MBB Preview: Blue Devils will seek to turn the tables on Falcons tonight

UW-River Falls: Live Stats | Live Audio | Live Video | UW-Whitewater: Live Stats | Live Audio | Live Video

THIS WEEK'S GAMES: The Blue Devils (10-8, 5-4 WIAC) will seek to reverse the outcome from the first time around when they host UW-River Falls (7-11, 2-7 WIAC), Wednesday, Jan. 29 at 7 p.m, then will be at UW-Whitewater (15-3, 6-3 WIAC), Saturday, Feb. 1 at 7 p.m..

WEBCASTS: All UW-Stout home games will be available in a live video stream by Blue Devil Video, with Adam "Big Country" Lehnertz  on the call. WMEQ 880 Radio, with Jason Kenyon, Rob Silvers, Dan Schultz, Jimmie Kaska or Jake Bostrom, will broadcast and provide a live audio stream of away conference games and all Saturday WIAC doubleheaders. Stout will provide Live Stats for all home games. Check the Blue Devil Webcast page or under details of the schedule page to see broadcasts and Live Stats available when Stout is on the road.

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
2	consecutive games Alex Oman and Jimmy Whitehead have scored 20+ points apiece
3	games this season the Blue Devils have had four or     more players score in double figures
5	times in the last 6 games Alex Oman has led the     team in scoring
5	different leading rebounders over the last five games     for Stout

 THE BLUE DEVILS (10-8, 5-4WIAC): After getting off to a 7-1 start this year, the Blue Devils have fallen into a bit of a slump, dropping seven of their last ten games. Injuries have played a role, as the Blue Devils have been forced to use six different starting lineups over that period . After a heartbreaking two point loss in a nonconference match-up at Ashford University, the Blue Devils exploded for a season high 89 points on the way to an 89-67 victory over UW-Eau Claire. After dealing with a nagging ankle injury earlier in the year, senior Alex Oman has come on strong over the last seven games. Over this period, he has led or been tied for the team lead in scoring in six contests while averaging 16.9 points per game. His season scoring average sits at 14.6 ppg, second on the team and 9th in the WIAC. Oman is also second on the team with 18 steals and 30 assists. His 4.3 rebounds per game are fourth on the team, just behind Josh Kosloske's 4.4 rpg. After missing only one shot against Eau Claire, Kosloske bumped his shooting percentage up to 54 percent, second on the team to only Jimmy Whitehead's scorching 58.3 percent from the field. After being limited by injury prior to last week's games, Whitehead seems to be back on track, hitting the 20 point mark for the seventh and eighth time this season against Ashford and Eau Claire. Whitehead leads Stout and is fourth in the conference with a 17.5 ppg average. He has also been one of the Blue Devil's most consistent rebounders, grabbing an average of 5.3 per game, second only to fellow guard Aaron Jenny, who is fifth in the WIAC with 5.8 boards per game. Jenny is averaging 10.1 points points per contest, leads the team in assists with 42 and is third on the team with 17 steals. Adam Wadzinski has come off the bench the last four games after starting 10 straight. Against La Crosse, his three pointer as time expired gave the Blue Devils a thrilling 59-57 victory. He has also been one of Stout's most valuable weapons from beyond the arc, hitting 40.9 percent (18-44) of his three-pointers. Wadzinksi was the teams leading scorer against Oshkosh with a career-best 11, only the second time this season a Blue Devil other than Whitehead, Oman, or Jenny led the team in scoring. He is currently first on the team with 19 steals. Freshman Brett Ahsenmacher leads the Blue Devils in three-point attempts and makes, hitting 21-51 (41.2 percent) from downtown this year.  He has hit multiple three-pointers in seven games this year.  Debonair Townsend leads the team with 19 blocks (1.06 per game), good for fourth in the conference. Jay Higgins has started each of the last four games for the Blue Devils and hasnt disappointed, averaging 8.3 ppg and 5 rpg over that span. Tim Butina is fifth on the team in rebounding, pulling in 3.1 per game. Guard Hank Kujak leads the team in assist-to-turnover ratio, with 21 assists compared to 12 turnovers.

