GAME NOTES: Valdosta State/West Florida at No. 22 Delta State (2.7-3.1.14)
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CLEVELAND, Miss. - The No. 22 Statesmen (22-4, 15-3 GSC) of Delta State University will look to close out the regular season this week, as Valdosta State University (15-9, 9-9 GSC) and the University of West Florida (6-18, 5-13 GSC) travel to Walter Sillers Coliseum. Thursday's game versus VSU is set for 7:30 p.m. followed by a 4 p.m. tipoff Saturday against the Argonauts. DSU will honor seniors
Cornel Knight,
Bobby Wallace,
Michael Weems,
Willie Readus and
Mike Washington during Saturday's clash with West Florida.
THE TIPOFF
The Statesmen cliched the Gulf South Conference regular season title for the first time since 2005-2006 after defeating Union 77-71 last Saturday. Delta State has a three game lead in the GSC race over West Alabama and North Alabama.
Thursday's game with Valdosta State will be the 36th all-time between the two schools. The Blazers hold a slim 18-17 edge in the series after DSU defeated VSU 72-68 earlier in the year.
Willie Readus had 19 points and 17 rebounds in the victory, while
Devin Schmidt scored 24 points with four assists.
Don't let their 6-18 record fool you. The Argonauts of the University of West Florida are one of the GSC's most dangerous teams. The Statesmen have won four in a row in the series after defeating UWF 71-57 in Pensacola, Fla., on Jan. 25 at The UWF Fieldhouse. DSU leads the 9-3 in the all-time standings.
Delta State enters the week ranked No. 22 in the National Association of Basketball Coaches Division II Top 25. The Statesmen slipped three spots from No. 19 last week.
The Gulf South Conference race for seeding is coming down to the finish with six teams still jockeying for position at the upcoming GSC Men's Basketball Tournament. West Alabama (12-6) and North Alabama (12-6) are tied for second with Christian Brothers (10-8) and UA-Huntsville (10-8) locked in a tie for third.
The Gulf South Conference Men's Basketball Tournament is set for March 7-9 at the Pete Hannah Center in Birmingham, Ala. DSU's six GSC championships are the most by any member institution. The Statesmen also own GSC records for postseason tournament appearances (26), wins (26), semifinal berths (17) and finals appearances (12).
DSU's resurgence has been fueled on the defensive end of the court, as the Statesmen continue to lead the GSC in scoring defense (65.8) and field goal percentage defense (39.4%) to the hardwood. DSU ranks 13th nationally in scoring defense and ninth in FG% defense.
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 75.4 points per game.
Since transferring from Jackson State,
Willie Readus has led the Statesmen to the top of the table in the Gulf South Conference. The powerhouse stands 6-foot-8 and weighs in at 265 pounds. His power is what sets him apart, as the league's leading scorer (19.8 ppg) and rebounder (10.9 rpg) looks to keep DSU in the title hunt.
Devin Schmidt, a true freshman point guard, is making a case for GSC Freshman of the Year. He is averaging 15.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game. His GSC numbers are even better, as the 6-foot-4 floor general is averaging 18.1 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game.
DELTA STATE CAPTURES GSC REGULAR SEASON CROWN
The Statesmen cliched the GSC regular season title. They opened the week with a victory over Christian Brothers (66-56). Then they fell on the road at North Alabama (97-89) before rebounding to defeat Union (77-71). Delta State has a three game lead in the Gulf South Conference race over West Alabama and North Alabama with two games to go.
Thursday's opponent Valdosta State sits in sixth place right now in the conference with a 9-9 record. North Alabama and West Alabama are tied for second at (10-6). They will play each other Thursday for sole possession of second place. Christian Brothers (10-8) and Alabama-Huntsville (10-8) are tied for fourth.
GSC BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT ON THE HORIZON
After this week's contests against Valdosta State and West Florida, the Statesmen will begin to prepare for the Gulf South Conference Men's Basketball Tournament. The three-day event begins Friday, March 7 at the Hannah Center on the campus of Samford University.
In an odd scheduling quirk, Delta State will turn right around and face West Florida in the first round. Game times have not yet been determined.
Delta State will be looking for its seventh GSC title at this year's tournament. DSU's six Gulf South Conference championships are the most by any member institution. The Statesmen also own GSC records for postseason tournament appearances (26), wins (26), semifinal berths (17) and finals appearances (12).
