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ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - Just five regular season games remain. The Griffs are off on Wednesday before returning home to host Missouri Southern on Saturday with tip time set for 3:30 PM. If you can't make it to the games, listen live on the Griffon Sports Network KFEQ 680 AM, on-line at gogriffons.com or on your mobile device via the Griffon Athletics App.
Griffon Notes
• This marks the 44th season of Griffons men's basketball
• This marks the first season in 25 years that the MWSU basketball team will be playing under a new head coach.
Brett Weiberg is in his first season at MWSU and 8th season overall. He is 138-100 as a head coach with the previous seven seasons being at Northern Oklahoma College. He is just the 4th head coach in MWSU history and had a 27-4 record last season at Northern (Okla.).
• The Griffons have been balanced in the scoring category with six players scoring six or more points a game. Three players average double digit numbers with
Ryan Devers leading the way at 16.8 points per game.
Cortrez Colbert and
Adarius Fulton are averaging 14.1 and 10.0 points respectively. Devers had his 16 straight game double figure scoring streak snapped against Lindenwood. He did score 35 points earlier this season which was the first time a Griffon did that since 12/19/10 when P'Allen Stinnett scored 33 against Washburn. The last player to score over 35 points was Reggie Bunch when he scored 38 on March 1, 2008 against Missouri Southern. He has scored in double digits in 20 of 22 games.
• The Griffons have struggled to rebound the ball getting outrebounded by 6.7 a game. They have just 31.0 rebounds to their opponents 37.7. In thier last two victories they outrebounded their opponents. They outrebounded Lincoln 39-19 with 10 coming on the offensive end of the floor. Against Southwest Baptist the outrebounded the Bearcats 44-30 with 13 coming off the offensive end of the floor.
• The Griffons have 62 less turnovers than it's opponents and 34 more steals. Eight players have at least four steals this season.
• The shooting very well from the free throw line making 70.9-percent (376-530) on the season. In the victory against Lioncoln they made 17-of-21 attempts. In their victory over SBU they made 38-of-50 for 76-percent. The 38 makes and 50 attempts. The record for free throws made in a game is 40 which was set against Central Missouri on February 1, 1992 and the record for free throws attempted is 52 against Northwest Missouri State on February 13, 1991.
• The Griffons are 4-1 since 1994-95 on February 15 going 3-0 at home and 1-1 on the road. The Griffons last game on the 15th was in 2012 when they fell 67-65 at Lincoln. Their last home game was in 2006 when they beat Northwest Missouri State 70-63 In St. Joseph. They have played Missouri Southern once on the 15th which was in 1995 when the Griffons won 83-67 in St. Joseph.
• The Griffons were picked to finish 11th in the MIAA preseason coaches poll and 12th in the preseason media poll while the Tigers were picked 1st in both preseason polls.
Coaches vs. Each Program - MSSU:
This marks the second meeting for coach Wieberg and the Missouri Southern Lions. Weiberg is 0-1 overall and 0-1 in Joplin. Missouri Southern head coach Robert Corn is just 22-24 overall against the Griffons since becoming the Lions head coach in the 1989 season.
The Series vs. the Lions
This is the 86th meeting between the two teams with Missouri Western holding slight lead in the series, 44-41. The Griffons and Lions have battled close as of late. MWSU's win on Dec. 7, 2011 was just the third by the Griffons in the last 13 contests. The Lions defeated the Griffons this seaosn in Joplin 105-71 and last season in Joplin, Mo. by a score of 95-69. MWSU is 33-11 at home and 11-30 in Joplin. The Griffons have lost eight straight in Joplin with their last victory coming on January 28, 2006 by a score of 80-63.
