Men's Basketball Preview: Stout begins second loop of league play at Platteville

THIS WEEK'S GAMES: The Blue Devils (6-12, 0-6 WIAC) return home to host 20th ranked UW-Stevens Point (11-5, 3-3 WAIC), Wednesday, Jan. 23 at 7 p.m., the begin the second round of conference play, Saturday, Jan. 26 at UW-Platteville (11-3, 4-3 WIAC) at 7 p.m.  


JIM LAKE INTERVIEWS: Throughout the season, Pete Knutson of iHeartRadio's Newstalk WMEQ AM 880 and 106.3FM will speak with men's basketball head coach Jim Lake. You can find all of the broadcasts and interviews on iHeartRADIO. 

BLUE DEVIL WEBCASTS: All UW-Stout home games will be available in a live video stream by Blue Devil Video.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.

ON THE AIR: iHeartRadio's Newstalk WMEQ AM 880 and 106.3 FM will provide broadcast coverage for the season with Pete Knutson and Jake Bostrom providing commentary during the games. Game streams are available on wmeq.com or through the iHeartRadio App.

PARKING: Parking on the UW-Stout campus is restricted during the business week. For games in Johnson Fieldhouse during the week, please plan to park in Lot 29. Do not park in Lot 4, which is a reserved lot for students that live in the residence halls.

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.


THE BLUE DEVILS IN 2018-19

• The Blue Devils are averaging 76.9 points per game and giving up 80.2. Stout last year finished the season averaging 69.6 points and gave up 74.9. Three times this season, Stout has scored 90 points or more three times and seven times have scored 80 points or more. The team's highest offensive output so far this year was 96 points in a win over Silver Lake College. Their lowest output was 69 points in a win over Finlandia University in December.  As a team, the Blue Devils are third in the WIAC scoring offense, but eighth in scoring defense. 
• Stout is second in the WIAC in steals. The Blue Devils average 7.9 steals per contest. Kyle Williams is fifth in the league in steals (1.46) and John Keefe is 15th (1.08). 
• After missing all except two minutes of last season due to injury, John Keefe eased into the first games of the season, but now has been out the last three games. Keefe scored 12 and 7 points, respectively in the first two games, but has scored in double digits in nine of 10 games played. Keefe is no longer appearing in the WIAC statistics because he has not played in 75 percent of the Blue Devils' 18 games. Keefe has played in 13. Keefe is currently leading the WIAC in scoring with 21.3 points and is ranked 28th nationally. Keefe has scored in double digits in 11 of the 12 games he has played. Three times he has scored 30 points or more and seven times more than 20 points. Keefe is third in the WIAC in 3-pointers made with 3.2 per outing. Keefe hit a career-best 33 points in an overtime loss to McMurry University. Keefe currently has 1137 career points, and is 13th on the UW-Stout all-time scoring list, just passing Mel Coleman (1130). Keefe currently has 171 3-pointers made, and is fifth on the all-time list - 1. Eric Hostetter (219); 2. Jerrel Enerson-Matthews (187); 3. Jeremy Leibfried (186); 4. Jerrod Buchholtz (182). An injury in the UW-Whitewater game Jan. 9 kept Keefe out of the last three games. Keefe has played in 76 percent of games this year, missing a game in December in addition to the last three games.
• Zach Dahl overcame a cold start to the season from the floor. and has steadily increased his scoring totals and is now averaging 7.8 points per game and is among the team leaders in rebounds, averaging 3.9 per game. On the free throw line, Dahl has been steady, hitting 31 of 38 attempts (.816). Dahl is 21 of 52 from 3-point range, and his percentage (.404) is 11th in the league. 
• Sophomore captain Jon Ciriacks played the first two games of the season, then missed the next five games before returning against Crown College, Dec. 7. Now, Ciriacks is averaging 14.5 points and 7.2 rebounds. During his freshman season, Ciriacks averaged 4.2 points and 2.2 rebounds. Ciriacks is the team's second-leading scorer and top rebounder. Out of 13 games played, Ciriacks has scored in double figures 10 times, twice scoring 20 or more points. Ciriacks pulled down a career-best 13 rebounds in the season-opener against Lawrence, giving him is first career double-double. Players must have seen time in 75 percent of all games to appear in the WIAC statistics categories and Ciriacks has played in 72.2 percent of the games.  
• Sophomore Luke Geiger has started the last four games for UW-Stout and has been the team's leading scorer in all four of those games. During the last week, in a two-point loss at UW-River Falls, Jan. 16, Geiger scored 20 points, one point short of his career-best, then scored a team-best 15 points in a loss at UW-Eau Claire, Jan. 19. Geiger matched his career-best with 21 points against UW-Stevens Point. After scoring 11 total points all of last season, Geiger is averaging 12.6 points per game and is ranked 17th in the WIAC. Geiger exceeded his entire freshman season scoring totals during the Blue Devils' season-opening overtime win over Lawrence.  Geiger 11 times this season has scored in double digits, scoring a career-best 21 points against Northland College, then matching that against UW-Stevens Point.. With 31 3-pointers, Geiger trails only Keefe on the team. 
• Junior transfer Kyle Williams has come off the bench to average 4.8 points, is second on the team in assists with 44, and leads the team with 23 steals.
• Only four Blue Devils have played in all 18 games - Zach Dahl, D'Marcco Patrick, Garret Parks and Brandon Gilbertson. Dahl and Patrick have started all 18 games. 
• The 96 points scored against Silver Lake is the most since scoring scoring 109 against Crown College in February, 2011. Stout scored 94 against Silver Lake College last December.