The Statesmen Sports Network will have complete coverage of the event beginning on Friday, March 7. Tickets are on sale now at www.GSCSports.org.
STATESMEN MOVE TO NO. 22 IN NABC POLL
Delta State slipped three spots in the latest National Association of Basketball Coaches Division II Top 25 to No. 22 after going 2-1 last week. DSU defeated Christian Brothers 66-56 and Union 77-71, but lost at North Alabama 97-86.
DSU has been ranked as high as No. 14 this season, its highest ranking since holding the No. 1 spot to end the 2005-06 regular season. DSU debuted in the NABC Top 25 at No. 24 on Jan. 7, 2014.
INSIDE THE VSU & UWF SERIES
Thursday's game with Valdosta State will be the 36th all-time between the two schools. The Blazers hold a slim 18-17 edge in the series after DSU defeated VSU 72-68 on Jan. 23 at The HPER Complex in Valdosta, Ga.
Willie Readus had 19 points and 17 rebounds in the victory, while
Devin Schmidt scored 24 points with four assists.
Don't let their 6-18 record fool you. The Argonauts of the University of West Florida are one of the GSC's most dangerous teams. The Argos are looking for a signature win to end the regular season.
The Statesmen have won four in a row in the series after defeating UWF 71-57 in Pensacola, Fla., on Jan. 25 at The UWF Fieldhouse. DSU leads the 9-3 in the all-time standings.
This week's games will also have a major impact on the NCAA South Regional rankings. VSU is 15-9 overall and looking to push their position forward in the standings. UWF is simply a must-win for DSU.
READUS MAKING CASE FOR NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Since transferring from Jackson State,
Willie Readus has led the Statesmen to the top of the table in the Gulf South Conference. The powerhouse stands 6-foot-8 and weighs in at 265 pounds. His power is what sets him apart, as the league's leading scorer (19.8 ppg) and rebounder (10.9 rpg) looks to keep DSU in the hunt for the GSC title.
In his last game, Readus, a senior from Morton, Miss., scored 20 points and hauled in eight rebounds to help DSU claim a 77-71 victory over Union. He has claimed 14 double-doubles on the year. In DSU's 75-57 win over Lee, Readus scored 20 points and handed out a career best four assists.
Readus, who ranks eleventh in the NCAA in total rebounds and tenth in double-doubles, is connecting on 51.6 percent of shots this year. He is 177-of-343 from the floor and an outstanding 160-of-213 (75.1 percent) from the free throw line. Readus has scored in double figures in every game, including 21 games with 16-plus points.
In his 14 double-doubles, Readus is averaging 21.4 points and 14.1 rebounds. His numbers are also markedly consistant against the GSC, where the power forward is scoring 20.3 points and grabbing 11.1 rebounds per game.
SCHMIDT STANDING OUT AS FRESHMAN
Devin Schmidt, a 6-foot-4 point guard from Sevierville, Tenn., has made a case for Gulf South Conference Freshman of the Year after leading DSU to an 22-4 record and No. 19 national ranking. The freshman is averaging 15.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game for coach
Jim Boone's Statesmen.
In his last two outings, the former Sevier County standout help the Statesmen to a 1-1 record scoring 20 points in the loss to North Alabama and 16 points in the win at Union. In DSU's 18 games versus the league, Schmidt is averaging 18.1 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game. Prior to GSC play, Schmidt was averaging 9.4 points per game.
In his first season in the GSC, Schmidt ranks eighth in scoring (15.6), ninth in rebounding (6.0) and fourth in assists (4.0) per game. His 1.3 assists/turnover ratio is sixth.
READUS SURPASES 500 POINTS THIS SEASON
Each game, senior power forward
Willie Readus inches closer to 500 points in just one season with the Statesmen. The transfer from Jackson State has scored 514 points for a 19.8 points per game average.
MADGEN TOPS 500
Jack Madgen, a sophomore shooting guard from Williamstown, Australia, eclipsed the 500 career points plateau after scoring eight points in DSU's 66-56 victory over Christian Brothers on Feb. 17 at Walter Sillers Coliseum. In two seasons for the Statesmen, Madgen has played in 53 games, scoring 522 points and dishing out 168 assists. He is also 74-of-197 from 3-point range, needing just 10 made 3-pointers to crack DSU's all-time top 10.
