MBB Preview: Stout begins four game homestand, host Eau Claire Saturday

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THIS WEEK'S GAMES: UW-Stout (7-4, 2-1 WIAC) will be looking to shake off a three game losing streak which started with a conference loss at UW-River Falls in mid-December. The Blue Devils lost both games at the Land of Magic Classic in Daytona Beach, Fla., falling to Millikin University and Plattsburgh State. UW-Eau Claire (7-5, 0-3 WIAC), by contrast, is riding a three-game winning streak, which they began at Ashford University in mid-December. The Blugolds won their own Holiday Classic, defeating Northland College and the University of Northwestern, St. Paul..

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
3	consecutive losses for Stout and consecutive wins   for Eau Claire
3	different Blue Devils to hit the 20 point mark over the     last six games
7	number of double digit scoring games for Aaron Jenny and Alex Oman this season
10	Blue Devils to make a three-pointer this season

THE BLUE DEVILS (7-4, 2-1 WIAC): With the loss to UW-River Falls on December 11, the Blue Devils saw their seven game winning streak come to an end and the start of a three-game losing streak. Ranked #19 going into the game, the loss tumbled Stout out of the top 25. In the most recent D3hoops.com poll (Dec. 15), Stout still received votes, but not enough to crack the top 25.  Leading the way for the Blue Devils are captains Jimmy Whitehead (Sr, La Crosse) and Aaron Jenny (Sr, Spicer, Minn.). Whitehead leads the team in scoring at 20.4 ppg while pulling down 5.3 rpg. Jenny is tops on the team in rebounding and assists, pulling down 5.8 boards per game while dishing out 2.2 assists. He has also been one of the team's most consistent scorers, averaging 12.1 ppg on .495 (46-93) shooting. Jenny has scored in double figures in 7-of-11 games, including a season high 24 against UW-Superior. Whitehead has been able to come up big when it matters most for Stout all season, averaging 11.1 points in the second half of games while shooting a scorching .621 (41-66). He has scored in double figures in the second half in eight of 10 games to start the season. Whitehead has also topped the 20 points mark six times already this season and has scored in double figures in all 10 games he has played. Senior Alex Oman (Lake Elmo, Minn.) ranks second on the team in scoring, with 12.7 ppg and fourth in rebounding with 3.9 per game. Adam Wadzinski (Sr, Verona) has started seven straight games for Stout and provides a long-range scoring threat, hitting 10-27 three-point attempts. Brett Ahsenmacher (Fr, Annandale, Minn.) has hit 52.6 (10-19) of his three point attempts when he comes off the bench. Josh Kosloske (Sr, Oakfield) has been steady down low, averaging 4.3 ppg and grabbing 5.1 rpg, good for second on team. Debonair Townsend (Sr, Milwaukee), Tim Butina (Sr, Woodbury, Minn.), and Jay Higgins (Sr, Maple Grove, Minn.) have all seen significant time in the post for the Blue Devils. Each is averaging over 10 minutes per game and at least two rebounds per contest, led by Butina's 3.1 rpg. Townsend leads the team with six blocks. Guard Hank Kujak (So, Blair) has seen an increase in minutes over the last sixgames, averaging 19.2 mpg, including two starts, up from his season average of 15.5. Over that span, he has contributed 6.2 ppg and 2.7 rpg, while hitting 6-of-11 three point attempts. As a team, Stout is outscoring their opponents 67/5-64.9).  Stout also holds an edge when it comes to rebounding, pulling down 37.8 boards per game while opponents are grabbing just 28.3. |  2013-14 Statistics

STOUT'S LAST TIME OUT: Playing without leading scorers Alex Oman and Jimmy Whitehead, the Blue Devils fell to Plattsburgh State, 62-40, Dec. 30 at the Land of Magic Classic in Daytona Beach, Fla. Plattsburgh held a three point halftime lead, but ran out to as much as a 26 point lead. Aaron Jenny led Stout with 10 points. Millikin University broke a 28-28 halftime score by going on a 15-4 run over the first six minutes of the second half and a 20-5 run over the first 11 minutes of the second half to take a 68-56 win over UW-Stout Saturday. Whitehead led all scorers with 20 points. | Plattsburgh Story and Stats | Millikin Story and Stats

