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KIRKSVILLE - - The Truman men's basketball team returns to Pershing Arena this Saturday in search of its first MIAA win, and the Bulldogs will look to snap an overall four-game losing streak against Washburn (Kan.) at 3:00 pm.
The Bulldogs (2-5, 0-3 MIAA) have struggled out of the gate in conference play, having given up more than 95 points per game to three of the league's top teams in Missouri Southern (3-0 MIAA), Pittsburg State (2-1 MIAA) and Southwest Baptist (3-0 MIAA).
But with a 22-game conference schedule, there are plenty of chances to build momentum, which the 'Dogs will try to do against the WU Ichabods (5-2, 2-1 MIAA) on Saturday afternoon. Washburn will be hitting the road for the first time in MIAA play this weekend after picking up wins against Nebraska-Omaha and Northwest Missouri to start conference action in front of Wednesday night's loss to No. 6 Fort Hays State.
Saturday afternoon will mark the 54th all-time meeting between the Bulldogs and Ichabods, with WU holding a 38-15 edge. Washburn swept last year's season series and has won the last seven meetings dating back to a 60-45 Bulldog win in Kirksville on Jan. 13, 2007.
Under head coach Jack Schrader (since 1995), the Bulldogs are 8-23 against Washburn but have gone 6-8 in Kirksville. Schrader won his first four home games against the Ichabods from 1996-1999, then picked up back-to-back home wins in the 2005 and 2006 seasons.
The Bulldogs are led offensively by senior guard Alex Henderson (16.0 ppg), who continues to produce by having reached double-figures in all seven of Truman's games this season. Fellow senior Ethan Freeman (11.1 ppg, 9.6 rpg) and sophomore sniper Tom Norton (10.4 ppg) are also in double-figures for the Bulldogs.
Schrader has been running a variety of combinations on the court, as only three players average more than 20 minutes per game with seven above the 15 minute per game mark.
Media Information:
104.7 FM KRES is the official radio home of Truman football, men's basketball and women's basketball. Brad Boyer and Hank Janssen will provide coverage throughout the season of Truman basketball on the Moberly-based station.
KRES broadcasts its sports coverage online at centralmoinfo.com. Fans can also watch MIAA games on their computer this season through AmericaOne/B2 Networks for a fee.
Live stats for all Bulldog games throughout the season will be made available via links on the men's basketball schedule page at TrumanBulldogs.com.
About the 'Dogs:
· The Bulldogs are scoring 74.1 points per game through their first four games, while allowing opponents 77.6 points per game for a -3.5 margin. It's the first time all season (past the opening loss) that the 'Dogs have had a negative scoring margin. That margin has taken its biggest hit since the start of conference play, with Truman at -24.4 through three MIAA games.
· Senior Alex Henderson is continuing his hot start to the season, leading the team at 16.0 points/game and ranking third in rebounds at 4.3/game. He is shooting 49% from the field and a blistering 56% (18-for-32) from long-distance. Henderson has scored 10+ points in all seven games this season and set a new career-high with 24 points against Culver-Stockton on Nov. 15.
· Senior Ethan Freeman is averaging just shy of a double-double with 11.1 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. He tied a career-high with 17 rebounds at QU on Nov. 27 and set a new career-best with 23 points against MSSU on Dec. 1.
· Having never shot better than 61% in a season from the foul line, Freeman has improved markedly this year by going 24-for-31 (77%) from the stripe through seven games.
· Sophomore guard Tom Norton is the third Bulldog in double-figures offensively, hovering right around the 10 ppg mark at 10.4. 18 of Norton's 21 made field goals have been three-pointers, while he is also 13-for-15 from the foul line. He is a career 91.9% foul shooter and hit 31 straight at one point during his freshman year.
· Junior Vesko Filchev picked up his first double-double of the season against Southwest Baptist on Dec. 7, finishing with 11 points and 10 rebounds coming off the bench. Filchev has dominated the paint defensively this year, swatting seven shots to lead the 'Dogs and pulling down 5.4 rebounds/game.
· For the first time all season, head coach Jack Schrader shook up the starting lineup against SBU, starting three freshmen (Marek Bush, Isaac Gardner and Pat Sodemann).
· The Bulldogs started the week as the MIAA's top three-point shooting team, firing at a 42.3% clip through its first six games of the season.
· The Truman bench has contributed significantly to the usual starting five, averaging 27.9 points per game. Led by freshmen Isaac Gardner (6.4 ppg, 13 3-pointers) and Pat Sodemann (4.7 ppg), the bench unit is scoring nearly 40% of Truman's points.
· The Bulldogs have struggled maintaining possession this year, committing nearly 19 turnovers per game. On the flip side, Truman is forcing just 13 miscues per game from its opponents, leading to seven additional points per game (21-14) for the opposition.
A Look at the Ichabods:
Picked to finish fourth in the MIAA preseason coaches' and media polls, the Washburn Ichabods sit one game game of first through three conference games at 5-2 overall, 2-1 in the MIAA. WU opened MIAA action with wins against UNO (79-73) and NWMSU (74-67) before falling on Wednesday night to FHSU (70-58). All three games have been at home.
6-foot-9 forward Logan Stutz has been the primary scorer on offense, leading the team in six of its first seven games and averaging 21.9 points per contest. He is shooting 74% from the field and has already poured in 54 free throws (79%). Joining him in double-figures is guard/forward De'Andre Washington (13.1 ppg) and guard Jeff Reid (11.0 ppg). Washington is the team's top rebounder at 6.0 per game, while Reid's 16 three-pointers are a team-best.
WU is shooting at a 51% clip overall, 36% from three-point range and are converting on 68% of their charity stripe chances. Meanwhile, opponents are hitting 46% of their shots from the field, including a 42% mark from long-range. The Ichabods are forcing 17 turnovers per game but have only turned over their first three MIAA foes 34 times total.
Bob Chipman is in his 32nd season at WU and has compiled a 683-280 record with the program.
Up Next:
The Bulldogs will be off during the week for finals but return to action next Saturday night when they host Emporia State in the final game before the Christmas holiday. Tipoff with the Hornets is set for 7:30 pm in Pershing Arena.