A LOOK AT THE BLUE DEVILS

• Jim Lake is in his first year at the helm of the Blue Devils, coming to Menomonie after coaching at Ferris State University where the Bulldogs won the NCAA Division II national title last season.
• Stout was picked to finish eighth in the WIAC in a preseason poll conducted by league coaches and sports information directors.
• Team captains for the 2018-19 season are seniors John Keefe and Zach Dahl and sophomore Jon Ciriacks.
• Also returning from last season are: Luke Geiger, Josh Mericle, Tanner Schmitt, Brady Booth and Trey Hake. Braden Walbeck and D'Marcco Patrick return after not having played last season.
• Dahl had a breakout season last year, averaging 9.4 points per contest, playing in 24 games and starting 20. Dahl had a career night with 20 points, 12 rebounds and five assists against UW-Whitewater. He led the team in rebounds from the guard position.
• Ciriacks came off the bench in 19 games during his freshman season to average 4.2 points per contest and 2.2 rebounds.
• Keefe returns for his super senior season. The Blue Devils' leading scorer from the 2016-17 season made it less than two minutes into last season when he was injured in the season opener and was lost for the entire season. Keefe was injured when he laid in his only basket of the season. During the 2016-17 season, Keefe scored in double figures in 19 of 26 games, and scored a career-high 32 against former WIAC foe UW-Superior in November. Keefe dished off at least two assists in every game and had four or more assists in 16 games. Keefe led Stout in all major categories, including points per game (15.0), rebounds/game (6.2), assists/game (4.6), steals/game (1.5), and minutes/game (35.5). Keefe was fifth in the WIAC in points, fourth in rebounds and first in assists and minutes/game. In addition, Keefe had top six statistical finishes in the conference in free throw percentage (.828, 6th), 3-point field goals made (2.15, 5th) and assist/turnover ratio (2.38, 2nd). Keefe was a WIAC all-conference honorable mention selection
• The Blue Devils last year averaged 69.6 points per game and gave up 74.9. Stout lost their three leading scorers - Issac Elliott, Sam Ortmann and Joe Duty, who combined to average 39.0 points per game. Dahl was the team's fourth-leading scorer, averaging 9.7 points.

