MBB Preview: Blue Devils off to Northwestern Wednesday

THIS WEEK'S GAMES: The Blue Devils (2-1, 0-0 WIAC) The Blue Devils (4-1, 0-0 WIAC) return to a busy week of play after a week off when they head to Bethany Lutheran College (2-3, 1-0 UMAC), Monday, Dec. 5, at 7 p.m. The Blue Devils will be at the University of Northwestern (3-2, 2-0 UMAC), Wednesday, Dec. 7, then return home to host the Universtiy of Dubuque, Saturday, Dec. 10 at 4 p.m. The Blue Devils will dedicate the court to long-time coach Dewey Mintz at halftime of the Dubuque game.

WEBCASTS: All UW-Stout home games will be available in a live video stream by Blue Devil Video.. WMEQ 880 Radio, with Pete Knutson, 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 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: John Keefe returns as the Blue Devils' leading scorer, averaging 13.4 points per game, ranking 10th in the WIAC. Thirteen times last season, Keefe scored in double digits and was the team's scoring leader in 12 games. When Keefe isn't scoring, he is dishing and his 3.4 assists per contest led the WIAC. The junior from Medford was second in the league in steals with 1.75 per outing. Isaac Elliott averaged 7.3 points. Jalen Patterson was the Blue Devils' second leading scorer, but Patterson is on an internship this semester. The Blue Devils are outrebounding their opponents, 35.4-34.2. John Lahti averaged a team-best 4.7 rebounds, ranking 12th in the WIAC and scored 6.4 points. Stout is being outscored, 72.8-.65.5. The Blue Devils have three seniors - Brett Ahsenmacher, Jacob Nordstrom and Cory Speer. The Blue Devils last conference win came on Feb. 8, 2014, a 57-52 home win over UW-Oshkosh. | Statistics

BLUE DEVILS LAST TIME OUT:  The Blue Devils are off to a 4-1 start, their best start of the season since the 2012-13 season. The Blue Devils have done that by turning around three games from last year, defeating UM-Crookston, Buena Vista University and UW-Superior, three teams they lost to last season. The Blue Devils in their last time out defeated Buena Vista, 82-74, in Storm Lake, Iowa, Nov. 27. Cory Speer came off the bench to spearhead a UW-Stout attack, scoring a career-best 31 points, in the road win. Speer scored 17 points in the first half, shattering his previous career-high of 12 points, as Stout trailed 38-37 at halftime. Speer matched his uniform number of 23 by scoring six points in the first  five minutes of the second half. | Game Story and Statistics

CAREER BESTS: The Blue Devils have tallied a number of individual team best scoring this year. John Keefe went off for 32 points against Superior and Cory Speer lit up Buena Vista for 31. Sam Ortmann scored a best 14 points against Buena Vista. Keegan Dickson scored 20 points and Jacob Nordstron 10 against the Yellowjackets. Isaac Elliot tallied 19 points against Robert Morris, 17 in the first half. John Lahti opened the season with a career-best 17 points against Crookston. The 95 team points scored by Stout was the most by a Blue Devil team since downing Bethel University 95-60, to open the 2010-11 season. 

MINTZ COURT: The basketball court in Johnson Fieldouse will be named Dewey Mintz Court in honor of 27-year Blue Devil coach Dwain Mintz. The court will be dedicated at halftime of the University of Dubuque game, December 10. Mintz coached the Blue Devil men's basketball team from 1962-1989. Nearly 30 years after he retired, Mintz is currently fourth on the WIAC all-time men's basketball coaches wins list with a record of 385-280. Mintz coached league contenders throughout his tenure at UW-Stout from 1963-89, including conference championships in 1966, 1969 and 1975. He was the NAIA District 14 Coach of the Year in 1966 and 1973, and NAIA Area IV Coach of the Year in 1969. During his 27 years at UW-Stout, Dewey Mintz Court is the fifth floor named among member schools in the WIAC. The others include: Bo Ryan Court at UW-Platteville; Ken Anderson Court at UW-Eau Claire; Dave "Augie" Vander Meulen Court at UW-Whitewater; and Bennett Court at UW-Stevens Point, named in honor of Dick and Jack Bennett.