The Blue Devils have 10 players who have started at least four games this season. As a team, Stout is outscoring their opponents 65.3-63.3. The 63.3 points per game allowed by Stout is good for third best in the WIAC. The Blue Devils also hold their opponents to a WIAC low 41.3 percent shooting. Stout is third in the conference in rebounds per game with 36.9 while allowing opponents to grab only 26.9, fewest in the conference. Despite their high rebounding totals, the Blue Devils have had only three player grab double digit rebounds in a game. Jenny had 10 and 12 in the first two games of the season against Mount Mercy and Crown College while Kosloske grabbed 11 against Crown. Higgins snagged 10 boards against Ashford. Stout also is third in the conference in blocked shots (2.72 per game) and second in offensive rebounding (12.44 per game). |  2013-14 Statistics

STOUT'S LAST TIME OUT: The Blue Devils rolled to a dominant 89-67 victory over rival UW-Eau Claire last Saturday, setting season highs in points scored and team field goal percentage (64 percent). Alex Oman (26) and Jimmy Whitehead (21) both scored more than 20 points for the second consecutive game. A 23-1 first half run, in which Oman (5), Whitehead (9) and Josh Kosloske (9) combined for all 23 points, propelled the Blue Devils to an easy victory. Stout's lead fell below 20 points only twice in the second half. In the Blue Devils final nonconference tilt of the year, the Blue Devils lost 71-69 at Ashford University last Wednesday, Jan. 22. Alex Oman scored 23 points, Jimmy Whitehead had 21 and Aaron Jenny added 11 for the Blue Devils. | Eau Claire Story and Stats  | Ashford Story and Stats 

1000 and Counting: Blue Devil forward Alex Oman came into the season with 816 career points, 42nd on Stout's all-time scoring list. Going into the Jan. 18 contest against Oshkosh, Oman's career total sat at 994. With 2:47 remaining and Stout trailing by two, Oman came up with a lay up to tie the game and push him over the 1000 point mark, giving him 1001 for his career. After back-to-back 20+ point games against Ashford and Eau Claire, Oman's season point total sits at 234, giving him 1050 points for his career, currently tied for 19th on the UW-Stout all-time scoring list with Brad Lyons (1970-74). Oman scored 169 points as a freshman, 258 as a sophomore and 389 as a junior.

SCOUTING UW-RIVER FALLS (7-11, 2-7 WIAC): The Falcons have not lost at Johnson Fieldhouse this season. Playing in UW-Stout's Thanksgiving Tournament, the Falcons came from behind to defeat Wartburg College, 63-59, then returned the next day to take a  79-66 win over Ashford University. The Falcons have leaned heavily on senior Ollie White, who leads the team in scoring and rebounding with 14.8 points per game and 5.2 rebounds per game. White is shooting 53.8 percent (92-171) from the field, which is tops on the team. As a team, River Falls relies heavily on the three-point shot, attempting the third most in the conference while making the fourth most (126-344). Ben Gresmer is the team's leading shooter from downtown, making 38-73 (52.1 percent) of his three-point shots. Gresmer is also second on the team in scoring with 12.1 ppg. Shifty guard Grant Erickson is tops on the team in assists with 61, an average of 3.38 per game, while turning the ball only 14 times all year. Erickson has also been a consistent scoring threat, with 8.1 ppg. As a team, the Falcons are being outscored 64.8-66.7 and outrebounded 30.9-34.2 per game this season. River Falls is shooting 43.3 percent from the field as a team. | 2013-14 Statistics