BLUE DEVILS LAST TIME OUT

• From the floor, UW-Stout had one of their best shooting nights of the season, hitting 48.3 percent of their shots, but it wouldn't be enough as the Blue Devils were downed by UW-Stevens Point, 72-61, Wednesday on Dewey Mintz Court in Johnson Fieldhouse. The Blue Devils (6-12, 0-7 WIAC) dropped in 28 of 58 shots from the floor, more field goals than the Pointers (12-5, 4-3 WIAC). But the visitors made up for it by making eight 3-pointers and making their free throw shots count by connecting on 14 of 18 charity shots. Stevens Point led for the majority of the game and did not trail after the midway point of the first, although the Blue Devils did knot the score with six minutes left in the first half at 18 apiece. The Pointers went on an 11-0 run over the next five minutes and led 31-24 at halftime. Stout got as close as three points with around five minutes left in the game when Luke Geiger hit a 3-pointer to make the score 52-49. The rolled off the next seven points to build a 10 point lead.  Luke Geiger led Stout for the fourth consecutive game, this time matching a career-high with 21 points. Geiger was 9 of 17 from the floor and hit 3 of 10 3-pointers. Zach Dahl contributed 10 points.
• The Blue Devils are still looking for that first elusive win, falling at UW-River Falls, 71-69, Jan. 16, and at UW-Eau Claire, 87-64, Jan. 19.
•  Trailing 31-10, UW-Stout went on a 17-3 run to close out the final six minutes of the first half to pull to within seven points, 34-27, at halftime, but UW-River Falls would just barely hold off the Blue Devils and defeated Stout, 71-69, Jan 16. Stout kept up the offensive in the second half, getting as close a one point, 66-65, with 2:22 left in the game, but could not get over the hump. Trailing by five at 2:33, Luke Geiger pulled Stout to within 66-61. D'Marcco Patrick stole the ball and went the distance to lay the ball in, then connected on both free throws following a River Falls technical foul and Stout trailed 66-65. The Falcons extended the lead to three points on a pair of free throws by Julian Jackson, but Patrick brought Stout back to within one point, 68-57, making two charity shots. A 3-pointer by the Falcons' Jack Stensgard was answered by a layup by Zach Dahl. The Falcons missed three consecutive shots in the final 40 seconds of the game and a potential game winning 3-pointer by Geiger missed the mark. Geiger would lead all scorers with 20 points, one point short of a career-best. Patrick finished with 10 points. The Blue Devils handcuffed themselves in the first half, hitting 24.1 percent (7-20) of their shots from the floor. They turned the game around by hitting 45.5 percent (15-33) of their second half shots to finish the game shooting 35.5 percent (22-62).
• UW-Eau Claire ran out to a 41-33 halftime score and kept running as the Blugolds defeated UW-Stout 87-64 Saturday at Zorn Arena. The Blugolds (10-7, 3-3 WIAC) shot 60 percent in the second half as they outscored the Blue Devils 46-31 in the second half. Stout (6-11, 0-6 WIAC)  hit only 9 of 28 second half shots. Stout was led by guard Luke Geiger with 15 points. Jon Ciriacks followed with 13 points. The Blugolds had four players in double figures, led by 18 points by Cam Kuepers. Ben Widdes and Spencer Page added 15 points and Cole Rabedeaux contributed 14.  Stout shot 35.2 percent (19-54) for the game. The Blue Devils did drop in 22 of 25 free throws (88 percent), one short of the season-high.Stout was 12 of 13 from the line in the second half. 

Stat Tracker / per game

UW-Stout	Statistic	UW-Stevens Point	UW-Platteville
76.9	Pts	71.5	76.4
80.2	Pts Allowed	61.5	73.0
.417	FG %	.464	.435
.459	FG % Defense	.442	.454
8.6	3 pt made	7.4	8.6
7.6	3 pt allowed	6.7	8.3
37.1	Rebounds	30.5	34.8
39.8	Rebounds Allowed	31.4	31.1
13.1	Turnovers	9.1	11.4
John Keefe 21.3	Leading Scorer	Nate Dodge 18.3	Robert Duax 17.4
Jon Ciriacks 7.2	Leading Rebounder	Ethan Bublitz 5.3	Clay Gerds 6.1

SCOUTING UW-STEVENS POINT

• The Pointers dropped from ninth in the D3hoops.com Top 25 poll to 20th after back-to-back losses to UW-La Crosse and UW-Platteville last week. The Pointers are getting 18.3 points from Nate Dodge, who is ranked second in the WIAC. Three other players - Canon O'Hearn (14.6), Ethan Bublitz (11.6) and Drew Fredrickson (11.2) - are averaging in double figures.  The Pointers pull down only 30.9 rebounds, but they allow only 31.4 rebounds per contest. Bublitz averages 5.3 boards and O'Heron 5.0. The Pointers have had the same starting line-up all season.
• UW-Stevens Point, ranked No. 12 by D3hoops.com to begin the season, reached the "Sweet 16" of the 2017-18 NCAA Division III Championship for the ninth time in program archives a year ago and returns four starters from that squad. Senior guard Nate Dodge was second on the team with 11.6 points per game and placed second in the league with 77 three-pointers made. He set a school single-game mark with 10 three-point field goals made against Hope College (Mich.) on Dec. 9, 2017. Senior forward Canon O'Heron was second in the conference with a .585 field goal percentage (137-of-234). Junior guard Ethan Bublitz is back after playing in just one game last season due to injury, but he led the 2016-17 team with 14.3 points per game.

