Men's Basketball 11/11/2014 10:32:00 AM Tyler Madsen, Athletics Communications

Men's Basketball Weekend Notes: TNU Regional Challenge

Truman Men's Basketball Game Notes (November 14-15, 2014)
PDF Notes (Unavailable for this Weekend) | 2014-15 Schedule | 2014-15 Statistics

Game #1: Truman (0-0, 0-0 GLVC) vs. Lake Superior (Mich.) State (0-0, 0-0 GLIAC)
Date: Friday, November 14, 2014 (5 p.m. CT)
Location: Nashville, Tenn. || Trojan Fieldhouse

Series Record: First Meeting.
Last Meeting: First Meeting.
Foster vs. Lake Superior State: 0-0

Game #2: Truman (0-0, 0-0 GLVC) at Trevecca Nazarene (Tenn.) (0-0, 0-0 GMAC)
Date: Saturday, November 15, 2014 (4 p.m. CT)
Location: Nashville, Tenn. || Trojan Fieldhouse

Series Record: First Meeting.
Last Meeting: First Meeting.
Foster vs. Trevecca Nazarene: 0-0

Media Links: Live Stats || Live Video
Social Media: @TrumanAthletics || @TSUBulldogHoops || #TSUGameDay

2014-15 Roster (2013-14 Statistics)

Pos.	No.	Name	Ht.	Wt.	Yr.	PPG	RPG	APG	Extra
G/F	#1	Nikola Pesic	6'5"	190	FR	-	-	-	-
G	#2	Seth Jackson	6'3"	215	SR	14.6	4.3	1.6	54% FG, 67% FT
G	#3	Isaac Gardner	6'4"	195	r-SR	5.3	0.8	0.0	6 GP; Redshirted
G	#4	Reed Mells	5'11"	160	SR	11.9	4.0	5.2	43% FG, 75% FT
G	#5	Taurin Hughes	5'11"	185	FR	-	-	-	-
G	#10	Hank Mathews	6'2"	190	r-FR	-	-	-	Redshirted
G	#11	Cole Myers	6'3"	200	JR	5.8	1.9	1.8	46% FG, 84% FT
G	#12	Cory Myers	6'3"	195	r-SO	6.3	1.8	1.5	4 GP; Redshirted
G	#13	Zach Fischer	6'4"	180	r-FR	-	-	-	Redshirted
G	#20	Jack Green	6'3"	170	FR	-	-	-	Redshirted
G	#22	Kyle Kanaskie	5'11"	180	SO	5.9	2.6	2.1	43% FG, 89% FT
C	#24	Kiefer Starbird	6'10"	210	SO	0.6	0.8	0.0	12 GP
F	#25	Connor Lusso	6'6"	220	r-FR	-	-	-	Redshirted
G	#30	Andrew Vander Zwaag	6'3"	200	JR	9.3	1.7	1.3	44% FG, 65 3FG
F	#32	Connor Erickson	6'8"	200	SO	2.2	1.7	0.7	15 GP, 48% FG
C	#35	Patrick Burmester	6'9"	220	SR	1.8	2.3	0.6	19 GP, 36% FG
F	#40	Billy Daniel	6'6"	200	SO	2.3	1.2	0.5	49% FG, 56% FT

Staff

Head Coach: Chris Foster
Career Record: 0-0 || .000 || 1^st season (all at Truman)
GLVC Record: 0-0 || .000 || 1^st season

Assistant Coach: Joe Barrer (1^st season)
Graduate Assistant Coach: Nik Koprivica (1^st season)
Athletic Trainer: Morgan Loscher (1^st season)

Opening Tip:
The 2014-15 men's basketball season is set to begin this coming Friday and Saturday, and first-year head coach Chris Foster will lead the Truman men's basketball team to Nashville, Tenn., for the two-day Midwest Challenge on the Trevecca Nazarene University campus.

The Bulldogs, who are returning three starters and 14 squadmembers from last season's 20-win unit, will take on Lake Superior (Mich.) State on Friday at 5 p.m. before battling host Trevecca Nazarene at 4 p.m. on Saturday.

While the names on the court will likely be familiar to Bulldog fans, the faces on the sidelines may take some getting used to, as Foster shifts one chair over to the head spot after serving as the team's Associate Head Coach last season. Joining him on the sideline is new full-time top assistant Joe Barrer, along with graduate assistant Nik Koprivica.

Meanwhile, the guard-heavy Bulldogs will feature a trio of senior stalwarts in the back court, as four-year starter Seth Jackson and last season transfer Reed Mells return double-digit points per game averages. Isaac Gardner, who missed the majority of last season due to injury, also returns courtesy of a medical redshirt in 2013-14, as does senior center Patrick Burmester.

Truman's roster this season features 17 players, including 11 guards, four forwards, and two centers. Junior Andrew Vander Zwaag, twin brothers Cole Myers (junior) and Cory Myers (redshirt sophomore), and sophomore Kyle Kanaskie also bring back valuable experience gained throughout the past few seasons in the purple and white.

