 37.1%) and assists per game (5th; 13.9).
· Mike Carlson is one of the MIAA's top players statistically this year, ranking second in the MIAA in free throw percentage (87.3%), fourth in blocks (1.3), sixth in both scoring (16.6) and steals (1.7), ninth in rebounding (6.5) and 12th in field goal percentage (51.5%).
· Isaac Gardner ranks seventh in the MIAA in three-pointers made per game (2.1), while Cory Myers ranks seventh in the MIAA in assists (4.4).
· Fans on the lookout for Tom Norton amongst the MIAA and NCAA leaders will have to wait one more game, when Tom hits the 75% games played mark this year. Currently, his 43.9% three-point percentage would rank fourth in the league, while his 3.9 three-pointers made per game would lead the conference by more than one full triple per game.
Series Notes vs. Pittsburg State:
Series Record: PSU leads 33-11
Last Meeting: PSU 73, Truman 56 (Jan. 25, 2012 || Pittsburg, Kan.)
Series Streak: PSU W-1
Record in Pittsburg: PSU leads 18-3 (PSU W-2)
Last TSU win in Pittsburg: Truman 62, PSU 58 (Jan. 27, 2010)
Woodley vs. Pittsburg State: 1-1
Scouting the Gorillas:
After opening the season 10-1, the PSU Gorillas have lost five of their last eight to sit at 13-6 overall (6-5 MIAA) entering Thursday night's contest. The Gorillas are 6-2 at home this season but have been on the road for six of their last seven games.
Freshman guard Kaleb Porter is the team's leading scorer at 13.7 ppg on the year, with senior forward JaVon McGee taking top honors in MIAA-only games at 13.6 ppg. McGee ranks sixth in the MIAA in rebounding at 6.4 rpg and averages 2.8 offensive rebounds per game.
The Gorillas rank seventh in the MIAA in scoring margin (+3.8) and second in rebounding margin (+5.8). That make just 4.8 three's per game (14th in the MIAA) and rank last in assist-to-turnover ratio (0.7).
Kevin Muff is in his third season as the head coach at PSU and has a 43-33 record at the school.
Notably vs. PSU:
· Mike Carlson made two starts against PSU last season, averaging 6.5 points per game. He scored 10 in Truman's win on Dec. 3, 2011.
· Isaac Gardner has made eight three-pointers in four career games against PSU, averaging 8.5 points per game. He scored 16 in the Jan. 25, 2012 loss last season.
· Seth Jackson made two starts against PSU last season, averaging 14.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. He had a 17-point, 10-rebound double-double in Truman's win on Dec. 3, 2011.
· Tom Norton has made nine three-pointers in six career games against PSU, averaging 7.8 points per game.
Series Notes vs. Northeastern State:
Series Record: NSU leads 2-0
Last Meeting: NSU 72, Truman 71 (Dec. 19, 2012 || Quincy, Ill.)
Series Streak: NSU W-2
Record in Tahlequah: Never played at NSU.
Woodley vs. Northeastern State: 0-1
Scouting the RiverHawks:
Winners of five of their last six games, the NSU Riverhawks welcome Lindenwood and Truman to Tahlequah this weekend for a pair of home contests. NSU is 15-5 overall (8-4 MIAA) on the season and holds an 8-1 home record in 2012-13.
Senior forward Jermaine Bransford (15.7 ppg, 9.8 rpg) and junior guard Bryton Hobbs (17.8 ppg, 4.7 apg) run a RiverHawk attack that is the MIAA's top field goal, three-point and free throw shooting team. In the previous meeting this year, Bransford posted a 23-point, 13-rebound double-double, while Hobbs hit a game-winning bucket with 3.2 seconds on the clock to secure the Quincy Holiday Classic for NSU.
The Bulldogs trailed by nine at the half but took a 65-64 lead with 5:47 to play and led 71-68 with 1:50 on the clock before NSU came from behind to win.
Larry Gipson is in his 16th season at NSU and has a career record of 260-184.
Notably vs. NSU:
· Mike Carlson scored 22 points and added eight rebounds in 27 minutes earlier this season.
· Tom Norton hit three triples and scored 15 points off the bench in 22 minutes earlier this season.
· Seth Jackson recorded a 10-point, six-rebound outing earlier this season.
Looking Around the MIAA:
The 2012-13 conference season hits the final third this week, as the Bulldogs will play the 12th and 13th (of 18) MIAA games on the road. Truman currently is tied for 10th in the league standings at 4-7 with Missouri Southern – one game back of Southwest Baptist (5-6) for ninth. The Bulldogs remain a half-game ahead of Missouri Western (4-8) and Emporia State (3-7) for 12th place.
At the end of the regular season, the MIAA's top four teams receive a bye into the 12-team MIAA tournament quarterfinals – set to begin on Thursday, March 7 in Kansas City's historic Municipal Auditorium. Meanwhile, seeds 5-8 will host seeds 9-12 in on-campus first-round action on Monday, March 4, with the four winners set to advance to the quarterfinals on Thursday.
In addition, Lindenwood, currently in fifth-place at 7-4 in the league – is not eligible for the MIAA tournament this season due to its reclassification to NCAA Div. II, so all teams below them will slide up one spot come tournament time.
Central Missouri holds a one-game lead on Northwest Missouri and is 1.5 games in front of Northeastern State and Washburn in the race for the regular season title.
Tom Tracker:
Senior guard Tom Norton is now tied for 20th all-time on Truman's scoring chart, having tied Mark Campbell (1980-84) with 1,060 career points last Saturday. He is 19 behind Grant Agbo (2003-07) for 19th and 23 behind Nick Certa (2004-08) for 18th on the all-time chart.
In addition, Norton has 255 career three-pointers, ranking second all-time at Truman. He needs 45 more to tie Steve Schieppe's top mark of 300, accomplished from 1987-91.
Bring Some Chips to This Block Party:
Junior Mike Carlson has a team-high 30 blocks this season, giving him 55 through 47 career games as a Bulldog. He is tied for ninth all-time in Truman history with Greg Gordon (1983-85) and is 12 back of Brian Brown's 8th-place total of 67, set from 1997-2000.
“Free”bies:
Overall through 11 MIAA games, the Bulldogs are shooting 75.0% (165-for-220) from the charity stripe. Helping contribute to those numbers is a combined 124-for-145 (85.5%) line from Mike Carlson, Tom Norton, Seth Jackson and Cory Myers – Truman's top four scorers.
Getting to the line has been a key factor under second-year coach Matt Woodley, as the Bulldogs are 2-18 in games where the opponent makes more free throws than the 'Dogs.
Making a Splash from Downtown:
The Bulldogs have made at least one three-pointer in every game since Feb. 12, 2003, a stretch of 271 consecutive games.
Up Next:
The Bulldogs return to Pershing Arena for its lone game next week, as Truman hosts Southwest Baptist just 12 days after last Saturday's 76-73 loss in Bolivar. The Valentine's Day contest is Truman's annual Think Pink night for breast cancer awareness, with donations and contests taking place throughout the night for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund and the Adair County Relay for Life.
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