POINTERS LAST TIME OUT

•  Ethan Bublitz gave the Pointers a one-point lead with 7.7 seconds left, but visiting UW-Platteville (11-6, 4-2) got a put-back dunk with 2.0 seconds remaining to prevail with the 61-60 win. Bublitz led the Pointers in scoring with a season-high 21 points.  He also topped the team with six rebounds.Canon O'Heron (Bangor, Wis./Bangor) added 19 points and three boards.  Nate Dodge (East Troy, Wis./East Troy) also contributed double figures with 12 points and he snagged five rebounds. Brett Tauber (Madison, Wis./Memorial) put the Pointers up 2-1 a minute and a half in and O'Heron followed with a bucket for a 4-4 tie.  Drew Fredrickson (Mount Horeb, Wis./Mount Horeb)snapped a six-minute scoring drought from the field with a three-pointer with 9:32 left in the half to pull UWSP within 13-9. Dodge hit the Pointers' next bucket from the field four minutes later after the Pioneers had built a 24-12 lead.  Bublitz followed with a pair of makes from beyond the arc and UWSP trailed 31-23 at the half. Bublitz scored four early points and O'Heron cut the deficit to four just over two minutes into the second half.  O'Heron scored eight-straight for the Pointers as UWSP pulled to within two, 39-37, with 12:12 to go. With 7:57 remaining, Dodge hit a layup to tie the game at 45-45.  Fredrickson followed with a three as the Pointers regained the lead at 48-45.  Bublitz nailed a three as the clock ticked under four minutes to give the Pointers a 56-52 edge. In the final minute of play, UWSP held a one-point lead.  UWP's Robert Duax scored with 14 seconds left to give the Pioneers a 59-58 lead.  On the ensuing inbounds play, Bublitz drove the length of the floor and layed it in for a 60-59 UWSP lead.  The Pioneers tried the same play, but the missed layup was dunked back in by Clay Gerds with 2.0 seconds left.  The Pointers did not get a game-winning shot attempt off and dropped their third-straight at home.
• The No. 9 UW-Stevens Point  (11-4, 3-2) saw its early eight-point lead evaporate and were unable to catch visiting UW-La Crosse (12-4, 5-0) in a 61-57 loss to the Eagles. Nate Dodge (East Troy, Wis./East Troy) led the Pointers' scoring attack with 18 points with four-made three-pointers.  Brett Tauber (Madison, Wis./Memorial) led UWSP with six rebounds and he added 11 points.  Ethan Bublitz (Jackson, Wis./Kettle Moraine Lutheran) and Canon O'Heron (Bangor, Wis./Bangor) contributed 10 points each. 
   

LAST YEAR WHEN STOUT AND STEVENS POINT MET

• Sam Ortmann scored UW-Stout's final eight points of the game to pull the Blue Devils to within one point of UW-Stevens Point, but the Pointers staved off the Blue Devils for a 68-65 win on Dewey Mintz Court in Johnson Fieldhouse Jan. 6, 2018. The Pointers (8-5, 2-0 WIAC) scored their final 10 points from the free throw line, not missing an attempt in 10 chances in the final 1-minute, 25-seconds. Ortmann hit a 3-pointer with 32 seconds left to pull Stout (6-7, 0-2 WIAC) to within 64-60. The Pointers' MJ Delmore pushed the lead back to six with a pair of charity shots. Ortmann answered again with a layup 12 second later to cut the lead back down to four, then, following a Stevens Point turnover, rattled a 3-point bucket six seconds later to pull the Blue Devils to within 66-65. The Blue Devils still had a chance to tie the game, but a 3-point attempt was blocked by Brett Tauber and the Pointers regained the ball to seal the win.
• UW-Stout's Isaac Elliott scored 12 of his game-high 19 points in the first half, but UW-Stevens Point countered with 14 first half points by Canon O'Heron and the Pointers took a 39-29 halftime lead on their way to an 80-63 win over the Blue Devils Feb. 10, 2018, at Quandt Fieldhouse. Stevens Point (16-7, 10-2 WIAC) held the 10 point, 39-29 halftime lead over Stout (8-15, 2-10 WIAC), then pushed the lead up to 15 points and never let Stout get any closer than 12 points the rest of the game. Elliott and O'Heron led all players with 19 points. The Pointers' Nate Dodge added 18 points and MJ Delmore tossed in 14 points. Stout's Sam Ortmann contributed 13 points and Joe Duty tallied 11 points.

SCOUTING UW-PLATTEVILLE

• UW-Platteville last season claimed the 20th regular-season championship in program history after finishing eighth in the league standings in 2016-17 to become the first team in WIAC history to go from last place one year to first the next. The Pioneers advanced to the "Sweet 16" of the NCAA Division III Championship and posted 24 wins for the most victories since the 1998-99 campaign. Senior guard/forward Robert Duax is the reigning conference Player of the Year, after ranking fourth in the WIAC with 15.8 points per game and 10th with 4.6 rebounds per contest. Junior forward Carter Voelker and sophomore guard Quentin Shields added 10.3 and 10.2 points per game, respectively. Voelker also contributed a team-best 64 assists and 43 three-point field goals made. All three players are currently ranking in double figures with Duax leading the way with 17.4 points, followed by Shields with 14.6 and Voelker, the reigning WIAC player of the week, with 14.4. Voelker upped his average more than three points from the time Stout and Platteville last met. Voelker has been the team's leading scorer in the last five games, scoring, in order, 17, 26, 22, 22 and 22 points. Clay Gerds leads the team off the glass with 5.9 boards. The Pioneers average 76.4 points per game and give up 73.0. 

