Game notes
The Kentucky Wesleyan men's basketball team couldn't secure a regular-season G-MAC crown, but there's still work left to do for the Panthers.
KWC will close the regular portion of its season with a two-game conference homestand, beginning with a matchup against Salem International at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday at the Sportscenter. Though Alderson Broaddus already secured the top seed in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference — and thus, will serve as tournament host — the Panthers remain in the midst of a battle for seeding purposes.
But according to second-year KWC coach Happy Osborne, it isn't the tournament seeding he's concerned with — he simply wants as many wins as the Panthers can get.
"Here we go, we're down to the last week," Osborne said. "We've got this and the conference tournament. I'm not a bit worried about these guys playing three days in a row, I think it would be good for them. That way, they don't have too much time to think. You've seen us if we have time to think.
"If we could, somehow, someway, end this thing with five more wins, that would be a great way to end it. Then you just wait to see what happens (with the NCAA Tournament). If we could get to that 24-7 mark, it would be awesome."
That process begins with a meeting against Salem International (3-19, 1-11), which lost 78-65 at home to the Panthers on Dec. 6.
The Tigers are led by 6-foot-3 senior guard Tyler Bell, who scores 12.6 points per game. Other expected starters include 6-8 freshman forward Gerard Tarin (10.1 ppg, 7 rpg), 6-9 senior center Abel Tillman (9.2 ppg, 4.7 rpg), 5-11 senior guard Matt Thomas (7.6 ppg) and 6-3 senior guard Christopher Miller (3.5 ppg).
Salem International has struggled for most of the year, but Osborne knows his team can't afford even the slightest of slip-ups now.
"They can shoot the 3, they're always scary," Osborne said. "They've got a center now that wasn't eligible the first time we played them. Our good is pretty good, but our bad is horrific. We don't have time for bad anymore. We need to move forward. The last thing we need is to not be focused or ready to go. This is the start of something good to end this thing right."
The Panthers will continue to rely on leading scorer Ken-Jah Bosley, a 6-1 sophomore guard who scores 17.8 points per game. Other expected starters are 6-5 junior forward C.J. Blackwell (12.5 ppg, 5.4 rpg), 6-1 junior guard Marcus Fillyaw (7.7 ppg, 4.3 apg), 6-5 junior forward Tre Boutilier (5.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg) and 6-2 senior guard Hikeem Stewart (3.8 ppg).
A win on Thursday would also give KWC 20 wins for the fourth season in a row.
"I'm used to more than 20 (wins), and more importantly, Kentucky Wesleyan is used to more than 20," Osborne said. "Right now, I'd love the opportunity to get that number to 24, and we'll go from there."
