This Week's Schedule
Wed., Jan. 5, 2011, 6 p.m. – ASHLAND (5-5, 1-4 GLIAC) at No. 1 Findlay (11-0, 4-0 GLIAC)
Sat., Jan. 8, 2011, 4 p.m. – ASHLAND (5-5, 1-4 GLIAC) at Urbana (2-12)
Following the Eagles
RADIO (at FINDLAY): 1340 WNCO-AM; www.wncoam.com; Ken Carman with the play-by-play
TELEVISION: SportsTime Ohio, Wednesday at 11 p.m.
LIVE STATS (at FINDLAY)
LIVE BLOG (at FINDLAY)
LIVE STATS (at URBANA)
A Look at the Eagles
The Eagles open the new year by traveling for a pair of games this week starting with a 6 p.m. tip-off at top-ranked Findlay on Wednesday (Jan. 5) at Croy Gymnasium. Ashland has not played a road game since a 68-64 win at Lake Erie on Dec. 11. On Saturday (Jan. 8), the Eagles travel to non-conference foe Urbana for a 4 p.m. game.
The Eagles played just one game from Dec. 20 through Jan. 4, a 76-69 win over Millersville at Kates Gymnasium on Dec. 30. Sophomore guard David Harris (Cincinnati, Ohio/Florida) and senior forward Kale Richardson (Carroll, Ohio/Bloom-Carroll) tied for the team high with 18 points apiece. Harris was 7-for-11 shooting, including a 4-of-5 mark from three-point range in the game. He hit all four of his three attempts in the second half. AU took a 24-17 lead after an 8-0 run in the middle of the first half and never trailed after that point.
Ashland was picked to finish fourth in the GLIAC South Division in the GLIAC preseason poll. The Oilers were picked first in the GLIAC Sorth and received all but two first-place votes. Findlay was third in the preseason National Association of Basketball Coaches poll in early November.
Head Coach John Ellenwood
John Ellenwood is in his second season guiding the Eagles and has compiled a record of 18-20, including an 11-17 mark in the GLIAC. In 2009-10, Ellenwood's Eagles were 13-15 and qualified for the GLIAC postseason for the first time since the 2007-08 season. Ellenwood won his 50th career game on Dec. 11 at Lake Erie. His career record is 51-68.
He was named the Ashland University head coach on April 2, 2009 after three years as the head coach at Division III Thomas More College in Kentucky. While with the Saints, Ellenwood improved the program dramatically. The year before he arrived, Thomas More had just two wins. In his first season, the Saints were 3-23, but improved to 11-16 and 19-9 in the two following years. In his final season, Thomas More won the regular season and conference title in the Presidents' Athletic Conference and advanced to the NCAA Division III tournament for the first time in school history. The 19 wins were the most since the program became a Division III institution. Ellenwood was previously an assistant coach at Ohio Wesleyan and Capital.
Ellenwood played collegiately at the College of Wooster from 1996-2000 and earned All-America honors in his senior season. In his time at Wooster, the Fighting Scots were 96-19 and advanced to the playoffs all four years. Ellenwood is the NCAC career leader in field goal percentage (65 percent) and holds the conference record for most field goals in a game without a missed shot (11).
The Eagle Eye
Senior forward Kale Richardson (Carroll, Ohio/Bloom-Carroll) is the Eagles' leading scorer and rebounder, averaging 15.3 points and 7.2 rebounds per game… he is 12th in the GLIAC in scoring and sixth in rebounding… he has been very efficient in all aspects on the offensive end, shooting 51 percent from the field, 40 percent (14-for-35) from three-point range and 78 percent from the line… Richardson leads the team with 15 steals and six blocks… he tied for a game-high with 18 points in AU's 76-69 win over Millersville on Thursday (Dec. 30)… he was 7-for-12 from the floor with three rebounds, two steals and two blocks… Richardson has been named to three straight All-GLIAC teams – the last two as a first-team selection. He was the conference's Freshman of the Year in 2007-08.
Sophomore guard David Harris (Cincinnati, Ohio/University of Florida) is seeing an increase in playing time with sophomore lead guard Ronnie Steward (Columbus, Ohio/University of Akron) and freshman guard DaWuan Thomas (Trotwood, Ohio/Trotwood-Madison) banged up… he scored in double figures for the second time this season with 18 points in Thursday's win over Millersville... he scored 16 of his 18 in the second half on 6-of-8 shooting and hit all four of his three-point attempts in the second half… the transfer from Florida has played at least 27 minutes in the last five games after playing just 44 in the first five games of the season combined… the 5-foot-5 Harris is averaging 7.6 points per game and is shooting 45.6 percent from the field… he ranks 10th in the league in three-point percentage (43.3 percent)… Harris and Steward are each averaging 2.0 assists per game… Harris scored a career-high 22 points (18 in the second half) in a comeback win at Lake Erie on Dec. 11.
