Capital Crusaders vs Heidelberg Student Princes
Listen live at 7:30 PM at www.heidelberg.edu/whei, or if you're in the listening area 88.9 FM WHEI. Josh Stallings and myself will have the call.
Projected Starters:Heidelberg: 1-2, (0-0)
PG: #2 Dane Givner
SG: #1 Quinten Aden Jr.
SF: #5 Darion Capers
PF: #40 Nate Davis
C: #25 Victor Fortkamp
PG: #5 Adam Blake
SG: #4 Kelly Winter
SF: #24 Michael Sommer
PF: #40 Spencer Niekamp
C: #34 Jared Cashen
'Berg player to watch: Dane Givner, although only averaging 10 PPG so far this season, Givner is a leader on this team as well as a proven scorer and defensive threat. Givner will be matched up on young freshmen PG Adam Blake, so look for the crafty Junior to have a big game.
Capital player to watch: Michael Sommer, averaging 13.5 PPG early in the season, and shooting a very healthy 42% clip from beyond the arc, Berg's perimeter defense will need to be at it's best to limit Sommer from going off.
Key match-up: Berg's Nate Davis vs Capital's Spencer Niekamp and other bigs. Davis led the OAC in block's last year and the junior is a perennial All-OAC defensive player of the year. Niekamp on the other hand is a great post scorer, leading the Crusader squad with 16.3 PPG, also watch because he is capable of shooting the 3-ball (7-20 this season).
OAC Standings update: Since the in-conference season has yet to kick-off, Heidelberg is 8th in non-conference record at 1-2, and Capital ranks 6th.
Team Statistical breakdown:
'Berg - Capital:
Scoring Offense: 64.5 (8th) - 69.5 (5th)
Scoring Defense: 74.3 (7th) - 69.2 (5th)
Shooting %: 47.1% (2nd) - 41.5% (8th)
Opposing Shooting %: 44.9% (7th) - 44.8% (6th)
3 Pt %: 31.2% (5th) - 37% (3rd)
Opposing 3 pt%: 36.4% (7th) - 35.8 % (5th)
FT %: 58.5% (9th) - 72% (2nd)
Turnovers: 20.0 (10th) - 15.5 (5th)
Game outlook:
Both squads enter this OAC opener coming off of losses. Capital dropped a game to Denison 90-76 and the 'Berg lost on a tip-in basket at the buzzer to Albion (Mich.) College 67-66. The biggest key right now for Heidelberg will be the need for a continuance of scoring from players like Darion Capers, who is averaging 16.3 Pts/game right now early in the season. The inside out combo of scoring from Capers and 6-8 Sophomore Fortkamp (14.7 per game) has been good in the early goings of the season, but for the 'Berg to get back to its winning ways, they need good efforts from Givner as well as Aden Jr, and Sophomore guard Mike Petrie (7.3 PPG). Local product Cole Williams, graduate of Tiffin Columbian high school may also be needed off the bench for his shooting touch, rarely used early in the season, Williams is averaging just 4.5 minutes per game. Regardless of who does the scoring, Coach Anthony Gholson needs his bench to step it up in that regard, the team is averaging just over 14 points/game from the bench bunch.
Capital likes to work the ball through their post player, 6-6 Junior forward Spencer Niekamp. Niekamp leads his team in scoring with 16.3 a game, and has the capability of scoring from anywhere on the court. The Crusaders will also look to sharp outside shooting from Sommer, as well as 6-4 Senior wing Tyler Munro (7.3 ppg). The Crusaders will need to continue to force the ball handlers for the Student Princes to make mistakes, Hiedelberg is dead last in the OAC in turnovers, turning the ball over 20 times per game. If the 'Berg turns it over 20 times or more, they have very little chance of leaving Sieberling with a victory on Wednesday night. Lastly, monitor the free throw shooting in this one, if the game is left at the line, Heidelberg must improve it's shooting at the charity stripe in order to prevail.
Fearless Prediction: 'Berg 74, Capital 71
Tune in to 88.9 FM WHEI for live game coverage and to hear 'Jimbo's keys to the game' during pre-game!
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