UW-Stout	Statistic	Bethany Lutheran	Northwestern
79.2	Pts	81.6	75.0
72.4	Pts Allowed	83.6	75.0
.430	FG %	.412	.433
.452	FG % Defense	.502	.434
10.4	3 pt made	9.2	5.0
6.8	3 pt allowed	5.6	8.2
36.0	Rebounds	37.4	43.4
37.6	Rebounds Allowed	37.6	37.4
9.1	Turnovers	14.4	11.0
John Keefe 20.4	Leading Scorer	Brandyn Frelix 15.0	Will Gisler 14.8
John Keefe 5.6	Leading Rebounder	Brandon Frelix 8.6	Will Gisler 9.8

SCOUTING BETHANY LUTHERAN: The Vikings enter the 2016-17 season under new leadership in head coach Matt Fletcher. Coach Fletcher brings with him assistant coach Nick Perrin. Coach Perrin helped the University of Minnesota-Morris to a 13-14 overall record in 2015-16, winning nine of 16 in conference and winning the conference tournament play-in game as the fourth seed, as an assistant coach. Bethany Lutheran missed out on the postseason a year ago, but should be a contender with the return of 86 percent of their offensive scoring. The Vikings will rely heavily on First-Team selection Brandyn Frelix who was fourth in conference scoring a year ago with a monstrous 20.2 PPG. He also ranks in the top 10 in rebounds. Brady Rose, an All-Defensive pick in 2014-15, also returns to the Vikings lineup. Frelix averages 15.0 points per game and 8.6 rebounds, Neil Echten 12.8 points and Austin Bauer 11.0 points. The Vikings are averaging 81.6 points and give up 83.6. | Statistics

VIKINGS LAST TIME OUT:  Bethany Lutheran took a 102-98 victory over the Martin Luther, Dec. 3. Bethany guards Austin Bauer and Neil Eichten paced the Vikings offensive attack with 23 and 22 points in 29 minutes of court time. Bradley Rose and Brandyn Frelix  contributed with 14 and 13 points apiece while Brady Rose added 11. Frelix showed his presence down low, finishing with 13 rebounds.| Game Story and Statistics

LAST TIME STOUT AND BETHANY LUTHERAN MET: UW-Stout played uphill all night, but somehow managed to recover their footing and went on to down Bethany Lutheran College, 93-92 in a crazy overtime victory Nov. 24, 2015, at Johnson Fieldhouse. The visiting Vikings marauded the Blue Devils in the opening minutes of the contest, building a 12 point 14-2 lead only four minutes into the game. The Vikings kept up the pressure throughout the game. Although Stout would get as close as two points several times in the first half, the Blue Devils never led in regulation.|  Game Story and Stats



SCOUTING UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN: After winning its sixth-straight Upper Midwest Athletic Conference Tournament Championship in 2015-16, the University of Northwestern men's basketball team was selected as the preseason favorite in the UMAC Preseason Coaches' Poll.
UNW finished its conference slate with a 12-4 overall record before defeating CSS in the tournament title game in Duluth. The Eagles return three starters in Cody Sprenger, Porter Morrell and Will Gisler from a year ago. In addition, Tim Grosz – who is entering his 17th season at the helm – brings back a strong core of returners and newcomers who will compete for minutes.  Gisler is averaging 14.8 points, Morrell 14.3 and Anderson Bazile, Jr, 11.8. Sprenger, who has missed one game, is averaging 9.8 points. Gisler is averaging a team-best 9.8 rebounds and Peter Maring 7.0 rebounds.  | Statistics

EAGLES LAST TIME OUT: The Eagles took a 76-69 home win over St. Scholastica to go to 2-0 in conference play Dec. 3. Northwestern shot 52.2 percent from the field, while St. Scholastica finished the mid-day match by shooting 35.8% from the floor. The game leaders on the match were Gisler (21pts, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals), Sprenger (13pts, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal), and Caleb Hageman  (11pts, 2 rebounds, 2 steal, 1 block). | Game Story and Statistics

LAST TIME STOUT AND NORTHWESTERN MET: UW-Stout came back from a 12-point second half deficit, but came up just short, seeing a potential game tying 3-pointer fall off the rim at the final buzzer and the University of Northwestern carried a 66-63 win out of Johnson Fieldhouse Dec. 15, 2015. After trailing 57-45 with eight minutes left in the contest, Stout cut the lead and got to three points, 66-63, on Justin Thomas' layup with less than seconds remaining. John Keefe stole the inbound pass, but could not get the layup to fall. Stout did get the rebound and, following a timeout, worked the ball around to Isaac Elliott who took the 3-point shot, only to see the ball rim out.|  Game Story and Stats


AWARDS AND HONORS: John Keefe was selected WIAC Athlete of the Week, Nov. 29, after scoring 32 points against UW-Superior and 15 against Buena Vista University...John Keefe was selected as the UW-Stout/DigiCopy Athlete of the Week, Nov. 20,  after his performance over the first three games of the season.