PIONEERS LAST TIME OUT

• Whitewater downed the Pioneers, 88-80, at UW-Platteville. Carter Voelkers led the Pioneers with 22 points, Robert Duax with 18 points and Kyle Tuma with 15 points. The Warhawks' Melvin Brown, Jr, lit up the Pioneers for 47 points. The Warhawks took their largest lead at 59-51 with 11:44 on the clock, but the Pioneers chipped away and tied the game at 63-63 with 8:44 remaining. The two teams traded the lead over the next six minutes before the Warhawks took the lead for good on a free throw with 2:52 left.  
• The Pioneers won both games last week, downing UW-Eau Claire, 81-62, Jan. 16, then got a last second win over ninth-ranked UW-Stevens Point, 61-60, Jan. 19. The Pioneers host UW-Whitewater, Wednesday, Jan. 23.  The Pioneers were named the NABC team of the week for their efforts. 
• The Pioneers defeated UW-Stevens Point by a score of 61-60. With the win the Pioneers improve to 11-6 and 4-2 in the WIAC.  The game saw three lead changes in the last 14 seconds. Senior Robert Duax who scored 15 points on 6-10 shooting from the field hit a layup with 14 seconds left in the game. After the shot Stevens Point came down and scored on a tough shot with 7 seconds left. Quentin Shields came down the left side of the court and missed a tough shot and senior Clay Gerds followed that shot up with a tip dunk with 2.2 seconds left.  Junior Carter Voelker led the Pioneers with 22 points on 8-14 shooting and 4-7 from the three-point line. Senior Clay Gerds contributed 8 points and 7 rebounds and played great individual defense all night.

LAST YEAR WHEN STOUT AND PLATTEVILLE MET

• That  first Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) win has been elusive for the UW-Stout as the Blue Devils fell, 75-72, to UW-Platteville Saturday on Dewey Mintz Court in Johnson Fieldhouse.  Zach Dahl hit a 3-pointer with 57.1 seconds left in the game to give the Blue Devils a one point, 70-69, lead. The Pioneers had fouls to give and they used them before fouling Luke Geiger, who drained both shots with 24 seconds to push Stout (6-9, 0-4 WIAC) up 72-69. But the Pioneers' (9-6, 2-2 WIAC) Carter Voelker hits a 3-pointer with 14 seconds remaining to tie game at 72, the was fouled, but missed free throw. The Pionners' Clay Gerds pulls down rebound and Platteville's Kyle Tuma hits the game-winner with 2.1 seconds remaining. Stout's last chance shot was off the mark. Geiger led Stout, which was playing without leading scorer John Keefe, with 19 points. Jon Ciriacks added 16 points.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Week Eight: Luke Geiger, So, Sherwood, Wis. (Burlington).

AWARDS AND HONORS: 2018-19: John Keefe was the UW-Stout/Toppers Athlete of the Week Dec. 3 after scoring 27 and 32 points in a pair of games...2017-18: Isaac Elliott was an All-WIAC honorable mention selection. Elliott also earned Academic All-America second team honors....Sam Ortmann was named to the WIAC All-Defensive team...Isaac Elliott was selected as the WIAC Athlete of the Week and the UW-Stout/Toppers Athlete of the Week Feb. 13 after scoring 25 points against UW-River Falls and 19 against UW-Stevens Point...Senior Isaac Elliott was selected as the UW-Stout/Toppers Athlete of the Week, Jan. 8, after scoring 22 points against UW-Stevens Point...Freshman Joe Duty was selected as the UW-Stout/Toppers Athlete of the Week, Dec. 12, after scoring 19 points in a win over Finlandia University. Duty also had five assists in a win at Silver Lake College.

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 JIM LAKE

• Jim Lake (6-12) is in his first season as the head coach of the Blue Devils. Lake came to Stout after 10 seasons as an assistant coach at Ferris State. The Bulldogs won the 2017-18 NCAA Division II national title.
• Lake served at Ferris State University for a total of 10 years, the last five years beginning with the 2013-14 season as the program's top assistant men's basketball coach. Lake had served as a volunteer assistant coach for the Bulldogs in two different stints over the previous decade, working as a part-time assistant coach from 2011-13 before moving up to the full-time lead position, and as a volunteer assistant coach from 2003-06.
• During five seasons as the Bulldogs' top assistant coach, Lake helped Ferris State to four consecutive Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) tournament championships and four consecutive NCAA tournament appearances, culminating in a 38-1 overall record and the 2018 NCAA Division II national title with a 71-69 win over Northern State University in March.

