MBB Preview: Stout to face top-ranked Pointers Wednesday, Jan. 8

THIS WEEK'S GAMES: UW-Stout (8-4, 3-1 WIAC) will continue forward into their longest homestand of the season when they host top ranked UW-Stevens Point (12-0, 3-0 WIAC), Wednesday, Jan. 8 at 7 p.m. This game will feature three of the top four scorers in the WIAC in Stout's Jimmy Whitehead and Stevens Point's Tyler Tillema and Trevor Haas. The Blue Devils will host UW-Platteville (9-4, 4-0 WIAC), Saturday, Jan. 11 at 3 p.m. Platteville is currently on top the WIAC, while Stevens Point is a half game behind. The Pioneers are idle Wednesday.

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.

 THE BLUE DEVILS (8-4, 3-1 WIAC): The Blue Devils righted the ship with a win over UW-Eau Claire Saturday after a a three game losing streak dropped them right out of the D3hoops.com poll. Stout was ranked as high as 19th in the Dec. 8 poll, but slipped to receiving votes after a loss to UW-River Falls, then fell out completely with losses to Millikin University and Plattsburgh State on a Florida trip after Christmas. The Blue Devils did right the ship with a 56-45 home win over UW-Eau Claire, Jan. 4.  Co-captain Jimmy Whitehead lead the Blue Devils and is third in the WIAC in scoring with 20.4 points. Whitehead is also averaging 5.3 rebounds per contest.  But Whitehead has missed the last two games due to injury. He is expected to return to the Blue Devil lineup against the Pointers, Wednesday. Alex Oman is aveaging 12.5 points,whle Aaron Jenny is averaging 12.0 points. Jenny is the lteam's leading rebounder with 6.0 caroms and the team's assists leader with 2.3. 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 8-of-12 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. Adam Wadzinski (Sr, Verona) has started eight straight games for Stout and provides a long-range scoring threat, hitting 11-29 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 4.1 ppg and grabbing 5.3 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 3.3 rpg. Townsend leads the team with 10 blocks. Guard Hank Kujak (So, Blair) has seen an increase in minutes over the last six games, averaging 19.2 mpg, including three 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 66.5-63.2.  Stout also holds an edge when it comes to rebounding, pulling down 37.9 boards per game while opponents are grabbing just 28.5. 

STOUT'S LAST TIME OUT: Jumping out to a big lead early in the second period, the Blue Devils held off a strong comeback by UW-Eau Claire on their way to a 56-45 win, Jan. 4. The Blue Devils never trailed in this game and had as much as a 23 point lead in the second half before the Blugolds came charging back to get as close as 10 points with about five minutes left. Alex Oman, Brett Ahsenmacher and Aaron Jenny each scored 11 points for Stout.

SCOUTING UW-STEVENS POINT (12-0, 3-0 WIAC): With a win in Menomonie, Stevens Point would move into a tie for the conference title with UW-Platteville, which has the conference bye on Wednesday. The Pointers were picked to repeat as WIAC champions and opened the season at No. 4 in the D3hoops.com. After two weeks at No. 2, the  Pointers have been the top ranked team the last two releases of the poll. Guard Tyler Tillema leads the WIAC in scoring with 23.8 points and is shooting at a 60.5 percent clip (92-152). Tillema also leads the team in assists (second in WIAC) with 4.10 assists.  Hass is averaging 19.2 points per contest and is tops in the league in 3-pointers made with 39 (3.45 made per game). Hass is farily deadly from downtown, connecting on 39-75 treys.  The Pointers rebound by committee, with Tillema leading way with 4.8 rebounds and Hass with 4.3. Hass lit up the board at the D3hoops.com Classic in Las Vegas, NV, a couple of weeks ago, tying the school record with 40 points against Whitman University. 

