#22 GRIFFON MEN'S BASKETBALL WEEKLY PREVIEW

THURSDAY, JANUARY 7 – 6:00 PM VS EMPORIA
SATURDAY, JANUARY 9 – 7:30 PM VS WASHBURN 


LISTEN – GRIFFON SPORTS NETWORK – KFEQ 680 AM, 107.9 FM
WATCH – THEMIAANETWORK.COM/MWSUGRIFFONS
 

ST. JOSEPH – #22 Griffon Men's Basketball (6-1, 6-1 MIAA) started the new year strong with an 84-76 win at home against Fort Hays State last Saturday.  The Griffons will face Emporia State (5-2, 5-2 MIAA) on Thursday and then see #5 Washburn (7-0, 7-0 MIAA) Saturday to end the week.
  
  PREVIEWING THE GRIFFONS

• Griffon Men's Basketball has been ranked in the last three NABC polls, which is the first time they've appeared in that poll since the week of February 25, 2002 when they were no. 12.  In the decade of the 90s, the Griffons were ranked every year except for the 1995-1996 season, and got as high as #2 during the 1990-91 season.
• The 4-0 MIAA start they Griffons had to this season is the best since the 1998-99 campaign.  That team went on to win the MIAA regular season title recording a 14-2 league record and secured a birth in the NCAA South Central Region Tournament.
• Guard Tyrell Carroll joined the 1,000 point club for his career in the game at Northeastern State and becomes the 17^th Griffon all-time to do so. Carroll achieved the mark in just 63 games which is sixth fastest in Griffon history.  It took guard Larry Ingram just 50 games to do so from 1982-84 (1,107 points), followed by Randy Dickerson 1998-2000 (53 games - 1,164 points), Lamont Turner 2000-02 (58 games - 1,138 points), Damon Bailey 2001-03 (61 games - 1,086 points) and Mike Cornelius (62 games - 1,153 points).
• Carroll is third in the MIAA in scoring, averaging 19.8 per game and he is tied for sixth in assists at 4.0 per game.
• Sophomore, Will Eames, leads the MIAA in rebounds and is averaging a double-double per game at 15.4 points and 10.4 rebounds per game. He shoots 41% from the field, 35% from the three-point arc, and 76% at the free-throw line. 
• Offensively, the Griffons have six players averaging double figures in points.  In addition to Carroll and Eames; Jaron Thames (11.5), Reese Glover (11.3), Q Mays (11.0) and Caleb Bennett (10.4) are in double figures.
• Missouri Western leads the MIAA in the following categories: points scored per game (88), three point field goal percentage defense (26%), and offensive rebounds (41 per game).
• The Griffons are 43-34 all-time against Emporia State, including a 25-12 mark in games played in St. Joseph.  ESU has won the last two meetings at the MWSU Fieldhouse.
• Missouri Western was ranked fifth in the MIAA preseason poll.
• MWSU Head Coach Will Martin enters his first season at the helm after spending the last two seasons as the program's assistant coach.

 

 SCOUTING EMPORIA STATE 

• In the preseason coaches' poll, Emporia State was picked 12.
• Emporia State enters the contest on the heels of a 75-60 road loss to Rogers State. The Griffons defeated Rogers State 68-55 in overtime in their first game of the season.
• Senior, Jumah'ri Turner leads the Hornets in scoring averaging 14.7 points per game. He has a field goal percentage of 46% (37-79) and shoots 38% (12-31) from the three-point line.
• Austin Downing and Gage McGuire have been very impactful. Downing has averaged 12.7 points per game to go along with a total of 16 rebounds, 22 assists, and seven steals. McGuire averages 10.1 points per game with 35 rebounds, 9 assists, and four steals total.
• ESU as a team is averaging 71.4 points per game (10^th total) and leading the conference in scoring defense by giving up 64.6 points per game.
• The Hornets shoot 47% (3^rd MIAA) from the field and 35% (7^th MIAA) from the three-point line. 

 
Emporia State is led by Craig Doty, who enters his third season as the Head Coach. Prior to coming to Emporia, Doty was the Head Coach at Graceland University, where he won the 2018 NAIA Division I National Championship.

 SCOUTING #5 WASHBURN UNIVERSITY

• In the preseason coaches' poll, Washburn was picked third, two spots ahead of the Griffons.
• Washburn is ranked #5 in the latest NABC poll and they are one of two unbeaten teams in the MIAA. The Ichabods traveled to Northeastern State in their last game and rallied for an 85-84 overtime win.
• WU returns their top four scorers from last season; Tyler Geiman, Jalen Lewis, Drew Maschoff, and Jonny Clausing. Each of those players are in double digits for the Ichabods.
• Senior guard, Tyler Geiman ended last season averaging 15.2 per contest. He is averaging 17.3 points per game in their 7-0 run. Geiman ranks 8^th in the MIAA in scoring while shooting 52% (47-90) from the field and 38% (14-36) from the three. He also adds 6.7 rebounds per contest, 46 assists, and 14 steals.
• Senior guard, Drew Maschoff averages 12 points per game shooting 42% (24-57) from the field and 30% (8-26) from the three point line.
• WU ranks first in the MIAA in the following: three point percentage (42%), turnover margin (3.57), and assist/turnover ratio (1.29).
• WU ranks second in the MIAA in the following: scoring offence (82.9), field goal percentages (49%), and field goal percentage defense at (40%).
• Washburn's last contest vs the Griffons was in the first round of the MIAA tournament where the Griffons prevailed 72-70.

 
Washburn is led by Brett Ballard, who enters his fourth season. Ballard currently holds a 69-31 record as the Head Coach. Before coming to Washburn, Ballard was an Assistant Coach for three seasons for Wake Forest. Ballard has led the Ichabods to two NCAA postseason appearances twice in his first three seasons at WU.