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USF Men's Basketball Weekend Preview
The University of Sioux Falls men's basketball will play in the entertainment capitol of the world this weekend when they compete in the 2012 D2 Vegas Showdown. They face McKendree University Saturday at 8p.m. and William Jewell College Sunday at 3p.m.
Follow the Cougars: Visit the "media" section of the USF men's basketball schedule for links to follow live stats, listen to the broadcast by KWSN or watch a live stream at tripsports.com
Quick Hits
The Series
Saturday will be the first meeting on record between USF and McKendree University in men's basketball.
Sunday will also be a first for the Cougars, when they face William Jewell College.
Edge on the Glass
The Cougars have dominated nearly every one of its opponents on the glass as they have been outrebounded just three times this season. USF carries a +7.8 margin on the boards and have won the rebounding battle in 17 of their last 18 outings. They are 16-5 on the year when outrebounding their opponent.
Heating Up
USF carries a four game winning streak into the weekend, having picked up a "W" in 13 of their last 14 contests.
Leaving a Legacy
Senior forward Skyler Bloch continues to be USF's most significant asset. In 24 games, he has recorded 404 points to pull within six (994) of reaching the 1,000 point career mark. Shooting the second highest field goal percentage on the team (56%), Bloch accounts for four of the Cougar's five double-doubles this season and has scored in double-figures in all but four games. He enters the weekend having posted 20 points or more in five of his last seven games, including two double-doubles within his last five contests. Bloch leads the team in scoring (16.8), rebounding (6.3) and minutes (656) played, while ranking second in free throw % (86.4) and 3-point % (46.4).
Transitional Tourney
The D2 Vegas Showdown consists of four teams, three of which are in transition to the NCAA DII and one institution in its first year of DII competition. USF, Minot State and McKendreee are in their final year of transition, joining the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) and Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC), next season, while the 2011-12 season marked William Jewell's first year competing in the GLVC conference of NCAA DII.
Finding Energy in Youth
Since his recent insertion into the starting line-up, freshman guard Bretson McNeal has contributed double-figure scoring in three of his four starts, including a career-high 16 point performance in USF's win at S.D. School of Mines. The Cougars are 4-0 since McNeal became a starter.
Strong Guard Play
In addition to McNeal efforts, A.J. Holland and Keith Cutler have been providing strong guard play for the Cougars. In the last three games along Holland has recorded 29 points, 12 rebounds and 14 assists, while Cutler has added 45 points, 13 rebounds and three assists.
Coach Statham
Over his 45 years at the helm of the McKendree program, Statham has amassed 1,043 victories. He is the only men's coach in college basketball history at the four-year level of any division to reach the 1,000-win mark. On Nov. 13, 2009, Statham collected his 1,000th career victory when McKendree defeated East-West University 79-49 in Lebanon.
Top Heavy
The top of McKendree's lineup accounts for more than 50% of the team's scoring, as four of the five Bearcat starters are currently averaging 10 or more points per game.
Neutral Site
The Bearcats may hold a bit of an edge in Saturday's game due to the matchup being played at a neutral site. McKendree has played in seven neutral settings, where they are 3-4 this season, while the Cougars have competed in just two, falling short in each instance.
Coach Holley
Coach Holley is the career leader in wins among HAAC basketball coaches. He's had twenty-four 20-win seasons (fourteen of his teams have had 25 or more wins and 4 have won 30 or more games). He ranks #3 among all NAIA coaches (over 260 schools) with 822 wins (including 735 at William Jewell). The 822 wins ranks him #7 among all active four-year college coaches (NCAA I, II, III & NAIA I & II - nearly 1300 schools). He is only the 14th NCAA or NAIA coach to win 800 or more games (he currently is #13 on the all-time list). He ranks #1 all-time in career wins among four-year college coaches at Missouri Colleges/Universities (Norm Stewart former University of Missouri coach is #2 on the list).
Strength of Schedule
Unlike the other three programs in the tournament, William Jewell played a full DII schedule this season as a member of the GLVC, where they recorded of 4-13 against conference foes like NABC No.8 Northern Kentucky University, who they fell to by four points on the road, and No. 2 Bellarmine University.
Fresh Legs
Rest could be an issue for the Cardinals, who will compete in their final conference game Thursday night against Rockhurst giving them just one day rest, not including travel time from Missouri to Las Vegas, before their first game. On the flipside, USF will not have played since last Saturday when they topped Minot State to complete a undefeated season at home.
Up Next
USF's will play in the Black Hills Transitional Tournament in Spearfish, S.D. which begins Thursday, March 1. If they win they will continue to advance, as the champion will be crowned Saturday, March 3.
