MBB Preview: Stout home for 4 p.m. Saturday contest with Buena Vista

THIS WEEK'S GAMES: Coming off a loss to UW-Superior earlier in the week, the Blue Devils (2-3, 0-0 WIAC) will be home to face Buena Vista University, (1-4, 0-0 IIAC) Saturday, Dec. 5 at 4 p.m. The Beavers picked up their first win of the season at UW-Eau Claire Friday night.  (Note the change in time for the Buena Vista game) Buena Vista has one of the top scoring offenses in the NCAA Division III this season and guard Nick Clark is among the top 40 in individual scoring nationally.

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.

A LOOK AT THE BLUE DEVILS: John Keefe leads the Blue Devils with a 14.8 point per game average. Isaac Elliott is averaging 11.0 points per game average and has been in double figures in three games.  Jalen Patterson has worked his way into the starting line-up and has responded with back-to-back games scoring in double digits, raising his average to 7.6 points. John Lahti is averaging 6.6 points and 4.0 rebounds. The Blue Devils are outrebounding their opponents 37.4-33.2 and guard Colton Williams is averaging a team-best 4.5 caroms. Keefe is the team's assists leader, dishing out 5.4 per contest.

A QUICK BLUE DEVILS PREVIEW: UW-Stout returns eight of its top-10 scorers from last year, including junior guard Brett Ahsenmacher who was second on the team with 8.9 points per contest. The roster includes two seniors, seven juniors, seven sophomores and 10 freshmen - of the newcomers, four are transfers. Due to injuries last season, the Blue Devils had only three players that participated in all 25 games, and utilized 12 different starting lineups. UW-Stout will play just four of its first 10 games at Johnson Fieldhouse. The Blue Devils will look to shake off a 3-22 season.

Until Hank and Reggie Kujak join the squad at the conclusion of the football season, junior guard Brett Ahsenmacher brings the most experience to the Blue Devils. Ahsenmacher has played in 50-of-52 games over his career, and started 22 of the 24 games he played in last year. Ahsenmacher averaged 8.9 points last season and scored a career-best 22 points against John Carroll University last season. Ahsenmacher was second on the team in assists and led the team in in 3-pointers made.

Jalen Patterson showed flashes last season, finishing the year averaging 6.8 points. Patterson's 13 blocked shots averaged 0.62 per contest and ranked sixth in the WIAC...guard John Keefe exploded for 30 points early in the season against Bethany Lutheran and finished the season averaging 6.5 points. John Lahti saw considerable time in the paint, starting 14 games during his freshman season. Lahti, Sam Ortmann and Isaac Elliott are the only three players last season to have seen action in all 25 games. Stout last season lost seven conference games by seven points or less. 

BLUE DEVILS LAST TIME OUT: UW-Superior went on a 10-0 run late in the first half to take an eight point lead and UW-Stout could never catch up as the Yellowjackets went on to a 79-71 win Tuesday at Mertz Mortorelli Gymnasium. The Blue Devils  took a 28-26 lead with 5:39 remaining in the first half when the Yellowjackets scored 10 straight points, keyed by Zach Schradle's seven points in the run. Schradle would be a stinger in the Blue Devils' side all night, going on to score a game-high 33 points. John Keefe had a solid night for the Blue Devils, scoring 26 points, seven rebounds, four assists and four steals.


SCOUTING BUENA VISTA: Nick Clark scored 36 points in a 91-86 loss to Bethel University and had 32 points in a win over UW-Eau Claire Friday night. The 5-9 senior guard is averaging 23.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and is dishing off 6.2 assists. Sean Morgan is tossing in 12.4 points and Sam Lipps 10.8. Sean Morgan leads the Beavers off the glass with 6.8 rebounds. Even though the Beavers lost their first four games of the season, they are only being outscored 89.8-87.8.

