GAME NOTES: Delta State University Statesmen (8-1, 1-0 GSC) at West Alabama/Alabama-Huntsville (12.19-21.13)
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CLEVELAND, Miss. - The Delta State University Men's Basketball team will carry its eight game winning streak into Gulf South Conference play this week, as the Statesmen (8-1, 1-0 GSC) take on the University of West Alabama (3-4, 0-1 GSC) and the University of Alabama in Huntsville (5-3, 1-0 GSC) on the road. DSU and UWA will tipoff at 7:30 p.m. at Pruitt Hall on Thursday before finishing up the week Saturday at Spragins Hall versus UAH at 5 p.m.
The Statesmen will continue Gulf South Conference play Thursday inside the friendly confines of newly refurbished Pruitt Hall against the University of West Alabama. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. The game marks the 63rd meeting all-time between two of the GSC's founding members. DSU owns a 37-25 lead in the series standings, but has lost the last four meetings to the Tigers. In fact, the Statesmen haven't won a game in Livingston, Ala., since an 85-77 victory on Dec. 2, 2010.
Former Arkansas Tech head coach Mark Downey has made his return to the GSC and has brought his up-tempo style of play with him. UWA guard Sandy Underwood is averaging 19.1 points per game, as the Tigers rank fifth in the league in scoring at 76.9 points per game.
Saturday's opponent No. 25 Alabama-Huntsville will conclude a stretch of three-straight road games for the Statesmen to begin GSC play. DSU defeated CBU 65-63 in the league opener for both teams last Saturday, Dec. 14 in Memphis, Tenn.
Saturday's showdown at Spragins Hall will be the 23rd meeting all-time between the Chargers and Statesmen. DSU's last trip to Huntsville was a memorable one, as the Statesmen defeated then-No. 3 Alabama-Huntsville 59-53. The Statesmen lead the series 13-9, but UAH has won three of the last four in the series.
Coach Lenny Acuff's Chargers are currently ranked No. 25 in the NABC Top 25 are led by the GSC's leading scorer Wayne Dedrick's 20.3 points per game. UAH averages 83.5 points per contest.
THE OPENING TIP
Coach
Jim Boone and the Statesmen are carrying an 8-game winning streak into Thursday's matchup with West Alabama. The eight game streak is currently the longest in the GSC. The Statesmen have not lost since dropping an 89-66 decision to then-No. 9 Florida Southern in the opening game of the season.
As DSU prepares to face to of the GSC's top scoring teams in West Alabama (76.9) and Alabama-Huntsville (83.5), the Statesmen enter the week ranked No. 1 in scoring defense (61.0) and field goal percentage defense (37.9%).
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.
Delta State is coming off a thrilling 65-63 victory over Christian Brothers this past Saturday at Canale Arena in Memphis, Tenn. Freshman point guard
Devin Schmidt scored a career-high 24 points, nine rebounds and tied his career-best with five assists in the win. The victory snapped a four-game losing streak to the Bucs and was DSU's first win in Canale since Feb. 24, 2011.
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 74.9 points per game. In fact, the Statesmen have four players averaging in double figures, led by
Willie Readus' 19.4 points per game.
Senior power forward
Willie Readus enters the week leading the Statesmen in scoring (19.4 ppg) and rebounding (11.0). The Morton, Miss., native has scored in double figures in every game this season, including a season-high 31 points at LeMoyne-Owen and 17 rebounds versus Cumberland. 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.
True freshman point guard
Devin Schmidt has made an immediate impact on DSU, averaging 12.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game.
INSIDE THE PAINT
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).
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 1,204-805-1 all-time, boasting the second most victories in Gulf South Conference history with 692.
STATESMEN EDGE BUCS 65-63
Delta State is coming off a thrilling 65-63 victory over Christian Brothers this past Saturday at Canale Arena in Memphis, Tenn. Freshman point guard
Devin Schmidt scored a career-high 24 points, nine rebounds and tied his career-best with five assists in the win.
Willie Readus added 18 points and 11 rebounds as well.
The victory snapped a four-game losing streak to the Bucs and was DSU's first win in Canale since Feb. 24, 2011.
BOONE NEARING 450-WIN PLATEAU
Statesmen head coach
Jim Boone needs just one victory to eclipse 450 wins for his career. His career record stands at 449-345, but he owns an outstanding 357-183 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.
WILLIE'S WAY
Senior power forward
Willie Readus enters the week leading the Statesmen in scoring (19.4 ppg) and rebounding (11.0). The Morton, Miss., native has scored in double figures in every game this season, including a season-high 31 points at LeMoyne-Owen and 17 rebounds versus Cumberland.
The Jackson State University transfer is currently ranked second in the GSC in scoring and is third in rebounding, but he is the only player averaging a double-double.
SCHMIDT NAMED GSC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Delta State forward
Devin Schmidt (FR, 6-4, 210, Sevierville, TN) is the Noah Basketball Gulf South Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Week for the week ending December 15th. Schmidt is the second different DSU honoree of the season, leading the Statesmen to a 65-63, come-from-behind victory at Christian Brothers last Saturday. The freshman played all but one minute versus the Bucs, scoring a career and game-high 24 points, while adding nine rebounds and a game-best five assists. All nine of the Sevierville, TN native's rebounds came on the defensive end, as he went 11-for-19 from the floor in his ninth start of the season.
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, 5.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game for coach
Jim Boone's Statesmen. The former Sevier County standout's 3.6 assists per game rank sixth in the GSC, while 1.8 assist/turnover ratio is eighth.
EIGHT IN A ROW
Delta State is carrying an eight game win streak into Thursday's showdown at West Alabama. The eight game win streak is currently the longest in the league. VSU is on a seven game streak.
SCORING MARGIN
Delta State enters Thursday's game at West Alabama leading the GSC in scoring margin at 13.9 points per game. UWA is seventh with a mere 3.1 points per game margin.
DEFENSE NAME OF THE GAME FOR BOONE'S STATESMEN; DSU LEADS LEAGUE IN SCORING & FG% DEFENSE
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. Through nine games, the Statesmen are allowing a league-best 61.0 points and 37.9 percent shooting per game.
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 74.9 points per game.
In fact, the Statesmen have three players averaging in double figures, led by
Willie Readus' 19.4 points per game.
Devin Schmidt's 12.4 points is second on the team followed by
Jack Madgen's 11.0 points per game.
Alister Chisholm (9.7) and
Mike Washington (8.0) are on the cusp of double figures.
GETTING TO THE LINE & CONVRTING
There's no secret to the early success for the Statesmen this season. It's been the free throw line. In nine games, DSU has attempted 261 free throws to our opponents' 118.
The Statesmen are 191-of-261 at the line for 73.2 percent. DSU is attempting 22.3 free throws per game, while the opposition is attempting 10.0 per contest. In 27 games last year, the Statesmen attempted 427 freebies.
ON THE BOARDS
The Statesmen enter the week with a massive lead on the boards this season, averaging 42.0 to the opposition's 29.8 per game. Through nine games, the Statesmen have cleared 377 rebounds compared to 268 for the opposition.
DSU is tops in the GSC in rebounding defense (29.8 rpg) and rebounding margin (+12.2 rpg).
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).
MADGEN NEARING CAREER LIST
Sophomore shooting guard
Jack Madgen is quickly approaching Delta State's career chart for 3-pointers made. The Williamstown, South Australia native is 52-of-144 from 3-point range in his career, needing 35 made 3-pointers to crack the top 10.
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 532 points in 63 games for DSU, including 353 rebounds and 187 assists.
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.
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 449-345, but he owns an outstanding 357-183 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.
