Game Notes
For the first time in the long and storied history between Kentucky Wesleyan and Southern Indiana, the two programs will meet as non-conference members Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. at the Sportscenter.
It's the first of two matchups during the non-conference season as the two long-time rivals agreed to keep the series alive despite KWC leaving the Great Lakes Valley Conference for the Great Midwest Athletic Conference.
The Panthers welcome the Eagles under less than stellar circumstances. Fresh off of two straight losses, coach
Happy Osborne on Monday confirmed that freshman point guard
Freddie Young is no longer a member of the basketball program. Meanwhile,
Donovan Johnson, Alex Brown and
Devin Langford remain suspended for a violation of institutional rules.
That makes three starters and the likely sixth man who will no longer be available for KWC against USI, which was ranked No. 18 in the Preseason National Association of Basketball Coaches poll.
"I think what we've got to do is just go play as hard as we can," Osborne said. "We're under no illusion that we're a big-time underdog. We're fighting an uphill battle right now with these guys. We've just got to play as hard as we can play, regardless of the score – work, play, pull for each other and be a team. Whatever happens, happens. First, we've just got to go play with great effort."
Expect sophomore Lucas Barker and senior Lonnie Hayes to take over duties at the point guard position now that Young, who started KWC's first two games, is gone.
Osborne declined to go into detail about Young's departure and didn't say whether he was dismissed or if he left on his own volition. He also declined to say whether or not to expect Young back.
So he'll march on with his team that remains, one that's gone from deep to thin. So thin, in fact, that freshman guard Logan O'Bryan, a Daviess County High School product, had his redshirt pulled and will suit up for the Panthers the rest of the season.
"I think he's going to be a good player before he's done here," Osborne said of O'Bryan. "He's a great kid. He gives us a little bit more athleticism. He gives us another person who can be a good defender. More than anything, he's a fantastic teammate."
With the defections, KWC is without three players in Johnson, Brown and Langford who could match up with USI and its size in the post. The Eagles start Aaron Nelson (6-foot-8, 249-pound) and Manny Ogunfolu (6-foot-7, 213 pounds) in the post.
Expect to see a lot of double teams from the undersized Panthers, which will counter in the post with Dominique Dawson (6-foot-8, 222 pounds), Jake Jenkins (6-foot-5, 215 pounds), Patrick Neel (6-foot-5, 205 pounds) and James Herzog (6-foot-5, 206 pounds).
Osborne said it's critical his team wins the battle on the glass and prevents transition baskets. He said his team could be 3-0 if it would have played better transition defense the last two games.
"They're one of the best rebounding teams in the country," Osborne said of USI. "They're very good inside. They're well-coached. Their guard play is strong. They shoot it well. I think they're one of the better D-II teams in the country."
Osborne said following Saturday's loss at Young Harris that several players were in tears, saying they're "tired of losing." He said on Monday that as the team prepares for an important game against USI, he sees the current players continuing to strengthen their bond amid adversity.
"I think they're coming closer every day," Osborne said. "They know that they've got an uphill fight. I don't think anybody on our staff, on our team is pointing fingers. I think we just take it day-by-day and encourage each other no matter what happens (Tuesday). If we stick together and do that long enough and hard enough and give our team time to improve, we'll be all right before it's said and done."
