Game Notes
No more worries about looking ahead for Kentucky Wesleyan College. The moment is here, and the Panthers travel to the University of Southern Indiana tonight for the renewal of their cross-Ohio River rivalry at the PAC.
KWC is ranked No. 2 in the NABC Division II poll, while USI carries a No. 7 ranking into the matchup.
Tipoff is 7:30 p.m.
“It will be packed in there, and it should be a great atmosphere,” KWC coach Todd Lee said. “It's a quick turnaround for us. It will be a big test for us.”
The Panthers are rolling at 14-0 and 6-0 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. They have been an offensive powerhouse behind
Cardell McFarland and
Anthony Young.
The duo averages a combined 42 points a game.
KWC's scoring average (95 points a game before wins at Rockhurst and William Jewell) and margin of victory (25.4 points a game) were ranked second in DII.
KWC will face a very defensive-minded ballclub in USI (13-1, 5-1) that is also strong on the glass.
The Screaming Eagles were leading DII in rebounding margin (13.7), and they were fifth in scoring defense (56.2).
They didn't hurt the defensive scoring average by holding Rockhurst to 31 points in a 63-31 win last Saturday.
Brandon Hogg, a 6-foot-1 senior guard, leads the Screaming Eagles with 17.8 points a game.
Isaac McClure, a 6-6 senior, is scoring 15 points a game.
Hogg, Keynon Smith and Lawrence Thomas give Southern Indiana a quick group of guards who could cause a lot of trouble for the Panthers.
“Their perimeter is extremely quick, and they've got
five or six guards that they can rotate in,” Lee said. “They will guard on the ball and get in the passing lanes.”
Nine USI players average at least 13 minutes a game for Coach Rodney Watson.
KWC will have to be more careful with the basketball than it was at either Rockhurst or William Jewell.
The Panthers had 18 turnovers at Rockhurst and followed that with 17 at William Jewell.
“We can't continue to do that,” Lee said. “It will be big for whoever wins the rebounding and turnover battle (at USI).”