WHEN THEY MET LAST: Despite 29 points and 6 rebounds from Jimmy Whitehead, the 19^th-ranked Blue Devils had no other players in double figures and fell 70-64 to River Falls. The game was a back and forth affair throughout, with Stout leading for the first seven minutes of the second half. From the 13-minute mark on though, River Falls controlled the lead for the most part before taking the final lead of the game with 1:18 left on the clock. Stout outshot River Falls from the field, (48.9 percent to 45.2 percent) and from three-point range, (38.9 percent to 37.5 percent). The Blue Devils also outrebounded the Falcons 29-26. The difference in the game came down to free throws.  River Falls went 26-36 from the foul line compared to just 11-16 for the Blue Devils. Aaron Jenny added 9 points, 5 assists and 4 boards for Stout. River Falls had four players score in double figures, led by Ben Gresmer's 17 points. Ollie White added 16 points while Jay Sewer added 15 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists for the Falcons. Connor Goodwin lead River Falls in rebounding with 6. | Story and Statistics

LAST TIME OUT- RIVER FALLS VS WHITEWATER:Whitewater came away with a 62-42 victory over River Falls last Saturday as KJ Evans recorded 18 points and 12 boards to lead the Warhawks. River Falls was simply outgunned, as Whitewater jumped out to a 13-3 lead and took a 20-point lead into halftime. The Warhawks shot 23-47 (48.9 percent) from the field compared to just 12-48 (35.4 percent) for River Falls. Eric Bryson added 15 points for the Warhawks on 7-9 shooting while Ollie White paced the Falcons with 14 points, going 7-12 from the field. | Story and Statistics

SCOUTING UW-WHITEWATER  (15-3, 6-3 WIAC): Whitewater is the top team in the WIAC in terms of scoring offense at 81.1 points per game while also having the second stingiest defense, allowing only 61.2 ppg. The Warhawks are outrebounding their opponents 37.3-29.5. Coming into this week, Whitewater is the 10th-ranked team in the latest d3hoops.com top 25 poll and sit in third place in the WIAC. All of three of Whitewater's defeats have come at the hands of WIAC opponents, falling to Stout and Stevens Point in consecutive games earlier this season and La Crosse on Jan. 22. Leading the way for the Warhawks is junior guard KJ Evans, who is averaging 16.3 ppg and 8.1 rpg. Evans is shooting 51.8 percent (99-191) from the field, fourth best on the team. Quadrell Young leads the team in assists (67), steals (40), and is tied with Steve Egan for the team lead with 9 blocks. Young is also averaging 11.3 ppg. Egan has been one of the Warhawks main contributors off the bench, averaging 6.6 ppg and 4.3 rpg in just 13.7 minutes per contest. Guard Eric Bryson leads the team in three point shooting, hitting 29-75 (38.7 percent) on the year. Bryson is tied for second on the team in scoring with 11.9 ppg. Reggie Hearn, also averaging 11.9 ppg,  rounds out the Warhawks averaging double figures. Kearn is also the team's second leading rebounder with 4.9 per game.  | 2013-14 Statistics

WHEN THEY MET LAST: Josh Kosloske's 12 first-half points and Alex Oman's 18 second-half points propelled Stout to a 74-69 victory over Whitewater Dec. 7, 2013. The Blue Devils lost the lead only twice in the first half, on their way to a 39-34 halftime advantage. Stout would push the lead to 11 with 3:40 remaining, but a run by the Warhawks brought them within four, 70-66, with just 1:45 left in the game. Free throws by Jimmy Whitehead and Oman kept the game out of Whitewater's reach. Oman led all scorers with 20 points, Whitehead had 19, and Kosloske and Aaron Jenny added 12 apiece. Stout shot 58.7 percent from the floor (27-46), 46.7 percent from 3-point range (7-15) and 65.0 percent from the line (13-20). Reggie Hearn and Eric Bryson each scored 15 points for the Warhawks. Hearn led all players with nine rebounds. KJ Evans added 12 points and Quardell Young 11. The Warhawks shot 48.9 percent from the floor (23-47), 36.8 percent from 3-point range (7-19) and 61.5 percent from the line (16-26). Stout edged the Warhawks off the glass, pulling down 27 rebounds to 24 for Whitewater. | Story and Statistics

NEXT TIME OUT: Whitewater faces off against UW-Platteville (12-6, 7-2 WIAC) this Wednesday in a battle that may determine second place in the WIAC. The Pioneers are currently in second place at 7-2, just ahead of Whitewater's 6-3 mark. In the first meeting between the two teams this season, the Warhawks came away with a 77-58 victory on Jan. 15. | Whitewater vs. Platteville Story and Stats

AWARDS AND HONORS: Alex Oman was selected as the WIAC player of the week, Dec. 10...Jimmy Whitehead was the WIAC and the UW-Stout Northwestern Mutual player of the week, Dec. 3.