Sophomore center Evan Yates (Cincinnati, Ohio/Walnut Hills) is third on the team in scoring, averaging 10.1 points per game… he is also second in rebounding with a 5.7 mark – that figure is 12th in the GLIAC… Yates is shooting 59.6 percent from the floor, which ranks third in the league… he led the Eagles with six boards in the win over Millersville… Yates and Richardson are the only two Eagles to have started all 10 games.
Junior center Cole Moore (Lake Orion, Mich.) is averaging 5.9 points in 16 minutes per game off the bench... he is shooting 65.6 percent (21-for-32) from the field, a mark that would lead the GLIAC with enough attempts.
Senior forward Justin Garris (Ledgewood, Ohio/NJIT) has scored in double figures in each of the last three games, raising his season scoring average to 7.6 points per game… he scored 11 points on 3-of-6 shooting in just 13 minutes against Millersville and pulled down a season-high four rebounds in the winning effort.
Junior forward Antoine Childs (Beaver Falls, Pa./Western Carolina) has played in all 10 games for Ashland and is averaging 5.0 points and 1.9 rebounds per game.
Steward has been solid as Ashland's lead facilitator with 20 assists on the season. He also has averaged 10.1 points per game and leads the team in minutes per game (32.2) – a figure that ranks fifth in the league… the transfer from Akron is shooting 88 percent (22-for-25) from the line… he has hit nine three-pointers and is shooting 39 percent from outside… Steward has turned the ball over just 16 times in 290 minutes played as AU's lead guard… he missed the game against Millersville due to injury.
Odds and Ends
The Eagles have shot at least 46 percent from the field in six of their 10 games and at least 50 percent in half their games. The Eagles shot 50.9 percent from the floor against Millersville on Thursday. Ashland is 4-1 when shooting at least 50 percent... The Eagles are shooting 49.4 percent in their wins this season and 41.5 percent in their losses… AU's defense has allowed just three teams to shoot 44 percent or better from the floor. For the season, opponents are connecting on 43.0 percent from the floor, which ranks sixth in the GLIAC... The Eagles are shooting 34.7 percent from three-point range this season… Seven players have played in all 10 games and 11 players are averaging at least 11 minutes per game… The Eagles have three players shooting at least 76 percent from the free-throw line – Steward (88 percent), Moore (81 percent) and Richardson (78 percent)… Ashland is limiting opponents to shooting just 30.1 percent from three-point range, the second-best mark in the GLIAC.
Facts and Figures
- This is AU's first road game in 24 days.
- Ellenwood has used five different starting lineups in the last five games... Harris, freshman guard Jordan Berlin (Wilmington, Ohio), senior guard Ryan Janer (Bay City, Mich./University of Detroit), Richardson and Yates started in the last game against Millersville.
- The Eagles have played in five games decided by five points or less, going 2-3 in those outings.
- The Eagles have blocked 24 shots this season – 15 have come from Richardson, Yates and senior forward Blake Saunders (Hinsdale, Ill./Sonoma State).
- AU is second in the GLIAC in defending the three-pointer, allowing opponents to hit just 30.1 percent from outside.
- The Eagles are last in the league in assist-to-turnover ratio with a 0.7 mark.
- The Eagles opened the season with a 3-0 mark. It was the first time since the 2004-05 season they had won their first three games.
- The Eagles had nine steals in each of the first three games this season.
- In AU history, Richardson is ninth all-time in points (1,435, three behind Greg Emmons for eighth), fifth in rebounds (635, 14 behind Chris Keshock for fourth) and sixth in three-pointers made (146, four behind Isaac Kincaid for fifth).
A Stacked Region
The GLIAC is widely considered one of the top athletic conferences in Division II for most sports. The GLIAC's sister conference in the Midwest Region, the Great Lakes Valley Conference, is known as a basketball powerhouse. This season is no different for either league. The GLIAC and GLVC contribute six teams in the Top 25 of the National Basketball Coaches Association poll, including four in the Top 8. Findlay is the top-ranked team in the country. Other Midwest Region schools included in the rankings are Bellarmine (No. 4), Hillsdale (No. 6), Kentucky Wesleyan (No. 7), Southern Indiana (No. 8) and Grand Valley State (No. 15). Ashland plays a total of five games against schools in the Top 25 this season.
Ashland vs. Findlay Series Notes
- The Oilers hold a 52-22 all-time series edge over the Eagles.
- Findlay has won six straight over Ashland.
- The Eagles last beat the Oilers on Dec. 1, 2007 in an 84-81 triumph at Kates Gymnasium. Richardson, then a sophomore, poured in a game-high 28 points, shooting 8-for-14 from the floor and hitting all 10 of his free throws. UF was ranked fourth in the country at the time.
- Ashland has not won at Croy Gymnasium since the 2001-02 season when the Eagles clipped the Oilers, 92-80. Findlay avenged the loss, beating the Eagles, 76-75, at Kates Gymnasium later in the season.
- Findlay swept three contests with Ashland last season, including a 100-90 decision in the first round of the GLIAC Tournament at Croy Gymnasium.
