Game Notes
Reeling on the heels of three Great Lakes Valley Conference losses in four games, No. 19 Kentucky Wesleyan looks to get back on track tonight when it hosts rival and No. 9 Southern Indiana in the regular-season finale at the Sportscenter.
The Panthers (19-6, 11-6 GLVC) will try to avenge the 72-57 defeat they suffered at the hands of the Screaming Eagles on Jan. 16 in Evansville.
Accomplishing this will not be easy, KWC head coach Todd Lee conceded.
“We have a difficult task in front of us, because USI's strengths line up with our weaknesses right now,” Lee said. “They love to bring pressure defensively, and the injury to (point guard) Cardell (McFarland) really hurts us in this area.
“Southern Indiana does a lot of things well, and they're one of the best defensive teams in the league. Our first objective will be to take care of the basketball, and our second is to rebound. USI is first in the GLVC in rebound margin.
“They're a very sound team, and we're going to have to play a near-perfect game to beat them.”
The loss of McFarland to a foot injury has hurt the Panthers in other areas, as well.
“Since Cardell's been out of the lineup, we've made 44 percent of our shots overall and only 29 percent of our 3-point tries,” said Lee, whose club was shooting right at 53 percent when McFarland was sidelined Jan. 21 with a foot injury. “We've got to get back on track in terms of scoring the basketball.”
Southern Indiana is led by swingman Brandon Hogg (15.9 ppg) and versatile forward Isaac McClure (14.1 ppg).
“Those two are a handful,” Lee said. “Hogg plays on the wing and is an all-league player. He's a great offensive player who can shoot the basketball. McClure does a little bit of everything for them, and he's a real energizing force for their ballclub.”
Backcourt play, however, may be where tonight's game is won and lost.
“USI has a lot of depth at guard, and that's one reason why they don't mind bringing pressure the entire game,” Lee said. “Obviously, we've got to take care of the basketball and give ourselves an opportunity to score at our end of the court.
'Their defense helps their offense, so we need to keep our turnovers to a minimum.”
Kentucky Wesleyan is led by 6-foot-7 senior forward
Anthony Young, who averages 20.4 points and 7.9 rebounds per contest. Also scoring in double-digits is senior guard
Brandon Johnson (12.7 ppg).
Following tonight's game, KWC is set to host a first-round game of the GLVC Tournament on Sunday afternoon at the Sportscenter — the opponent of which will be determined after tonight's action.
