THIS WEEKEND IN PEACOCK MEN'S BASKETBALL ... Upper Iowa men's basketball will tip off the 2019-20 season at the Division II Central Region Challenge this weekend at the Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. The Peacocks will face off against a pair of MIAA competitors. The team will first take on Pittsburg State University on Friday, Nov. 8 at 4:30 p.m. Upper Iowa will then play Lincoln University on Saturday, Nov. 9 at 6:45 p.m. Live stats are available for free while a radio live stream is available for the Pitt State game on ESPN 100.7 FM.
HOLY "SMOLDTS"… Upper Iowa's 2018-19 leading scorer Joe Smoldt returns to the Peacocks for his junior season. Smoldt started all 26 games he played for the Peacocks during the 2018-19 season averaging 14.7 points in 32.8 minutes per game. In addition to being the number one scoring option for the Peacocks last season, Smoldt was able to grab 3.2 rebounds and dish out 3.5 assists per game.
WHERE THERE'S A "WILLIAMS" THERE'S A WAY… Junior guard
Jareese Williams is set to help lead the Peacocks offense again this season. Williams started all 28 games he played in last season, averaged 13.5 points and 4.0 rebounds in 27.8 minutes per game. Williams shot .469 from the field, .442 from three point range, and .855 from the charity stripe. After a slow start in the exhibition versus Division I Drake University, Williams was able to lead the Peacocks in scoring. He was 10-11 from the free point line which led to the team high 23 points. Williams also grabbed five rebounds in the contest.
NEW BEGINNINGS… Upper Iowa will have eight new Peacocks on their 22 man roster this season. Here are some new faces to look out for: Freshman guard Jake Hilmer was Iowa's co Mr.Basketball in 2019 after an impressive senior season at North Linn in which he lead his team to victory in the Iowa 2A State Championship. Lucas Duax returns to the team after redshirting due to injury, Duax earned the starting point guard role during the 2018-19 season before suffering the season ending injury in the first game of the year. Joining Lucas is his younger brother, freshman guard Max Duax. Freshman forward Dylan Jones will also be a new Peacock to look out for this season. Finally, Josh Carter is another new face that will be a contributor for the Peacocks this season. Carter comes to Upper Iowa from Highland CC where he averaged 13.6 points and 4.7 rebounds per game last season.
FAMILIAR FACE, NEW PLACE… Former Peacock great Carson Parker returns to the Upper Iowa coaching staff for his second season in a new role. Parker last year was on the UIU staff as a student assistant, the Upper Iowa alum will now enter his first year as a graduate assistant. The two-time All-NSIC player will continue his coaching career here at Upper Iowa for the next two years in the new position.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS…Â
PITTSBURG STATE… Pittsburg State finished with a 17-13 (9-10 in MIAA play) record in 2018-19. The Gorillas lost a close game in the second round of the MIAA tournament, 99-94 to Washburn University ending their NCAA tournament hopes early on. Pittsburg State was selected 8th out of the 14 MIAA teams in the preseason coaches poll. The team suffered a 60-point loss in their sole preseason exhibition game versus perennial Division I national championship contender, the University of Kansas. Returning to the Gorillas for the 2019-20 season are seniors A.J. Walker and Christian Edmondson. Walker averaged 7.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 30 games played during the 2018-19 season. Edmondson averaged 6.8 points and 5.0 rebounds in 25 games played last season.Â
LINCOLN UNIVERSITY… Lincoln finished with a 18-12 (10-9 in MIAA play) record in 2018-19. The Tigers made it to the MIAA tournament quarterfinals before falling to Northwest Missouri State University by a score of 86-69. The team was selected 7th out of 14 MIAA teams in the preseason coaches poll, beating out Pittsburg State by just one point. The team was defeated by Southeast Missouri State University, 73-56 in their lone preseason exhibition game. Returning to the Tigers for the 2019-20 season is senior guard Jonell Burton. Burton averaged 13.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists earning an All-MIAA honorable mention and a spot on the All-MIAA defensive team.Â
