Hey Edinboro...

...this is what you're going to have to deal with on Saturday. I honestly don't recommend messing with this guy.

Men look to rebound at home

What: Edinboro Fighting Scots @ Kutztown Golden Bears
When: Saturday, January 10, 2009 @ 3 p.m.
Where: Keystone Hall on the campus of Kutztown University

The KU men’s basketball team will take on Edinboro on Saturday afternoon to open up the home portion of its 2008-09 PSAC schedule. The Golden Bears began this season strong, exploding to 9-0 record, before being swept at the hands of Gannon and Clarion this past weekend. KU was the pre-season pick to win the PSAC East, but there may be some questions now that they are off to a disappointing 0-2 start against teams in the conference. Gannon smoked KU 88-58 on Saturday before Clarion used a last second shot to take Sunday’s game 87-85. Fortunately for the Golden Bears, they still have Saturday’s game against Edinboro and Sunday’s contest at home against Lock Haven to gather some momentum for PSAC East play, which will begin on Jan. 14 at East Stroudsburg.

Meanwhile, the Edinboro Fighting Scots enter the contest at 10-1 and are fresh off a weekend sweep of Mansfield and Bloomsburg. EU took care of MU on Saturday by a score of 86-77 before handing BU a 94-78 loss on Sunday. Edinboro was a regional contender last season and appears to be a threat again this time around. One year ago, the Fighting Scots fell in the PSAC title game to California (Pa.) 73-65 before advancing to the NCAA East Regionals where they were eliminated by Millersville 64-61.

Speaking of last year, these teams did meet once early last season at Keystone Hall. The Golden Bears led 41-38 at the half, but the Fighting Scots battled back and overcame late-game free throw shooting woes to hold on for an 87-84 victory. Stephen Dennis was the game’s high scorer, dropping 30 points, while also hauling in 10 rebounds. Joe Jones scored 23 points to lead the Scots.

Probable Starters:
Edinboro:
F- # 13 – Vlad Kovalevsky
F- # 34 – Justin Moore
G- # 11 – Kyree Brown
G- # 5 – Joe Jones
G- # 2 – Gil Cummings
Kutztown:
C- # 44 – Mark Bower
F- # 52 – Ryan Washington
G- # 34 – Dave Ben
G- # 24 – Andre Woodlin
G- # 14 – Stephen Dennis

Scouting Report:
The Golden Bears are led by the two-headed monster of junior guard Stephen Dennis and senior guard David Ben [Pictured at top of page]. Dennis leads the team with 21.8 points per game and 55 assists and is tied with Ben for the team lead in steals with 30 a piece. Ben averages 21.2 points a game. Both players are shooting above 50% this season and both have exactly 61 rebounds in 2008-09. Sophomore Ryan Washington will start at power forward. He averages 11.8 PPG, fourth best on the team, while hauling in a team-best 7.5 rebounds per game and shooting a team-best 62.5% from the field. He is also third in assists (36), first in blocks (24), and fourth in steals (14). Senior guard Andre Woodlin averages just less than 13 points and just under 4 rebounds a game. He is fourth on the team with 34 assists and third with 25 steals. The fifth starter will be senior center Mark Bower, who replaced junior Jeremy Coombs in the lineup earlier this season. Bower plays just under 19 minutes a game, averaging 5.2 PPG and 3.7 RPG.

Freshman guard Julius Gray is the top reserve for KU this season, playing 22.5 minutes per game. The rookie is scoring 6.5 points a game, has 22 assists, and 12 steals. Sophomore guard Steve Coffey and freshman guard Omar Ford-Bey are also likely to see a few minutes of work in backcourt.

Although he has played sparingly while recovering from injury, Coombs is the top reserve in the frontcourt. Freshman forward Ryan White should see about 10 minutes of action, while freshmen forwards Jordan Wenner and Chris Vrabel could see a few minutes as well.

Edinboro is led by senior guard and PSAC leading scorer Joe Jones, who scores just over 23 points a game. He shoots 52.9% from the field, 37% from long range, and leads the team with 28 steals and 49 assists. Senior guard Gil Cummings is second on the team, averaging 15.7 PPG, while fellow starters junior forwards Vlad Kovalevsky and Justin Moore each contribute 8.3 PPG. Kovalevsky has 18 blocks and averages 6 RPG, both of which lead the team, while Moore hauls in a 5.7 boards a game, which is good for second best. Senior guard Kyree Brown has started the last few games for EU and will likely be the fifth starter. Junior guard/forward Chris Bess and senior guard Larry Bryant are likely to see significant minutes off the bench.

