Games 16 & 17:
Newman (4-11, 1-9 MIAA) @ Washburn (11-7, 8-4 MIAA)
Wednesday, January 26, 2022 | 7:30 p.m. | Topeka, Kan. (Lee Arena)
Audio:  Newman Jets Audio Network | Video:  MIAA Network | Live Stats:  WU Athletics
 
@ Emporia State (14-4, 9-3 MIAA)
Sunday, January 30, 2022 | 1:00 p.m. | Emporia, Kan. (White Auditorium)
Audio:  Newman Jets Audio Network | Video:  MIAA Network | Live Stats:  ESU Athletics
 
SUNFLOWER SHOWDOWNS
The Jets play two long-time in-state rivals on the road this week.
 
LAST TIME OUT
#2 Northwest Missouri shackled the Jets defensively in the first half and got their own offense rolling in the second on the way to an 82-53 victory in Wichita Saturday, January 22.  Newman battled the Bearcats hard in the first half but found themselves down 32-22 at the intermission.  The Bearcat offense lit up the scoreboard for 50 points in the second half thanks to 60.7% shooting from the field in the period while hitting 8 of 16 3-pointers.  Five Bearcats scored in double figures, the first time a team did that against Newman since the Rogers State Hillcats on January 6, 2022.  Israel Barnes and Stevie Strong tied for the scoring lead for the Navy & Red with 12 points apiece.
Full Recap | Box Score
 
SCOUTING THE SQUADRON
Newman ended last year's pandemic-abbreviated season 4-18 while playing all 22 games within the MIAA.  The Jets return 10 players from a year ago, including two of their top three scorers from that team.  The Jets will suit up four players classified as juniors this season who played at that classification a year ago, but plan to utilize the extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA in response to the Coronavirus Pandemic.  The Jets welcome five new freshmen to the program and they are joined by three sophomores and three other juniors.  Transferring into the Jets program are Clay Center High School product Anthony Atkinson (Barton County), former Wichita Southeast High School star Israel Barnes (Texas-Permian Basin, Weber St.), A. J. Morris (Alcorn St.), and Damani Thomas (Niagara).
 
TOP RETURNERS
Junior guard Branden Bunn is the Jets' leading returning scorer after scoring 11.8 ppg a year ago.  Bunn also led the Jets in 3-pointers connecting on 42.5% of his attempts.  Bunn also proved a valuable addition to the Jets defense by leading the Navy & Red with 24 steals last season.  Redshirt junior forward Deandre Johnson is NU's leading returning rebounder after snatching 4.3 rpg for the Jets last year.  Sophomore guard Ian Lee returns to pilot the Jets offense after tallying the second-most assists for NU a year ago with 46 dimes against just 40 turnovers.  Lee is also the best returning free throw shooter from last year's team after connecting on over 86% of his tries from the line.
 
BEHIND ENEMY LINES
The Ichabods start the week fifth in the MIAA standings and defeated their Turnpike Tussle rival Emporia State on a last-second shot in their last game.  Washburn men's basketball enjoyed a return to prominence in 2020-21 with a 20-7 record and a 16-6 mark in MIAA play.  The Ichabods capped off the season by winning its sixth MIAA Tournament, making a return to the NCAA Tournament for the third time in four years.  It was the 'Bods' first MIAA title since sweeping the regular season and postseason crowns in 2012.  The Ichabods topped the 20-win plateau for the fourth time in five seasons and have posted six-straight winning seasons since a 16-16 campaign in 2014-15.  The Ichabods have notched five straight years with a winning mark in MIAA play since going 11-11 inside 'The Association' in 2015-16 as part of a 15-13 season.  Washburn is looking for its 16^th NCAA Tournament appearance in 2022.  Washburn split its MIAA games last week with a 68-58 loss to Fort Hays State coming before a last-second 79-77 victory over Nebraska-Kearney.
 
Emporia State enters the seek in third place in 'The Association' after having a seven-game winning streak snapped in Topeka by their archrival Washburn last week.  Like many teams around the country, Emporia State found consistency fleeting in last season finishing 11-12 with an 11-11 record in MIAA play.  It was the seventh straight losing season for the Hornets since ESU's 18-13 mark while going 10-9 inside 'The Association'  in Shaun Vandiver's only winning season as head coach in Emporia in 2013-14.  Emporia State ended its season with a first-round loss in the MIAA Tournament to eventual national champion Northwest Missouri.  The Hornets are seeking their third NCAA Tournament appearance and first since 2007.  ESU went 1-1 last week with an 11-point win against Nebraska-Kearney and a two-point overtime loss to Fort Hays State.
 
