MBB Preview: Young Blue Devils to travel to Stevens Point Saturday

THIS WEEK'S GAMES: The Blue Devils (3-19, 0-13 WIAC) will travel to UW-Stevens Point (19-4, 13-1 WIAC), Saturday, Feb. 14 for a 7 p.m. contest. The 12th ranked Pointers are coming off a 72-69 win over top-ranked UW-Whitewater to move into first place in the WIAC.

WEBCASTS: All UW-Stout home games will be available in a live video stream by Blue Devil Video, with Sam Ripp on the call. WMEQ 880 Radio, with Pete Knutson, Jimmie Kaska, Jay Fahl or Jake Bostrom, will broadcast and provide a live audio stream of away conference games and a select number of home games. Stout will provide Live Stats for all home games. Check the Blue Devil Webcast page or on 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.

A LOOK AT THE BLUE DEVILS : Jarvis Ragland, UW-Stout's only senior, leads both the Blue Devils and the WIAC in scoring and is second in the league in rebounding.  Ragland is averaging 17.9 points per contest and 6.9 rebounds per outing. Ragland is shooting at a 49.2 percent mark (125-254). Ragland has scored in double figures in all but one game he has played this season, with a career-high of 26 points against Northwestern, Dec. 20, and a season-low of six points, that coming against UW-Platteville Jan. 24.  Ragland has been the team's leading scorer in 14 games this season, and has been the team's leading rebounder 11 times. Ragland 10 times this season has scored 20 points or more and four times has pulled down 10 or more rebounds, giving him the team's only double-doubles of the season, and his only career double-doubles. Ragland ranks first in scoring in the WIAC, second in rebounding, 12th in field goal percentage, and 11th in minutes played (31.2) . Ragland has had the team's only double-doubles of the season, tossing in 25 points and pulling down 15 rebounds against Bethany Lutheran, 18 points and 10 rebounds against UW-Whitewater, 21 points and 11 rebounds against UW-Oshkosh the first time around and 21 points and 10 rebounds against the Titans in the second meeting. .Ragland also has 30 assists, third on the team.

Team captain Brett Ahsenmacher scored a career-best 22 points against John Carroll University and is currently averaging 9.3 points. Ahsenmacher is second on the team in assists with 32, and leads the team in steals with 20...Freshman Jalen Patterson has been increasing his team input and is now averaging 7.3 points per contest. Patterson's 13 blocked shots over 18 games (0.72/game) ranks third in the WIAC...Freshman John Keefe, who had a 30 point outburst - a team season-high - in early December, is averaging 6.9 points and leads the team in assists with 35...John Lahti is averaging 6.3 points over 19 minutes.

Freshman guard Sam Ortmann has dished off 29 assists. Ortmann, Lahti and Isaac Elliott - all three freshmen - are the only Blue Devils to have played in all 22 games this season. Stout has had 11 players start at least one game this season. Stout's team scoring average of 67.7 points is fourth best in the league, but their points allowed, 76.6, is ranked ninth. Stout has lost seven conference games by seven points or less.

KUJAKS OUT: It appears as if the Kujak brothers have been lost for the season. Reggie Kujak went down with a wrist injury against UW-Eau Claire and Hank Kujak went down with a leg injury against UW-Oshkosh. Hank set a career-best in points scored, tallying 17 against UW-Whitewater, Jan. 10 and finished the season with 26 assists in 13 games. Reggie had been coming along as a force in the paint, averaging 4.7 rebounds per game and had 14 blocked shots, which if he had played in the 75 percent minimum of games required to be listed in the WIAC stats list would rank him third.

STOUT'S LAST TIME OUT:  The Blue Devils are still looking for that elusive first conference win after dropping a 64-62 decision to UW-La Crosse, Feb. 4. Team captain Brett Ahsenmacher did what he could to give the Blue Devils a chance to win the game. Ahsenmacher hit a 3-pointer with 3:39 remaining to pull Stout to within 57-54. In the following minutes, Ahsenmacher made a couple of dynamic steals. Ahsenmacher grabbed the inbound pass and threw it off the body of an Eagle. Second later, Ahsenmacher went to ground to make a steal and Stout scored off both turnovers to eventually tie the game at 62-62. But the Eagles forced a turnover and layed the ball in with 2.6 seconds remaining. Stout could only get off a halfcourt desperation shot.