SCOUTING UW-EAU CLAIRE (7-5, 0-3 WIAC): Adam Hjelter leads the Blugolds with 17.3 points. Lewis Mau is averaging 13.3 points and Kurtis Moody 11.3. Moody is the team's top rebounder, averaging 6.5 points. The Blugolds are being outscored, 68.1-67.9.  | 2013-14 Statistics 

LAST TIME THEY MET: The Blue Devils won both match-ups last year, winning 54-46 in Menomonie, Jan. 3, 2013, and 70-54, Feb. 9, 2013, in Eau Claire. In the game at Johnson Fieldhouse, Stout held Eau Claire to 26 percent shooting from the floor, but never really put Eau Claire away. Chris Hortman led Stout with 18 points, 15 in the decisive second half. Dustin Kalien scored 11 for the Blugolds. At Eau Claire, Stout wore out the finish to the free throw line, draining 26-of-35 charity shots.  Hortman led all scorers with 21 points.  Nick Craggs led Eau Claire with 16 points. | Game One | Game Two

EAU CLAIRE'S LAST TIME OUT: The Blugolds ran their winning streak to three games with a 70-65 win over the University Northwestern, St. Paul, at the UW-Eau Claire Holiday Classic, New Year's Eve. Eau Claire led by as much as 14 points, but the Eagles got as close as three points with a minute left, but free throws by Adam Hjelter stretched the lead to five points. Hjelter led Eau Claire with 16 points. The day before, Eau Claire showed no rust after 16 days off as they jumped out to a big halftime lead and never looked back in a 65-41 victory over Northland College. Jacob Kohner scored 13 to lead Eau Claire and Hjelter pulled down 10 rebounds.  | Northwestern Story and Statistics | Northland Story and Statistics

A LONG HISTORY: The Blue Devils and the Blugolds have played yearly, with the exception of four seasons from 1920-24, since the 1916-17 season. Stout has held the upper hand over the past five years, posting a 7-3 record in that span. Stout  has won six of the last seven meetings. While the rivalry has always been fierce, the battles between the two teams during the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s were particularly torrid. Most games during that span were sellouts, with barely standing room only. With exception of the 1975 and 1978, the Blugolds won or shared the conference title yearly through the 1970s. And the Blue Devils battled toe-to-toe with the nationally ranked Blugolds. Stout shared the 1975 crown with UW-Platteville and won conference titles in 1966 and 1969. Names like Stout's Mel Coleman, Cal Glover and Bill Heidemann and Eau Claire's Mike Ratliff and Frank Schade highlighted the era.

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 (169-161 at Stout, 423-356 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-Eau Claire: Matt Siverling is in his second season with the Blugolds (17-20) and his fourth overall (46-44). An Eau Claire graduate, Siverling was an assistant coach at Eau Claire for three seasons before taking the head job for two years at UW-Superior.

CONFERENCES: Stout and Eau Claire are members 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: The game with UW-Eau Claire is the first in a four-game homestand for the Blue Devils. Stout will host top-ranked UW-Stevens Point, Wednesday, Jan. 8, then will entertain UW-Platteville, Saturday, Jan. 11 and UW-La Crosse, Wednesday, Jan. 15.


UW-Stout 2013-14 Season Highs (Updated Jan. 2, 2014)

Points: 29, Jimmy Whitehead vs. UW-River Falls, Dec. 11, 2013
3-Pointers Made: 3, Aaron Jenny vs. UW-Superior, Dec. 5, 2013; Alex Oman vs. Ashford, Nov. 30, 2013; Jimmy Whitehead vs. Luther, Nov. 25, 2013; Brett Ahsenmacher vs.Luther, Nov. 25, 2013.
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 Career Bests (updated Jan. 2, 2014)

Phil Freeman - #4
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 (3x) 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 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 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: 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: 8 vs. Wartburg, Dec. 1, 2013
Rebounds: 5 (4x) vs. UW-Oshkosh, Jan. 14, 2012; vs. Loras College, Dec. 29, 2012; vs. Eau Claire, Jan. 3, 2013; vs. Wartburg, Dec. 1, 2013
Assists: 4 vs. Ashford, Nov. 30, 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: 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. 2, 2014)

A Stout Individual...
Scored 30+ points:  34, Jerrod Buchholtz vs. UW-River Falls (1/5/2011)
Scored 25-29 points:  29, Jimmy Whitehead vs. UW-River Falls (12/11/13)
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-Whitewater, Dec. 7, 2013 - Alex Oman (20), Jimmy Whitehead (19), Josh Kosloske (12), Aaron Jenny (12).
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)