THE SERIES
Washburn leads the all-time series 27-7 and has won six straight and 7 of 8 from the Jets.  NU trails 8-2 in its NCAA Division II era to the Ichabods and Washburn leads 4-0 in MIAA games.  Both of NU's wins in its DII era have come in Wichita.
 
Emporia State leads the all-time series 23-14 and has won three straight in the series after NU had taken the last three from the Hornets.  The Navy & Red lead 8-6 in NU's NCAA Division II era but the Hornets took a 3-2 lead in the MIAA era of the series with their win in Wichita earlier this season..
 
PREVIOUS MATCHUP
Up by just one in the second half, Washburn hit the Jets with a 10-0 run on the way to a 72-61 victory at Fugate Gymnasium December 11, 2021.  The game was a defensive battle at halftime with the Ichabods on top 25-22 as NU hit just 22% of its shots in the frame, but the 'Bods couldn't take advantage thanks to 1 of 11 shooting from outside the arc.  The Jet defense could only hold for so long and Washburn broke through to shoot 56% in the second frame.  Stevie Strong scored 21 points to lead the Jets.
Full Recap | Box Score
 
Emporia State started the game on an 8-0 run and led by as many as 12 in the first half and a second half comeback by Newman ran out of fuel as the Hornets knocked off the Jets 75-62 in Wichita December 8, 2021.  Down 31-19 with just over a minute to play in the first half, NU kept fighting and ended the period on a 6-0 run to cut the deficit to six.  The Hornets hit the opening trey of the second period to go up nine when the Navy & Red answered with a 7-0 run to cut the deficit to two.  Newman could never draw tied and Emporia State put the game away with a 17-3 run to give the Hornets a 17-point lead with just under 10 minutes to play.  The Jets made one last push and pulled within 9 with under a minute to go, but the Hornets made their free throws down the stretch to secure the victory.  Israel Barnes poured in 23 points to pace the Jets.
Full Recap | Box Score
 
CAPTAIN OF THE FLEET
R. J. Allen begins his fifth season as the head coach of the Jets in 2021.  It will be his 11th season with the program.  Allen has compiled a record of 47-60 over his first 4 years in Wichita with a 7-34 record in MIAA play.  Allen has coached a player to the All-MIAA team each of his first two years in the league.  Joel Boyce was named All-MIAA Honorable Mention in 2021 while Marshawn Blackmon earned Third Team recognition in 2020.  During the Jets' last year in the Heartland Conference, Allen led NU to a 20-9 overall record while finishing third in the Heartland Conference at 11-5.  The 20 wins tied the NU record for victories in their NCAA Division II era.  NU also finished the season in the Top 10 of the South Central Regional Rankings.  Allen was named the 2018 Heartland Conference Coach of the Year in his first season at the helm at Newman after guiding the Jets on a dramatic turnaround in the second half of the season that saw NU finish 14-14 overall and third in the conference with a 10-6 record.
 
Allen arrived in Wichita in 2011 and spent six seasons as an assistant and eventually associate head coach under Mark Potter, NU's all-time winningest coach.  The Jets won 88 games over those 6 years and made four trips to the Heartland Conference Tournament and the school's first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance after going 20-8 in 2012-13.  He was also on the bench when the Jets knocked off No. 2 seed Lubbock Christian in the first round of the 2016 Heartland Conference Tournament to earn its first ever postseason victory as an NCAA program.
 
Allen is no stranger to the Air Capital after growing up in Wichita and playing his prep years for his dad, Ron, at Wichita East High School.  Allen was a two time All-City and All-State selection and helped lead the Blue Aces to the 2002 6A state championship.  Following high school, Allen stayed local playing two years at Hutchinson Community College.  The Blue Dragons dominated during Allen's career going 57-9 over the two-year span with a 41-1 record in Jayhawk Conference play and winning the conference title in 2004.
 
BUILDING THE 'BODS & REIGNING OVER THE SWARM
Brett Ballard began his tenure as the head coach of Washburn men's basketball with the unenviable task of replacing legend Bob Chipman.  Through his first four seasons, Ballard seems to be up to the challenge.  Entering his fifth year on the bench in Topeka, the Ichabods were 82-38 under his direction with a 45-15 record inside the MIAA.  Ballard has directed the 'Bods to NCAA Tournament appearances in three of his first four seasons and he is the winningest coach through his first four seasons in program history.  Ballard won his first MIAA title in 2021 on a dramatic half-court shot to stun top-seed Northwest Missouri in a true road game.  Ballard joined Washburn after spending three seasons as an assistant at Wake Forest to head coach and former Jayhawk Danny Manning, whom he also assisted for two seasons at the University of Tulsa.  Ballard's first head coaching job was at NAIA Baker in Baldwin City, Kan.  Prior to that, Ballard served his alma mater as the director of basketball operations, video coordinator, and student assistant for Bill Self at the University of Kansas over a seven-season stretch.  A Hutchinson, Kan. native, Ballard started his collegiate career as a Blue Dragon at Hutchinson Community College before transferring to KU to play for Roy Williams.  Ballard's teams went 59-11 in Lawrence with two trips to the NCAA Tournament including a berth in the 2002 Final Four.
 
