MBB Preview: Stout travels to Luther College to take on Norse

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THIS WEEK'S GAMES: The Blue Devils (2-1, 0-0 WIAC) will be at Luther College (2-1), Monday, Nov. 25, then will host the UW-Stout Thanksgiving Tournament. Stout will entertain Ashford University (7-1), Saturday, Nov. 30 at 6 p.m. and Wartburg College (1-2), Sunday, Dec. 1 at 4 p.m. Both Luther College and UW-Stout are coming off games played against Bethel University. The Blue Devils defeated Bethel, 72-55, in Menomonie, Nov. 19, while the Norse lost to the Royals, 64-63, in the championship game of the Bethel University Tournament, Nov. 23.

CAREER STATS:  Be sure to scroll to the bottom of this page to check out the UW-Stout career high for points, rebounds, and assists of each Blue Devil player.

BLUE DEVILS BY THE NUMBERS
9	Number of seniors on the Blue Devil roster
5	Number of first year players on the Blue Devil roster
4-of-5	Number of leading scorers returning
64	Percentage of returning points and rebounds

THE BLUE DEVILS (2-1): UW-Stout coach Eddie Andrist is almost beside himself when he talks about the number of the seniors on his roster. The Blue Devils list nine seniors, of which seven were on the roster last season. The Blue Devils return four starters from last year, Alex Oman, Jarvis Ragland, Aaron Jenny and Josh Kosloske. Oman, one of three first team all-WIAC picks from last year, was the team's second leading scorer last season with 14.4 points. Oman wasn't too bad with the rebounding, averaging 4.8 boards. Ragland averaged 9.7 points, Jenny 6.3 points and Kosloske 6.1 points. Kosloske also pulled down a team-best 5.6 rebounds. Ragland was injured in the second game of the season, and his status for the rest of the season has not yet been determined. The Blue Devils will be looking for someone to take over at point guard for the graduated Erik Olson. Olson left the program as the team's all-time assist leader. Newcomer Phil Freeman, a junior transfer, has been slated to fill that spot. Freeman is averaging 9.0 ppg and is tied for second on the team with four assists after two games this season. Jimmy Whitehead, a senior transfer, will also add some spark to the Blue Devils scoring game. The off guard scored 16 points in the exhibition opener against Winona State and had 13 points against UM-Duluth. Over the first two games of the regular season, he is averaging a team-leading 19.0 ppg to go along with 4.5 rebounds per contest.  Jay Higgins and Adam Wadzinski also saw considerable time last season and should continue to provide depth at the forward positions. Tim Butina played in 21 games a year ago. Defensively, the Blue Devils were tough last year, allowing 56.2 points. Last year the Blue Devils ranked fourth in Division III in scoring defense at 56.2 points per game. They were ninth in field goal percentage at 37.9.  | 2012-13 Statistics

THE BLUE DEVILS SO FAR THIS YEAR: Senior transfer Jimmy Whitehead has continued on a pace he started with the two exhibition games, leading Stout in scoring, averaging 16.0 points per contest. Alex Oman is averaging 15.3 points. Aaron Jenny is making the best of his senior season, averaging 10.3 points, almost double his average last year, and pulling down a team-high 6.3 rebounds. Josh Kosloske is averaging 6.0 rebounds. Stout has been controlling the boards, averaging 46.3 rebounds to their opponent's 30.0. Stout is outscoring their opponents, 73.7-65.7. |  2013-14 Statistics

STOUT'S LAST TIME OUT: The Blue Devils jumped all over Bethel University to start the game, leaping out to a 25-2 lead midway through the first half. Debanair Townsend got Stout started with a thunderous dunk and Stout never looked back in a 72-55 win. Aaron Jenny scored seven of his 11 first half points in the drive. Stout held a huge advantage on the boards, collecting 42 rebounds and limiting Bethel to 15 boards. Townsend led the way with seven rebounds. All 17 players suited up for Stout played and all but two scored.  | Story and Stats

SCOUTING LUTHER COLLEGE (2-1, 0-0 IIAC): The Norse have had all three of games decided by two points or less, starting off the season with a 72-70 win over UW-La Crosse, Nov. 19, then defeated Marian University, 71-69, at the Bethel Tournament, Nov. 22. Luther lost to host Bethel, 64-63, Nov. 23. The Norse led by nine points with less than two minutes left, but Bethel went on a 12-2 run to win the nailbiter. John Androus scored 15 points to lead Luther. Luther lost their two leading scorers from last year, Tyler Weidemeier, a third team all-region player, and Zach Matos  Weidemeier was also their leading rebounder. Androus is the team's leading scorer this year. After three games, Androus is averaging 14.7 points and 7.0 rebounds. Jake Martin is averaging 8.3 points, 8.0 rebounds and a block per game.  Luther is outscoring their opponents, 68.7-67.7. The Norse were picked to finish fourth in the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) in a preseason poll. | Bethel vs. Luther Game Story and Statistics  | 2013-14 Statistics