UW-STEVENS POINT

• Bob Semling enters his 14th season at UW-Stevens Point in 2018-19 and has won four national championships with the Pointers. In 13 seasons at UW-Stevens Point, Semling has led the Pointers to two NCAA Division III national championships (2010, 2015), in addition to being an assistant on the back-to-back national championship teams of 2004 and 2005. Through his first 13 seasons as head coach, Semling has compiled an overall record of 283-80, which includes a 152-37 mark in Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) play. His .771 career winning percentage entering this season was the highest among active Division III coaches and ranks 10th all-time among all divisions for coaches with at least 10 seasons as a head coach. On January 11, 2014, Semling became the all-time winningest coach in UW-Stevens Point program history by recording his 201st career victory at UW-Superior. In 2015, Semling was named the National Coach of the Year by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), D3hoops.com and Schelde Sports/DIII News. He also earned NABC and D3hoops.com Coach of the Year honors in 2010. Semling is a five-time WIAC Coach of the Year and has received the award in each of the last three seasons.

UW-PLATTEVILLE COACH JEFF GARD

• Jeff Gard returned the University of Wisconsin-Platteville to conference, regional and national prominence in 2017-18, his eighth season as head coach of the Pioneers. Gard guided the Pioneers to a 24-5 overall record, a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship (12-2) and an NCAA III Sweet Sixteen appearance. The Pioneers won their 20th league title in their rich history and made the NCAA III playoffs for the 11th time, reaching the Sweet Sixteen for the sixth time. The Pioneers beat Monmouth 91-76 and St. Olaf 81-76 in the first two rounds of the national playoffs before being edged 79-78 by Nebraska Wesleyan.

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. UW-Oshkosh is projected to win the conference crown, according to a preseason poll conducted by WIAC coaches and sports information directors, followed by: UW-Platteville, UW-Stevens Point, UW-Whitewater, UW-La Crosse, UW-River Falls, UW-Eau Claire and UW-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 host UW-River Falls, Wednesday, Jan. 30 at 7 p.m., then will travel to UW-Oshkosh, Saturday, Feb. 2 to face the Titans at 5 p.m..


UW-Stout 2018-19 Individual Season Highs (Updated January 20, 2019)

Points: 33, John Keefe vs. McMurry University, Nov. 16, 2018
3-Pointers Made: 7, John Keefe vs. University of Northwestern, Nov. 29, 2018
Rebounds: 13, Jon Ciriacks vs. Lawrence, Nov. 9, 2018
Assists: 6, John Keefe vs. Finlandia, Nov. 10, 2018
Steals: 7, Kyle Williams vs. Bethany Lutheran College, Nov. 27, 2018


UW-Stout 2018-19 Team Season Highs (Updated January 20, 2019)

Points: 96 vs. Silver Lake College, Dec. 4, 2018
Field Goals Made: 34 vs. Silver Lake College, Dec. 4, 2018
Field Goal Percentage: .517 vs. UW-Oshkosh, Jan. 5, 2019
3-Pointers Made: 14 vs. Bethel University, Nov. 17, 2018
Free Throws Made: 23 vs. Finlandia University, Dec. 14, 2018
Free Throw Percentage: .941 vs. Silver Lake College, Dec. 4, 2018
Rebounds: 52 (2x) vs. Finlandia University, Dec. 14, 2018; vs. Lawrence, Nov. 9, 2018
Assists: 18 vs. Finlandia, Nov. 10, 2018
Turnovers: 21 vs. Bethany Lutheran College, Nov. 27, 2018
Fewest Turnovers: 9 vs. Crown College, Dec. 7, 2018
Blocked Shots: 5 vs. Silver Lake College, Dec. 4, 2018
Steals: 10 (3x) vs. Northland College, Dec. 21, 2018: vs. Finlandia University, Dec. 14, 2018; vs. Lawrence, Nov. 9, 2018
Double/Doubles: Jon Ciriacks (12 pts, 10 rbs) vs. UW-Whitewater, Jan. 9, 2019;  Jon Ciriacks (16 pts, 13 rbs) vs. Lawrence, Nov. 9, 2018


UW-Stout Career Bests (updated January 20, 2019)

John Keefe - #0
Points: 33 vs. McMurry, Nov. 16, 2018
Rebounds: 15 vs. Silver Lake College, Jan. 3, 2017
Assists: 9 vs. Dubuque, Dec. 8, 2015

D'Marcco Patrick - #1
Points: 15 vs. Coe College, Nov. 16, 2014
Rebounds: 6 (2x) vs. Cardinal Stritch, Dec. 29. 2018; vs. Finlandia University, Dec. 14, 2018
Assists: 5 vs. Bethany Lutheran College, Nov. 27, 2018;

Kaden Koski - #2
Points: 8 vs. Silver Lake College, Dec. 4, 2018
Rebounds: 5 (3x) vs. Silver Lake College, Dec. 4, 2018; vs. Finlandia, Nov. 10, 2018; vs. Lawrence, Nov. 9, 2018
Assists: x

