GAME NOTES: Delta State University Statesmen (4-1) vs. Henderson State/Cumberland (11.25-30.13)
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CLEVELAND, Miss. - The Delta State University Men's Basketball team will face two non-conference foes this week. The Statesmen (4-1) will travel to Henderson State (4-2) on Tuesday, Nov. 26 before closing out the week on Saturday, Nov. 30 with Cumberland (4-0) at Sillers Coliseum. Tuesday's tipoff is set for 6 p.m. while Saturday's start time is slated for 4 p.m. The Statesmen and Reddies have met on 47 previous occasions with DSU owning a slim 24-23 lead in the series standings. Cumberland and DSU have never met on the hardwood, but have squared off in football, soccer and tennis.
THE OPENING TIP
A year ago, the Statesmen offense averaged 59.5 points per game, but this season coach
Jim Boone has turned up the offense to a blistering 79.0 points per game. In fact, the Statesmen have four players averaging in double figures, led by
Willie Readus' 20.8 points per game.
Senior guard
Cornel Knight scored his 500th career point at Delta State with six points in DSU's 90-71 win over Selma University. The 6-foot-3 Mobile, Ala., native has scored 504 points in 59 games for DSU, including 331 rebounds and 178 assists.
Senior power forward
Willie Readus enters the week leading the Statesmen in scoring (20.8 ppg) and rebounding (10.2). The Morton, Miss., native has scored in double figures in every game this season, including a season-high 31 points at LeMoyne-Owen and 16 rebounds versus Selma. The Jackson State University transfer is currently second in the GSC in scoring and third in rebounding, but he is the only player averaging a double-double.
Jack Madgen, a sophomore shooting guard from Williamstown, Australia, broke the 300 points scored plateau with seven points in DSU's 82-71 win at LeMoyne-Owen. In just 32 games, Madgen has scored 328 points (10.3 ppg). Madgen is 111-of-272 from the field (40.8 percent) in his young career.
True freshman point guard
Devin Schmidt has made an immediate impact on DSU, averaging 12.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game.
Alister Chisholm is proving to be quite the sixth man for the Statesmen, as the redshirt junior is averaging 11.4 points and 5.2 rebounds a game off the bench.
Jim Boone (West Virginia State, 1981) is in his second season as head coach at Delta State. He guided the Statesmen to a 11-16 overall finish in 2012-13 in his first season at DSU. His career record stands at 445-345, but he owns an outstanding 353-183 mark in NCAA DII play. Boone spent 10 seasons as coach at California (Pa.), where he led the Vulcans to six PSAC titles, nine NCAA Tournament appearances and two NCAA Final Fours. His "Pack Line" defense is known as one of the top defensive systems in the game.
The Statesmen were picked to finish fourth in the GSC Preseason Coaches Poll. Delta State received one third place vote, three fourth place votes, and two fifth place votes for a total of 27 points. North Alabama was selected the 2013-14 GSC Men's Basketball Pre-Season Coaches' Poll favorite.
IN THE PAINT
DELTA STATE SET FOR TRIP TO HENDERSON; CUMBERLAND TO VISIT SILLERS SATURDAY
The Statesmen enter another challenging week, as Delta State travels Tuesday, Nov. 26 to face Henderson State at the Duke Wells Center in Arkadelphia, Ark., before returning to Sillers Coliseum on Saturday, Nov. 30 to host Cumberland (Tenn.) University. The Statesmen and Reddies have met on 47 previous occasions with DSU owning a slim 24-23 lead in the series standings. Cumberland and DSU have never met on the hardwood, but have squared off in football, soccer and tennis.
STATESMEN CLAIM 1200th VICTORY
Delta State eclipsed the 1,200 win plateau after defeating Selma 90-71 and Champion Baptist 78-37 last week. The Statesmen are 1,200-805-1 all-time, boasting the second most victories in Gulf South Conference history.
READUS LEADING WAY FOR STATESMEN
Senior power forward
Willie Readus enters the week leading the Statesmen in scoring (20.8 ppg) and rebounding (10.2). The Morton, Miss., native has scored in double figures in every game this season, including a season-high 31 points at LeMoyne-Owen and 16 rebounds versus Selma.
The Jackson State University transfer is currently second in the GSC in scoring and third in rebounding, but he is the only player averaging a double-double.
SCHMIDT MAKING IMPACT AS FRESHMAN
Devin Schmidt, a 6-foot-4 point guard from Sevierville, Tenn., has made an immediate impact on the Statesmen this season. The freshman is averaging 12.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game for coach
Jim Boone's Statesmen.
Schmidt's 3.8 assists per game rank sixth in the GSC, while 1.8 assist/turnover ratio is eighth.
In DSU's 79-73 overtime win over Eckerd, Schmidt provided the spark in overtime to lift the Statesmen to the victory.
STATESMEN CAGE TIGERS 78-37
Willie Readus scored 22 points and
Alister Chisholm added 16 to lead the Delta State University men's basketball team to a 78-37 victory over Champion Baptist College Saturday, Nov. 23 at Walter Sillers Coliseum. The Statesmen improved to 4-1 on the year, while the Tigers fell to 1-10. It was the second victory in the series for the Statesmen over CBC.