THE COACHES: UW-Stout: Eddie Andrist (194-220 at Stout, 444-411 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. Bethany Lutheran:  Matt Fletcher is in his first year as the head men's coach at Bethany Lutheran. Fletcher comes to Bethany after spending the last three seasons at Upper Iowa (NCAA II) as the associate head coach a year ago (2015-16) and an assistant the first two seasons (2013-15). During each of Fletcher's three years with UIU, the Peacocks finished fourth in the South Division of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, winning their first playoff game. Northwestern: Tim Grosz has led the Northwestern men's basketball program since 2000. A graduate of Northwestern, Grosz was a key member of the varsity team during his collegiate career in the late 1980s. Taking leadership of the team in 2000, Grosz led the Eagles to back-to-back regular season and post-season tournament championships in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) in 2000–01 and 2001–02. He also orchestrated the program advancing to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Division II national championship tournament in each of those seasons as Northwestern lost just two conference games throughout that time span. Grosz was recognized as the UMAC Conference Coach of the Year in both campaigns. Grosz is also the Eagles' associate athletic director.

CONFERENCES: Stout is a member of the eight 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. Bethany Lutheran and Northwestern are members of the UMAC, while Dubuque is a member of the IIAC.

UP NEXT: After playing Dubuque on Saturday, Dec. 10, the Blue Devils are off until they travel to Wisconsin Dells to meet Central College and Lawrence University, Dec. 29-30.



UW-Stout 2016-17 Individual Season Highs (Updated December 6, 2016)

Points: 32, John Keefe vs. UW-Superior, Nov. 22, 2016
3-Pointers Made: 6, John Keefe, vs. Robert Morris, Nov. 19, 2016
Rebounds: 9, (3x) Cory Speer vs. Buena Vista, Nov. 27, 2016; Keegan Dickson vs. Robert Morris, Nov. 19, 2016; John Keefe, vs. Hope College, Nov. 18, 2016
 Assists: 7, John Keefe vs. Robert Morris, Nov. 19, 2016; John Keefe vs. Hope College, Nov. 18, 2016
Steals: 5, John Keefe vs. UW-Superior, Nov. 22, 2016

UW-Stout 2016-17 Team Season Highs (Updated December 6, 2016)

Points: 95 vs. UW-Superior, Nov. 22, 2016
Field Goals Made: 40 vs. UW-Superior, Nov. 22, 2016
Field Goal Percentage: .517 vs. Robert Morris, Nov. 19, 2016
3-Pointers Made: 15 vs. Robert Morris, Nov. 19, 2016
Free Throws Made: 19 vs. Buena Vista, Nov. 27, 2016
Free Throw Percentage: .867 vs. UM-Crookston, Nov. 15, 2016
Rebounds: 47 vs. UW-Superior, Nov. 22, 2016
Assists: 21 vs. Robert Morris, Nov. 19, 2016
Turnovers: 16 vs. Robert Morris, Nov. 19, 2016
Blocked Shots: 8 vs. Hope College, Nov. 18, 2016
Steals: 11 vs. UW-Superior, Nov. 22, 2016
Double-Doubles: x


UW-Stout Career Bests (updated December 6, 2016)

John Keefe - #0
Points: 32 vs. UW-Superior, Nov. 22, 2016
Rebounds: 9 vs. Hope College, Nov. 18, 2016
Assists: 9 vs. Dubuque, Dec. 8, 2015

Solon Ellis - #1
Points: 2 vs. UW-Whitewater, Jan. 6, 2016
Rebounds: 1 (3x) vs. UM-Crookston, Nov. 15, 2016; vs. UW-Whitewater, Jan. 6, 2016; vs. Emmaus Bible, Nov. 21, 2015
Assists: 4 vs. Pacific Lutheran, Dec. 29, 2015

Keegan Dickson - #2
Points: 20 vs. UW-Superior, Nov. 22, 2016
Rebounds: 9 vs. Robert Morris, Nov. 19, 2016
Assists: 3 vs. Robert Morris, Nov. 19, 2016