Garret Parks - #3
Points: 13 vs. Bethel University, Nov. 17, 2018
Rebounds: 7 (2x) vs. Finlandia, Dec. 14, 2018; vs. Bethel University, Nov. 17, 2018
Assists: 2 (2x) vs. Lawrence University, Nov. 9, 2018; vs. Silver Lake College, Dec. 4, 2018

Luke Geiger - #4
Points: 21 vs. Northland College, Dec. 21, 2018
Rebounds: 6 vs. Northland College, Dec. 21, 2018
Assists: 2 (3x) vs. UW-River Falls, Jan. 16, 2019; vs. Northland College, Dec. 21, 2018; vs. Lawrence, Nov. 9, 2018

Jon Ciriacks - #5
Points: 25 vs. Northland College, Dec. 21, 2018
Rebounds: 13 vs. Lawrence, Nov. 9, 2018
Assists: 3 (2x) vs. Silver Lake College, Dec. 7, 2017; vs. Colorado College, Nov. 18, 2017

Josh Mericle - #10
Points: 11 vs. UW-Platteville, Jan. 27, 2018
Rebounds: 5 vs. UW-Platteville, Jan. 27, 2018
Assists: x

Zach Dahl - #12
Points: 20 vs. UW-Whitewater, Feb. 3, 2018
Rebounds: 12 vs. UW-Whitewater, Feb. 3, 2018
Assists: 5 vs. UW-Whitewater, Feb. 3, 2018

Braden Walbeck - #13
Points: 17 vs. University of Dubuque, Dec. 10, 2016
Rebounds: 6 vs. Lawrence University, Dec. 30, 2016
Assists: 3 vs. Bethel University, Nov. 17, 2018

Cam Wall - #14
Points: 3 vs. UW-Green Bay, Dec. 11, 2018 (exh)
Rebounds: 2 vs. Michigan Tech, Dec. 15, 2018 (exh)
Assists: x

Kyle Williams - #20
Points: 11 vs. University of Northwestern, Nov. 29, 2018
Rebounds: 6 (2x) vs. Silver Lake College, Dec. 4, 2018; vs. McMurry, Nov. 16, 2018
Assists: 7 vs. Bethel University, Nov. 17, 2018

Makete Fru - #22
Points: x
Rebounds: x
Assists: x

Tanner Schmitt - #23
Points: 5 vs. Finlandia, Nov. 10, 2018
Rebounds: 2 (2x) vs. UW-Whitewater, Jan. 13, 2018; vs. UW-Oshkosh, Jan. 10, 2018
Assists: 1 (5x) vs. Northland College, Dec. 21, 2018; vs. UW-Green Bay, Dec. 11, 2018 (exh); vs. UW-River Falls, Jan. 20, 2018; vs. Whitworth, Dec. 29, 2017; vs. UW-Oshkosh, Jan. 10, 2018

Matt Newman - #24
Points: 3 (2x) vs. UW-Green Bay, Dec. 11, 2018 (exh); vs. Finlandia, Nov. 10, 2018
Rebounds: 5 vs. Silver Lake College, Dec. 4, 2018
Assists: 1 (2x) vs. Finlandia, Nov. 10, 2018; vs. Lawrence, Nov. 9, 2018

Peter Shanks - #25
Points: x
Rebounds: 1 vs. UW-La Crosse, Jan. 2, 2019
Assists: x

Carson Moe - #30
Points: x
Rebounds: 2 vs. UW-Green Bay, Dec. 11, 2018 (exh)
Assists: x

Zach Miller - #31
Points: x
Rebounds: x
Assists: x

Peter Brey - #32
Points: x
Rebounds: x
Assists: 2 vs. UW-Green Bay, Dec. 11, 2018 (exh)

Brandon Gilbertson - #33
Points: 10 vs. McMurry, Nov. 16, 2018
Rebounds: 4 (2x) vs. University of Northwestern, Nov. 29, 2018; vs. Bethany Lutheran College, Nov. 27, 2018
Assists: 1 vs. Bethel University, Nov. 17, 2018

Trey Hake - #34
Points: 5 vs. Silver Lake College, Dec. 7, 2017
Rebounds: 1 vs. Silver Lake College, Dec. 7, 2017
Assists: x

Brady Booth - #44
Points: 4 (3x) vs. UW-La Crosse, Jan. 2, 2019; vs. UW-Green Bay, Dec. 11, 2018 (exh); vs. UW-Oshkosh, Jan. 10, 2018
Rebounds: 3 vs. Lawrence, Nov. 9, 2018
Assists: x

Cam Brussow - #45
Points: x
Rebounds: 1 vs. Michigan Tech, Dec. 15, 2018 (exh)
Assists:


The Last Time...(updated January 20, 2019)