In the GLIAC Tournament game last season, Richardson scored 26 points on 10-for-18 shooting from the floor while pulling down seven rebounds. Moore and Bylynn Hatcher added 19 each for AU. Darius Brents had 12 points and eight assists. Findlay was led by Nathan Hyde, who totaled 26 points with six rebounds and converting all 12 of his free throw attempts. The game was all square, 40-40, at the intermission, but after the Eagles scored the first basket of the second half, the Oilers pulled away to lead by as many as 17 points.
Scouting Findlay
The Oilers enter the game as the top-ranked team in the country, the first time this season they have held that distinction. UF is 11-0 and 4-0 in the GLIAC, one of three teams in the South Division that are unbeaten in league play (Hillsdale and Wayne State are the others). Findlay is coming off an 88-49 win over Southwestern State at the Trip Sports Classic in Phoenix, Ariz.
Four players are averaging in double figures in scoring, led by senior guard Nathan Hyde, a Findlay native. He is averaging 15.2 points per game and has knocked down 22 three-pointers. Junior guard Kyle Caiola is averaging 12.9 points per game and is fifth in the GLIAC in three-point percentage with a .481 mark (13-for-27). He is also fifth in the conference in steals per game (1.8). Freshman forward Greg Kahlig is averaging 12.3 points per game, mostly coming off the bench for head coach Ron Niekamp. Sophomore guard Aaron Robinson is averaging 11.6 points per game. He was a prep teammate of Ashland's DaWuan Thomas at Trotwood-Madison High School.
Findlay has the top scoring offense in the GLIAC, averaging 84.5 points per game, while surrendering the fourth-lowest total at 66.5 points per game. While the Oilers are just fifth in the GLIAC in free-throw percentage (73.4 percent), they have four players in the top nine of that category as individuals. Kahlig is third in the league (89.7 percent), Hyde is fourth (88.2), Robinson is sixth (84.6) and Caiola is ninth (83.3). Also despite ranking third in the GLIAC in total rebounding, the Oilers have no players in the top 20 in the league individually. They do have seven players averaging at least three boards per game.
The Oilers are guided by Niekamp, who is in his 26th season directing the Findlay squad. He has a career record of 585-181 at UF and is 185-54 in GLIAC play at the school. In his tenure, the Oilers have won nine GLIAC South titles and five GLIAC Tournament championships. Findlay won the national championship in 2008-09 under Niekamp's guidance, the first men's hoops title in Findlay's history. The Oilers were a perfect 36-0 that season, the best season in NCAA Division II history. He was named the NABC Coach of the Year that season. Prior to his time at Findlay, Niekamp led three different Ohio high schools to the state tournament. He played at St. Henry High School and collegiately at Miami University (Ohio).
Ashland vs. Urbana Series Notes
- The Eagles lead the all-time series vs. Urbana, 3-0.
- Ashland topped the Blue Knights, 91-85, on Nov. 28 last season at Kates Gymnasium.
- Last year's game was the first matchup between the two schools since the 1979-80 season when Ashland beat Urbana, 114-96.
- The first matchup came in 1977-78 and the Eagles came away with a 93-70 win.
Richardson paced the Eagles in last season's 91-85 win with 23 points on 7-of-12 shooting. He hit three three-pointers and was perfect on six attempts at the line. Bylynn Hatcher had 17 points and Micah Fraction added 11 markers for AU. Blake Saunders added nine points on 4-for-6 shooting and four rebounds. The Eagles did not trail in the game after tying the game at 9-9 early in the first half.
Scouting Urbana
The Blue Knights entered the week with a record of 2-12 and have dropped five straight games. They are in their third season as a member of Division II and are currently independent. Urbana is coming off a 90-82 loss at Edinboro on Dec. 19. The Blue Knights lost, 70-68, at Gannon on the previous day. Saturday's game will be Urbana's first game at the Warren G. Grimes Center since a 79-70 win over Gannon on Dec. 4.
Sophomore guard/forward Robert Wilson is the team's leading scorer and rebounder, averaging 16.4 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. He is shooting 46 percent from three-point range this season. Junior guard/forward Sharif Muhammad is second on the team in those categories with averages of 11.8 and 6.7. Senior guard Charlton Conner averages nine points per game and is shooting 43 percent from three-point range.
Head coach Jeff Porter is in his third season at the helm of the Urbana program and is 22-46 in his tenure at the school. His first season was in 2008-09, the Blue Knights' first year at the Division II level and Porter guided the Eagles to a 6-21 record. The Knights were vastly improved last season, finishing 14-13 despite playing just six home games. Prior to working at Urbana, Porter was 58-30 as the head coach at Mercyhurst North East. He played collegiately at Geneva College, graduating in 2001.
On Deck
The Eagles return to Kates Gymnasium on Thursday, Jan. 13, for their first home game in the new calendar year when they host GLIAC South foe Tiffin at 5:30 p.m. Ashland will welcome Lourdes on Saturday, Jan. 15 at 7:30 p.m. The Eagles beat Lourdes, 71-50, in the season opener at Kates.
AU
MBB/BB
