MBB Preview: Blue Devils host UW-La Crosse Saturday

Home Games: Live Stats | Live Video | Live Audio     at UW-Stevens Point: Live Stats | Live Video | Live Audio

THIS WEEK'S GAMES:The Blue Devils (11-3, 2-1 WIAC) will be at UW-Stevens Point (7-5, 1-1 WIAC), Wednesday, Jan. 11 at 7 p.m. (on what will be the 110th anniversary of the first known Stout men's basketball game), then return home to host UW-La Crosse (9-4, 1-1 WIAC), Saturday, Jan. 14 at 3 p.m. The Blue Devils are riding a seven game winning streak.

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.

EDDIE ANDRIST INTERVIEWS: Throughout the season, Pete Knutson of Sports Radio 1400 AM will speak with head men's basketball coach Eddie Andrist about the season. Listed are each of the interviews throughout the season. This week's interview | Listen to Interviews

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

• The Blue Devils are off to an 11-2 start, almost tripling last year's wins total, averaging 76.2 points per game. Stout has scored 80 points or more in seven games so far this year. Stout is off to their best start since starting the 2012-13 season off at 11-2.
• The Blue Devils received two votes in the latest D3hoops.com Top 25 poll, the first time Stout was in the poll since Dec. 15, 2013, when they received 50 votes. The previous week, Dec. 8, 2013, Stout was ranked 19th.
• John Keefe appears in the top ten of six WIAC categories - 2nd, scoring 17.8; 1st, assists, 5.08; 8th, free throw percentage, .827; 2nd, steals, 25; 2nd, assist/turnover ratio, 3.14; 1st, minutes played, 34.38.
• John Keefe leads Stout with 17.8 points, followed by fellow guard Cory Speer with 11.0 and Sam Ortman 8.4
• Keefe leads the team in rebounds with 6.3.
• Cory Speer has been coming off the bench to average an even 10.0 points per game, scoring 17 in the first half against Platteville, 21 points overall.
• Sam Ortmann is having his best collegiate season, averaging 8.4 points and is the team's second leading rebounder with 4.8 caroms.
• The Blue Devils have one of the most balanced scoring attacks in the WIAC. The Blue Devils have six players scoring 7.0 points or better. Only UW-Whitewater has more players, weighing in with seven players topping 7.0 points.
• Senior center Jacob Nordstrom is averaging 4.6 rebounds and leads the team with 10 blocked shots.
• John Lahti leads the team in field goal percentage with .549, scoring a career high 20 points and shooting 8-of-9 from the field against Oshkosh.
• Against Dubuque, Keefe recorded Stout's first double-double of the season, rolling the net for 15 points and pulling down 11 rebounds. Keefe finished with eight assists to tease with a triple-double.
• Statistics

BLUE DEVILS LAST TIME OUT

• UW-Stout had four players in double figures, led by John Lahti's career-best 20 points, as the Blue Devils extended their winning streak to seven by downing UW-Oshkosh, 74-67, Saturday Kolf Sports Center.
• Lahti was 8-for-9 from field goal range and was perfect at the free throw line on all four attempts. John Keefe tossed in 18 points, Cory Speer 17, and Jacob Nordstrom 10, including the final two free throws with 10 seconds remaining to put the game out of reach.
• The Blue Devils were perfect from the line, hitting all 15 of their free throw attempts, matching a feat of perfection that has happened only four times before, twice against UW-Oshkosh. Stout was 11-11 against the Titans in 2005 and 10-10 in 2003. Stout was 16-16 against UW-La Crosse in 2003 and 13-13 against UW-Superior in 2004.
• Oshkosh Game Story and Statistics
• Stout held off UW-Platteville to get their first conference win of the season. The win snapped a 34-game WIAC losing streak for the Blue Devils, which began in the 2013-14 season.
• Senior Corey Speer led the Blue Devils with 21 points, 17 in the first half, shooting 5-of-6 from three point range. As a team, Stout shot 54 percent from the arc.
• The win was coach Eddie Andrist's 200th career win at UW-Stout. This is Andrist's 17th season at Stout.  Andrist is currently 451-412 overall for his collegiate career.
• Platteville 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
• Cory Speer lit up Buena Vista for 31.
• Sam Ortmann scored a best 14 points against Buena Vista, then topped that with a 16 points effort against Bethany Lutheran.
• Keegan Dickson scored 20 points and Jacob Nordstrom has matched a career high by scoring 10 three times this season.
• 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 UM-Crookston.
• Sophomore transfer Braden Walbeck ran his career-best up the ladder throughout the season and scored 17 against Dubuque.
• The 95 team points scored by Stout against UW-Superior was the most by a Blue Devil team since downing Bethel University 95-60, to open the 2010-11 season.
•  the Blue Devils are ranked fourth in the WIAC in scoring. Stout is fourth in assists (13.69) and third in steals (7.00). Stout has a conference-best  turnover margin of plus-3.38, and leads the league in assists/turnover ration (1.42).
• Stout is outscoring their opponents, 74.1-70.9