On the Opposite Bench…:
On Friday, the Bulldogs will face Lake Superior (Mich.) State, an NCAA Div. II Midwest region tournament squad from a year ago who posted a 27-6 overall record. The Lakers opened the postseason with an overtime victory against conference-foe Findlay (Ohio), before falling by 18 in the regional semifinals to weekend host Drury.

Both of the team's top scorers from a year ago are gone, taking with them 37.3 points per game, but three other starters and the top two weapons off the bench do return. Alex Williams (14.3 ppg, 72 3FG), Tony Harris (10.1 ppg, 4.2 apg), and Jake Blake (6.1 ppg, 7.0 rpg) are the squad's top returners.

Steve Hettinga is in his eighth season at the helm of the LSSU program, having led the team to two NCAA tournament appearances and a 117-85 overall record.

Then, on Saturday, Truman will take on the host TNU Trojans – a program that went 7-19 one year ago. Byron Sanford (12.2 ppg, 5.2 rpg) and Christopher Elliott (6.8 ppg, 17 3FG) are the team's top returners from a squad that lost four of its top six scorers. The Trojans are still relatively unknown, however, as TNU 11 newcomers – including five transfers – for the 2014-15 season.

The Trojans are coached by long-time head coach Sam Harris, who is in his 22^nd season at the TNU helm. He has a record of 333-327 at TNU.

Bulldogs Picked Fourth in GLVC West Preseason Poll:
The Bulldog men's basketball program was picked fourth in the Great Lakes Valley Conference West Division preseason coaches' poll, garnering 77 points to check in two points back of West No. 3 Quincy. Drury picked up all 15 possible first-place votes (coaches could not vote for their own team) to lead all teams with 120 points, followed by West No. 2 Missouri-St. Louis at 95 points.

The Bulldogs were followed by Maryville (72 points), William Jewell (53 points), Missouri S&T (42 points), and Rockhurst (30 points) in the West Division.

Meanwhile, Bellarmine took home the top spot in what's predicted to be a highly-competitive East Division with six first-place votes and 102 total points, followed by Lewis (96 points, five first-place votes), Indianapolis (93 points, three first-place votes), and Wisconsin-Parkside (90 points, two first-place votes). Southern Indiana (79 points) sits a clear-cut fifth, followed by a tight cluster of Illinois Springfield (39 points), Saint Joseph's (36 points), and McKendree (33 points) to round out the poll.

And I Would Walk 500 … or, 3,000 Miles:
The Bulldogs face a brutal travel schedule to open the 2014-15 regular season, as Truman will put more than 3,000 miles on the tires traveling to Nashville, Tenn., Aberdeen, S.D., and Owensboro, Ky.

Truman will come home for the first time on Thursday, Dec. 4, to face Lincoln Christian (Ill.) College.

Found: 20 Wins!:
Last year's Bulldog team became the first to win 20 games since the 2005-06 team capped its season with a 20-9 record. Only five previous Bulldog teams – 1946-47 (30-2), 1947-48 (29-2), 1978-79 (20-9), 1998-99 (26-7), 2005-06 (20-9) – reached the 20-win mark in a season.

In addition, the Bulldogs' 13 conference wins last season set a new program record, as only two other Bulldog teams reached the dozen win mark during their respective conference slates.

Letting It Fly:
Last year's Bulldog team made 233 three-pointers through 27 games, marking the second-most all-time on the single season chart. That number has topped 200 each of the last three seasons, beginning with 205 in 2011-12 and 201 in 2012-13.

The Bulldogs have also made at least one three-pointer in every game since Feb. 12, 2003, a stretch of 306 consecutive games.

Up Next:
The Bulldogs will take their act north for a contest at Northern (S.D.) State on Sunday, Nov. 23. Tipoff from Aberdeen, S.D., is set for 3 p.m

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Players Mentioned

#35 Patrick Burmester: C; 6' 9"; Senior

#40 Billy Daniel: F; 6' 6"; Sophomore

#32 Connor Erickson: F; 6' 8"; Sophomore

#03 Isaac Gardner: G; 6' 4"; Redshirt Senior

#02 Seth Jackson: G; 6' 4"; Senior

#22 Kyle Kanaskie: G; 5' 11"; Sophomore

#25 Connor Lusso: F; 6' 6"; Redshirt Freshman

#10 Hank Mathews: G; 6' 2"; Redshirt Freshman

#04 Reed Mells: G; 5' 11"; Senior

#11 Cole Myers: G; 6' 3"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#35 Patrick Burmester
: 6' 9"; Senior
: C

#40 Billy Daniel
: 6' 6"; Sophomore
: F

#32 Connor Erickson
: 6' 8"; Sophomore
: F

#03 Isaac Gardner
: 6' 4"; Redshirt Senior
: G

#02 Seth Jackson
: 6' 4"; Senior
: G

#22 Kyle Kanaskie
: 5' 11"; Sophomore
: G

#25 Connor Lusso
: 6' 6"; Redshirt Freshman
: F

#10 Hank Mathews
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Freshman
: G

#04 Reed Mells
: 5' 11"; Senior
: G

#11 Cole Myers
: 6' 3"; Junior
: G