Prediction:
This game should be pretty evenly matched, as both teams are expected to contend for the PSAC title. The Fighting Scots have already proved they are for real this season, while KU disappointed this past weekend against Gannon and Clarion. That said, The Golden Bears are too good to drop three straight against the PSAC West. Expect the Dennis-Ben duo to come up big at home on Saturday en route to a relatively slim victory against a tough Edinboro squad.

Edinboro 81
Kutztown 86

A look ahead: 2008-09 Men's Basketball

The 2008-09 Men’s Basketball team will return all of its starters and all but two players from last year’s PSAC contending squad. Here is a look at this year’s team, which should be a serious threat in the conference and could be a regional contender.

Returners:

Andre Woodlin (Senior Guard) – When considering the Golden Bears top scorers, Woodlin [Pictured to the right] might not be the first name that comes to mind. That, of course, is only because he playing on a team with the likes of David Ben and Stephen Dennis. Those two led KU in scoring one year ago, but Woodlin was the most consistent of the three throughout the season and was third on the team in scoring, notching 13.7 points per game. Compared to Ben and Dennis, he had less fouls, less turnovers, a higher shooting percentage, and a better three point shooting percentage. Furthermore, he had a better free throw percentage than Ben and more rebounds than Ben and one less than Dennis. So, while Ben and Dennis are the flashiest of the three, don’t forget about Mr. Woodlin, who will return to the starting lineup for his senior season.

Stephen Dennis (Junior Guard) – A Street & Smith’s pre-season All-American, Dennis [Pictured to the left] will return as KU’s starting point guard in 2008-09. The junior is the team’s leading scorer from one year ago and also paced the team in blocks (yes, blocks) and steals. If you’ve seen him play, you know Dennis is anything but your typical point man. He really can do it all and, when he is in the zone, can basically take over the game and score at will from anywhere on the court. His only weakness seems to be from beyond the arc, where he was just 10-of-54 (18.5%) last season. Dennis should only be better in his third year at KU. Just like a year ago, expect him and Ben to lead the way in scoring.

Steve Coffey (Sophomore Guard) – Coffey was a serviceable backup point guard in his rookie season a year ago and will likely serve the same role this year. He averaged just under nine minutes a game, did a nice job taking care of the ball, and was a very high percentage shooter. With Edwards now officially a redshirt for the 2008-09 season, Coffey will likely play a larger role in the backcourt.

Mike Connolly (Sophomore Guard) – Connolly quickly earned himself a reputation as sharpshooter last season when he entered games unafraid to fire up shots from beyond the arc. The backup shooting guard hit 15 three pointers, fourth best on the team, despite averaging just over 8 minutes a game. Another solid reserve guard, Connolly’s is unlikely to change with the entire backcourt back from last season.

Ryan Nemetz (Sophomore Guard) – Nemetz saw just 27 minutes of work in 2007-08 as a reserve guard and will likely not see significant time again this season with the entire backcourt back.

Dave Ben (Senior Guard/Forward) – One of the best players in the PSAC since his arrival in 2005, Ben [Pictured to the right] will head into his senior season attempting to lead his talented squad of veterans to a PSAC championship. Ben isn’t the best example of consistency, but, when he is hot, there is nobody better in the PSAC (just ask East Stroudsburg what happened on February 6). Ben averaged 17 points per game last season and played more minutes than anyone on the roster. The senior shot over 40 percent from the field, over 30 percent from long range, and 70 percent from the charity stripe. Furthermore, Ben snagged 5.3 rebounds per game, led the team with 88 assists, had 12 blocks, and was third best on the team with 46 steals. His team-high 73 personal fouls and 86 turnovers are partially a product of a ton more playing time than everyone else, but also an indicator of his sometimes erratic play. That said, sometimes erratic can be explosive—and explosive is a great word for Ben’s game. Ben will start, of course, and will once again be one of the most feared players in the PSAC.

Mark Bower (Senior Forward) – A candidate to start at center, Bower will have to unseat the incumbent Jeremy Coombs, who saw a majority of the starts at center one year ago. Regardless of if he starts or not, Bower will see significant minutes off the bench with fellow backup forward Kevin Hafera off to the real world. Bower averaged just under 11 minutes a game last year, so pencil him in for 11 a game this year plus a portion of Hafera’s 14 minutes a game as well.

Ryan Washington (Sophomore Forward) – Washington was a pleasant surprise for head coach Bernie Driscoll last season following the premature departure of center Sean McKeon. A redshirt freshman at the time, Washington stepped into the power forward position and made an impact throughout the entire season. He shot over 51 percent from the floor and averaged just over nine points per game, fifth best on the team. Washington was the team’s leading rebounder, hauling in 7.7 a game. He was second on the team with 38 blocks. Now in his second year of eligibility, Washington will be expected to continue his strong play on the block as the team’s starting power forward.