Record vs. Ranked Oppoents:
This season the Griffons are 1-2 against ranked opponents. Two of the three games were played in St. Joseph, Mo. The Griffons fell 82-64 against #13 Midwestern State on November 16 before defeating #15 Fort Hays State 82-79 on December 7. The Griffons fell 105-71 against #22 Missouri Southern in Joplin on January 25, 2014. The Griffons are getting outscored 88.7 to 72.3 in those games and outrebounded 41.0 to 25.7. They have turned the ball over 15 less times and have four more steals. They have struggled from the free throw line making just 43-of-72 attempts to their opponents making 74.7-percent (65-87). Ryan Devres has scored 13.3 points per game and snared 5.3 rebounds while
Cortrez Colbert has scored 10.7 points per game shooting 50.0-percent (11-22) from the field.
Taking Care of the Ball:
In order for the Griffons to be successful this season they have to keep the turnovers down. So far this season they have done just that turning it over just 203 times for an average of 9.2 per game. When the Griffons have turned the ball over less than their opponents they are 7-9 this season. When they turn the ball over the same amount of more they are 2-4. Their last two MIAA victories came when they turned the ball over more than their opponents. Against Southwest Baptist and Lincoln.
Dishing the Rock:
The Griffons have been very good at getting their teammates involved. Guards
Ryan Devers,
Cortrez Colbert and
Adarius Fulton have dished out 88, 64 and 35 assists respectively. The Griffons have 278 assists on the season and when they dish out 15 assists or more the Griffons are 5-2 this season and when they have less than 15 assists they are 4-11.
Got to Rebound:
With being undersized the Griffons have to rebound the ball. They are getting outrebounded by 6.7 a game. The Griffons have been outrebounded in all but four of their games this season. When they either outrebounded or keep the rebounding margin under ten they are 8-5 on the season.
Struggles on the Road:
The Griffons have struggled on the road this season going 0-9 and 0-8 in the MIAA. They are shooting just 39.9-percent (214-537) and are getting outscored 88.4-72.3. They have 62 less assists on the road and 21 less blocks. They do have 16 less turnovers and are even in steals but are getting outrebounded by 11.7. They have 207 personal fouls to their opponents 163 and have been outscored by 79 in the first half and 66 in the second half on the road. Devers is averaging 15.0 points per game while Fulton and Colbert are averaging 10.7 and 13.6 points on the road respectively.
Balanced Scoring
When the Griffons have four or more players score in double figures they are 7-5 on the season with all their losses coming on the road against Illinois-Springfield, Northeastern State, Emporia State, Pittsburg State and Missouri Southern.
Griffon Wins Against Top-25 Ranked Teams:
Since 2001-2002 the Griffons have defeated 15 teams that were ranked in the top-25 which includes their biggest upset yet on Dec. 7 in the fieldhouse when they defeated No. 1 Missouri Southern 75-67.
12/07/13 vs. #15 Fort Hays State - 82-79 OT
02/06/13 @ #17 Washburn - 79-74
01/12/13 vs. #24 Northwest Missouri State - 71-58
12/7/11 vs. #1 Missouri Southern - W, 75-67
12/11/10 vs. #6 Fort Hays State - W, 78-77
02/01/10 vs. #3 Fort Hays State - W, 75-69
02/24/09 vs. #2 Central Missouri - W, 55-49
12/18/09 vs. #12 Drury - W, 91-84 in High Desert Classic in Las Vegas
11/21/09 vs. #17 Central Oklahoma - W, 83-79 in Hillyard Tipoff Classic
2/19/05 @ #6 Central Missouri - W, 70-68
12/29/04 vs. #6 Washburn - W, 73-70
1/29/03 @ #18 Washburn - W, 68-67
1/23/02 vs. #13 Missouri Southern - W, 80-73
1/2/02 @ #4 Washburn - W, 95-92
1/30/02 vs. #11 Washburn - W, 73-71
2/4/02 @ #3 Northwest Missouri State - W, 64-59
Up Next
The Griffons return to MIAA action next week with a road contest on Wednesday, February 19 against Lincoln University in Jefferson City. Tip time is set for 7:30 pm. They will then be at home on Saturday, February 22 against NW Missouri State. This game will be Military Appreciation Day for the Griffons. Tip time is set for 3:30 pm.
