Game Notes
Kentucky Wesleyan College will get back on the basketball court after its long Christmas break tonight when Lindsey Wilson comes to the Sportscenter.
The No. 4 Panthers had seven days to go home without any organized team activities as part of a break mandated by the NCAA for Division II schools.
They were able to get their first practice in on Tuesday, and KWC men's coach Todd Lee said the team looked to be in pretty good shape.
“We started doing some intense drills, and they were getting a little winded, but it hasn't been bad,” Lee said. “It's just a long time to be off. Injuries to hamstrings and things like that happen when you are off for eight days. They don't get as stretched as they should be.”
The Panthers (9-0) should get a challenge from Lindsey Wilson, which was ranked No. 18 in NAIA, and 9-3 going into Thursday's home game against Indiana-Northwest.
“We're going to have to defend their sets, and they've got guys who can really shoot the ball,” Lee said.
Chase Spreen, a 6-6 senior, averages 15.4 points a game for Lindsey Wilson, and Kalen Kimberland, a 6-foot junior guard, averages 15.3 points a game.
“They're well-coached, they're used to winning,” Lee said. “We've got to do a better job of how we're guarding in the halfcourt, and we've got to pay attention to what teams are running and what we're trying to take away from them.”
As they've done all season,
Cardell McFarland and
Anthony Young are the two leading scorers for the Panthers.
McFarland is hitting for 21.6 points a game, shooting 61 percent from the floor and 44 percent from 3-point range. The senior guard also averages 4.1 assists a game.
Young is scoring 20.8 points and pulling down 8.6 rebounds a game. He is also shooting 55 percent from the floor and 44 percent from 3-point range.
Center
Dominique Dawson is averaging 11.2 points a game and leads the GLVC in field-goal percentage at 75. Guard
Brandon Johnson is scoring 10.9 points a game and passes for four assists a game.
This game for KWC is also important because it will be the only live test for the Panthers before GLVC play starts on Jan. 5 when Drury comes to the Sportscenter.
“We've got a little time to work with,” Lee said. “We've added a couple of things offensively, and gotten rid of some other things. We're trying to figure out what works, what our guys feel good about running.”