THE SERIES: Entering the game as Stout's leading scorer, Chris Hortman again scored a game-high 19 points as the Blue Devils defeated Luther College, 64-45, last November at Johnson Fieldhouse. Hortman led a crew of reserves who scored 32 points off the bench, including 10 by Keith Rash. Meanwhile, Stout allowed Luther to score just 11 bench points, holding them to 34 percent from the field, 19 percent from beyond the arc. Stout holds a 6-0 lead in the series. Before last year's game, the teams hadn't met since the opening game of the 1989-90 season. | Game Story and Statistics

SCOUTING ASHFORD UNIVERSITY: The Saints are off to a 7-1 start with their only loss a one point decision coming at Briar Cliff, 69-68, Nov. 8. The Saints are a member of the NAIA.  | 2013-14 Statistics

SCOUTING WARTBURG COLLEGE: The Knights won their opening game of the season, a 78-74 decision over Crown College in the first game of the Warburg Tournament. The Knights lost the champinnship game, 66-56, to Mount Mercy, then lost, 88-79, to usually-offensive happy Grinnell College. | 2013-14 Statistics

THE COACHES:  UW-Stout:  Eddie Andrist (168-159 at Stout, 422-354 overall) is in his 14th year as the coach of the Blue Devils, and his 24th overall in the collegiate ranks.  Andrist led the Blue Devils to their first NCAA Division III appearance five seasons ago when Stout advanced to the second round. Andrist coached at Mount Senario for 11 seasons and won three national championships. Andrist spent two stints coaching international basketball, working with the country of Qatar. | Luther College: Matt Franzen is in his eighth season as the head coach of the Norse. Franzen was the head coach for two seasons at Nebraska Wesleyan before coming to Decorah. | Ashford University: Oliver Drake is in his fourth season at Ashford University. The Saints have won at least 20 games in each of Drake's seasons. | Wartburg College: Dick Peth enters his 17th year as head coach of the Wartburg men's basketball program in 2013-14. He led the Knights to back-to-back Iowa Conference championships in 2004-05 and 2005-06.

CONFERENCES: Stout is a member of the nine-team Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) along with UW-Eau Claire, UW-La Crosse, UW-Oshkosh, UW-Platteville, UW-River Falls, UW-Stevens Point, UW-Whitewater, and UW-Superior. Bethel is one of 11 teams in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC).

UP NEXT: The Blue Devils will be at UW-Superior, Wednesday, Dec. 4, at 7 p.m., to open WIAC play then will host UW-Whitewater, Saturday, Dec. 7 at 3 p.m.


UW-Stout Career Bests (updated Nov. 21, 2013)

Phil Freeman - #4
Points: 12 vs. Mount Mercy, Nov. 15, 2013
Rebounds: 4 vs. Crown College, Nov. 16, 2013
Assists: 1 vs. Crown College, Nov. 16, 2013

Aaron Jenny - #5
Points: 16 vs. Crown College, Nov. 16, 2013
Rebounds: 12 vs. Crown College, Nov. 16, 2013
Assists: 4 (2x) vs. UW-Oshkosh, Jan. 14, 2012; vs. UW-Platteville, Dec. 10, 2011

AJ Dubek - #10
Points: 4 vs. Bethel, Nov. 19, 2013
Rebounds: 2 vs. Bethel, Nov. 19, 2013
Assists: 1 vs. Concordia Wisconsin, Dec. 30, 2012

Jarvis Ragland - #11
Points: 21 vs. Macalester, Nov. 18, 2011
Rebounds: 9 (2x) vs. Mary Hardin-Baylor, Dec. 29, 2011; vs. Whitewater, Jan. 19, 2013
Assists: 3 (2x) vs. UW-Superior, Dec. 7, 2011; vs. UW-Oshkosh, Jan. 12, 2013

Hank Kujak - #12
Points: 9 vs. Stevens Point, Feb. 15, 2012
Rebounds: 5 vs. Stevens Point, Feb. 15, 2012
Assists: 3 vs. Eau Claire, Feb. 11, 2012

Brett Ahsenmacher - #13
Points: 6 (2x) vs. Mount Mercy, Nov. 15, 2013; vs. Bethel, Nov. 19, 2013
Rebounds: 1 vs. Mount Mercy, Nov. 15, 2013
Assists: 1 vs. Mount Mercy, Nov. 15, 2013

