UIU Game Notes || NSIC Weekly Release || NSIC Forecast (MP3)
WSUGame Notes || UMC Game Notes || BSU Game Notes
This week in Upper Iowa Men's Basketball... The Peacocks will host three teams at home this week starting with the Warriors of Winona State (13-3 overall, 7-2) on Tuesday night inside Dorman Gymnasium. The game is set for 8 PM and Peacock fans are encouraged to wear white in support. UIU will then finish out the weekend against two NSIC-North foes - Minnesota, Crookston (3-10, 0-9) on Friday night and Bemidji State (7-6, 5-4) on Saturday.
The Series... The Warriors and the Peacocks have squared off sixteen times over the past eight years. WSU owns a 14-2 record in the series, but the Peacocks have taken two of the last four meetings between the teams. The last time these two teams faced each other was on December 1st in Winona, Minnesota. In that game, Tucker Wentzien connected on a reverse-layup that kissed off the glass before going through the net as time expired, giving the Peacocks the 64-63 victory. Wentzien is averaging 16 points per win over the past two seasons, compared to just eight points per loss.
The Peacocks hold a 9-3 advantage in their series with the Golden Eagles of the University of Minnesota, Crookston over the past eight years, inlcuding wins in nine of their last ten meetings.
The Beavers of Bemidji State, who were NSIC regular-season champions last year, hold a 5-7 advantage against the Peacocks over the past nine years, including a win in Dorman early last season, 70-60.
Peacocks Sweep in Bismark, N.D.... Redshirt-Junior guard Joey Woods led the Peacocks to a weekend sweep of NSIC-North opponents Minot State and U-Mary with an average of 14.5 points, 3 assists, 2.5 steals and 3 rebounds per contest. UIU recorded a season-high 84 points against the Beavers as five different Peacocks finished with double-figures offensively, led by Woods' 18. UIU followed that up the very next night as Wentzien, Jake Hughes, Grant Lang, and Woods all scored in double-digits against the Marauders in a 67-63 victory on the road.
Disturbingly Dominate Defence... Compared to where the defense was last year (72 ppg allowed), the Peacocks have not only improved their defense, but they have made it their backbone and their main strength. Giving up 61.7 points per game to opponents, UIU is boasting the number two ranked scoring defense in the conference. The Peacocks have allowed only four teams to reach 71 points or more and only two opponents have shot 50% or better against UIU this season.The Peacocks also have the sixth-best field goal percentage defense at 42 percent and the second-ranked best 3-point field goal defense at 31 percent.
Leading the Warriors... Clayton Vette (18.9 ppg, 53% FG, 8.8 rpg, .8 bpg) || Grant Johnson (23 ppg, 57% FG, 5 rpg, 2 spg) || Xavier Humphrey (11.2 ppg, 45% FG, 38% 3FG, 3 apg, 0.9 spg) || Kellen Taylor (8.1 ppg, 56% FG, 5.4 rpg)
Leading the Golden Eagles... Brandon Burns (12.2 ppg, 47% FG, 30% 3FG, 3.2 rpg) || Almir Krdzalic (9.8 ppg, 46% FG, 43% 3FG, 2.0 rpg, 2.9 apg) || Justin Rake (7.6 ppg, 42% FG, 3.9 rpg, 1 spg) || James Sparkman (6.7 ppg, 33% FG, 4.4 rpg)
Leading the Beavers... Dermaine Crockrell (13.8 ppg, 44% FG, 32% 3FG, 3.5 rpg, 3 apg, 1 spg) || Mason Walters (12.5 ppg, 48% FG, 33% 3FG, 6.7 rpg) || Zach Noreen (10.8 ppg, 50% FG, 42% 3FG, 3.3 rpg) || Lance Rongstad (8.0 ppg, 42% FG, 36% 3FG, 3.4 rpg, 2.1 apg)
NSIC Rankings... As mentioned above, the dominant defense UIU has played this year has been a mainstay for the Peacocks. Their aggressive play against opponents has helped them climb the ranks in the NSIC. Not only is UIU's defense ranked second in scoring defense (61.7 ppg), but the team, as a whole, is eigth in scoring offense (69.4), fourth in scoring margin (+7.7), third in free throw percentage (75%), second in 3-point field goal defense (31%) and the Peacocks have the fourth best turnover margin (+1.6).
Top Dog... #Jake Hughes#' 63 percent field goal percentage ranks first in the conference. The senior point guard has sunk 46-of-73 shots this season, including 10-of-16 buckets from downtown. Hughes is also ranked 14th in free throw percentage (80%), while Sam Elgin is ranked 6th in the same category at 89 percent shooting at the charity stripe. Elgin and Wentzien are also ranked highly in the NSIC in scoring. Wentzien is 20th in the conference with 12.2 points per game, while Elgin holds down the 27th spot with 11.5 points per contest.
Sights Set on 1,000... Speaking of Wentzien, the senior is only 8 points shy of the 1,000 point plateau in his career. The Solon, Iowa native reached the 992 mark in North Dakota this past weekend after totaling 28 points against MISU and U-Mary. Wentzien will become just the 22nd member of the distinctive 1,000-point club at Upper Iowa University. On Feb. 24, 2010 Matt Lesan became the 21st Peacock in program history to break the 1,000-point barrier for a career in a 66-58 loss at Winona State. Lesan finished his career with 1,383 points over his four years at UIU. Jim Bushkofsky is the all-time leading scorer in Upper Iowa men's basketball history as he finished his four-year career with 2,194 points at the end of the 1973-74 season. Bushkofsky also holds the record for most points scored in a season with 855 during his junior campaign. Bushkofsky's jersey hangs in the hall-of-fame hallway outside Dorman Gym.
Up Next... After facing three opponents this week at home, the Peacocks will take to the road again next week as they face Southwest Minnesota State on Friday January, 25th and the University of Sioux Falls on Saturday January 26th. Click here to view the Peacocks full schedule.
Tune In...Don't forget to click on the live option links above to follow all of the Peacock action as it happens live! The Peacock Athletic Fund Pregame Show will begin promptly 15 minutes before tip-off as Zach Carlyle and Cooper Widenthaler get you set for the game.