A Stout Individual...
Scored 30 points: 30, John Keefe vs. Crown College, Dec. 7, 2018
Scored 25-29 points: 25, Jon Ciriacks vs. Northland College, Dec. 21, 2018
Recorded 15 rebounds: 15, John Keefe vs. Silver Lake College, Jan. 3, 2016; Jarvis Ragland vs. Bethany Lutheran, Dec. 3, 2014
Recorded 10 assists: 11, Erik Olson vs. UW-Stevens Point, Feb. 13, 2013
Recorded 6 steals: 7, Kyle Williams vs. Bethany Lutheran College, Nov. 27, 2018; 8, by Jerrel Enerson-Matthews vs. Bethany Lutheran, Nov. 21, 2008

A Stout Team...
Had five players score in double digits: vs. Bethany Lutheran, Nov. 29, 2017: Zach Dahl (17); Keegan Dickson (13); Isaac Elliott (10); Sam Ortmann (10); Joe Duty (10); vs. UW-Eau Claire, Feb. 1, 2017: John Keefe (21); John Lahti (17); Keegan Dickson (16); Brett Ahsenmacher (14); Sam Ortmann(13); vs. UW-La Crosse, Jan. 14, 2017: Jacob Nordstrom (12); Cory Speer (12); Brett Ahsenmacher (11); John Lahti (11); Sam Ortmann (10); 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. 5, 2018, John Keefe (22), Jon Ciriacks (13), Zach Dahl (11), Kyle Williams (10); vs. Cardinal Stritch, Dec. 29. 2018, Jon Ciriacks (20), John Keefe (17), Zach Dahl (14), D'Marcco Patrick (10); vs. Silver Lake College, Dec. 4, 2018, John Keefe (24), Luke Geiger (15), Zach Dahl (12), Braden Walbeck (12); vs. Lawrence, Nov. 9, 2018, Jon Ciriacks (16), Luke Geiger(15), John Keefe (12), D'Marcco Patrick (10); vs. UW-Eau Claire, Jan. 17, 2018, Isaac Elliott (21), Sam Ortmann (15), Keegan Dickson (13), Zach Dahl (12); vs. UW-Stevens Point, Jan. 6, 2018, Isaac Elliott(22), Sam Ortmann (14), Zach Dahl (13), Joe Duty (12); vs. Finlandia University, Dec. 10, 2017, Isaac Elliott (19), Joe Duty (19), Zach Dahl (17), Sam Ortmann(10); vs. Silver Lake College, Dec. 7, 2017, Sam Ortmann (17), Isaac Elliott (15), Adam Mackey (13), Jon Ciriacks (11); vs. Colorado College, Nov. 18, 2017, Brandon Emery (11), Keegan Dickson (11) Isaac Elliott (25), Sam Ortmann(14); vs. Marian University, Nov. 17, 2017, Joe Duty (21); Zach Dahl (15); Isaac Elliott (15); Brandon Emery (13);
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: 57 vs. Puget Sound, (12/30/17) 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: 6, 2018-19 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 Isaac Elliott vs. UW-La Crosse, 2/14/18; 12-12, Duke Severson vs. Augsburg, 1959-60; 11-11, Nate Templer vs. La Crosse, 2/12/03;10-10 Isaac Elliott vs. UW-Eau Claire, 1/17.18; 8-8 Isaac Elliott vs. UW-Oshkosh, 2/17/18; 8-8, Erik Olson vs. UW-Superior, 1/30/13; 8-8 Jon Ciriacks vs. Northland College, Dec. 21, 2018; 8-8 Luke Geiger vs. Northland College, Dec. 21, 2018
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

TEAM-SINGLE GAME
Most Points: 124, vs. Valley City State, 12/11/71; vs. Marian College, 1/24/86
Most Field Goal Attempts: 116, vs. UW-Oshkosh, 12/08/67
Most Free Throw Attempts: 74, vs. UW-La Crosse, 1/10/53
Fewest Free Throw Attempts: 0, vs. Ashford University, 1/26/13
Most Field Goals Made: 54, vs. Valley City State, 12/11/71
Most 3-pt Field Goals Made: 20, vs. Crown College, 11/20/10; 16, vs. UW-River Falls, 2/7/2018; 16 vs. Crown College, 2/15/11
Most Free Throws Made: 40, vs. Bethel College, 12/8/98
Best Field Goal Percentage: 65.4%, vs. UW-Eau Claire, 2/1/17
Best Free Throw Percentage: 100%, vs. UW-La Crosse (16-16), 2/12/03; vs. UW-Oshkosh (15-15), 1/7/17; vs. UW-Superior (13-13), 2/3/04; vs. UW-Oshkosh (11-11), 12/10/05; vs. UW-Oshkosh (10-10, 2/1/03
Most Rebounds: 90, vs. Northland, 11/28/67
Most Assists: 37, vs. Marian College, 1/24/86
Most Fouls: 38, vs. UW-Whitewater, 12/04/71