SCOUTING UW-STEVENS POINT:   The Pointers post the league's stingiest defense, allowing 56.1 points and have been even tougher in league-games only, allowing 53.0 points. The Pointers also lead the league in turnover margin with a plus-4.17. Alex Richard leads the team in scoring with 12.8 points, followed by Stephen Pelkofer (11.7), Joe Ritchay (11.6) Austin Ryf (10.7) and Jordan Lutz (10.5). Richard is second in the league in field goal percentage (.596, 115-193). Ritchay is fourth in the league in steals (1.78). The Pointers rebound by committee, with no one averaging more than 4.7 caroms per contest. The Pointers were ranked 12th in the Feb. 9 D3hoops.com Top 25 poll.

THE POINTERS LAST TIME OUT:  Joe Ritchay hit two clutch three-pointers in the final 2:05 as the No. 12 UW-Stevens Point men's basketball team bested No. 1 UW-Whitewater 72-69 on Wednesday night at Bennett Court at Quandt Fieldhouse. The win is the second time UW-Stevens Point  has defeated a No. 1-ranked team, joining the team's victory over Williams in the 2003-04 national championship game. The loss is the first conference setback for UW-Whitewater  this season and snaps UWW's 13-game winning streak. The Pointers have now won nine of the last 11 meetings since the start of the 2010-11 season.

LAST TIME STOUT AND STEVENS POINT MET:   Twenty-first ranked UW-Stevens Point came out shooting from all over the floor in Wednesday's 73-56 UW-Stout loss. The Pointers shot 52.6 percent from three point range and 57.7 percent overall from the floor, while Stout shot 38.5 percent from three point range and 46.5 percent overall. Jarvis Ragland led the Blue Devils with 17 points.


CLIMBING THE LADDER: Jarvis Ragland has been climbing the UW-Stout career scoring list throughout the season. He currently has 871 career points and is 36th on the all-time career list, recently passing Jim Bolm (1954-58, 869 pts). Bolm would have been the all-time leading scorer when he graduated, but he was soon passed by teammates Keith Moessner (1956-59, 886 pts) and Bob Sorenson (1955-59, 1034 pts).  Ragland currently has 358 points this season, moving onto the single season list and recently moved into the top 45 of the all-time UW-Stout leading rebounders. Ragland currently has 322 career rebounds.

AWARDS AND HONORS: 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 2014-15 season is Brett Ahsenmacher.

THE COACHES: UW-Stout: Eddie Andrist (186-196 at Stout, 436-387 overall) is in his 15th 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-River Falls:  Jeff Berkhof (104-125) reached 100 career wins this season and is in his ninth season as the Falcons' head coach.   UW-Stevens Point: Bob Semling (234-53) is in his 10th year as the head coach of the Pointers.

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. Superior will leave the conference after the 2014-15 season.

UP NEXT: The Blue Devils will close out the season by traveling to UW-Superior, Wednesday, Feb. 18, then coming home for the final game of the season when they host UW-Whitewater, Saturday, Feb. 21 at 5 p.m. for Senior Day.

UW-Stout 2014-15 Individual Season Highs (Updated February 12, 2015)

Points: 30, John Keefe vs. Bethany Lutheran, Dec. 3, 2014
3-Pointers Made: 5, John Keefe vs. Bethany Lutheran, Dec. 3, 2014
Rebounds: 15, Jarvis Ragland vs. Bethany Lutheran, Dec. 3, 2014
Assists: 7, Hank Kujak vs. Wartburg College, Nov. 29, 2014
Steals: 3, (8x) Jalen Patterson vs. St. Scholastica, Dec. 30, 2014; John Lahti vs. John Carroll, Dec. 29, 2014; John Keefe vs. UW-Stevens Point, Dec. 10, 2014; Hank Kujak vs. UW-La Crosse, Dec. 6, 2014; Hank Kujak vs. Bethany Lutheran, Dec. 3, 2014; John Keefe vs. Viterbo University, Nov. 19, 2014; Brett Ahsenmacher vs. Ripon College, Nov. 15, 2014; D'Marcco Patrick vs. Coe College, Nov. 16, 2014