Jeremy Coombs (Junior Center) – As mentioned, Coombs is the incumbent starting center, but will need a strong preseason to hold off senior center Mark Bower. Coombs had nice chemistry with fellow big man Ryan Washington a season ago, but often gave way to Hafera and Bower after only a few minutes of action. With Hafera gone, Coombs will likely see an increase from the 15 minutes a game he worked a year ago…even if he loses the starting job to Bower.

Newcomers:
Julius Gray (Sophomore Guard) - Junior College transfer
Omar Ford-Bey (Freshman Guard) – Reserve guard. Check him out on Youtube.
Jordan Wenner (Freshman Center) – Reserve center
Ryan White (Freshman Forward) – Reserve forward

Subtractions:

Nate Edwards (Junior Guard) – UPDATE: Edwards was hurt during the summer and will redshirt for the 2008-09 campaign. He will return for his junior season next year. If this were the NBA, Edwards would’ve been a candidate for the “Sixth Man of the Year” award for his contributions off the bench for KU one year ago. Edwards appeared in 25 games, averaging just over 24 minutes a game, and scored just under 11 points per game. A playmaker, Edwards was second on the team in steals and led the team with a three point shooting percentage just above 37 percent. With all five starters back, Edwards would've returned to his role as the team’s sixth man…although he could easily start for just about any other team in the PSAC. He will likely get the opportunity to start next season when Ben and Woodlin graduate.

Forward Kevin Hafera - Graduation

Marauders end Golden Bears' season

Millersville Marauders 99

Kutztown Golden Bears 88

Recap:
Coming off a regular season in which they won a share of the PSAC East with a 10-2 divisional record, the Golden Bears expectations were much higher than to simply make the playoffs. Unfortunately for them, the defending PSAC champion Marauders were on top of their game in Tuesday night’s playoff contest at Keystone Hall, upending the Golden Bears by a score of 99-88. The loss drops KU’s overall record to 19-9 and brings their season to a close. Of the eight playoff games played yesterday (men’s and women’s), the MU win over KU was the only upset.

Key Stat:
If you witnessed the game, this one will be obvious. The Golden Bears shot just 3-of-16 from beyond the arc, while the Marauders were an impressive 11-of-16. MU also outrebounded KU 47-34, including 18-10 on the offensive glass. Both teams shot over 43 percent in the game, but the Marauders simply made their shots when they counted the most.

Key Moment:
Three pointers from Andre Woodlin and Nate Edwards followed by a pair of free throws from Woodlin got KU to within four points with 1:24 to play. The Golden Bears needed a defensive stop to stay in the contest, but RayQuan Miles tipped in a Charlie Parker miss to put MU back up by six. Woodlin would then miss a three pointer before Bernard Brown dunked to put the Marauders up eight and all but end the game. KU would answer with a quick two point bucket, but Millersville hit five straight free throws to close out the scoring.

What we liked:
The Golden Bears offense certainly came to play, but unfortunately the MU offense was slightly better. KU shot 44 percent from the floor and hit an impressive 29-of-32 free throws. Stephen Dennis was outstanding for KU, scoring a team-high 22 points on 8-of-12 shooting. Ryan Washington had a double-double, scoring 12 and hauling in a dozen boards.

What we didn’t like:
KU had an extremely tough time on the defensive glass, allowing 18 offensive boards. The 3-of-16 from beyond the arc also proved costly. Dave Ben and Edwards combined to shoot just 6-of-25 from the field, but each managed to score double figures.

Impact:
As mentioned, the loss ends KU’s season and allows Millersville to move on to Friday’s final four in Cheyney. The Marauders will face Edinboro, while Cheyney will take on California (Pa.).

The Golden Bears certainly were disappointed with the way this season came to a close, but they should not keep their heads down for long. The truth is that Millersville simply played their best basketball when they needed to the most. I’d still argue that KU is the more talented team, but this year, the Marauders got the best of the Golden Bears. Next season, KU returns all 5 starters and loses only one player to graduation, Kevin Hafera. This team will likely be favored to win the PSAC in 2008-09.

THIS ONE COUNTS

What: Millersville Marauders @ Kutztown Golden Bears
When: Tuesday, March 4, 2008 @ 7 p.m.
Where: Keystone Hall on the campus of Kutztown University

One year later, they get another chance.