BEAVERS LAST TIME OUT: Nick Clark turned in a game-high 32 points while dishing out eight assists and Kennedy Drey scored eight points and grabbed 10 rebounds to help lead the Buena Vista men's basketball team down the stretch, as the Beavers post a 73-65 road win at UW-Eau Claire for their first win of the season. The game was later tied at 63-63 with just over 4:00 remaining before Drey's layup the next trip down the floor put BVU in front for good.  Neither team scored for nearly 2:30 minutes until Drey pulled down a big offensive rebound and put back a jumper off the glass from the top left corner of the paint to extend the lead to four with 1:29 to go.The Beavers then forced the Blugolds to come up empty their next three trips down the floor, while sinking 6-of-8 free-throw attempts over the final minute, to take their largest lead at 72-63 with 20 seconds left.

LAST TIME STOUT AND BUENA VISTA MET: The Blue Devils and the Beavers have met three times in the past - consecutively in the 2006-07, 2007-08, and 2008-09 seasons - with Buena Vista holding a 2-1 lead in the series. Stout won the first meeting (57-56), but the Beavers have won the last two, 97-79 and 68-61 in overtime. In the opening game of the 2008-09 season, Eric Hostetter hit a half court shot,his only field goal of the night, to send the game into overtime with the eighth ranked Beavers in Menomonie. In overtime, Kevin Osborn hit a three with less than a minute remaining to give Buena Vista a four point lead. Following desperation fouling by Stout, the Beavers extended their lead to seven points by the end of the game.


SCOUTING UW-SUPERIOR: It's almost as if the Yellowjackets did not leave the WIAC. Superior opened the season with a 69-61 season-opening loss to UW-Stevens Point, then lost 67-55 to UW-River Falls, before falling to Valley City State 98-73. When the Yellowjackets host the Blue Devils, it will be their third home game against WIAC opponents. Zach Schradle is averaging 18.7 points and 7.3 rebounds while Brian Lindholm is averaging 15.3 points.Vid Milenkovic is averaging 5.7 rebounds.

YELLOWJACKETS LAST TIME OUT: The Yellowjackets took to the road for the first time, Nov. 24, when they lost an exhibition game 91-46 at the University of Sioux Falls. Zach Schradle scored 24 points and Brian Lindholm 15 in the loss to UW-River Falls. Stephen Pelkofer scored 20 points, Sean McGann 18 and Ethan Bublitz 10 in the loss to UW-Stevens Point. 

LAST TIME STOUT AND SUPERIOR MET: In the Yellowjackets' final year in the WIAC, Superior swept the Blue Devils, winning the first game, 72-65, in Menomonie, and 67-59 in Superior.



AWARDS AND HONORS: Isaac Elliott was named to the Buzz Levick all tournament team at Wartburg College, Nov. 21...(last season) Brett Ahsenmacher was selected as the UW-Stout Northwestern Mutual athlete of the week, Jan. 5, after his performance at the St. Norbert Tournament...Brett Ahsenmacher was selected to the all-tournament team at the Nicolet National Bank Holiday Tournament hosted by St. Norbert College, Dec. 29-30...Jarvis Ragland was selected as the UW-Stout Northwestern Mutual athlete of the week, Dec. 1 and as the WIAC Athlete of the Week Dec. 2 after averaging 22.5 points during the UW-Stout Thanksgiving Turkey Shootout.

TEAM CAPTAINS: Blue Devil team captain for the 2015-16 season is Brett Ahsenmacher.

VARSITY RESERVE: The Blue Devils have a number of varsity reserve games on their schedule. Stout defeated UW-Barron County, 92-74, Nov. 17. The Blue Devils will take on UW-Superior (Dec. 1), St. Mary's (Dec. 3, Jan. 28), and UW-Eau Claire (Jan. 13, Jan. 30).

