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SETTING THE STAGEThe Southern Arkansas men's basketball team is back at home after playing their first road game of the season this past Monday night. In that road game, the Muleriders drained 15 three-pointers, but ultimately fell to Texas A&M-Commerce by a score of 93-85. SAU's return home is a welcomed one as the Muleriders are set to play host to a pair of pivotal early season conference games against the past two GAC Tournament champions in Harding and Ouachita Baptist. Last year, the Muleriders went 3-1 against
these two teams with SAU sweeping the season series with OBU.
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SCOUTING HARDINGABOUT HU:The Harding men's basketball team enters play this weekend with a 3-3 overall record and are 1-0 in conference play. The Bisons are currently on a two-game losing streak,
having dropped their last two games on either last second or buzzer-beating shots.
Thus far, the Bisons are averaging 78.8 points per game, which ties them with the Muleriders' scoring output to date. Currently, four Bisons average double figures with Andraz Kavas leading the team and ranking fourth in the GAC in scoring at 20.8 ppg. The GAC's top free throw shooting team, Harding has converted on 78% of their
charity stripe opportunites. The Bisons are also the top assist team in the GAC as they average 19.0 assists per game. Along those lines, Harding is second in the GAC in assist/turnover ratio at 1.5.
COACH:The Bisons are coached by Jeff Morgan, who is in his 22nd season at Harding. He currently holds a 367-240 carrer mark.SCOUTING OUACHITA BAPTIST
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SOUTING OUACHITA BAPTISTABOUT OBU:The Ouachita Baptist men's basketball team is off to a fast start to their season as they enter their portion of conference play this weekend with a 4-1 overall record. The Tigers opened up the season 3-0 before dropping their first game of the year to Southwest Baptist in the first game of the Arkansas Tech Thanksgiving Classic.
Through their first five games, the Tigers have shown that they have a team that can score as they have scored 90 or more points three times and are currently averaging
90.8 points per game, ranking them first in the GAC. As a by-product of that high team average, the Tigers currently have three players averaging over 14 points per game
and four other players averaging eight or more points per game. Tirrell Brown is the current GAC Player of the Week and he leads the team and ranks second in the GAC
in scoring at 24.0 points per game. His .867 field goal percentage currently leads all of Division II.
One of the most overall efficient teams thus far, the Tigers ranks first in the GAC in both overall field goal percentage (.508) as well as three-point field goal percentage (.427). Additionaly, the Tigers lead the GAC in steals (12.6 spg), turnover margin (+11.8) and assist/turnover ration (1.6) while ranking second in the GAC in field goal defense (.399), rebounding (38.0 rpg), and assists (16.6 apg).
COACH:The Tigers are coached by Dennis Nutt, who is in his 10th season overall and his fourth season at OBU. In his three seasons at OBU, Nutt has amassed a 46-42
overall record. In 2012-13, Nutt guided the Tigers to a GAC Conference Tournament Championship. Overall, Nutt has a 118-138 record.
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ABOUT SAU:
YEAR THREE OF THE PROCESSHead coach
Andy Sharpe is now in his third year at SAU and he looks to have his program make another step in the right direction in 2014-15. Last year saw many improvements within the program as the win total increased from the year prior, but also last year saw the Muleriders win their first conference tournament game since the 1999-2000 season. This year, Shapre returns five players from a year ago along with adding nine talented newcomers to the mix.
WE MUST PROTECT THIS HOUSE!In the two years that
Andy Sharpe has been at the helm of the men's basketball program they have placed an empahsis on winning at home. As a result, the Muleriders are currently 20-12 at home under Coach Sharpe.
WILLIAMS W/THE "HOT" HAND FROM DEEPSenior guard
Chauncy Williams is in his second season with the Muleriders and through his time on the court, Mulerider fans know that he can get red-hot from long range. In SAU's game against Texas A&M-Commerce, Williams gave that statement a whole new meaning as he buried eight three-pointers. The eight makes from long range were the
most by a Mulerider since the 2006-07 season when former player Brandon Williams hit eight trifectas as well.
RUNNING THE POINTAfter not starting SAU's opening game, but eventually logging 38 minutes in the overtime loss to Southern Nazarene, junior transfer
Jaron Davis has started the last three games at point guard for the Muleriders. In those three games, Davis has been a scorer as well as a distributor as he his averaging a team-high 15.0 points per game and 4.3 assists in that time.
GO DJ, YEAH THAT'S MY DJJunior guard
DJ Frye is in his first season with the Muleriders, and thus far he has started all four games for SAU and is third on the team in scoring at 10.5 points per game. A physical 6-5 guard, Frye is a threat to drive through the teeth of a defense and he is currently shooting at a .429 clip with all of his makes coming inside the three-point line.
WHAT CAN BROWN DO FOR YOU?!Senior forward
Alre'k Brown returns after his dominant junior campaign in which he burst onto the scene for the SAU basketball team as he established himself as one of the best big men in the GAC. In that breakout year, Brown would rank in the top-five in the league in Blocked Shots (1st | 2.4 bpg), Field Goal % (3rd | .626), and total Rebounding (4th | 7.4 rpg) while also ranking 16th in the GAC in scoring with 12.4 ppg. This season, Brown is currently averaging 7.8 points per game and 7.0 rebounds per game. His
.542 shooting percentage (13-of-24) ranks first on the team.
MASKED MULERIDERIn the first minute of the first game of the season, junior transfer
Alvin Braddock suffered a broken nose as he went for a rebound. That injury caused Braddock to miss the next two games, but the Kankakee, Ill. native made his return to the Muleriders' starting lineup against Texas A&M-Commerce this past Monday night donning a protective mask.Â
In that game, Braddock showed signs of what he can do on the court as he scored six points and pulled down eight rebounds in 15 minutes. Six of those eight boards came on the offensive glass as well.