The Golden Bears will certainly be thinking about last year’s disappointing first-round exit when they play host to the Millersville Marauders in the PSAC East Quarterfinals at Keystone Hall on Tuesday. Like one season ago, KU heads into the postseason as the number-two seed and will play at least one playoff game at home. Last year, the Cheyney Wolves came into town and knocked the Golden Bears out of the playoffs by a score of 79-63. This year, KU will hope to escape a first round collapse and will be looking for a PSAC Championship. The challenge will not be any easier, however, with a talented Marauder team looking to pull off the upset.

The teams enter the game with identical 19-8 overall records—the top record in the division. The Golden Bears went 10-2 in the East, which tied them with top-seeded Cheyney for a share of the PSAC East regular season title. Millersville held onto the three seed with an 8-4 divisional record.

The teams have already met twice this season, with each winning on their home court. On Jan. 23, KU came away with the 78-60 victory at Keystone Hall. Led by Andre Woodlin’s 17 points, KU shot just under 50-percent en route to the win. Only four different Marauders scored in the game. The game was extremely competitive and MU head coach Fred Thompson was ejected late in the second half.

The Marauders got their revenge on Feb. 20 when they knocked off KU 80-67 at Pucillo Gymnasium. Dave Ben scored 29 points, but the Golden Bears committed what would prove to be a costly 26 turnovers.

The Golden Bears enter this contest fresh off Saturday’s 82-74 home win against East Stroudsburg. Woodlin notched a career-high 28 points to carry KU to the victory. ESU, who will face Cheyney in the first round of the playoffs, actually outshot the Golden Bears, but hit 15 less free throws and committed 26 turnovers.

After dropping back-to-back games to ESU and Cheyney, Millersville enters this game coming off a regular-season finale shellacking of West Chester on Saturday. The MU defense held the Golden Rams to 18.6-percent from the field en route to the 67-37 win.

Probable Starters:
Millersville:
G - #3 - Charlie Parker – 16.1 PPG
G - #20 - Cory Bray – 6.1 PPG
G - #22 - Reggie Bates – 19.3 PPG
F - #42 - RayQuan Miles – 6.0 PPG
F - #44 - Bernard Brown – 10.1 PPG

Kutztown:
G - # 14 – Stephen Dennis – 17.1 PPG
G - # 32 - Andre Woodlin – 13.5 PPG
F - # 34 - Dave Ben – 17.0 PPG
F - # 52 - Ryan Washington – 8.9 PPG
C - # 55 - Jeremy Coombs – 6.1 PPG

Scouting Report:
The Golden Bears and Marauders enter this game as two of the top scoring—and possibly the top two most exciting offenses—in the league. You can bet that this will be an intense and fast-paced game. Both teams enjoy pushing the ball and letting their skill players make things happen. The Golden Bears sport a much deeper team than the Marauders and a bad day by one of KU’s top scorers generally does not mean certain loss. Meanwhile, MU relies on Bates and Parker to carry a significant workload and a poor outing from one of them is usually fatal. On the other hand, if those two have a big day, it is almost certain that the Marauders will come out on top. They are two of the most talented players in the league, but they will need to be at the top of their individual games if MU has a chance in the PSAC.

As has been the case all season, KU will continue to rely on top-off-the-line scoring threats Ben, Dennis, and Woodlin. Each has had their moments as the team leader in scoring this season, but all three will need to play stellar basketball in the postseason. Washington and Coombs have done a respectable job in the front court, but need to find ways to avoid foul trouble. Washington, only a redshirt freshman, has proved he can contribute at this level and his services in the paint will be requirement towards KU’s title run. Guard Nate Edwards and center Kevin Hafera will a significant workload off the bench. Edwards has a knack for making big plays and will be counted on to do the same in the playoffs. Hafera, the team’s lone senior, will look to man the front court in relief of Washington and Coombs. Center Mark Bower and guards Mike Connolly and Steve Coffey will each see a few minutes off the bench.

Millersville will, as mentioned, rely on Bates and Parker to make the big plays in this game. Combined, they have scored almost 1,000 points this season, recorded 117 steals, dished out 193 assists, and grabbed 10.3 rebounds per game.

Brown leads the team’s rebounding effort, hauling in seven boards a game. He also chips in just over 10 points a game, making him a serious double-double threat. Bray and Miles will both play near 30 minutes, assuming they stay out of foul trouble. Bray is a threat from beyond the arc, while Miles averages near seven boards a game and will keep the KU forwards busy.

In conclusion, KU head coach Bernie Driscoll will no doubt be focusing on stopping Parker and Bates in this game. The Golden Bears struggled the last time this team’s met, but it is a very rare occurrence for the entire team to struggle. With that said, there is no reason to doubt the Golden Bear offense will show up. That means stopping the Parker-Bates duo is the key to the game. Can they do it? We’ll see.