SOMETHING HAS TO GIVE: The Pointers lead the WIAC in shooting percentage, as a team, hitting 56.4 percent of their shots from the floor (328-582), while the Blue Devils lead the league in shooting percentage defense, allowing teams to shoot at a league-best 41.0 percent (241-588). The Pointers lead the WIAC in scoring average with 80.8 points, while the Blue Devils are allowing 63.3 points, fourth best in the league. The Blue Devils are the eighth ranked team in the league in scoring, averaging 66.5 points. The Pointers rank second in the WIAC in points allowed with 63.5. Stout leads the league in rebounding average (39.2 rbg) and allows their opponents the fewest rebounds (27.6) for a healthy 11.5 rebound per game advantage. The Pointers average 31.0 rebounds and give up 28.5 rebounds.

LAST TIME THEY MET: The Pointers won both contests last season, 70-51, in Stevens Point and 76-74 in overtime at Johsnon Fieldhouse. In the first game, the Pointers limited Stout to 33 percent shooting, while hitting 54 percent on their own shots. The Blue Devils improved their shooting percentage the second time around, hitting 50 percent of their shots, but couldn't get the shots they wanted in the overtime period. Trevor Hass hit the eventual game winner just before the shot clocked expired with 17 seconds remaining in OT. 

STEVENS POINT'S LAST TIME OUT: The Pointers used a series of second half runs to defeat UW-La Crosse, 74-61, Jan. 4. Tyler Tillema led the Pointers with a game-high 18 points on 7-for-13 shooting and also dished out a game-high five assists. Trevor Hass added 16 points on a 5-for-11 afternoon from the field. Alex Richard  scored all 10 of his points in 12 minutes of action in the first half. Austin Ryf also scored 10.

SCOUTING UW-PLATTEVILLE: After opening WIAC play with three consecutive wins, the Pioneers have split thei last four games, three of them against non-conference opponents. The Pioneers dispatched UW-Oshkosh, UW-River Falls and UW-Eau Claire to open the conference schedule. Platteville lost a two-overtime shootout at Carthage, 112-104, Dec. 4, then split a pair of games in Las Vegas, between Christmas and New Year's, downing George Fox, 98-91, before losing to Whitworth, 84-77. Platteville returned to conference play to defeat UW-Superior, 77-73, Jan. 4. | 2013-14 Statistics

PLATTEVILLE'S LAST TIME OUT: Twenty-nine points by the Pioneers' bench led Platteville past UW-Superior, 77-73, Jan. 4 in Superior. Junior Wes Nemitz led the Pioneers off the bench with a team-high and career-high 19 points, while freshman Cory Vaassen added 10 points. Nemitz went 5-for-6 from beyond the arc and made all four of his free throws. Junior Jim Stocki netted 16 points and senior Chas Cross rounded out the Pioneers top scorers with 12.

WHEN THEY MET LAST YEAR:  UW-Stout took both games last year, winning 64-55 in Platteville in December and 53-50 in Menomonie on Groundhogs Day. 

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 (170-161 at Stout, 424-356 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-Stevens Point: Bob Semling is in his ninth year as head coach of the UWSP men's basketball team and has led the Pointers to three NCAA Division III national titles. Through his first eight seasons as head coach, Semling has compiled a 199-47 (107-24 WIAC) record and earned NABC and D3hoops.com Coach of the Year honors in 2010. Semling was named the WIAC Coach of the Year on three occasions, including the 2013 season. | UW-Platteville: Jeff Gard is in his fifth year as head coach at Platteville.  He has won 64 games in his first four seasons at the helm of the Pioneers and is the most in school history in a coach's first four years. Gard was an assistant with the Pioneers before being named head coach.

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: The Blue Devils close their four-game homestand when they host UW-La Crosse, Wednesday, Jan. 15. Stout will be at UW-Oshkosh, Saturday, Jan. 18 at 7 p.m.


UW-Stout 2013-14 Season Highs (Updated Jan. 7, 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. 7, 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 (2x) 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: 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 (4x) 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: 8 vs. Wartburg, Dec. 1, 2013
Rebounds: 6 vs. UW-Eau Claire, Jan. 4, 2014
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. 7, 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)