UW-Stout	Statistic	UW-Stevens Point	UW-La Crosse	-
76.2	Pts	71.8	73.7	-
70.2	Pts Allowed	65.2	65.1	-
.438	FG %	.448	.457	.-
.442	FG % Defense	.451	.432	.-
9.8	3 pt made	8.4	6.2	-
7.7	3 pt allowed	6.1	6.0	-
36.7	Rebounds	32.7	36.2	-
35.1	Rebounds Allowed	30.5	32.1	-
9.6	Turnovers	11.1	10.3	-
John Keefe 17.8	Leading Scorer	Ethan Bublitz 15.9	Ben Meinholz 15.2	-
John Keefe 6.3	Leading Rebounder	Ethan Bublitz 5.4	Zach Schradel 8.7	-

SCOUTING UW-STEVENS POINT

• Stevens Point is sitting at 7-5 overall, 1-1 in the WIAC having good wins over Hope College and UW-La Crosse.
• They have a four-game winning streak on the season.
• The Pointers have played one less game in their non-conference schedule, having only 12 games so far.
• Ethan Bublitz is second in the WIAC in minutes/game with 31.33.
• Statistics

POINTERS LAST TIME OUT

• Stevens Point shot 51 percent from the field and held a double-digit lead most of the game in a 76-58 win at UW-La Crosse  on Saturday.  The Pointers had five players in double figures and never trailed in the game.
• Sophomore Ethan Bublitz and junior MJ Delmore each contributed a team-high 17 points. Seniors Bryce Williams  and Aaron Retzlaff added 13 and 10 points each with sophomore Drew Fredrickson also in double figures with 11 points.  Williams hauled in seven boards; Bublitz and Retzlaff had six rebounds each.
• Game Story and Statistics

LAST YEAR WHEN STOUT AND STEVENS POINT MET

• The Pointers won both games last season, taking the first game in January, 68-51, in Stevens Point and the second game, 65-61, in Menomonie in February.
• Game One Story and Stats
• Game Two Story and Stats
• Stevens Point holds a 109-70 lead in the series.
• The teams will meet again Feb. 11 during the Blue Devils' Alumni Day.

SCOUTING UW-LA CROSSE 

• The Eagles have key wins against Coe College and UW-Whitewater on the season. They beat Whitewater on the road in the WIAC opener, 82-68.
• La Crosse ranks third in the WIAC in rebounding margin, +4.2/game.
• As a team, the Eagles produced 8.77 steals/game, 1.15 more than any other team in the WIAC.
• The team ranks second in assist/turnover ratio with 1.32 in the WIAC, just behind Stout.
• La Crosse ranks second in game attendance, averaging 545 per game.
• Statistics

THE EAGLES LAST TIME OUT

• La Crosse dropped its Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) home opener with a 76-58 loss to UW-Stevens Point Saturday night in Mitchell Hall.  The Eagles fall to 9-4 overall and 1-1 in the WIAC while the Pointers improve to 7-5 overall and 1-1 in the conference.  UW-Stevens Point earned its 11th win in the last 13 meetings with UWL.
• The Eagles defeated UW-Whitewater last Wednesday
• Game Story and Statistics

LAST YEAR WHEN STOUT AND LA CROSSE MET

• The Eagles won both contests last season, winning the first 63-57 in January in Menomonie and the second, 74-67, in February in La Crosse.
• Game One Story and Statistics
• Game Two Story and Statistics
• La Crosse  holds a 115-71 lead in the series.
• The teams are scheduled to meet again Feb. 15 in La Crosse.

AWARDS AND HONORS: Cory Speer was selected as the WIAC Athlete of the Week and the UW-Stout/DigiCopy Athlete of the Week, Jan. 10,  after coming off the bench against UW-Platteville and UW-Oshkosh...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....

BLUE DEVIL HISTORY: UW-Stout, then Stout Institute, played their first game Jan. 11, 1907, hosting the University of Wisconsin at the Armory in Menomonie. The Badgers handed the Trainers a 29-19 loss.




UW-STOUT COACH EDDIE ANDRIST

• Eddie Andrist (201-222 at Stout, 451-412 overall) is in his 17th year as the coach of the Blue Devils, and his 28th 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 as a UW-Stout assistant, first as a student coach in the 1970s, then again during the 1980s.
• Andrist spent two stints coaching international basketball, working with the country of Qatar.

UW-STEVENS POINT INTERIM COACH KENT DERNBACH

• Kent Dernbach  is in his sixth season as the Pointers top assistant coach, and is taking over as interim coach for the season.
• Before coming to UWSP. Dernbach was the director of basketball operations at Northern Illinois University for three years and spent the two previous seasons at George Mason University.
• During Dernbach's time at George Mason, the Colonials posted back-to-back 20-win seasons, captured the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Championship and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. GMU's 2009 recruiting class was tabbed the No. 1 ranked non-BCS class in the nation, and its existing players helped build an APR score that was rated among the top 10 percent in the NCAA Division I ranks.