Prediction:
What fun is a preview without a prediction? I feel like this game will either be a dogfight until the finish or a complete blowout. Millersville tends to be Jekyll and Hyde and a poor day from a top scorer will make their chances to win almost impossible. KU sports and great defense and will give the Marauders their share of problems. There is also no reason to believe that the big time players in this game will come to play on Tuesday. With all that said, I think Bates and Parker will have decent days for Millersville, but they won’t get quite enough help to upset the much deeper Golden Bears. It will be close until the late stages, but KU will take care of business.

Millersville 70
Kutztown 79

Share of PSAC East title in view for men

What: East Stroudsburg Warriors @ Kutztown Golden Bears
When: Saturday, March 1, 2008 @ 3 p.m.
Where: Keystone Hall on the campus of Kutztown University

The Golden Bears and Warriors will head into Saturday’s affair for what could be a preview of Tuesday’s playoff action. An ESU (6-5) win coupled with a Millersville (7-4) loss to West Chester (3-8) would mean that ESU will return to Keystone Hall on Tuesday for a first round playoff game. If Millersville wins or ESU falls to KU, Millersville will come to town on Tuesday, while ESU would head to Cheyney (10-2). The Golden Bears will be the number-two seed in the East regardless of what happens on Saturday, but will win a share of the PSAC East regular season title with a win. KU, ESU, CU, and MU all head into Saturday’s action with identical 18-8 overall records.

The Golden Bears enter this game fresh off a 112-96 win over Columbia Union on Wednesday at Keystone Hall. KU’s latest PSAC East action was a 79-71 upset win at Cheyney on Saturday.

The Warriors have won four straight games and 5-of-6 since falling to KU 78-56 on Feb. 6. ESU has ripped off consecutive wins against WCU, Bloomsburg, Millersville, and Mansfield, which has positioned them for a chance at the third or fourth playoff seed.

The first meeting between the two teams this season was a memorable one for KU and a forgettable one for the Warriors. The Golden Bears trailed 37-26 at the half, but stormed to 52 second half points, while holding ESU to 4-of-30 from the field, and won the game handily 78-56.

Dave Ben was 12-of-20 from the field and scored a career high 32 points. Andre Woodlin and Stephen Dennis also reached double digits with 14 and 10 points, respectively.

Channon Easley was the only Warrior in double figures, notching 12.

Probable Starters:
East Stroudsburg:
G- # 24 - Andy Heimbach
G- # 31 - Pat Fleury
F- # 25 – Channon Easley
F- # 22 - Josh Wentz
F- # 40 - Chris Bach

Kutztown:
G- # 14 – Stephen Dennis
G- # 32 - Andre Woodlin
F- # 34 - Dave Ben
F- # 52 - Ryan Washington
C- # 55 - Jeremy Coombs

Scouting Report:
The Golden Bears will look to stay motivated in this despite not technically playing for anything. Sure they can win a share of the PSAC East regular season title, but that means nothing for their playoff positioning. It’s hard to say if they should go hard for the win or lay back and rest some key players. If KU wins, they will see Millersville in the first round, but if they lose, they could see ESU. Which would you rather face? MU beat KU in their last meeting, but ESU is on a roll. Tough call.

KU will need to focus on Easley and Bach. Bach (11.7 PPG) has carried the team’s scoring load over the last month, while Easley (13.7 PPG) still leads the team in scoring. Heimbach (12.0 PPG) and Wentz (10.8 PPG) also average double figures in scoring this season.

Bach and Easley are both big men and ESU will try to feed them the ball inside. Each averages near 8 rebounds a game this season and they have combined for 98 blocks.

KU will continue to look to Dave Ben and Stephen Dennis to carry the scoring load with Andre Woodlin as a top-notch secondary option. Ryan Washington, Jeremy Coombs, and Kevin Hafera will be relied on to contain the inside presence of Easley and Bach. Nate Edwards will see significant action off the bench and will need to make a few big plays on both ends.

Prediction:
First I need to determine which KU team will come to play. The Golden Bears have played some inconsistent basketball this season, but then other times they’ve played excellent throughout the game (see Cheyney a week ago). Secondly, I need to determine if KU will be motivated to play with nothing to lose. Finally, I need to decide if ESU’s hot streak has proved that they are contenders in the PSAC or if KU is still the more talented team.

My answer to those three questions: “What’s with all the questions? Enough with the questions, Question Man!”

No, but really, it actually is hard to say.

Since that is no fun, however, I’ll make a prediction anyways. KU will come out and play a decent tune up game for the playoffs. They won’t lay back and they’ll play to win against a team that is slightly less talented. ESU will hang in there, but KU will be hungry for that share of the division title and will hold off the Warrior charge.