Craig Doty is in his fourth season in Emporia and brings with him a national championship tradition.  Doty entered the season 35-46 overall with the Hornets and 23-37 in MIAA play.  Doty's overall record is 197-95 entering the 2021-22 campaign with an impressive 29-6 mark in the postseason.  Doty joined Emporia State after spending two seasons at Graceland of the Heart of America Conference (NAIA) where he went 49-22 from 2016 to 2018 while winning the 2018 NAIA Division I national championship.  Before that, Doty went 113-28 in four seasons at NJCAA Rock Valley, leading the Golden Eagles to four NJCAA Tournament berths and two NJCAA Division III national titles.  As an assistant coach, Doty spent time at Sioux Falls, Riverland Community College (Minn.), Central Wyoming College and Morningside College (Iowa).
 
NEW MANAGEMENT
Kyle McLeroy begins his first year as assistant coach at Newman after spending the previous two years as a graduate assistant at Dallas Baptist University, a former Heartland Conference rival of the Jets.  Serving under long-time head coach Dr. Blake Flickner, McLeroy helped lead the Patriots to a 38-14 record over his two seasons.  DBU also earned a berth into two NCAA Tournaments with McLeroy on the bench.
 
McLeroy prepped at Cypress Ranch High School in Cypress, Texas before beginning his collegiate career at the University of Mary-Hardin Baylor.  As a freshman, he helped the Crusaders to a 25-3 record and a No. 5 ranking in the NCAA Division III Top 25.  He redshirted the next season and then transferred to NCAA Division I Sam Houston State.  There he led the Bearkats to a combined 50-20 record over his two seasons and helped set a new NCAA DI-era program record with 26 wins in the 2014-15 season.  Sam Houston State played twice in the Southland Conference Tournament championship game and made two appearances in the College Insider Tournament.
 
FINDING THE MARK
Newman hit 6 of 16 3-pointers (37.5%) in their loss to #2 Northwest Missouri last time out.  It is just the second time this season NU has hit at least 37% of their trifectas in back-to-back games this season.  The Jets knocked down 10 of 23 (43.5%) from bonus distance in their victory over Northeastern State.  NU previously made 38.5% from downtown against Southwest Minnesota State and 47.1% from beyond the arc against Tabor College.
 
TURNOVERS?  WHAT TURNOVERS?
Newman continues to do an excellent job at taking care of the basketball.  NU has limited turnovers to 12 or less in five of its last six games after giving it away 12 times against #2 Northwest Missouri.  NU has limited their giveaways to 10 or less in four of the six contests.
 
WHERE'S THE WINDEX?
Newman will look to improve on the backboards this week.  Newman has lost the rebounding battle in five of the last six games, three times by 10 rebounds or more.  The Jets were even on the glass in their victory over the RiverHawks Saturday, January 8.
 
SCHEDULE UPDATE
Newman's postponed game against Cameron has been cancelled.  It was originally rescheduled to February 8, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. in Lawton, Okla., but will no longer be played this season.  Instead, the Jets will head to Warrensburg on this date to make up their game against Central Missouri.  Tipoff for the Jets and the Mules is set for 6:00 p.m.
 
Newman also has rescheduled their game against Missouri Western to Monday, February 14.  The game was originally to be played last week on Thursday, January 20 but was postponed due to Coronavirus protocols inside the Griffon program.  Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. inside Fugate Gymnasium in Wichita.
 
Newman's postponed game at Lincoln has not yet been rescheduled.
 
LEADING 'THE ASSOCIATION'

• Stevie Strong is currently 11^th in the league in scoring averaging 15.4 ppg entering the week.  Israel Barnes would join Strong in the league rankings but has not played enough games to qualify for MIAA statistics.
• Strong also ranks highly among conference leaders in several shooting statistics.  Strong is sixth in the league in three-pointers attempted and is 2.5 treys per game ranks seventh in the league.
• Strong is also lighting up the scoreboard at the foul line for the Jets.  Entering the week, Strong is 11^th in the MIAA in makes.  His 92.9% clip from the foul strip leads 'The Association' and ranks fifth nationally.
• Johnson's career-high four blocks at UNK are tied for second most in the MIAA behind only Christian Bundy's five against the Jets for Missouri Southern.
• Emporia State's Tray Buchanan committed nine turnovers against the Jets, tied for the most by an MIAA player in a game this season.
• In MIAA games, Newman is tied with Emporia State for the fewest turnovers at just 10.5 per game.  Newman is also tied for fifth in Assist/Turnover Ratio in conference action at 1.06.
• Newman entered the week tied for fourth in Free Throw Percentage in MIAA games at 76.4% with Fort Hays State.
• NU's 19 turnovers against Washburn are tied for the 10^th most in 'The Association'.

