ARCATA — It's been awhile since the Lumberjacks have faced this week's visitors, but for a brief period in the late-1990's, Simon Fraser was a regular opponent on the Jacks' league schedule.
The SFU men's basketball team (2-1) – out of Burnaby, British Columbia – visits Arcata this week for the first time since 1999. Now officially a member of the NCAA Division II after years of consideration by the national organization, the Great Northwest Athletic Conference team will battle the Lumberjacks (3-0) at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Lumberjack Arena.
Saturday's game is the latter half of a doubleheader that starts with the women's 5:30 conference-opener against Sonoma State.
Tickets
All tickets are on a first-come, first-served basis and will be available on game day only. The doors open at 6 p.m. Prices are $15 reserved, $10 general admission, $8 for non-HSU students and children, and free for children under 2-years old and HSU students.
On-the-Air
Every Lumberjack basketball game is broadcast live over the local airwaves on KATA, 1340 AM, beginning with the pregame show 15 minutes prior to game time. Bicoastal Media Sports Director J.B. Mathers describes the action from courtside.
LIve Streaming
Audio and video are also streamed live over the Internet through the
hsujacks.com web site. UStream format allows an interactive chat between listeners during the webcast. The specific URL for access is located at
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/humboldt-state-athletics
Live Stats
All Lumberjack basketball home games can be tracked online by using the Live Stats feature on hsujacks.com. Real time statistics, momentum tracker and other information are included on the game viewer. The feature can be found at http://www.sidearmstats.com/humboldt/mbball/ .
Head-to-Head
Dead even at 2-2, with all games played during the PacWest era at HSU, the Jacks and the Clan will break the tie this week. Simon Fraser actually has a one-game edge, if an exhibition game in Burnaby that ended the 1999-2000 season is counted. That game was actually intended to be a league contest, but after the NCAA ruled against Simon Fraser's status as a Division II team, it turned into a non-counter won by the Clan.
Head Coach Steve Kinder
The "Kinder Era" began last year with a 26-4 record and a regular season conference title, finishing Kinder's inaugural season of 2010-11 with high standards to match in the future. But the National Coach of the Year hasn't been resting on his laurels, instead attending to the myriad of duties from recruiting to planning another run to the title. After serving as the Jacks' No. 1 assistant for the 20 seasons, Kinder took over for his mentor, Tom Wood, in 2010-11. As an assistant, he played critical roles in recruiting and coaching while helping the Jacks' 217-77 record achieved during the past decade. Kinder is a former HSU basketball player who was a member of the 1984-85 NCAC championship team. He previously served as a graduate assistant coach for the Lumberjacks (1986-88).
Projected Starters - Humboldt State
G - #4 Brandon Sperling, 6-3, Sr., Fresno
G - #2 Scott Clark, 6-4, Sr., Pleasanton
F - #21 Randy Hunter, 6-6, Sr., Santa Maria
F - #21 Kyle Baxter, 6-9, Sr., Sacramento
C - #5 Matt Lipski, 6-9, So., Ashland, Ore.
Projected Starters - Simon Fraser
G - #0, Matt Ravio, 6-0, Jr., Vancouver
G - #35, Justin Brown, 5-11, Sr., Vallejo
F - #3, Javari Williams, 6-5, So., Brampton, Quebec
F - #24 Ibrahim Appiah, 6-6, So., Montreal, Quebec
F - #30 Zack Frehlich, 6-6, Sr., Kelowna, British Columbia
Humboldt State in the National Rankings
No. 14 - NABC Division II Coaches Preseason Poll
No. 21 - Division II Bulletin Preseason Poll
Lumberjack Notes
Clear progress has been illustrated during the Jacks' pre-league games, from the exhibition game with Simpson College to Monday's win over Southern Oregon. Simon Fraser represents the most formidable test to date, a Division II member of the Pacific Wes Conference. "Our schedule was designed that way, with the exception of the Arizona game," Kinder said. "It feels like we're picking up speed every time out, facing a more difficult opponent each game." …Offensive balance has been one key to the Jacks' success thus far, with four players averaging in double figures and two more right around the 9.0 points per game mark. Senior guard Brandon Sperling tops the list, averaging 16.7 points per outing. …HSU continues to miss the services of a pair of 6-9 posts, Tavin Hurley and Greg Leslie. Both newcomers to the program have suffered lingering injuries, Hurley nursing a sore back and Leslie experiencing problems with a hand. Both are considered doubtful for Saturday's game. "Having both of those big guys our has an obvious impact," Kinder said. "If we could have even one of them back, it would help a lot."…Humboldt State's press, used only for the past two games, has already produced impressive numbers. Opponents have turned the ball over 67 times, averaging more than 22 giveaways per game. The Lumberjacks have turned the ball over only 29 times. …In it's third year serving as HSU's home court, Lumberjack Arena has proven to be another winning environment, as was it's predecessor, the East Gym. The Jacks have won 17 straight at home, and are 26-3 since moving day. The longest home-winning streak in Lumberjack history is 31 games, a mark that began towards the end of the 2001-02 season, continued through 2002-03, and extended into 2003-04.
Opponents' Notes
Simon Fraser is currently 2-1 overall, but has a game against Capilano University scheduled for tonight. The Clan will get ready to travel while the Jacks celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, an American tradition. …SFU defeated Notre Dame de Namur, 74-70, to start the season, then went on the road to face CCAA squads Sonoma State and San Francisco State. The SSU Seawolves dealt the Clan a 80-74 loss, but Simon Fraser rallied from a nine-point halftime deficit to defeat SFSU, 81-69, last Saturday. …Sophomore Javari Williams has been a scoring machine for the Clan, averaging 24.7 points per game. The 6-5 guard/forward also leads his team in rebounding with 8.0 per game. "Williams will be a focal point of our defensive plan, and we'll try to contain him as much as possible," Kinder said.
Kinder's Comments
"With all of the students home for Thanksgiving, our players have a chance to embrace the feeling of being locked in town together. They're really learning what it's like to be here behind the Redwood Curtain." …"Simon Fraser is a team that is more than capable of defeating anyone on a given night. They've proven they're the real deal."
