MBB Preview: Blue Devils host 'Jackets in final regular season home game

 UW-Superior: Live Stats | Live Audio | Live Video 

THIS WEEK'S GAMES: The Blue Devils (12-9, 7-5 WIAC) will host UW-Superior (6-15, 3-9 WIAC), Wednesday, Feb. 12 in their final regular season home game. The Blue Devils begin a three-game, regular season ending road trip when they travel to UW-Platteville (12-9, 7-5 WIAC), Saturday, Feb. 15. Over the next four games, Stout will face three teams that are ahead of them in the WIAC standings. Stout is currently tied for fourth in the WIAC with Platteville, but at the moment, the Pioneers hold the seeding tie-breaker.

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/. 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
4	games this season the Blue Devils have had two     players score 20+ points
15	combined 20+ point games for Jimmy Whitehead(8),     Alex Oman(5) and Aaron Jenny(2)
9-2	Blue Devils record this season when leading at the     half
3-7	Blue Devils record this season when tied or behind     at the half

 THE BLUE DEVILS (12-9,76-5 WIAC): Jimmy Whitehead and Alex Oman lead the Blue Devils in scoring, Whitehead with 15.9 points per contest, Oman with 14.2 points. Oman passed the 1000th point mark several weeks ago and currently is ranked 16th on the Stout scoring list with 1086 points, ahead of Zak Alwin's (1991-95) 1078 points. Whitehead is seventh in the WIAC  in scoring, while Oman is 10th. The versatile Aaron Jenny, who missed Saturday's game, leads the team in rebounds (5.5 rpg) and assists (2.2) and is averaging 10.7 points per contest. Whitehead is pulling down 5.0 rebounds, Oman 4.5 and Josh Kosloske 4.3. Stout is outscoring their opponents, 64.7-62.3. Stout is third in the league in scoring defense.

Coming into the latter portion of the season, Stout is currently tied for fourth place with UW-Platteville in the WIAC. With four games remaining -- including match-ups against three of the top four teams in the conference in Platteville (7-4 WIAC), La Crosse (7-5 WIAC), and Stevens Point (11-1 WIAC) -- the Blue Devils hope to finish the regular season strong going into the conference tournament. The Blue Devils will take to the road for the last three games of the season and are jockeying for position in the WIAC Championship tournament, which gets underway, Wednesday, Feb. 26, with the sixth seeded team at the third seeded team. The fifth seeded team will be at the fourth seeded team. Top seeds one and two get the first round bye, then will host semi-final games, Friday, Feb. 28. The championship game is scheduled for Sunday, March 2. A win Wednesday over UW-Superior will clinch a tournament spot for the Blue Devils.

The Blue Devils have 10 players who have started at least four games this season. As a team, Stout is outscoring their opponents 64.7-62.3. The 62.3 points per game allowed by Stout is good for third best in the WIAC, behind Whitewater (61.3) and Stevens Point (60.8). The Blue Devils also hold their opponents to a WIAC low 41.1 percent shooting. Stout is second in the conference in rebounds per game with 36.5 (Superior leads the league in rebounds with 37.2 per game) while allowing opponents to grab only 26.8 rpg, fewest in the conference. Despite their high rebounding totals, the Blue Devils have had only three player grab double digit rebounds in a game this year. 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 (4.43 per game) and second in offensive rebounding (12.25 per game). |  2013-14 Statistics

STOUT'S LAST TIME OUT: Seniors Alex Oman and Jay Higgins came up big for the Blue Devils on Senior Night, combining to score 22 of Stout's 31 second half points to lead the team to a 57-52 victory over Oshkosh Saturday. Debonair Townsedn had a solid second half. With Stout trailing 49-46, Townsend returned to the game with 4:11 remaining,. The 6-7 forward went on to record two blocked shots, two defensive rebounds and an exclamation point dunk with nine seconds remaining to give Stout a 56-51 lead. Oman finished with a game-high 18 points, including the eventual game winner with the score tied at 51. As the game clock dropped below a minute remaining, Oman's step back jumper from the left wing gave Stout a 53-51 lead. Oman also added five rebounds... | Oshkosh Story and Statistics

SCOUTING UW-SUPERIOR (6-15, 3-9 WIAC WIAC): .Jerrod Peterson has been responsible for just shy of one-third of the Yellowjacket's points this season. Peterson is third in the league in scoring with 20.8 points per contest. He is bombing 38-of-91 3-pointers and has made the most free throws in the league, hitting 109-129 charity shots, good for 84.5 percent. Peterson's free throw percentage is second in the league. Peterson is second on the team in rebounds with 5.9 per contest and is tops on the team in assists with 40, just under two assists per game. Peterson has a team-high 20 steals and is second on the team in blocked shots. Aaron Corry leads the team in rebounds with 6.5, third in the WIAC. Superior is tops in the leauge in blocked shots (4.43) and rebounds (37.2). Bronson Byrne leads the league in blocked shots with 2.48. The Yellowjackets have been outscored, 77.4-69.3. | 2013-14 Statistics

WHEN THEY MET LAST: UW-Stout lead for all but two minutes and 53 seconds of the game, on their way to a 79-68 win at Superior in the WIAC opener for both teams Dec. 5. The Blue Devils shot 46.3 percent for the game and held Superior to just 42.9 percent.  Stout was led by Aaron Jenny who scored a career high 24 points.  He also led Stout with five steals and four assists, while chipping in six rebounds.  Whitehead finished with 23 points and seven rebounds.  Superior was led in scoring by Jarrod Petersons' 17 points.  Bronson Byrne finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds. | Story and Statistics

LAST TIME OUT: One might have thought the UW-Whitewater Warhawks were due for a letdown after their huge win over No.1 ranked and previously unbeaten UW-Stevens Point Wednesday night. Nothing could have been further from the truth however.  And unfortunately for the UW-Superior men's basketball team, it all added up to a long day for the home team at Mertz Mortorelli Gymnasium Saturday afternoon. The Warhawks hit nine of their first 11 three-point shots, jumped out to a big early lead and were never threatened in a 77-44 win. | Story and Statistics

AWARDS AND HONORS: Alex Oman was selected as the UW-Stout Northwestern Mutual athlete of the week, Jan. 28...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 (171-164 at Stout, 425-359 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-Superior:  Paul Eberhardt (15-32) is in his second season as the head coach of the Yellowjacket men's basketball team. In his inaugural campaign, Eberhardt guided the Yellowajckets to the WIAC playoffs for the fourth consecutive season. Eberhardt came to UW-Superior from Ellsworth Community College in Iowa Falls, Iowa.  At ECC Eberhardt served as athletics director and dean of students.  In those roles, everything from department budgets to game management to scheduling fell under Eberhardt's supervision.

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 close out the regular season, Wednesday, Feb. 18 at UW-La Crosse and Saturday, Feb. 21 at UW-Stevens Point. The WIAC Championship Tournament gets underway Wednesday, Feb. 26. The top six teams advance to the tournament. The first and second seeded teams have a first round bye.


UW-Stout 2013-14 Individual Season Highs (Updated Feb. 10, 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 Feb. 10, 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 Feb. 10, 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 (2x) vs. UW-River Falls, Jan. 29, 2014; 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 (2x) vs. UW-River Falls, Jan. 29, 2014; 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 (2x) vs. UW-River Falls, Jan. 29, 2014; 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: 15 vs. UW-River Falls, Jan. 29, 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 (2x) vs. UW-River Falls, Jan. 29, 2014; 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: 2 vs. UW-Oshkosh, Feb. 8, 2014

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 Feb. 10, 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)