THE COACHES: UW-Stout: Eddie Andrist (188-202 at Stout, 438-393 overall) is in his 16th year as the coach of the Blue Devils, and his 26th 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 (25-54) is in his fourth season as the head coach of the Yellowjacket men's basketball team. Buena Vista: Brian Van Haaften (372-155) joined BVU in 1994 as an assistant coach for the Beavers and was named head coach in 1996. Since that time he has put together one of the best active winning percentages in NCAA Division III men's basketball with an all-time record of 372-151 (.711, before season started). He currently ranks in the top-10 in all-time winning percentage among active Division III coaches with at least 10 years of coaching.

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-Oshkosh, UW-Platteville, UW-Whitewater and UW-River Falls. Superior left the conference after the 2014-15 season.

UP NEXT: The Blue Devils will be at the University of Duqubue, Tuesday, Dec. 8, then will close out the first semester of play when they host the University of Northwestern, Tuesday, Dec. 15 at 7 p.m.

UW-Stout 2015-16 Individual Season Highs (Updated December 3, 2015)

Points: 26, John Keefe vs. UW-Superior, Dec. 1, 2015
3-Pointers Made: 6, John Keefe vs. UW-Superior, Dec. 1, 2015
Rebounds: 7, (2x) John Keefe vs. UW-Superior, Dec. 1, 2015; Jacob Nordstrom vs. Emmaus Bible College, Nov. 21, 2015
Assists: 7 (2x), John Keefe vs. Bethany Lutheran, Nov. 24, 2015 and vs. Emmaus Bible College, Nov. 21, 2015
Steals: 7, Jalen Patterson vs. Bethany Lutheran, Nov. 24, 2015

UW-Stout 2015-16 Team Season Highs (Updated December 3, 2015)

Points: 93 vs. Bethany Lutheran, Nov. 24, 2015
Field Goals Made: 35 vs. Bethany Lutheran, Nov. 24, 2015
Field Goal Percentage: .554 vs. Emmaus Bible College, Nov. 21, 2015
3-Pointers Made: 12 vs. UW-Superior, Dec. 1, 2015
Free Throws Made: 17 vs.Bethany Lutheran, Nov. 24, 2015
Free Throw Percentage: .550 vs. Emmaus Bible College, Nov. 21, 2015
Rebounds: 46 vs. Bethany Lutheran, Nov. 24, 2015
Assists: 23 vs. Emmaus Bible College, Nov. 21, 2015
Steals: 13 vs. Bethany Lutheran, Nov. 24, 2015
Double-Doubles:   (2014-15 season) Jarvis Ragland (4x), 25 points, 15 rebounds vs, Bethany Lutheran, Dec. 3, 2014; 18 points, 10 rebounds vs. UW-Whitewater, Jan. 10, 2015; 21 points, 11 rebounds vs. UW-Oshkosh, Jan. 14, 2015; 21 points, 10 rebounds vs. UW-Oshkosh, Jan. 31, 2015.


UW-Stout Career Bests (updated December 3, 2015)

Jacob Nordstrom - #3
Points: 6 vs. Emmaus Bible, Nov. 21, 2015
Rebounds: 7 vs. Emmaus Bible, Nov. 21, 2015
Assists: 1 vs. Emmaus Bible, Nov. 21, 2015

Solon Ellis - #4
Points: x
Rebounds: 1 vs. Emmaus Bible, Nov. 21, 2015
Assists: x

Jerry Butler - #5
Points: 1 vs. Monmouth College, Nov. 20, 2015
Rebounds: 3 vs. Monmouth, Nov. 20, 2015
Assists: 1 vs.Emmaus Bible, Nov. 21, 2015

Caleub Watkins - #10
Points: 3 vs. Emmaus Bible, Nov. 21, 2015
Rebounds: 2 vs. UM-Crookston, Nov. 14, 2015
Assists: x

John Keefe - #11
Points: 30 vs. Bethany Lutheran, Dec. 3, 2014
Rebounds: 7 vs. UW-Superior, Dec. 1, 2015
Assists: 7 (2x) vs. Bethany Lutheran, Nov. 24, 2015;  vs. Emmaus Bible, Nov. 21, 2015

