ARCATA — Each step up through the preseason has led the Humboldt State men's basketball to the next lofty level, but this week it will take a leap to move on up again. Head coach
Steve Kinder's plan has brought the young Jacks successfully to their greatest challenge, the California Collegiate Athletic Association season.
Complete Notes Packet
Thursday's home game against UC San Diego opens league play for the Lumberjacks (4-1), who are riding a four-game winning streak. The Tritons already started the CCAA season with a 77-73 overtime loss to CSU San Bernardino, and are 3-1 overall. Tip-off in Lumberjack Arena is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
On Saturday HSU faces that same CSUSB squad that defeated the Tritons and was the preseason favorite to win league in a poll of CCAA coaches. The Coyotes are 3-1 overall and 1-0 in league, their only loss a 78-74 decision to Washburn University in the season-opener. The teams get going at usual listed start time of 7:30 p.m. as the second half of a doubleheader that begins with the women's game at 5:30 p.m.
Track the Jacks
Audio: Every Humboldt State men's basketball game is broadcast live on the local airwaves on KATA 1340 AM, the North Coast's ESPN affiliate owned by BiCoastal Media. J.B. Mathers handles the play-by-play responsibilities, beginning with the pregame show 15 minutes prior to tip-off. The audio is also streamed live online at
http://socialstreamingplayer.crystalmedianetworks.com/radio/kataam.
Video: HSU Athletics offers live streamed video online, coming direct from Lumberjack Arena at
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/humboldt-state-athletics.
Live Stats: Follow the action online via Humboldt State's live statistics viewer, located at the following link:
http://www.sidearmstats.com/humboldt/mbball/.
Head-to-Head History
UC San Diego got the better of the Jacks in 2012-13, shaving Humboldt State's advantage in the historical series to 12-5. The Tritons edged HSU 72-69 early in the season in Arcata, then took down the Jacks, 71-60 at La Jolla later in the season. …Humboldt State also lost both ends of its home-and-away against CSU San Bernardino, falling 70-65 in Lumberjack Arena and losing 93-68 in the Coyotes' territory. HSU trails in the all-time series, earning six wins to CSUSB's 15.
Statistically Speaking
Three hundred and five schools and their variable rosters of athletes will be sorted weekly in the NCAA Division II statistical rankings. Here's a look at where the Jacks rank, team-wise and individually, in selected national and CCAA categories following five games.
Putting Up Points
Teams scouting HSU might have a difficult time focusing on a single offensive weapon. Though
David Howard (21.4 ppg) has emerged as the Lumberjacks' leader, four other teammates are also averaging in double digits. As a team, the Jacks top the CCAA in scoring with an average of 94.6 points per game, a mark that ranks 16th in the entire nation. …Individually, Howard leads the league in double-doubles and is second with a 68.7 field goal percentage. …Recent weather in 3-point land has featured a wet/dry cycle that began with an atrocious 1-for-24 performance in Tuesday's win over Pacifica before the sky burst open with a 10-for-19 effort in Saturday's victory over Simpson University. Freshman
Parker Farris found his range, draining six 3-pointers. "They were definitely contrasting nights," Kinder said. "Shooting can be unpredictable like that. It's one of the reasons we concentrate so much on improving our defense."
On The Other End
Defense is definitely an area the Jacks would like to quickly improve upon. Opponents are averaging 86.4 points per game and shooting 52.9 percent from the field, marks that rank 11th and 12th, respectively, among CCAA squads.
Injury Update
No new injuries were reported this week, but the prognosis on a possible return for
Brett McConnell appears positive. The senior from Mountain View underwent successful knee surgery, and could return to the floor by mid-January if rehabilitation goes well. …
Austin Bryan and Rocky Brown have also had surgery this fall.
Ethan Dillard's broken elbow did not require surgical repair.
Probable Starters
Lumberjacks
#4
Parker Farris, 6-4, 180, Fr., G, Arcata
#10
Jordan Mackie, 6-6, 190, Jr., G, Los Angeles
#15
Brandon Pomrehn, 6-8, 230, Jr., C, Arcata
#25
Allan Guei, 5-9, 163, Jr., G, Los Angeles
#32
David Howard, 6-7, 230, Jr., F, Chicago
UC San Diego
#10 James McCann, 5-11, 165, Sr., G, Carlsbad
#11 MacKenzie McCullough, 6-4, 195, Sr., G, Sacramento
#12 Adam Klie, 6-4, 190, Fr., G, Anchorage, Alaska
#14 Drew Dyer, 6-6, 210, So., F, Aurora, Colo.
#15 Aleks Lipovic, 6-4, 185, Fr., G, Capistrano Beach
CSU San Bernardino
#00 Teven Harris, 6-8, 225, Jr., F, Dallas, Texas
#1 Kirby Gardner, 6-2, 215, Sr., G, Rialto
#12 Juan Martinez, 5-9, 175, Jr., G, Riverside
#13 Lacy Haddock, 6-2, 185, Sr., G, Las Vegas, Nev.
#22 Joshua Gouch, 6-5, 185, Sr., G/F, Columbus, Ohio
Scouting the Opposition
In the preseason coaches' poll, UC San Diego was picked to finish 11th among the 12 CCAA schools, but the Tritons don't look like they're buying into that prediction. Their wins include a 77-59 victory over Academy of Art, an opponent HSU has also defeated. …Forward Drew Dyer tops the Tritons with an average of 15.3 points per game, one of five players putting up double digits on a regular basis. …Known for their board-crashing penchant, the Tritons are getting 7.7 rebounds per game from Zach McMillan and 7.3 from Dyer. …CSU San Bernardino is off to the start expected of last year's CCAA regular season runners-up. The Coyotes are already 2-0 in league, following their defeat of the Tritons with a 62-53 road win over defending champion Cal Poly Pomona last week. …Senior guard Lacy Haddock has been CSUSB's top scorer, averaging 14.5 points per game. The 6-2 transfer from Central Washington has also distributed 27 assists while committing only 12 turnovers.
Kinder's Komments
"Something I really like about our players is they've embraced the culture of our basketball program, and that includes how they conduct themselves on the court, in the classroom and in the community." … "We're fortunate to be playing at home for our first two conference games. I'd like to see a packed Lumberjack Arena, which would provide a homecourt edge against two very good teams."
