THIS WEEK IN PEACOCK HOOPS… Upper Iowa hosts three games this week on Prochaska Court to close out the 2021 calendar year. The Peacocks will welcome the Saints of Maryville University on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. for a non-conference game and then host a big weekend of NSIC South Division games in Dorman Memorial Gymnasium. UIU will face off against Augustana University and Wayne State College, the two teams they enter the weekend tied with at the top of the NSIC South standings at 4-1 in conference play. The Vikings and Peacocks will tip off at 5:30 p.m. on Friday and then give way to the Wildcats and Peacocks starting time of 3:30 p.m. on Saturday.
 
LIVE COVERAGE OPTIONS… Live stats and a webcast will be available for all three games through the links at UIUPeacocks.com/Live. All three contests will stream live on the NSIC Network app through Roku and Fire devices, as well as Apple and Android TV. Search for "NSIC Network" to find the app on your relevant device. In terms of television, all three games will broadcast on KCRG 9.2 across Eastern Iowa, but Tuesday and Friday's game will air beginning at 9 p.m., while Saturday's game will air live.
 
DIGITAL GAMEDAY PROGRAM… Fans can access the interactive and digital gameday programs for all three games at any time at UIUPeacocks.com/Programs. The digital programs are available to fans both at our games and those at home watching the action. QR Codes will also be located around the facility to scan with your cell phone's camera that will link you directly to that game's specific digital gameday program.

RECEIVING VOTES... Upper Iowa was receiving votes in the NABC NCAA Division II Top 25 last week, in fact earning the most points for any team not in the Top 25, after being ranked No. 19 two weeks ago. The most updated national poll will be released on Tuesday afternoon just a few hours prior to the jump ball between UIU and Maryville.
 
IRON SHARPENS IRON… UIU's two super seniors, Joe Smoldt and Jareese Williams, push each other and feed off each other's success. Smoldt became the first player in Upper Iowa's history to make 300 three-pointers and Williams needs only 13 to become the second. Smoldt is currently sixth all-time in scoring with 1,664 points needing 74 to reach fifth place (Tony Giger - 1,738) and 77 to get to fourth (Jim Crabtree - 1,741). Williams pushed his way into the top ten all-time this past weekend with 1,439 points passing Jimmy Roth (1,408); he needs only 36 points to tie for ninth with one of UIU's current assistants Carson Parker (1,475). Countless hours in the gym over the last half decade have given the two graduate students, their teammates and Peacock fans the confidence that every shot taken has a chance of touching nothing but net.
 
TAKING ADVANTAGE OF CHARITY… Upper Iowa is converting free throws at an incredible rate this season and is ranked third in the country and leads the Northern Sun at 83.1%. While several UIU players have contributed to the nation's top mark, Jake Hilmer and Jareese Williams have combined to make all but four (two apiece) of their 78 chances at the line. Both surpassed UIU record of 19 consecutive free throws made by Greg Von Arx in 1993-94, but each had their streak come to an end at Sioux Falls last Friday. Hilmer's streak ended at 39, while Williams' streak came to a close at 35. Three Peacocks are in the NSIC's top ten with Williams ranked first at 95.9%, Hilmer second at 94.9% and Smoldt ranked tenth at 75.7%.
 
FEELING POSSESSIVE… The Peacock offense is racking up 86.9 points per game this season, which ranks 25^th nationally and second in the Northern Sun Conference. While Upper Iowa is shooting well this season, one of the biggest causes for the high point total is the lack of turnovers. UIU is averaging 9.8 turnovers per game, the second-lowest average in the conference and 11^th-best mark in the nation. Upper Iowa is taking advantage of the extra time with the ball to connect on offense. Williams (19.6 ppg) and Smoldt (18.6 ppg) are averaging the second and sixth most points per game in the NSIC. The pair of super seniors are joined in double figures by Hilmer, who is posting 14.6 points per game to go with 4.7 assists. Six other Peacocks are averaging between 4.7 and 8.6 points per game, but all six have notched a season-high point total of at least 10 points in at least one game. The unselfish style has opposing defenses guessing on which Peacock will have a big night and join Williams, Smoldt and Hilmer in double figures.
 
PROTECTING THE RIM… While UIU is averaging 86.9 on offense, the most important difference between this season and past years is revealed on the defensive end. Upper Iowa has held their opponents to 76.3 points for a scoring margin of plus-10.6 points per game. The Peacocks are holding their opponents to a below-average, and second-best in the NSIC, percentage (30.2%) from beyond the arc and are posting a plus-1.9 in rebounds through the first ten games. Dylan Jones is leading the team on the glass with 6.6 per game, while Williams (6.2), Smoldt (4.5), Nick Reid (4.5), Cade Moritz (4.3) and Connor Duax (4.2) are all averaging over four boards per game.

SCOUTING THE SAINTS... Maryville comes into the non-conference affair with a 7-2 record; the Saints lost to the Walsh University 81-73 and No. 20 Truman State University 77-68. The Saints are 2-1 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Maryville is led by three scorers in double figures; Ari Jackson (13.7), Cameron Scales (12.4) and Kelvin Swims (10.9), while Scales pulls down a team-high 5.8 rebounds per game.
 
SCOUTING THE VIKINGS... Augustana University is 10-1 overall and also 4-1 in the Northern Sun; the Vikings were also receiving votes in last week's Top 25 and posted two wins over No. 25 Minnesota State University, Mankato and Concordia University, St. Paul last weekend. Senior forward Tyler Riemersma was named the NSIC South Division Player of the Week after averaging a double-double of 23 points and 14 rebounds against the Mavericks and Golden Bears. Riemersma averages a team-high 18.2 points and 10.6 rebounds per game to lead the Vikings. Isaac Fink (17.4), Dylan LeBrun (11.4) and Adam Dykman (10.4) all join Riemersma in double-figure scoring, while Jameson Bryan adds 8.2 points per game. Augie's five starters account for nearly 85% of the team's scoring.
 
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS… Wayne State College is coming off a pair of wins against Concordia-St. Paul and Minnesota State over the weekend to improve to 7-4 overall and 4-1 in the NSIC.  Justin Eagins led the Wildcats to the two wins averaging a team-high 18.5 points with 5.5 rebounds per game. The redshirt freshman guard scored a game-high 23 points and seven rebounds, including 12-14 from the FT line in Saturday's 79-69 win over #25 MSU. Jordan Janssen leads Wayne State in scoring on the season at 16.8 points per game and adds a team-high 8.4 rebounds per game. Eagins is averaging 15.5 points and 4.5 rebounds, while Alec Millender is netting 9.1 points.