Zach Dahl - #12
Points: x
Rebounds: 2 vs. Monmouth College, Nov. 20, 2015
Assists: x

Brett Ahsenmacher - #13
Points: 22 vs. John Carroll University, Dec. 29, 2014
Rebounds: 5 vs. UW-Eau Claire, Jan. 7, 2015
Assists: 4 vs. UW-Whitewater, Feb. 21, 2015

Isaac Elliott - #14
Points: 14 (3x) vs. Bethany Lutheran, Nov. 24, 2015; vs. Monmouth College, Nov. 20, 2015; vs. UW-River Falls, Jan. 21, 2015
Rebounds: 6 vs. Bethany Lutheran, Nov. 24, 2015
Assists: 2 (2x) vs. Bethany Lutheran, Nov. 24, 2015; vs. Northwestern, Dec. 20, 2014.

Jalen Patterson - #15
Points: 17 vs. UW-Superior, Jan. 17, 2015
Rebounds: 9 vs. Bethany Lutheran, Nov. 24, 2015
Assists: 4 vs. UW-Superior, Dec. 1, 2015

Justin Thomas - #21
Points: 8 vs. Emmaus Bible, Nov. 21, 2015
Rebounds: 4 vs. Emmaus Bible, Nov. 21, 2015
Assists: 1  s. UW-Superior, Dec. 1, 2015

Brandyn Christman - #23
Points: 7 vs.Emmaus Bible, Nov. 21, 2015
Rebounds: 2 (2x)  vs. UW-Superior, Dec. 1, 2015; vs. Emmaus Bible, Nov. 21, 2015
Assists: 1 vs. Emmaus Bible, Nov. 21, 2015

Cory Speer - #23
Points: 5 vs. Ripon College, Nov. 15, 2014
Rebounds: 4 vs. UM-Crookston, Nov. 15, 2015
Assists: 5 vs. Viterbo University, Nov. 19, 2014:

Sam Ortmann - #24
Points: 10 (2x) vs. UW-Oshkosh, Jan. 31, 2015; vs. John Carroll University, Dec. 29, 2014
Rebounds: 5 (3x) vs. UW-Eau Claire, Jan. 28, 2015; vs. John Carroll University, Dec. 29, 2014; vs. Viterbo University, Nov. 19, 2014:
Assists: 6 vs. John Carroll University, Dec. 29, 2014

Luke Murphy - #32
Points: 6 vs. Emmaus Bible, Nov. 21, 2015
Rebounds: 2 vs. Emmaus Bible, Nov. 21, 2015
Assists: 1 (2x) vs. Emmaus Bible, Nov. 21, 2015; vs. UM-Crookston, Nov. 14, 2015

Hank Kujak - #33
Points: 17 vs. UW-Whitewater, Jan. 10, 2015
Rebounds: 9 vs. John Carroll University, Dec. 29, 2014
Assists: 7 vs. Wartburg College, Nov. 29, 2014

Keegan Dickson - #34
Points: 7 vs. UM-Crookston, Nov. 14, 2015
Rebounds: 6 vs. UM-Crookston, Nov. 14, 2015
Assists: 2 vs. Emmaus Bible, Nov. 21, 2015

Colton Williams - #31
Points: 10 vs. UW-Superior, Dec. 1, 2015
Rebounds: 6 (2x)  vs. UW-Superior, Dec. 1, 2015; vs. Bethany Lutheran, Nov. 24, 2015
Assists: 3 vs. Wartburg College, Nov. 29, 2014

Reggie Kujak - #35
Points: 11 vs. St. Scholastica, Dec. 30, 2014
Rebounds: 10 vs. John Carroll University, Dec. 29, 2014
Assists: 2 vs. UW-Stevens Point, Dec. 10, 2014