TEAM CAPTAINS:  Blue Devil team captains for the 2013-14 season are Aaron Jenny and Jimmy Whitehead.

THE COACHES:  UW-Stout:  Eddie Andrist (170-164 at Stout, 424-359 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. | UW-River Falls: Jeff Berkhof (94-107) is in his eighth season as head coach of the Falcons. Before taking over head coaching duties, Berkhof was an assistant coach for 12 season while also holding the position of women's golf coach from 2002-06. In 2010-11 and 2011-12, Berkhof led River Falls to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances, going 20-8 (12-4 WIAC) both years. Berkhof was named WIAC Coach of the Year in 2010-11.  | UW-Whitewater: Pat Miller (272-82) has been the head coach at Whitewater since the 2001-02 season. Over the course of his tenure, he has led the Warhawks to a first or second place finish in the WIAC in nine of 12 season, capturing four WIAC coach of the year honors. In 2011-12, Miller led the team to its third national championship and his winning percentage (.768) ranks 1st in school and 4th in WIAC history. Before becoming head coach, Miller was an assistant coach at Whitewater the previous eight seasons.

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

UP NEXT: Stout will host UW-Oshkosh, Saturday, Feb. 8 at 3 p.m. for senior day.


UW-Stout 2013-14 Individual Season Highs (Updated Jan. 29, 2014)

Points: 29, Jimmy Whitehead vs. UW-River Falls, Dec. 11, 2013
3-Pointers Made: 4, Alex Oman vs. UW-Eau Claire, Jan. 25, 2014; Brett Ahsenmacher vs. UW-Stevens Point, Jan. 8, 2014;
Rebounds: 12, Aaron Jenny vs. Crown College, Nov. 16, 2013
Assists: 5, Aaron Jenny vs. UW-River Falls, Dec. 11, 2013; Jay Higgins vs. Mount Mercy, Nov. 15, 2013
Steals: 5, Aaron Jenny vs. UW-Superior, Dec. 5, 2013

UW-Stout 2013-14 Team Season Highs (Updated Jan. 29, 2014)

Points: 89, vs. UW-Eau Claire, Jan. 25, 2014
Field Goals Made: 33 vs. Mount Mercy, Nov. 15, 2013
Field Goal Percentage: .640 (32-50) vs. UW-Eau Claire, Jan. 25, 2014
3-Pointers Made: 9 vs. UW-Stevens Point, Jan. 8, 2014
Free Throws Made: 27 vs. Luther College, Nov. 25, 2013
Free Throw Percentage: .870 (20-23) vs. Ashford University, Jan. 22, 2014
Rebounds: 64 vs. Crown College, Nov. 16, 2013
Assists: 19 vs. Mount Mercy, Nov. 15, 2013
Steals: 9 (3x) vs. UW-Oshkosh, Jan. 18, 2014; vs. UW-Superior, Dec. 4, 2014; vs. Crown College, Nov. 16, 2013


UW-Stout Career Bests (updated Jan. 29, 2014)

Phil Freeman - #3
Points: 12 vs. Mount Mercy, Nov. 15, 2013
Rebounds: 4 vs. Crown College, Nov. 16, 2013
Assists: 1 (2x) vs. UW-Superior, Dec. 5, 2013; vs. Crown College, Nov. 16, 2013