SCHMIDT MAKES 100-ASSIST MARK; CHASING BROWN
Point guard
Devin Schmidt dished out 11 assists in Delta State's last two games to become the first freshman player since the legendary Carl Brown in 1982-1983 to top 100 assists. Brown, an All-American and DSU's all-time leading scorer with 1,799 points, handed out 147 assists in his first season as a Statesman.
Schmidt has already passed numbers set by DSU's top two assist men as freshmen. Scott Nagy, who owns the school record with 549 assists, tallied 74 in 1984-1985. Chad Akins just missed out on breaking the career mark with 544. He totaled 75 as a freshman in 2006-2007.
IN EXTRAS
The Statesmen boast a 2-0 record this season in overtime. DSU defeated Eckerd 79-73 on Nov. 10, and Alabama-Huntsville 86-83 in Huntsville, Ala., on Dec. 21.
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. Through 26 games, the Statesmen are allowing a league-best 65.8 points and 39.5 percent shooting per game; ranking 17th nationally in scoring defense and tenth in field goal percentage defense.
OFFENSIVE IMPROVEMENT FOR THE STATESMEN
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 75.4 points per game, ranking fifth in the GSC. DSU has eclipsed the 80-point plateau 11 times this season.
WASHINGTON STEPPING INTO LEADERSHIP ROLE
Senior center
Mike Washington ranks second in the race to lead the GSC in field goal percentage. The Sanford, Fla., native is hitting on 56.5 percent of his shots this season after making 87-of-154 attempts. He enters this week's schedule averaging 9.2 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game.
WEEMS WAY
Senior shooting guard
Michael Weems enters this week's action ranking third in 3-point field goal percentage in the GSC. The Milwaukee, Wisc., native has nailed 28-of-65 from beyond the arc or 43.1 percent.
BIG CONTRIBUTIONS FROM SMITH, JR.
Sophomore forward Zelvin Smith, Jr., has made some major contributions for the Statesmen since the start of Gulf South Conference play. In DSU's 66-56 win over Christian Brothers, the Reserve, La., native scored nine points and grabbed six rebounds in a key stretch in the second half. He added 11 points versus Lee and had 12 points in a win over West Georgia.
CHISHOLM KEY COG OFF BENCH
Redshirt sophomore forward
Alister Chisholm has embraced his role for the Statesmen this season. In 26 games, the Toronto, Ontario native has scored 134 points for a 5.2 points per game average. He's also clearing 2.8 rebound and 12.3 minutes per game. Chisholm has scored in double figures six times with a career-high 16 points versus Champion Baptist.
SCORING MARGIN
Delta State enters Thursday's game versus Valdosta State leading the GSC in scoring margin at 9.6 points per game. DSU is holding opponents to 65.8 points per game, while scoring 75.4 per contest.
FREE THROWS & FEWER FOULS LEADING TO SUCCESS
There's no secret to the early success for the Statesmen this season. It's been the free throw line. In 26 games, DSU has attempted 685 free throws, which tops last season's total of 427 in 27 games, to our opponents' 375.
The Statesmen are 508-of-685 at the line for 74.2 percent. DSU is attempting 19.5 free throws per game, while the opposition is attempting 9.8 per contest.
A direct correlation for DSU's dominance at the line is its No. 7 national ranking in fewest fouls per game. The Statesmen have committed just 385 fouls this season or 14.8 per game. DSU ranks seventh out of 297 schools featured in the NCAA statistic.
NOT IN MY HOUSE
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 third in the league with 36 blocks (1.6 bpg), while Knight is fifth with 25 blocks (1.0 bpg).
BOONE TOPS 450-WIN PLATEAU
Statesmen head coach
Jim Boone claimed a memorable 86-82 overtime victory at Spragins Hall on Dec. 21, 2013 over Alabama-Huntsville to eclipse the 450 wins plateau for his career. His career record stands at 463-348, but he owns an outstanding 371-186 mark in NCAA DII play.
Boone (West Virginia State, 1981) is in his second season as head coach at Delta State (33-20). He guided the Statesmen to a 11-16 overall finish in 2012-13 in his first season at DSU.
STATESMEN CLAIM 1200th VICTORY
Delta State eclipsed the 1,200 win plateau after defeating Selma 90-71 and Champion Baptist 78-37. The Statesmen are 1,217-808-1 all-time, boasting the second most victories in Gulf South Conference history with 714.