John Lahti - #42
Points: 13 vs. UW-River Falls, Feb. 11, 2015
Rebounds: 6 (2x) vs. Emmaus Bible, Nov. 21, 2015; vs. Cardinal Stritch, Nov. 30, 2014
Assists: 2 (2x) vs. UW-Whitewater, Feb. 21, 2015; vs. John Carroll University, Dec. 29, 2014

Mason Elsen - #44
Points: 2 vs. Emmaus Bible, Nov. 21, 2015
Rebounds: 2 vs. Emmaus Bible, Nov. 21, 2015
Assists: x

Joe Haas - #45
Points: 2 vs. Emmaus Bible, Nov. 21, 2015
Rebounds: 1 vs. Emmaus Bible, Nov. 21, 2015
Assists: x


The Last Time...(updated December 1, 2015)

A Stout Individual...
Scored 30 points: 30, John Keefe vs. Bethany Lutheran, (12/3/14)
Scored 25-29 points: 26, Jarvis Ragland vs. Northwestern, (12/20/14)
Recorded 15 rebounds: 15, Jarvis Ragland vs. Bethany Lutheran, (12/3/14)
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. Wartburg College, Nov. 29, 2014 - Jarvis Ragland (24), Isaac Elliott (11), John Keefe (10), Brett Ahsenmacher (10), John Lahti (10)
Had four players score in double digits: vs. UW-River Falls, Feb. 11, 2015 - Jalen Patterson (15), John Lahti (13), Jarvis Ragland (10), John Keefe (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: 14, 2014-15 season
Was held to 40 or fewer points in game: 40, vs. Plattsburgh State (12/30/13)

UW-Stout Individual Game Records
Most Points: 43, Chris Korba vs. UW-Oshkosh, 1991
Most Field Goals Attempted: 32, Bill Heideman vs. UW-River Falls, 1967-68
Most Field Goals Made: 17, Bill Heideman vs. UW-River Falls, 1967-68
Most 3-Point Field Goals Attempted: 14, Eric Hostetter vs.Crown College, 2010-11; Jeff Vandenberghe vs. Elmhurst, 12/13/03
Most 3-Point Field Goals Made: 9/14, Jeff Vandenberghe vs. Elmhurst, 12/13/03; 9/12, Jerrod Buchholtz vs. UW-River Falls 1/5/11
Consecutive Field Goals Made: 13, Craig Summers vs. E. Montana,1981-82
Best Field Goal Percentage: 100%, Tuwan Clayton (8/8) vs. Northwestern, 12/1/94; Jimmy Whitehead (8/8) at UW-Eau Claire, 1/25/14; Aaron Jenny (5/5) vs. Northland, 11/24/12; Josh Kosloske (5/5) at Luther College, 11/25/13; Brandon White Blackmon (5/5) vs. UW-La Crosse, 1/12/08
Most Free Throws Attempted: 22, Cal Glover vs. UW-Stevens Point, 1970-71
Most Free Throws Made: 16, Cal Glover vs. UW-Stevens Point, 1970-71; Troy Hamilton vs. Mt. Senario, 1989-90; Keith Moessner vs. UW-La Crosse, 1957-58
Consecutive Free Throws Made: 16, Cal Glover vs. UW-Superior, 1970-71
Best Free Throw Percentage: 100%, 16-16, Cal Glover vs. UW-Superior, 1970-71; 12-12, Duke Severson vs. Augsburg, 1959-60; 11-11, Nate Templer vs. La Crosse, 2/12/03; 8-8, Erik Olson vs. UW-Superior, 1/30/13
Most Rebounds: 38, Mel Coleman vs. UW-Whitewater, 1967-68
Most Assists: 14, Brian Ellingson vs. Northland, 1986-87
Most Steals: 8, Jerrel Enerson-Matthews vs. Bethany Lutheran 11/21/08
Most Blocked Shots: 9, Jacob Nonemacher vs. UW-Whitewater, 1/27/07