Truman Game Notes (.PDF)
Indianapolis Preview
Saint Joseph's Preview
KIRKSVILLE, Mo. - After having its four-game winning streak snapped by Missouri S&T on Saturday, 96-91, the Truman men's basketball team will look to rebound against Indianapolis on Thursday (7:30 p.m.) and Saint Joseph's on Saturday (3 p.m.) inside Pershing Arena. With the five-point loss to the Miners, the Bulldogs are now tied with Quincy for first place in the West Division. The Greyhounds (11-8, 8-3 GLVC) and Pumas (9-12, 3-8 GLVC) are fifth and sixth in the East Division, respectively.
Going back to last week, Truman rolled past Drury on Thursday by 33 points, 93-60, and handed the Panthers their worst lost since 2008. In that beatdown, the Bulldogs connected on 17 of their 32 three-point attempts (53.1 percent) and 32 of their 57 looks from the field (56.1 percent). Individually, Truman was led by a trio of scorers in double-figures including
Nathan Messer (23),
Kyle Kanaskie (19) and
Jake Velky (13). Messer was an absurd 7-of-11 from range while Kanaskie was 5-for-7 in his own right. In Saturday's loss to Missouri S&T, four Bulldogs had 10+ including Velky (24),
Dwight Sistrunk, Jr. (19),
Cory Myers (13), and
Nikola Pesic (10).
The Purple and White continue to be led by Velky's 17.9 points per game, which are good for fourth in the league behind Jeril Taylor of Southern Indiana (21.6), Joe Tagarelli of Quincy (19.6) and Patrick Whelan of William Jewell (19.1). Velky is also first in three-pointers made per game (3.6), first in three-point field goal percentage (49.3), third in free throw percentage (89.3), and eighth in field goal percentage (50.7).
Scouting the Greyhounds
The 2016-17 season marks year No. nine for Stan Gouard at the helm of Indianapolis Greyhound men's basketball. In those eight-plus seasons, UIndy has an overall record of 161-88 (.647 winning percentage) with six appearances in the NCAA Tournament, including the Sweet 16 in 2014-15. Gouard was also named the GLVC Coach of the Year at the conclusion of the 2013-14 campaign thanks in part to leading Indianapolis to an overall record of 24-5. Just like the Bulldogs, there are four Greyhounds putting up at least 10 points per game including Eric Davidson (15.6/13th in the GLVC), Jesse Kempson (14.4), DJ Davis (10.8), and Jimmy King (10.4). Davidson and King are both shooting over 50 percent from the floor at 50.6 percent and 50.3 percent, respectively. On the glass, Kempson is the team's leading rebounder with 6.4 per contest (11th in the GLVC). As a team, Indianapolis is middle of the road when it comes to scoring offense and scoring defense. The Greyhounds are ninth in points per game with 81.0 and 10th in points allowed per contest with 76.2.
Scouting the Pumas
Saint Joseph's is led by head coach, Tom Church, in his fourth season. Church has accumulated an overall mark of 28-77 (.267) and a record of 11-54 in the GLVC (.169). With that being said, the Pumas have won more games each season since Church has been at the helm (4, 6, 9, and 9) and they already have as many victories this year as they did for all of 2015-16. Saint Joseph's has been on the losing end in three straight and four of its last five including a 98-75 loss at Indianapolis on Jan. 16 in the Greyhounds' Bankers Life Fieldhouse. However, five of those 12 defeats have come by 10 points or less including a nine-point loss to No. 17 Southern Indiana, 122-113, in triple overtime on Jan. 26 in the Pumas' Scharf Fieldhouse. The Pumas have the worst scoring defense in the league and are giving up 89.4 points per game. However, on the offensive end, they have proven to be more than capable. Saint Joseph's is scoring the third-most points per contest at 86.7 per game with the fourth-most overall points at 1,820.
Running the Show
Where would Truman men's basketball be without
Dwight Sistrunk, Jr.? Yes, that's how important he has been since transferring from William Jewell and stepping onto campus prior to the 2015-16 season. This year, the Des Moines, Iowa native is first in the GLVC in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.9), tied for fourth in total assists (97), tied for fifth in assists per game (4.6), and sixth in fewest total turnovers among those that qualify (34). That assist-to-turnover is also good for 23rd amongst all of Division II. Since Sistrunk Jr. became a Bulldog, Truman is 15-4 (.789 winning percentage) when he goes for five or more assists. Right now, the 5-11 guard's career assist average is at 4.4 and in the program's record book, that's good for seventh place.
Three-Point Assassins
Truman continues to be one of the best three-point shooting teams in the country. Among the nation's leaders, the Bulldogs are second in three-point field goal percentage (44.4), fourth in total triples made (248) and sixth in three-pointers made per game (11.8). Individually, the two players that have steered that charge are
Jake Velky and
Nathan Messer. Velky is 10th in three-point field goals made per game (3.6) and 13th in three-point field goal percentage (49.3 percent), while Messer is 18th and 58th in those categories, respectively, at 3.5 and 42.0 percent. When it comes to total shots made from behind the arc, Messer is 12th and Velky is 21st.
Sharing is Caring
Not only do the Bulldogs shoot it, but they share it. Their 363 total dimes are third in the GLVC and 17th in Division II. Truman is also fourth in the league in assists per game with 17.3 and boasts two of the top five players for assists per game in
Dwight Sistrunk, Jr. and
Cory Myers with 4.7 and 4.6, respectively. In the career record books, Myers is now fourth in total assists (426), ninth in assists per game (3.8), second in steals (175), and tied for third in swipes per contest (1.6).
Up Next
Truman will make its final road trip of the 2016-17 regular season when it travels to Lewis on Thursday, Feb. 9 (7:30 p.m.) and Wisconsin-Parkside on Saturday, Feb. 11 (3 p.m.).
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