East Stroudsburg 63
Kutztown 73

Men beat Wolves, stay in hunt for PSAC title

Kutztown Golden Bears 79
Cheyney Wolves 71

Recap:
The Golden Bears came up huge in a tough road environment on Saturday when they took care of business against division-leading Cheyney. KU came out strong and played consistent basketball until the final whistle. With the eight point win, the Golden Bears will likely host a first round home playoff game and are still alive for the PSAC East Championship. KU is now 17-8 overall and 9-2 in the division with one game to play in the regular season.

Key Stat:
Most statistical categories were very close, but the big difference was the obvious one if you saw the game—free throw shooting. KU was 29-of-36 from the charity stripe thanks to 29 personal fouls by Cheyney. Two CU starters fouled out and two other regulars had 4 fouls a piece. Meanwhile, the Golden Bears committed just 17 fouls, leading to an 11-of-15 day at the free throw line for Cheyney.

Key Moment:
The Golden Bears trailed 69-68 with just under 3 minutes to play, but David Ben gave KU the lead for good with a steal and a pair of free throws at the 2:41 mark. He then swiped another steal and hit two more from the charity stripe to extend the KU lead to three. Ryan Washington then made a layup, Ben hit another free throw, and Woodlin hit a pair from the stripe to all but seal the deal.

Golden Performance:
Stevid Bennis. Get it? Stephen Dennis and David Ben carried the load for KU—just not at the same time. Dennis scored all 16 of his points in the first half, but was no where to be found in the second half—at least on the score sheet. Meanwhile, Ben had just 3 points at the break, but took over in the second half, also scoring 16 points for the game. Dennis also added 6 rebounds, while Ben had 5 steals and 2 assists.

Not-So-Golden Performance:
I haven’t really enjoyed giving this award out after wins, so I’m going to cease doing that for now. With that said, I’m still going to have to give someone or something a hard time. So, here it goes. If you were at the game, I think you’ll agree with me when I say I think Cheyney needs a new basketball arena…

Impact:
The KU win, coupled with a Millersville loss to East Stroudsburg yesterday, opened up a mansion full of playoff windows—each window filled with a different seeding possibility. KU will likely host a first round playoff game and the PSAC East title is still up for grabs between KU, MU, and CU. I will make a separate post with the playoff scenarios so check that out later. The Golden Bears will play a non-conference game at home against Columbia Union on Wednesday before hosting ESU on Saturday to complete the regular season.

NOTE: When I initially posted this article, I was under the impression that KU had in fact clinched a first round home playoff game. Since that time, the same source who gave me the initial information has corrected his stance and has now realized that KU could in fact end up on the road in the first road. More details later.

Sloppy play plagues Golden Bears

Kutztown Golden Bears 67
Millersville Marauders 80

Recap: The Golden Bears took a lead late in the first half and led by 1 at the break, but a turnover-filled night ended with a 13 point Millersville victory. The Golden Bears relinquished their brief hold on the game with 17:39 left to play and would never recover. The loss drops KU to 16-8 overall this season and could prove costly as the Marauders are now just one-half game behind them in the division.

Telling Stat: KU shot a respectable 41 percent in the game and out-shot the Marauders from the three point arc (despite making just 3 of their 13 attempts) and the free throw line. They out-blocked the Marauders by 5, out-assisted them by 1, and out-rebounded them by 1. So, what was the problem? Mistakes. The Golden Bears committed 8 more turnovers and 7 more personal fouls. That proved to the difference in the game.

Key moment: Still not convinced fouls were a big problem? KU was down by just 5 points following a Ryan Washington layup with 5:05 to play. The Marauders would answer by outscoring KU 20-12 the rest of the way with 12 of those 20 points, including 9 straight, coming from the charity stripe.

Most Valuable Golden Bear: This should come as no surprise, but Dave Ben carried the scoring load against last night. Aside of his 8 turnovers, Ben had a decent game. He was 10-of-18 from the floor and 7-of-8 from the free throw line. He scored a game-high 29 points and filled out his boxscore with two assists, a pair of offensive rebounds, a block, and a steal.

Least Valuable Golden Bear: Ever since missing time with an injury a few weeks back, Stephen Dennis has not been the same superstar scoring threat for the Golden Bears. While not the worst player on the court last night, Dennis is not matching the expectations he brought on himself by scoring in the 30s several times this season. Last evening, Dennis was just 3-of-7 from the floor for 7 points, committed 4 fouls, and turned the ball over twice. He had just 1 board, 1 assist and 1 steal. KU is going to need more from him down the stretch.