Aaron Jenny - #5
Points: 24 vs. UW-Superior, Dec. 5, 2013
Rebounds: 12 vs. Crown College, Nov. 16, 2013
Assists: 5 vs. UW-River Falls, Dec. 11, 2013; 4 (5x) vs. UW-Eau Claire, Jan. 25, 2014; UW-Platteville, Jan. 11, 2014; vs. UW-Superior, Dec. 5, 2013;  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: 12 vs. Wartburg College, Dec. 1, 2013
Rebounds: 5 (3x) vs. Plattsburgh State, Dec. 30, 2013; vs. Stevens Point, Feb. 15, 2012; vs Wartburg College, Dec. 1, 2013
Assists: 3 (3x) vs. UW-Eau Claire, Jan. 25, 2014;  vs. UW-Stevens Point, Jan. 8, 2014;  vs. Eau Claire, Feb. 11, 2012

Brett Ahsenmacher - #13
Points: 14 vs. Luther College, Nov. 25, 2013
Rebounds: 4 vs. Plattsburgh State, Dec. 30,, 2013
Assists: 1 (3x) vs. UW-Eau Claire, Jan. 25, 2014;  vs. UW-Eau Claire, Jan. 4, 2014;  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 (2x) vs. Plattsburgh State, Dec. 30, 2013; vs. Bethel, Nov. 19, 2013

Jimmy Whitehead - #24
Points: 29 vs. UW-River Falls, Dec. 11, 2013
Rebounds: 9 vs. UW-Oshkosh, Jan, 18, 2014
Assists: 4 vs. Mount Mercy, Nov. 15, 2013

Reggie Kujak - #31
Points: 4 vs. UW-Eau Claire, Jan. 25, 2014
Rebounds: 2 (2x) vs. UW-Eau Claire, Jan. 25, 2014;  vs. UW-Stevens Point, Jan. 9, 2013
Assists:

Jacob Nordstrom - #32
Points: 2 vs. Bethel, Nov. 19, 2013
Rebounds: 1 (2x) vs. UW-Eau Claire, Jan. 25, 2014; vs. Bethel, Nov. 19, 2013
Assists: x

Jay Higgins - #33
Points: 11 vs. UW-La Crosse, Jan. 15, 2014
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 (5x) vs. UW-Oshkosh, Jan. 18, 2014; vs. UW-Eau Claire, Jan. 4, 2014; vs UW-Oshkosh, Jan. 14, 2012; vs. UW-Superior, Dec. 7, 2011; vs. Bethel, Nov. 19, 2013

Adam Wadzinski - #35
Points: 11 vs. UW-Oshkosh, Jan. 18, 2014
Rebounds: 6 vs. UW-Eau Claire, Jan. 4, 2014
Assists: 4 vs. Ashford, Nov. 30, 2013

Braxtyn Meyer - #42
Points: 2 vs. UW-Platteville, Jan. 11, 2014
Rebounds: 2 vs. Bethel University, Nov. 18, 2013
Assists: x

Debonair Townsend - #44
Points: 9 vs. Wartburg, Dec. 1, 2013
Rebounds: 9 vs. La Crosse, Dec. 8, 2010
Assists: 1 (5x) vs. Millikin, Dec. 28, 2013; vs. UW-Superior, Dec. 5, 2013; 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 Jan. 29, 2014)

A Stout Individual...
Scored 30+ points:  34, Jerrod Buchholtz vs. UW-River Falls (1/5/2011)
Scored 25-29 points:  26, Alex Oman vs. UW-Eau Claire (1/25/2014)
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...
Had five players score in double digits:  vs. Luther College, Nov. 25, 2013 - Jimmy Whitehead (24), Aaron Jenny (19), Brett Ahsenmacher (14), Alex Oman (11), Josh Kosloske (11).
Had four players score in double digits:  vs. UW-Eau Claire, Jan. 25, 2014 - Alex Oman (26), Jimmy Whitehead (21), Josh Kosloske (12), Jay Higgins (10).
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
Was held to 40 or fewer points in game: 40, vs. Plattsburgh State (12/30/13)