Caleb Tegtmeier knows a key ingredient in Emporia State’s early-season success has been mostly missing over the last month.
The Hornets are about to get it back on Wednesday.
After playing eight of its last 11 games on the road, ESU will play the first of four consecutive home games on Wednesday, taking on Pittsburg State at White Auditorium.
In the Hornets’ 16-0 start, 12 of those victories came at home.
“We played a lot of home games then, and the atmosphere was so good,” Tegtmeier said. “I think it led to a lot of our road wins.”
Now, in what Tegtmeier describes as a “funk,” ESU will look to regain some confidence in the place where it all started.
ESU has dropped three of its last six games, with all those losses coming to ranked opponents.
Pittsburg State won’t be a rollover, either. The Gorillas (13-10, 6-8 MIAA) dominated No. 13 Northwest Missouri State in a 74-56 victory at home on Saturday.
NWMSU gave ESU two of its three losses.
“Talent-wise, Pittsburg is as talented as any team in the conference,” Tegtmeier said. “Their big guys, when they want to be, can be really tough.”
They were against the Bearcats, as 6-foot-7 Ed Morris made 8 of 9 shots on his way to a 20-point, 15-rebound performance.
Cory Abercrombie, who leads PSU with a 14.4-point average, added 17 points and eight rebounds.
Meanwhile, Tegtmeier and fellow forward Jordan Fithian will need to avoid fouls better than they did last weekend.
In ESU’s 88-79 loss to No. 5 Central Missouri on Saturday, the two had three fouls apiece in the first 8:42 of the contest, with Fithian fouling out 35 seconds into the second half.
“That’s definitely a focus for me especially,” Tegtmeier said. “Every game it seems like we find ourselves in a bad position. With their two guys inside, we’re going to need as much time on the floor as we can get.”
With the foul problems, ESU allowed a combined 41 points and 21 free throws to UCM’s three big men.
“We complain about the refs a lot, but really it’s mostly our fault,” Tegtmeier said. “We need to stay focused, and with every foul, get our money’s worth. I haven’t been doing that lately.”
Wednesday’s game will start a frantic stretch for ESU, as the team will play four games in the next eight days.
The Hornets also have a rivalry game with Washburn and a rematch with No. 5 Central Missouri all upcoming in the next week.
Still, ESU guard Dustin Andrews said the team wasn’t getting ahead of itself.
“When you get this far,” Andrews said, “you can’t look past any games.”
ESU coach David Moe will be going for his 100th coaching win with the Hornets. His current record is 99-65.
On the women’s side, ESU will look to bounce back from a disappointing 65-59 loss to Central on Saturday.
The Jennies (13-9, 6-7 MIAA) ended the contest on a 12-2 run.
“To lose one to a team with a losing (conference) record is a punch in the gut,” ESU coach Brandon Schneider said.
ESU led 33-23 at halftime before surrendering the lead late. The Lady Hornets were out-rebounded, 42-39, and also missed nine layups in the second half.
“In this conference, those things add up,” ESU junior Michelle Stueve said. “You’re not going to get a win every night if you don’t do the little things first.”
PSU (9-13, 4-10) enters having lost its last four games.
The Lady Hornets defeated the Gorillas, 75-56, in the teams’ first meeting in Pittsburg on Jan. 6.