THIS WEEK IN PEACOCK HOOPS… Upper Iowa, ranked No. 19/23 in the latest two NCAA DII Top 25 polls, looks to bounce back this weekend with the team's first Northern Sun cross-division games of the season. The Peacocks will line up against the University of Minnesota Crookston on Friday at 5:30 p.m. and then play at Bemidji State University on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
RANKINGS REVEALED... After UIU's five-point loss at Winona State on Sunday, the Peacocks dropped six spots to No. 19 in the NABC NCAA Division II Poll and seven spots to No. 23 in the D2SIDA Division II Media Poll. The ranking this week marks the fourth time that UIU has been in the top 25 for the NABC poll and second time in the D2SIDA poll. The Bulldogs of the University of Minnesota Duluth, a fellow NSIC-member, joins Upper Iowa in the rankings at No. 5 in the NABC poll and No. 6 in the D2SIDA poll. Augustana is 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 fourth in the Central Region after moving from third last week.
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 one more to become the second. Williams missed the second half of the Winona State loss due to an injury suffered while blocking the final Warrior attempt of the first half. The Peacock sharp-shooter will be unavailable this weekend due to the injury. Smoldt is currently sixth all-time in scoring with 1,731 points needing just seven points to reach fifth place (Tony Giger - 1,738) and 10 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 1,506 points. With one more point, 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 prior to the holidays and now has 822 in his career, while Lucas Duax (601) just passed 600 points with his eight points at Winona State.
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 82.1%. While several UIU players have contributed to one of the nation's top mark, Williams and Hilmer have combined to make 111 of their 117 opportunities. Williams ranks third in the nation (95.2%; 60-63), while Hilmer is sixth in the country (94.4%; 51-54). The two have the top two percentages in the Northern Sun. 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.
BEYOND THE BIG THREE... 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 7.2 points per game, all of which have had double-figure scoring games this season. The six-pack is also averaging between 2.4 and 5.7 rebounds. The 5.7 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 54.0% (182-337) from the floor and generating 36.8 points per game to account for 43.1% of UIU's scoring.
RECENT HISTORY WITH UMC AND BSU… Upper Iowa is 6-2 against Minnesota Crookston and 3-4 against Bemidji State in Head Coach Brooks McKowen's tenure. Against the Golden Eagles, UIU is averaging 80.4 points per game and posting a scoring margin of +2.6. When lining up with the Beavers, Upper Iowa is averaging 87.6 points a contest, but only has a +1.6 scoring margin.
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN EAGLES… The Golden Eagles come into the weekend with a 4-10 overall record and a 1-7 mark in the Northern Sun Conference. Minnesota Crookston has wins over East Central University (72-70), Bemidji State (67-57), Presentation College (75-44) and Midwestern State University (68-60). Since the team's back-to-back wins over the Thanksgiving weekend, the Golden Eagles have dropped seven straight games in the Northern Sun. UMC is averaging 65.1 points per game on offense while allowing 71.9 points on defense. The Golden Eagles are shooting 42.3%, 33.6% and 63.9% from the field, three and charity stripe. Ethan Channel leads the team with 12.6 points and 2.9 rebounds, while Leonard Dixon (12.0 points, 6.6 rebounds) and Uzo Dibiamaka (10.9 points, 4.3 rebounds) also pace the Golden Eagles.
SCOUTING THE BEAVERS… The Beavers are 6-6 on the season with a 3-5 mark against NSIC opponents. Their wins include victories over Concordia University, St. Paul (82-67), the University of Minnesota-Morris (91-57), Northland College (110-61), Eckerd College (67-63), St. Cloud State University (97-83), the University of Mary (68-40), and Minnesota Crookston (70-46). Bemidji State is averaging 73.2 points per game, while holding opponents to 67.7 points. BSU is posting shooting averages of 49.1% from the field, 37.9% from three and 69.0% from the free throw line. Travis Bianco leads the Beavers with 14 points and 5.7 rebounds, while Mohamed Kone adds 11.2 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game. John Sutherland is also a big contributor with 10.9 points and 5.1 rebounds per game.
