Truman Game Notes (.PDF)
KIRKSVILLE, Mo. - After playing five games in 10 days, the Truman State University men's basketball team was able to take a breath and get back onto the practice court this week. The Bulldogs went 3-2 in that span with wins over Missouri S&T, Rockhurst and Indianapolis, but fell to Drury and Southern Indiana. The Purple and White will now travel to an up-start Maryville program on Thursday with the tip set for 7:30 p.m.
During the recent 3-2 stretch, three Truman players averaged at least 19 points per game including
Brodric Thomas (19.6),
Jake Velky (19.2) and
Zach Fischer (19.0).
Nathan Messer also put up 10+ points per game with 12.0 per outing. Fischer averaged below 10 rebounds per contest (9.6) in those five games, but continues to average a double-double for the season with averages of 18.2 points and 10.5 boards.
Nationally, Truman is amongst the best of the best in several categories including assist-to-turnover ratio (8th), three-pointers made per game (15th), turnovers per game (20th), total three-pointers made (21st), scoring offense (21st), fewest turnovers (23rd), field goal percnetage (27th), assists per game (30th), and total assists (38th).
Scouting Maryville
Coming into this game, Maryville (15-3, 7-2 GLVC) is first in the Central Division and third in the GLVC Point Rating System behind only Bellarmine in first and Southern Indiana in second. The Saints have won five in a row, 12 of their last 13 and are unblemished at home with a record of 10-0 inside Moloney Arena. During said five-game winning streak, Maryville is outscoring its opponent by an average of 17.8 points per game and its only loss in the last 13 games was a seven-point defeat at fifth-ranked Bellarmine, 70-63. Maryville is led by a quartet of scorers averaging double-figures including Nolan Berry (18.9), Robin Thompson (13.4), Casey Teson (11.5), and Forrester Sims (10.8).
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Quick Turnaround
Maryville is led by first-year head coach, Marc Stricker. Stricker, a St. Louis native, spent the 2016-17 season at Oral Roberts after two seasons as an assistant for the Saints prior to that. Already with 15 wins, Maryville hasn't finished a season with more than 13 since 2012-13 (23-9). In fact, the Saints have had more than 13 wins in a single season just once since they entered Division II in 2009-10.
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Balanced Attack
Maryville is the only team in the GLVC ranked in the top four for both scoring offense and scoring defense. The Saints' 82.2 points per game are good for fourth and they're surrendering 68.0 points per contest, which ranks second in the league. Maryville is also third in field goal percentage (.501), first in field goal percentage defense (.397) and second in three-point field goal percentage defense (.327). Nationally, the Saints are 16th in field goal percentage and 20th in field goal percentage defense.
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Windex Men
So far this season, no team in the GLVC has rebounded the ball better than Maryville. In the league rankings, the Saints are first in rebounds per game (41.5), first in rebounding margin (9.7), first in defensive rebounds per game (31.9), and second in total rebounds (789). Nationally, Maryville ranks pretty high in several rebounding categories as it is third in defensive rebounds per game, ninth in rebounding margin and 14th in total rebounds per game.
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Share the Wealth
Maryville is tied with Bellarmine for first in the GLVC in total assists with 339 and is third in assists per game with 17.8. Across the country, the Saints are 20th in assists per game, 29th in total assists and 37th in assist-to-turnover ratio. Not only does Maryville share it and limit turnovers, they don't foul often. The Saints are 12th in the country for fewest fouls.
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Block Party
Maryville protects the rim as well as any team in the GLVC as it is first in blocks per game with 3.47 and second in total blocks with 66. For the Saints, 11 of their 13 players that have played this season have recorded a block and they are led by Berry with 27.
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History in the Making
The last time Truman played Maryville,
Cory Myers finished with a triple-double and became the 28th member of the program's 1,000-point club.
Jake Velky needs just 10 points to be member No. 29 of the prestigious club and if he can do it at Maryville, he will have done so in 78 games just like Seth Jackson.
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Men in the Middle
The only two players averaging a double-double in the GLVC play for Truman and Maryville. For the Bulldogs, it's
Zach Fischer with 18.2 points and 10.5 rebounds per contest. For the Saints, it's Nolan Berry with 18.9 points and an even 10 boards per game. Fischer is sixth and first in the league for those categories, respectively, while Berry ranks in a tie for second and second for points and rebounds.
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