THIS WEEK IN PEACOCK HOOPS… Upper Iowa, ranked No. 13/16 in the latest two NCAA DII Top 25 polls, returns to the court in the New Year with a single Northern Sun Conference game this weekend. The Peacocks will travel to Winona State University on Sunday, Jan. 2. Game time is set for 1:30 p.m. in Winona, Minn.
 
RISING IN THE RANKINGS... The Peacock men's basketball team has risen to No. 13 in the National Association of Basketball Coaches NCAA Division II Top 25 and No. 16 in the D2SIDA Division II Media Poll. In the last edition of each poll, Upper Iowa was ranked No. 24 in the NABC poll and was receiving votes in the D2SIDA poll. Prior to the holiday break, Upper Iowa posted a great 3-0 week that included wins over Maryville University, No. 23 Augustana University and Wayne State College. UIU stands in first place in the NSIC South Division heading into the holiday break. The ranking this week marks the third time that UIU has been in the top 25 for the NABC poll including No. 24 from Dec. 14-27 and No. 19 from Nov. 30-6 after the Peacocks defeated No. 2 Truman State University on Nov. 27. The Bulldogs of the University of Minnesota Duluth, a fellow NSIC-member, joins Upper Iowa in the rankings at No. 9 in the NABC poll and No. 6 in the D2SIDA poll. Augustana dropped out of the top 25, but are still receiving votes earning 17 points in both the NABC and D2SIDA polls. D2SIDA also releases a Division II Media Top 25 Poll and regional polls. UIU is ranked third in the Central Region after moving from fifth two weeks ago. UIU is also one of the "First Five Out" in Wayne Cavadi's NCAA D2 Power Ten Rankings.
 
KEEPING AN EYE ON THE MILESTONES… UIU's two super seniors, Joe Smoldt and Jareese Williams, Smoldt became the first player in Upper Iowa's history to make 300 three-pointers, while Williams needs only two more to become the second. Smoldt is currently sixth all-time in scoring with 1,720 points needing 18 to reach fifth place (Tony Giger - 1,738) and 21 to get to fourth (Jim Crabtree - 1,741). Williams pushed his way into the top ten all-time over the last few weeks and now is ninth all-time with 1,501 points. With six more points, Williams can move ahead of Don Dutton (8th – 1,507); farther ahead is Greg VonArx (7th – 1,551). The Mason City product has also passed the 500-plateau in total rebounds for UIU, which ranks 22nd all-time. In addition to Smoldt and Williams, Jake Hilmer crossed over 800 points last week and now has 801 in his career, while Lucas Duax is nearing 600 points (593).
 
STATTING THE WIN STREAK… During UIU's current six-game win streak, the team has won four games at home and a pair on the road with five of the six wins coming over NSIC opponents. Wiliiams is averaging 21.2 points and a team-high 5.7 rebounds during the run while shooting 45.8% from the field, 43.2% from three and 91.4 from the free throw line. Smoldt is registering 19 points and 4.2 rebounds per game hitting 51.9% of his shots including 35.9% from three and is converting 71.4% of his free throws. Hilmer is averaging 12.5 points, 4.5 assists, 2.3 rebounds and a steal a game, while Cade Moritz is recording 8.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and a block per game. UIU is averaging 85.3 points per game during the stretch and has outscored their opponents by an average of 10.8 points. As a team, the Peacocks have knocked down 50.8% of their attempts, 37.9% from three, and 78% from the charity stripe.
 
FEELING CHARITABLE… Upper Iowa is converting free throws at an incredible rate this season and is ranked second in the country and leads the Northern Sun at 83.3%. While several UIU players have contributed to one of the nation's top mark, Hilmer has hit at a higher rate than anyone else in the country (96.1%/49-51), while Williams ranks third in the nation and second in the NSIC at 95.2% (60-63). Hilmer owns the UIU record for consecutive free throws with 39, while Williams owns the second-best streak with 35. The old record was 19, held by Greg Von Arx in 1993-94. The pair have combined to make 109 of their 114 opportunities at the line.
 
MAKING THE DIFFERENCE… Most opposing coaches set their game plans around stopping Upper Iowa's big three, Williams, Smoldt and HIlmer, but the Peacocks have been able to overcome those plans thanks to six Peacocks that are averaging between 4.8 and 7.3 points per game, all of which have had double-figure scoring games this season. The six-pack is also averaging between 2.2 and 5.9 rebounds. The 5.9 rebound average belongs to post Dylan Jones and is the team high on the glass. As a group, the three Duax brothers (Connor, Lucas, Max), Moritz, Jones and Nick Reid, are shooting 54.7% (169-309) from the floor and generating 37.4 points per game to account for 43.1% of UIU's scoring.
 
SCOUTING THE WARRIORS... Winona State is 6-4 overall and 2-3 in the NSIC this season. The Warriors had their most recent NSIC series scheduled against Wayne State and Augustana (Dec. 17-18) canceled due to Covid-19 protocols, as was a non-conference tilt at Michigan Tech University. In WSU's last action on the hardwood, the team dropped a pair of road games to Southwest Minnesota State University (49-50) and the University of Sioux Falls (57-71). The Warriors have allowed the fourth-least points per game to their opponents (66) this season, while averaging 71.4 points per game on offense. Point guard Devin Whitelow is having another solid year averaging 4.2 assists/game and 1.6 steals per game, both of which rank in the top ten in the NSIC. Alec Rosner is pacing the Warriors attack with 15.7 points per game, while Luke Martens has been working hard on the glass with 7.5 rebounds a contest to go with 11.9 points.