Truman Game Notes (.PDF)
KIRKSVILLE, Mo. - The final week of the regular season is here for the 2017-18 Truman State University men's basketball team. The Bulldogs will have a rematch with William Jewell on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. before facing Illinois Springfield on Saturday for Senior Day at 3 p.m. The Purple and White head into these games ranked fourth in the GLVC Point Rating System.
This past week, Truman went 1-1 with an 89-60 win over Wisconsin-Parkside on Thursday before an 82-70 defeat to No. 7 Bellarmine on Saturday. In those two games, four Bulldogs averaged 10 or more points per game including
Brodric Thomas (18.5),
Jake Velky (17.5),
Zach Fischer (16.5), and
Nathan Messer (10.5).
Once the dust settles on Saturday, the top eight teams in the GLVC Point Rating System will compete in the 2018 GLVC Championship Tournament. This year, the event is in the Vadalabene Center on the campus of former league member Southern Illinois University Edwardsville on March 1-4. The four men's quarterfinal games will take place on Friday beginning at 12 p.m. central time. The Bulldogs are looking for a sixth-consecutive appearance in their league tournament.
Scouting William Jewell
For the second time this season, Truman and William Jewell will face off, but inside Pershing Arena for round two. At 19-7 overall, 9-7 in the GLVC and eighth in the Point Rating System, the Cardinals boast the top scoring offense in the league at 86.8 points per game. That clip is good for 18th in the nation and a big reason for that is William Jewell's success from behind the arc. The Cardinals are 16th in Division II in three-pointers made per game (11.0) and 18th in total three-pointers made (285). Nationally, William Jewell is also fifth in free throw percentage (78.5), 12th in three-pointers attempted (778), 28th in turnover margin (2.9), 28th in turnovers per game (11.2), 33rd in fewest turnovers (291), and 38th in scoring margin (10.0).
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Scouting Illinois Springfield
Illinois Springfield enters this week with an overall record of 14-12, 6-10 in league play and is ranked 12th in the GLVC Point Rating System. The Prairie Stars are in year No. four under head coach, Bill Walker, who has a record of 45-64 (.413 winning percentage) during that time. Illinois Springfield is led by a pair of scorers averaging double-figures including Eddie Longmeyer (17.5 points per game) and Gilwan Nelson (11.2). Longmeyer is sixth in the conference in scoring and tied for eighth in rebounding with 7.1 per game. The Prairie Stars have lost three games in a row and five of their last six.
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Last Time Out
The last time Truman and William Jewell faced each other back on Feb. 8 in Liberty, Mo., it took a Bulldog steal on the Cardinals' final possession to seal the win for the Purple and White, 81-80. Despite only one tie, four lead changes and leading nearly the entire game, Truman got all it could handle from homestanding William Jewell. After a
Brodric Thomas turnover, the Cardinals got the ball back with 14 seconds remaining. Keith Hayes drove it in and as he tried to kick it to the left corner,
Jacob Socha stole the ball and heaved it to the other end as the buzzer went off. Thomas led the way with 21 points on 9-of-14 shooting, 10 rebounds, five assists, and two steals in 32 minutes of action.
Jake Velky and
Zach Fischer also scored in double-figures with 16 points and 12 points, respectively.
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Hayes and Whelan
William Jewell owns two of the GLVC's top scorers in Keith Hayes and Patrick Whelan. Hayes, a junior from Little Rock, Ark. is second in the league in scoring (18.7) and Whelan, a senior from Manchester, England is tied for third in that category (18.5). The last time Truman and William Jewell played each other, Hayes scored a game-high 23 points while Whelan added 15.
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Men in the Middle
Truman and William Jewell's game will pit two of the GLVC's best big men against each other in
Zach Fischer and Pharroh Gordon. Fischer is third in the league in rebounding (9.8 RPG) and seventh in scoring (17.0 PPG). Meanwhile, Gordon is one of only two players in the conference (Nolan Berry - Maryville) averaging at least 10 rebounds per contest with 10.7 and his 14.3 points per game are good for 17th. When Truman and William Jewell last played each other, Gordon had just five points, but went off for 20 rebounds, all of which were on the defensive end. Those 20 boards are tied for third all time by a Bulldog opponent.
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Senior Day
Saturday against Illinois Springfield, No. 25,
Connor Lusso, and No. 22,
Zach Fischer, will play their final games inside Pershing Arena. Both will be recognized prior to the start of the game for their years of dedication while suiting up in the Purple and White.
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