Impact: The loss drops KU to 8-2 in the PSAC East and jeopardizes their chances of hosting a playoff game for the second consecutive season. Millersville now sits just one-half game behind the Golden Bears with both teams still needing to play 9-1 Cheyney. The results of those games could decide home court. Look for a deeper look at the playoff race later today.

Home court advantage at stake for KU men

What: Kutztown Golden Bears @ Millersville Marauders
When: Wednesday, February 20 @ 8 p.m.
Where: Puscillo Gymnasium on the campus of Millersville University

Last season, the KU men's basketball team made history by hosting their first ever PSAC playoff game. This year's squad has a chance to make history repeat itself. If KU defeats MU it will allow the Golden Bears to host a first round playoff game. KU is still in the running for the top spot in the PSAC East as it is tied with Cheyney for first place. KU is coming off of a 97-68 blowout against Bloomsburg. Andre Woodlin had a career high 22 points, while Dave Ben and Nate Edwards added 17 points a piece. Stephen Dennis chipped in with 13 points. For the game, KU shot 49.3 percent from the floor and it was the team's fourth straight win.

MU comes into this game with a 17-6 overall record and is 6-2 in PSAC East play. The Marauders have only lost one conference game since losing to KU last month. CU defeated MU by 30 points on January 30. MU's last victim was also BU as they won 76-67. Charlie Parker led MU with 23 points, while Cory Bray added 22 points, including six three-pointers. MU is led by Reggie Bates, who averages 19.4 points per game and five rebounds. Parker adds 15. 3 points per game. MU as a team only shoots 26.6 percent from beyond the arc.

The last time these two teams met was back on January 23. KU won 78-60 and defeated MU for the sixth straight time. KU was led by Woodlin who had 17 points and 12 rebounds. Dennis had 14 points, and left for part of the game with hip and tailbone injuries. Jeremy Coombs added 13 points and eight rebounds. Bates led MU with 21 points and eight rebounds. Parker added 18 points and eight boards, while Bernard Brown added 14 points. MU's head coach Fred Thompson was ejected with 57.8 seconds left in the game after picking up his second technical foul of the evening. MU was 1-of-18 from beyond the arc, while KU was 4-of-9. KU also outrebounded MU 46-35.

Probable Starters:
Kutztown:
G- #14 Stephen Dennis
G- #32 Andre Woodlin
G/F- #34 Dave Ben
F- #52 Ryan Washington
C- #55 Jeremy Coombs

Millersville:
G- #3 Charlie Parker
G- #20 Cory Bray
G/F- #22 Reggie Bates
F- #42 RayQuan Miles
F- #44 Bernard Brown

Prediction:

KU has turned the tide lately in its series with MU, and has shown that its not intimated when playing at Puscillo Gymnasium. KU won their last year 67-64. MU is 10-1 overall at home this year, and will be looking to prove that KU's 18-point win last month was a fluke. KU proved that it had more talent than MU last time, and with a home playoff game on the line, the Golden Bears will find a way to win a close one.

Kutztown 75
Millersville 71

Golden Boys Look For Fourth Straight Win

What: Bloomsburg University @ Kutztown University
When: Saturday February 16, 2008 @ 3 p.m.
Where: Keystone Arena on the campus of Kutztown University

Fresh off securing a PSAC East playoff berth, the Golden Bears' men's basketball team will look for their fourth straight win over the doormat of the PSAC East, the Bloomsburg Huskies. KU is coming off of a 94-91 win at Mansfield on Wednesday night. It was KU's first win there since 2004. The team was paced by Dave Ben's 25 points, including a 13-of-14 showing at the foul line. Stephen Dennis and Nate Edwards added 17 a piece, while Ryan Washington grabbed six rebounds. KU led by as many as 12 in the second half , but MU cut the lead to three with 27 seconds left. KU secured the win by going 29-of38 from the charity stripe. The win moved KU into a tie with Cheyney for first place. KU has three conference games remaining after this one, including trips to CU and Millersville.

The BU Huskies have as many wins as their field hockey team had losses this season; give or take a few. BU has an 8-14 overall record and is 0-8 in PSAC East play. They have lost nine in a row and 10 of 11. Their closest margin of defeat during that span was eight points, which occured last Wednesday night in a 64-56 loss to Mansfield. BU is led by Nick Jones, who averages 16.9 points per game (7th in PSAC). Buddy Rose averages 10 points and five boards per game. As a team, BU averages 64.7 points per game, shoots 43 percent from the floor, and 32 percent from beyond the arc.

