Hornets expecting physical play in matchup with No. 15 Bearcats
By Jesse Newell
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
If going against No. 15 Northwest Missouri State is anything like going against NWMSU alum and ESU graduate assistant Jesse Shaw in practice, then Donta Watson knows ESU is in for a tough test on Wednesday.
“If there’s eight guys like Jesse, then it’s going to be like a football matchup,” Watson said. “That’s exactly the player he’s like. He has a never-say-die attitude, and that goes back to the Northwest program.”
The two top-15 squads will have their first of two meetings in a week on Wednesday, squaring off at White Auditorium. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
The Hornets already should be somewhat prepared for the type of players they will go against. That’s because in addition to Shaw — who brings that physical-type play to practice everyday — assistant coach Ben McCollum also is a graduate of NWMSU.
“We’ve been told Northwest has tough defenders and has great team intensity, just like coach McCollum and Jesse bring,” ESU forward Jordan Fithian said. “I like that physical type of game. It’s hard not to play at that same level when you play a team like that.”
The game should feature two extremely different styles of play. ESU comes in as a run-and-gun team, leading the MIAA at an 88.6 points-per-game-clip.
Meanwhile, Northwest enters leading the conference in defense, allowing just 57.1 points per game.
ESU coach David Moe said NWMSU was traditionally a tough team to play because it did not defeat itself.
“To beat Northwest, you’ve got to play together and be more together than they are,” Moe said. “They go with the ultimate team concept, and that’s why they win. They swept us last year because they did the little things.”
It will only be ESU’s second game against a ranked foe this season. The other — an 86-71 win over No. 15 Fort Hays State on Dec. 9 — came before the Tigers dropped out of the Top 25.
The Hornets’ 16 wins still have come against teams with a combined winning percentage of .512.
ESU enters with momentum after defeating Missouri Western, 88-76, in St. Joseph, Mo. on Saturday.
After entering halftime tied at 38, the Hornets used a 21-2 run to pull away. Twelve of those points came from Andrew Davison, who provided a spark off the bench with four 3-pointers during that stretch.
“If I am a secret weapon, that’s fine,” Davison said. “Hopefully, I’ll stay a secret all year.”
One concern for the Hornets might be their tendency to start games slowly. For the second consecutive contest, ESU struggled in the first half before pulling away in the second.
The Hornets know they might not have the luxury of getting away with a ragged start against an opponent like Northwest.
“We definitely want to get our mojo going in the first half,” ESU guard DeAndre Townsend said, “because we know we can do it in the second half.”
Northwest picked up its second conference loss on the season Saturday, losing to No. 3 and undefeated Central Missouri on the road, 69-55.
The Bearcats are in the midst of a brutal schedule where they face ESU and UCM — the league’s two top teams — in four of five games.
Six-foot-8 forward Hunter Henry leads NWMSU, averaging 18.1 points and 7.5 points per game.
ESU has won only three games in the last 15 meetings, but both of those victories have come at White Auditorium.
On the women’s side, the Lady Hornets look to rebound on Wednesday from their 63-53 loss to No. 3 Missouri Western.
After the Lady Hornets played perhaps their best game of the year last Wednesday against Missouri Southern, ESU coach Brandon Schneider was left disappointed when his team struggled offensively in Saturday’s setback.
“Our execution on the offensive end,” Schneider said, “was as poor as it’s been all season.”
The Lady Hornets made just one of their first 18 shot attempts, then made only two field goals in the final 7 minutes, 58 seconds against Western.
Northwest enters with an 11-6 record and a 4-4 mark in the MIAA. The Bearcats opened the season 8-1 but have gone just 3-5 over their last eight games.
Guard Meghan Brue leads the offense, averaging 13.1 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. Her scoring has gone up to 15.4 points-per-outing in conference play.
Schneider said the Bearcats present a different challenge from other MIAA teams because of their style of play. Northwest likes to pressure the ball, force turnovers and put up quick shots to pick up the tempo of the game.
ESU has posted a 13-2 record when returning to White Auditorium following a loss under Schneider.
Both ESU and NWMSU will become familiar with each other quickly, as the two teams will meet again a week from Wednesday in Maryville, Mo.
Watson wins MIAA
player of the week
For the second time in three weeks, ESU’s Donta Watson was honored with the Wilson/MIAA men’s basketball player of the week award.
Watson, a 5-foot-11 senior, averaged 28 points, 3.5 assists and 3 rebounds in the Hornets’ two victories last week.
The guard equaled the high-scoring mark in the conference with 33 points in ESU’s 105-67 win against Missouri Southern last Wednesday. He scored 17 points in the first 5:12 of the second half and finished the stanza 6-for-6 from three-point range.
He led ESU again in scoring on Saturday, posting 23 points and four assists in the Hornets’ 88-76 triumph over Missouri Western.
Watson scored 13 of ESU’s first 22 points in that contest.