Related Links:
Faculty/Staff Appreciation – Saturday, Jan. 31, 7 p.m.
NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Statistics
UW-Platteville Men's Basketball Web Page
UW-La Crosse Men's Basketball Web Page
D3hoops.com
 
The second-ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater men's basketball team, currently riding a 10-game winning streak, continues Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play this week.
 
The Warhawks (16-2 overall, 9-0 WIAC) close out a stretch of four road games in two weeks Wednesday at UW-Platteville at 7 p.m. UW-Whitewater returns to Kachel Gymnasium, where it will play four of its final six regular season games, to host UW-La Crosse Saturday at 7 p.m. on Faculty/Staff Appreciation Night.
 
Wednesday – at UW-Platteville, 7 p.m.
 
UW-Platteville leads the all-time series, 104-101. The Warhawks have won the last eight meetings between the two teams, and have finished on the left side in 10 of the last 11. The Pioneers last defeated UW-Whitewater 65-59 on Feb. 9, 2011, in Platteville.
 
Back on Dec. 6, the Warhawks jumped out to a 16-6 lead and didn't look back in a 76-60 triumph at Kachel Gymnasium. Senior wing KJ Evans (Beloit, Wis./Beloit Memorial) registered 21 points and 10 rebounds to lead UW-Whitewater, while senior guard Quardell Young (Kenosha, Wis./Bradford) tallied 12 points, four assists and five steals, and eclipsed the 1,000-point mark for his career.
 
The Pioneers (13-5, 6-3) rank fourth in the conference in scoring offense (69.6 points per game) and are tied for second in scoring defense (62.3 ppg). UW-Platteville is among the conference's top defensive teams, also ranking second in field goal percetnage defense (43.1 percent), 3-point field goal percentage defense (30.9 percent) and blocked shots (2.67 bpg).
 
Seniors Jim Stocki and Jake Manning each rank among the league's top 10 in scoring and are tied for the team lead with 13.9 points per affair. Manning also leads the team and ranks among the top 10 in the WIAC in rebounding (6.4 rpg) and field goal percentage (57.4). Stocki leads UW-Platteville in 3-pointers made (34) and ranks fifth in the conference in blocks (10).
 
The Pioneers' starting line-up is rounded out by Boston Johnson, Cory Vaassen and Matt Oestreich. Johnson, who averages 11.3 points per game, also grabs 4.6 rebounds per contest and shoots 50 percent from the field. Vaassen leads the team in blocks (12), is second in rebounding (5.6 rpg) and is shooting 52.4 percent, while Oestreich leads the team in assists (54) and ranks fourth in the league in both assists and assist-to-turnover ratio.
 
UW-Platteville is coached by Jeff Gard, who is in his sixth year at the helm of the program.
 
Saturday – vs. UW-La Crosse, 7 p.m.
 
The Warhawks have won three straight against UW-La Crosse. Under head coach Pat Miller, UW-Whitewater is 26-4 against the Eagles, tied with UW-Superior for the program's most victories over one opponent in that span.
 
The Eagles (8-10 overall, 3-6 WIAC entering the week) rank ninth in the WIAC in scoring offense (62.4 points per game) and fourth in scoring defense (62.6 ppg). UW-La Crosse is ninth in the conference in field goal percentage (40.7), but is second in free throw percentage (73.9) and 3-pointers made (136).
 
Senior forward Cale Zuiker leads UW-La Crosse in scoring at 15.7 points per contest, good for fifth in the WIAC. He is also the team's leader in rebounding (6.2 rpg), 3-pointers made (38) and blocks (19). Senior guard Skylar Cameron is also in double figures in scoring at 10.1 points per contest, and leads the team in free throw percentage (80.4 percent).
 
Junior guard Jared Staege (8.4 ppg) leads teh team in assists (35) and ranks second on the team with 4.3 rebounds per affair. Senior guard Trent Schmidt leads the league in 3-point field goal percentage, shooting 50 percent (22-of-44) from long range. Junior guard Johnny Coenen leads the team with 22 steals, with Schmidt just behind at 21.
 
The Eagles are coached by Ken Koelbl. The 12th-year coach has led UW-La Crosse to seven winning seasons in the last nine years.
 
Last Week
 
The Warhawks downed UW-Stevens Point 59-44 Wednesday in front of a raucous crowd at Kachel Gymnasium to take sole possession of first place in the WIAC.
 
Senior guard Cody Odegaard (Poynette, Wis./Poynette) totaled 18 points to lead UW-Whitewater, which shot 55.3 percent from the field and hit seven 3-pointers while holding the Pointers to 33.3 percent shooting. Senior guard Quardell Young (Kenosha, Wis./Bradford) added 11 points and 10 assists, while senior forward Steve Egan (Omro, Wis./Omro) contributed 11 points, six rebounds and three blocks. Senior wing KJ Evans (Beloit, Wis./Beloit Memorial) tallied 14 points and five rebounds.
 
On Saturday, the Warhawks shot 66.7 percent en route to a 44-16 halftime lead and cruised to an 83-59 triumph at UW-Superior. Six players scored between eight and 12 points for the balanced Warhawks, who shot 54 percent and held the Yellowjackets to 32.8 percent from the field.