The Statesmen raced out to a 41-15 lead after connecting on 14-of-24 shots (58.3 percent), while holding Champion Baptist to just 6-of-25 from the floor (24.0 percent) in the first half. DSU kept up the pace in the second frame, as the Statesmen outscored CBC 37-22.
DSU finished the game hitting 31-of-51 from the floor for 60.8 percent, the highest percentage on the year. The Statesmen were just 2-of-8 from 3-point range and 14-of-19 from the line.
Joining Readus and Chisholm in double figures with 11 points and eight rebounds.
Jack Madgen and
Devin Schmidt added nine points each as well.
DELTA STATE EDGES SELMA 90-71
The Delta State men's basketball won their third game in a row defeating Selma University 90-71 to improve their record to 3-1 on the year.
Willie Readus lead the way for the Statesmen scoring 17 points and pulling down 16 rebounds. Freshman
Devin Schmidt tied his career high with 18 points to lead all scorers in the game.
SIX AND COUNTING
Delta State enters the 2013-14 season with six Gulf South Conference championships, the most by any member institution. The Statesmen also own GSC records for postseason tournament appearances (24), wins (26), semifinal berths (17) and finals appearances (12).
DEFENSE NAME OF THE GAME FOR BOONE'S STATESMEN
The Statesmen are led by one of the nation's top defensive coaches in
Jim Boone. The 27-year veteran skipper has hung his hat on his ability to draw up defenses to stop any opponent.
Delta State was one of the top defensive units in the GSC last season, allowing opponents a mere 61.1 points per game and 41.3 percent shooting from the floor.
TURNING UP THE OFFENSE
A year ago, the Statesmen offense averaged 59.5 points per game, but this season coach
Jim Boone has turned up the offense to a blistering 79.0 points per game. In fact, the Statesmen have four players averaging in double figures, led by
Willie Readus' 20.8 points per game.
Devin Schmidt (12.4) is second in scoring followed by
Alister Chisholm (11.4) and
Jack Madgen (10.8).
Mike Washington is on the cusp of double figures, adding 9.4 per game.
GETTING TO THE LINE & CONVERTING
There's no secret to the early success for the Statesmen this season. It's been the free throw line. In five games, DSU has attempted 180 free throws to our opponents' 73.
The Statesmen are 134-of-180 at the line for 74.4 percent. DSU is attempted 26.8 free throws per game, while the opposition is attempting 10.2 per contest. In 27 games last year, the Statesmen attempted 427 freebies.
KNIGHT SCORES 500th POINT AT DELTA STATE
Senior guard
Cornel Knight scored his 500th career point at Delta State with six points in DSU's 90-71 win over Selma University. The 6-foot-3 Mobile, Ala., native has scored 504 points in 59 games for DSU, including 331 rebounds and 178 assists.
BOONE NEARING 450-WIN PLATEAU
Statesmen head coach
Jim Boone needs just five victories to eclipse 450 wins for his career. His career record stands at 445-345, but he owns an outstanding 353-183 mark in NCAA DII play.
Boone (West Virginia State, 1981) is in his second season as head coach at Delta State. He guided the Statesmen to a 11-16 overall finish in 2012-13 in his first season at DSU.
Boone spent 10 seasons as coach at California (Pa.), where he led the Vulcans to six PSAC titles, nine NCAA Tournament appearances and two NCAA Final Fours. His "Pack Line" defense is known as one of the top defensive systems in the game.
ON THE BOARDS
The Statesmen enter the week with a massive lead on the boards this season, averaging 42.0 to the oppositions 28.0 per game. Through five games, the Statesmen have cleared 210 rebounds as compared to 140 for their opponents.
SHOT CHANGERS
Senior center
Mike Washington and guard
Cornel Knight have proven to be two of the GSC's best when it comes to blocked shots. Washington enters the week ranked fifth in the league with five blocks (1.0 bpg), while Knight is 10th with three blocks (0.8 bpg).
DELTA STATE PICKED TO FINISH FOURTH IN GSC
As the Statesmen prepare for the 2013-2014 season, the GSC Coaches Preseason Poll picked Delta State to finish fourth in the annual vote. North Alabama was selected the 2013-14 GSC Men's Basketball Pre-Season Coaches' Poll favorite in the closest voting in recent memory. Seven points separates the poll's top three squads and four teams collected at least one first-place vote.
UNA garnered the four first-place votes, en route to 44 points, while defending Champion Christian Brothers clipped the Lions' heels with 43 points led by two first-place nods. Alabama-Huntsville posted one first-place vote and came in third-place via 37 total points. Delta State (27) and Valdosta State (20) finished, fourth and fifth, respectively. West Alabama owned the final first-place vote and sixth-place via 19 points, while West Florida and West Georgia tied for the final position at 17 points.
All eight teams advance to the 2014 GSC Tournament which returns to the Pete Hanna Center on the campus of Samford University in Birmingham, AL from March 6-9.
STATESMEN, NOT FIGHTING OKRA
Despite some rowdy student objections, athletic programs at Delta State University do not use the student-chosen sub-mascot, Fighting Okra. The Fighting Okra, the most vicious of all vegetables, was created by a band of students at DSU in the late 1980's and early 1990's.
While some on campus embrace the scary veggie, DSU Athletics does not. Our programs have always been, and will continue to be the Statesmen and Lady Statesmen. If you have a problem with that, take it up with the vegetable in the corner with boxing gloves.