UW-LA CROSSE COACH KEN KOELBL

• Ken Koelbl is in his 14th season as head men's basketball coach at UW-La Crosse in 2016-17.  He has led the Eagles to eight overall winning seasons in the last 11 years. 
• Koelbl was named the 2015-16 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Coach of the Year after leading UWL to its 12th regular-season conference title in school history and first since 1965.  The Eagles finished 16-10 overall and 10-4 in the WIAC in 2015-16, advancing to the WIAC Tournament Semifinals for the fifth time (2006, 2007, 2012, 2014, 2016) under Koelbl.

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. Oshkosh was picked to win the league, followed by La Crosse, Whitewater, Eau Claire, River Falls, Stevens Point, Platteville and Stout.


DEWEY MINTZ COURT: The basketball court in Johnson Fieldhouse was named Dewey Mintz Court, Dec. 10, in honor of 27-year Blue Devil coach Dwain Mintz, who 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.

UP NEXT: The Blue Devils will be at UW-Eau Claire, Wednesday, Jan. 18 at 7 p.m., then return home to host UW-Whitewater, Saturday, Jan. 21 at 3 p.m.



UW-Stout 2016-17 Individual Season Highs (Updated January 12, 2017)

Points: 32, John Keefe vs. UW-Superior, Nov. 22, 2016
3-Pointers Made: 6, John Keefe, vs. Robert Morris, Nov. 19, 2016
Rebounds:15, John Keefe vs. Silver Lake College, Jan. 3, 2017
Assists: 8, John Keefe vs. University of Dubuque, Dec. 10, 2016
Steals: 5, John Keefe vs. UW-Superior, Nov. 22, 2016

UW-Stout 2016-17 Team Season Highs (Updated January 12, 2017)

Points: 95 vs. UW-Superior, Nov. 22, 2016
Field Goals Made: 40 vs. UW-Superior, Nov. 22, 2016
Field Goal Percentage: .537 vs. UW-Platteville, Jan. 4, 2017
3-Pointers Made: 15 vs. Robert Morris, Nov. 19, 2016
Free Throws Made: 19 vs. Buena Vista, Nov. 27, 2016
Free Throw Percentage: 1.000 (15-15) vs. UW-Oshkosh, Jan. 7, 2017
Rebounds: 51 vs. Silver Lake College, Jan. 3, 2017
Assists: 21 (2x) vs. UW-Platteville, Jan. 4, 2017; 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:  24 pts, 15 rbs, John Keefe vs. Silver Lake College, Jan. 3, 2017; 15 pts, 11 rbs, John Keefe vs. University of Dubuque, Dec. 10, 2016


UW-Stout Career Bests (updated January 12, 2017)

John Keefe - #0
Points: 32 vs. UW-Superior, Nov. 22, 2016
Rebounds: 15 vs. Silver Lake College, Jan. 3, 2017
Assists: 9 vs. Dubuque, Dec. 8, 2015

Solon Ellis - #1
Points: 2 vs. UW-Whitewater, Jan. 6, 2016
Rebounds: 1 (4x) vs. Silver Lake College, Jan. 3, 2017; 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 (2x) vs. University of Dubuque, Dec. 10, 2016; vs. Robert Morris, Nov. 19, 2016
Assists: 3 vs. Robert Morris, Nov. 19, 2016

Jacob Nordstrom - #3
Points: 10 (4x) vs. UW-Oshkosh, Jan. 7, 2017; vs. Northwestern, Dec. 7, 2016; vs. Bethany Lutheran, Dec. 5, 2016; vs. UW-Superior, Nov. 22, 2016
Rebounds: 9 vs. Central College, Dec. 29, 2016
Assists: 3 vs. UW-Platteville, Jan. 4, 2017

Ringo Dau - #4
Points: 4 (2x) vs. vs. Silver Lake College, Jan. 3, 2017;  vs. Hope College, Nov. 18, 2016
Rebounds: 3 vs. Hope College, Nov. 18, 2016
Assists: 1 vs. Hope College, Nov. 18, 2016

Brandyn Christman - #10
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

Zach Dahl - #12
Points: 2 vs. Silver Lake College, Jan. 3, 2017;
Rebounds: 2 vs. Monmouth College, Nov. 20, 2015
Assists: x

Brett Ahsenmacher - #13
Points: 22 vs. John Carroll University, Dec. 29, 2014
Rebounds: 8 vs. Northwestern, Dec. 7, 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: 1 vs. Silver Lake College, Jan. 3, 2017;
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 (2x)  vs. UW-Platteville, Jan. 4, 2017;  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: 20 vs. UW-Oshkosh, Jan. 7, 2017
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: 17 vs. University of Dubuque, Dec. 10, 2016
Rebounds: 6 vs. Lawrence University, Dec. 30, 2016
Assists: 2 vs. UW-Platteville, Jan. 4, 2017

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

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 January 12, 2017)

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, John Keefe vs. Silver Lake College (1/3/17); 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. UW-Oshkosh, Jan. 7, 2017. John Lahti (20), John Keefe (18), Cory Speer (17), Jacob Nordstrom (10); 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