UW-Stout 2014-15 Team Season Highs (Updated February 12, 2015)

Points: 90 vs. Bethany Lutheran, Dec. 3, 2014
Field Goals Made: 35 vs. Bethany Lutheran, Dec. 3, 2014
Field Goal Percentage: .547 (35-64) vs. Bethany Lutheran, Dec. 3, 2014
3-Pointers Made: 12 vs. Ripon College, Nov. 15, 2014
Free Throws Made: 28 vs. Coe College, Nov. 16, 2014
Free Throw Percentage: .800 (16-20) vs. Cardinal Stritch, Nov. 30, 2014
Rebounds: 46 vs. John Carroll University, Dec. 29, 2014
Assists: 16 (2x) vs. Bethany Lutheran, Dec. 3, 2014; vs. Wartburg College, Nov. 29, 2014
Steals: 11 vs. Coe College, Nov. 16, 2014


UW-Stout Career Bests (updated February 12, 2015)

Jarvis Ragland - #3
Points: 26 vs. Northwestern, Dec. 20, 2014
Rebounds: 15 vs. Bethany Lutheran, Dec. 3, 2014
Assists: 4 vs. Ripon College, Nov. 15, 2014

John Keefe - #4
Points: 30 vs. Bethany Lutheran, Dec. 3, 2014
Rebounds: 6 vs. John Carroll University, Dec. 29, 2014
Assists: 5 vs. St. Scholastica, Dec. 30, 2014

Mac Oreskovic - #5
Points: 6 (2x) vs. UW-Eau Claire, Jan. 7, 2015; vs. John Carroll University, Dec. 29, 2014
Rebounds: 2 (3x) vs. UW-Platteville, Jan. 3, 2015; vs. Cardinal Stritch, Nov. 30, 2014; vs. Viterbo University, Nov. 19, 2014:
Assists: 2 vs. UW-River Falls, Jan. 21, 2015

D'Marcco Patrick - #10
Points: 15 vs. Coe College, Nov. 16, 2014
Rebounds: 4 (2x) vs. UW-Eau Claire, Jan. 28, 2015; vs. UW-Oshkosh, Jan. 14, 2015
Assists: 4 vs. UW-La Crosse, Febr. 4, 2015

Zac Doll - #11
Points: 3 vs. Cardinal Stritch, Nov. 30, 2014
Rebounds: 3 vs. Cardinal Stritch, Nov. 30, 2014
Assists: 1 vs. Cardinal Stritch, Nov. 30, 2014

Sam Ortmann - #12
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

Brett Ahsenmacher - #13
Points: 22 vs. John Carroll University, Dec. 29, 2014
Rebounds: 5 vs. UW-Eau Claire, Jan. 7, 2015
Assists: 3 (5x) vs. UW-River Falls, Jan. 21, 2015; vs. UW-Oshkosh, Jan. 14, 2015; vs. UW-Eau Claire, Jan. 7, 2015; vs. St. Scholastica, Dec. 30, 2014; vs. Bethany Lutheran, Dec. 3, 2014

Isaac Elliott - #14
Points: 14 vs. UW-River Falls, Jan. 21, 2015
Rebounds: 5 vs. UW-Platteville, Jan. 24, 2015
Assists: 2 vs. Northwestern, Dec. 20, 2014.

Jalen Patterson - #15
Points: 17 vs. UW-Superior, Jan. 17, 2015
Rebounds: 6 vs. UW-La Crosse, Feb. 4, 2015
Assists: 3 (2x) vs. UW-Eau Claire, Jan. 28, 2015; vs. Ripon College, Nov. 15, 2014

Cory Speer - #23
Points: 5 vs. Ripon College, Nov. 15, 2014
Rebounds: 3 vs. Ripon College, Nov. 15, 2014
Assists: 5 vs. Viterbo University, Nov. 19, 2014:

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

Reggie Kujak - #32
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 vs. Cardinal Stritch, Nov. 30, 2014
Assists: 2 vs. John Carroll University, Dec. 29, 2014


The Last Time...(updated February 11, 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: 11, 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