 
NU STATS 'N STREAKS

• The Jets entered the week 13^th in the conference in scoring in MIAA games at 64.6 ppg and were also 13^th in defense allowing 77.3 ppg.
• Junior guard Israel Barnes has scored in double figures in all eight games of his Newman career.
• Former Haysville (Kan.) Campus High School Colt Stevie Strong has scored in double figures in the last three games and eight of the last nine overall.
• Sophomore guard Ian Lee matched his personal best of seven assists against Northwest Missouri.  It was his best passing performance since dishing seven assists as a freshman at NCAA Division I Howard.
• Strong poured in a career-high 29 points and five three-pointers in NU's first MIAA victory of the season against Northeastern State.
• Northeastern State forward Emeka Obukwelu's 20 rebounds for Northeastern State in the Jets' victory over the RiverHawks tied the most rebounds ever grabbed by a Newman opponent.  Antjuan Ball also snared 20 rebounds against the Jets in a loss at West Texas A&M December 7, 2013.  It is also the most grabbed by any player in the conference this season tying his own season-high from November.
• Strong snared a career-best six rebounds in NU's loss to Rogers State.
• Lee matched a career high with four three-pointers at Central Oklahoma.  He previously hit four in a game against Central Missouri last season.
• Redshirt junior forward Deandre Johnson matched a career high of 14 rebounds in a loss at UCO.  Johnson also corralled 14 boards his sophomore season in a game at Arkansas-Fort Smith.  In the same game this season he also set a new career best with three assists.
• Stevie Strong set a new career high with 24 points in NU's loss at Nebraska-Kearney.  Strong's perfect career ended at UNK when he missed his fifth try at the foul strip against the Lopers, ending a streak of 29-straight free throws.
• Graduate transfer guard A. J. Morris snared a career-high five rebounds in NU's loss at Nebraska-Kearney.  Morris has also matched his career-best of two steals for a ninth time this season.
• Johnson swatted four shots to set a new career best for blocks in the Jets' loss to the Lopers.
• Canadian Kwaku Agyapong scored a career-high five points at Nebraska-Kearney.
• Stevie Strong set new career highs with four assists and three steals against Washburn.
• Freshman guard Aleksa Jovanovic grabbed a career-high three rebounds and recorded his first career block in the Navy & Red's loss to Washburn.
• Junior forward Deandre Johnson was a perfect 5 of 5 from the field scoring a season-high 11 points in NU's loss at Missouri Southern.  It is the only time in Johnson's career he has shot 100% from the field while taking at least five shots.
• Despite partially tearing ligaments in his ankle, junior guard David Javorsky hauled in a career-high nine rebounds at Pittsburg State.  Earlier this year, Javorsky matched his career best of three steals against Manhattan Christian College.
• Second-year freshman forward Jorge Oliva set a new career best with five boards in NU's loss at Pittsburg State.
• Agyapong captured a career-high five rebounds against Sterling.
• Graduate guard A. J. Morris notched an NU-career-best 11 points in the Navy & Red's season opening loss @ Concordia-St. Paul.
• The Jets are looking for their first winning season since 2018-19 when Newman finished 20-9 while tying for third in the Heartland Conference.  NU also seeks its first 10-win season since that same campaign.  2018-19 was also the last season NU participated in the postseason, losing in the first round of the final Heartland Conference Tournament to Rogers State.

 
WHAT'S NEXT?
Newman is back home to host their western-most rivals in 'The Association' next week:  Fort Hays State and Nebraska-Kearney.
 
MIAA PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Week 1:  Tray Buchanan – Emporia State
Week 2:  Trevor Hudgins – Northwest Missouri
Week 3:  Tray Buchanan (2) – Emporia State (2)
Week 4:  Trevor Hudgins (2) – Northwest Missouri (2)
Week 5:  Camryn Givens – Central Oklahoma
Week 6:  Isaiah Wade – Central Oklahoma (2)
Week 7:  Trevor Hudgins (3) – Northwest Missouri (3)
Week 8:  Tray Buchanan (3) – Emporia State (3)
Week 9:  Tray Buchanan (4) – Emporia State (4)
Week 10:  Isaiah Wade (2) – Central Oklahoma (3)