Alex Oman - #14
Points: 28 (2x) vs. UW-Oshkosh, Feb. 18, 2012; vs. UW-Superior, Feb. 1, 2012
Rebounds: 10 vs. Mary Hardin-Baylor, Dec. 29, 2011
Assists: 6 vs. Northland, Nov. 24, 2012

Josh Watton - #15
Points: x
Rebounds: 1 vs. Bethel, Nov. 19, 2013
Assists: x

Michael Tesch - #21
Points: 2 vs. Bethel, Nov. 19, 2013
Rebounds: 1 vs. Bethel, Nov. 19, 2013
Assists: 1 vs. Bethel, Nov. 19, 2013

Jimmy Whitehead - #24
Points: 24 vs. Mount Mercy, Nov. 15, 2013
Rebounds: 8 vs. Crown, Nov. 16, 2013
Assists: 4 vs. Mount Mercy, Nov. 15, 2013

Reggie Kujak - #31
Points: 2 vs. Ashford University, Jan. 26, 2013
Rebounds: 2 vs. UW-Stevens Point, Jan. 9, 2013
Assists:

Jacob Nordstrom - #32
Points: 2 vs. Bethel, Nov. 19, 2013
Rebounds: 1 vs. Bethel, Nov. 19, 2013
Assists: x

Jay Higgins - #33
Points: 10 vs. Winona State, Nov. 29, 2011
Rebounds: 13 vs. Concordia-Texas, Dec. 30, 2011
Assists: 5 vs. Mount Mercy, Nov. 15, 2013

Josh Kosloske - #34
Points: 16 vs. St. Scholastica, Nov. 16, 2012
Rebounds: 15 vs. UW-La Crosse, Jan. 18, 2012
Assists: 2 (3x) vs UW-Oshkosh, Jan. 14, 2012; vs. UW-Superior, Dec. 7, 2011; vs. Bethel, Nov. 19, 2013

Adam Wadzinski - #35
Points: 7 (2x) vs. Loras College, Dec. 29, 2012; vs. Bethel, Nov. 19, 2013
Rebounds: 5 (3x) vs. UW-Oshkosh, Jan. 14, 2012; vs. Loras College, Dec. 29, 2012; vs. Eau Claire, Jan. 3, 2013
Assists: 3 (4x) vs. UW-Oshkosh, Jan. 14, 2012; vs. UW-Oshkosh, Jan. 12, 2013; vs. Mount Mercy, Nov. 15, 2013; vs. Bethel, Nov. 19, 2013

Braxtyn Meyer - #42
Points: 1 vs. Bethel University, Nov. 19, 2013
Rebounds: 2 vs. Bethel University, Nov. 18, 2013
Assists: x

Debonair Townsend - #44
Points: 8 vs. Superior, Feb. 9, 2011
Rebounds: 9 vs. La Crosse, Dec. 8, 2010
Assists: 1 (3x) vs. La Crosse, Dec. 9, 2010; vs. Viterbo, Dec 18, 2010; vs. Superior, Feb. 9, 2011

Tim Butina - #45
Points: 13 vs. UW-Whitewater, Jan. 21, 2012
Rebounds: 13 vs. Northland, Nov. 24, 2012
Assists: 2 (4x) vs. Robert Morris, Nov. 27, 2011; vs. Northland College, Nov. 26, 2011; vs. Winona State, Nov. 16, 2009; vs. Waldorf, Nov. 20, 2009

The Last Time...(updated Nov. 12, 2013)

A Stout Individual...
Scored 30+ points:  34, Jerrod Buchholtz vs. UW-River Falls (1/5/2011)
Scored 25-29 points:  28, Alex Oman vs. UW-Stevens Point, (2/18/2012)
Recorded 15+ rebounds:  15, Josh Kosloske vs UW-La Crosse (1/18/12)
Recorded 10+ assists:  11, Erik Olson vs. UW-Stevens Point (2/13/13)
Recorded 6+ steals:  8, by Jerrel Enerson-Matthews vs. Bethany Lutheran (11/21/08)

A Stout Team...
Scored 105+ points:  109, vs. Crown College (2/15/11)
Scored 100-104 points:  102 vs. Silver Lake College (2/17/2010)
Recorded 60+ rebounds:  64, vs. Concordia-Texas (12/11/2011)
Recorded 55-59 rebounds:  56 vs. Northland College (11/24/12)
Recorded 25+ assists:  25, vs. Silver Lake College (2/17/2010)
Won 10 or more games in a row:  10, 2005-06 season
Lost 5 or more games in a row:  7, 2011-12 season