Jacob Nordstrom - #3
Points: 10 (2x) vs. Bethany Lutheran, Dec. 5, 2016; vs. UW-Superior, Nov. 22, 2016
Rebounds: 7 (2x) vs. UW-Superior, Nov. 22, 2016; vs. Emmaus Bible, Nov. 21, 2015
Assists: 2 vs. UW-Platteville, Jan. 16, 2016

Ringo Dau - #4
Points: 4 vs. Hope College, Nov. 18, 2016
Rebounds: 3 vs. Hope College, Nov. 18, 2016
Assists: 1 vs. Hope College, Nov. 18, 2016

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:7 vs. Bethany Lutheran, Dec. 5, 2016
Assists: 4 vs. UW-Whitewater, Feb. 21, 2015

Isaac Elliott - #14
Points: 19 vs. Robert Morris, Nov. 19, 2016
Rebounds: 6 (2x) vs. UW-Eau Claire, Jan. 30, 2016; vs. Bethany Lutheran, Nov. 24, 2015
Assists: 2 (4x) vs. UM-Crookston, Nov. 15, 2016; vs. University of Northwestern, Dec. 15, 2015; vs. Bethany Lutheran, Nov. 24, 2015; vs. Northwestern, Dec. 20, 2014.

Peyton Fulkerson - #20
Points: x
Rebounds: x
Assists: x

Cory Speer - #23
Points: 31 vs. Buena Vista, Nov. 27, 2016
Rebounds: 9 (2x) vs. Buena Vista, Nov. 27, 2016; vs. Skidmore, Dec. 30, 2015
Assists: 5 vs. Viterbo University, Nov. 19, 2014:

Sam Ortmann - #24
Points: 16 vs. Bethany Lutheran, Dec. 5, 2016
Rebounds: 8 vs. Robert Morris, Nov. 19, 2016
Assists: 6 vs. John Carroll University, Dec. 29, 2014

John Lahti - #25
Points: 17 vs. UM-Crookston, Nov. 15, 2016
Rebounds: 11 vs. University of Northwestern, Dec. 15, 2015
Assists: 3 (2x) vs. Robert Morris, Nov. 19, 2016; vs. Bethany Lutheran, Dec. 5, 2015

Braden Walbeck - #30
Points: 9 vs. Bethany Lutheran, Dec. 5, 2016
Rebounds: 2 vs. Robert Morris, Nov. 19, 2016
Assists: 1 (2x) vs.Bethany Lutheran, Dec. 5,2016; vs. Hope College, Nov. 18, 2016

Adam Mackey - #32
Points: 2 vs. UW-Superior, Nov. 22, 2016
Rebounds: x
Assists: x

Bradlee Mills - #33
Points: x
Rebounds: x
Assists: x

Tanner Schmitt - #40
Points: x
Rebounds: x
Assists: x

Brandyn Christman - #42
Points: 13 vs. UW-Platteville, Jan. 16, 2016
Rebounds: 7 vs. UW-La Crosse, Jan. 20, 2016
Assists: 1 vs. Emmaus Bible, Nov. 21, 2015

Brian Sandifer - #44
Points: x
Rebounds: 2 vs. Monmouth College, Nov. 20, 2015
Assists: x

Joe Haas - #45
Points: 2 (2x) vs. Pacific Lutheran, Dec. 29, 2015; vs. Emmaus Bible, Nov. 21, 2015
Rebounds: 1 (2x) vs. UW-Whitewater, Jan. 6, 2016; vs. Emmaus Bible, Nov. 21, 2015
Assists: x


The Last Time...(updated December 6, 2016)

A Stout Individual...
Scored 30 points: 31, Cory Speer vs. Buena Vista (11/27/16)
Scored 25-29 points: 26, John Keefe vs. UW-Superior (12/1/15)
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. Bethany Lutheran, Dec. 5, 2016: Sam Ortmann (16); John Keefe (13); Keegan Dickson (12); Jacob Nordstrom (10); Cory Speer (10); vs. UW-Superior, Nov. 22, 2016: John Keefe (32); Keegan Dickson (20); Cory Speer (12); John Lahti (11); Jacob Nordstrom (10).   vs. Robert Morris, Nov. 19, 2016: John Keefe (24); Isaac Elliott (19); Keegan Dickson (16); Sam Ortmann (10); John Lahti (10).
Had four players score in double digits: vs. Buena Vista, Nov. 27, 2016, Cory Speer (31); John Keefe (15); Sam Ortmann (14); John Lahti (11).
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, 2015-16 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