These two teams met earlier this season on January 26 at Nelson Field House. KU won that game 67-52, even without the services of Stephen Dennis. It didn't matter for the talent-laden Golden Bears as they had four players score in double figures, led by Andre Woodlin's 14. Ben added 12 and six, while Washington added 12 and nine boards. Jeremy Coombs added 10 points and six rebounds. Nick Jones led BU with 16 points. John Allen added 12 points and nine boards. Rose was held to just six points. BU shot a dismal 34.5 percent from the floor and was 1-for-17 total (5.9 %) from beyond the arc.

Probable Starters:

Bloomsburg:
G- #33 Jon DeJesus
G- #14 Drew Jerry
G- #21 Buddy Rose
F- #34 John Allen
C- #52 Jeremiah Long

Kutztown:
G- #14 Stephen Dennis
G- #32 Andre Woodlin
G/F- #34 Dave Ben
F- #52 Ryan Washington
C- #55 Jeremy Coombs

Prediction:

There really isn't much to predict here. KU handled BU earlier this year without Dennis, and proved that they have a solid group of core and bench players. Ben has been light's out lately and is making a late case for PSAC East Player of the Year. This one will be ugly throughout.

Bloomsburg 60
Kutztown 85

Golden Bears Eye Playoff Berth

What: Kutztown Golden Bears @ Mansfield Mounties
When: Wednesday, February 13, 2008 @ 7:30 p.m.
Where: Decker Gymnasium on the campus of Mansfield University

As the PSAC East schedule draws to a close, the KU men's basketball team is in prime position to clinch a playoff berth, as well as hosting a first round game. If the Golden Bears do happen to finish first in the east, and win their quarterfinal matchup, the team would host the PSAC Playoffs. However, there is plenty of basketball left to be played as KU has five PSAC East games left, including tomorrow night's matchup against Mansfield. KU is coming off of a 78-73 win over West Chester last Saturday which again saw the Golden Bears down by double-digits at the half only to respond with another sizzling second half. Stephen Dennis led KU with 17 points and seven rebounds, while Dave Ben chipped in with 16 points. Andre Woodlin had a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Ryan Washington also had one with 10 points and 10 boards. Nate Edwards added 15 points off the bench. The win kept KU in a tie for first with Cheyney at 6-1 in the PSAC East.

Mansfield is 15-7 overall and 3-4 in the PSAC East. Mansfield was 11-3 in non-conference play and has not fared well against conference foes. The Mounties currently occupy the fourth and final playoff spot in the east and are a half game ahead of East Stroudsburg. MU is coming off of a 95-92 loss in overtime against Millersville. Ryan Callahan had 30 points off the bench and Chris Greene added 24 but it wasn't enough. Greene's three-pointer with one second remaining in regulation sent the game into overtime, but his attempt to tie the game at the buzzer in OT was no good. The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for the Mounties. MU is led by Kevin Hill who averages 13 points per game. John Hampton averages 12 points per game. Brandon Lawley averages 9.3 points per game and grabs seven rebounds per game.

The last time these two teams met was at Keystone Arena on January 16. KU won that matchup 88-75 after trailing 7-0 for the first five minutes of the game. The Golden Bears pulled away late in the first half with a 14-3 run to take a 40-27 lead into the locker room, and then staved off a couple of MU runs in the second half. Dennis led four players in double figures with 27 points. Woodlin and Ben poured in 18 a piece, while Washington added 13. Jeremy Coombs grabbed a team high 11 rebounds. MU's leading scorer Hill was held to just three points on 1-of13 shooting, including a 0-for10 night from beyond the arc. MU was led by Dhimitri Luarasi's 24 points. Greene added 18 while Hampton pitched in with 11. Lawley grabbed 11 boards for MU.

Probable Starters:

Kutztown
G- #14 Stephen Dennis
G- #32 Andre Woodlin
G/F- #34 Dave Ben
F- #52 Ryan Washington
C- #55 Jeremy Coombs

Mansfield
G- #14 John Hampton
G- #15 Chris Greene
G/F- #23 Kevin Hill
F- #32 Brandon Lawley
F- #00 Yuseff Carr

Prediction:
Three of MU's four conference home games thus far have gone into overtime. The only game that didn't go into OT was an 82-77 loss to Cheyney. KU has not played well in the first half in the past couple of games, something they cannot afford four hours from home. The Golden Bears proved that they have more talent than MU, but KU needs to make sure that they come out with the same amount of energy as MU's speedy guards, Hampton and Greene. This one will be closer than the last meeting, but we all know what can happen when the Golden Bears play two dominant halves of basketball.

Kutztown 90
Mansfield 84

Men come back to beat Golden Rams

West Chester Golden Rams 73
Kutztown Golden Bears 78

Recap: For the second consecutive game, the Golden Bears came out flat in the first half, but managed to recover in the second frame. KU trailed by 10 at the break and by 11 with just over 11 minutes to play in the game, but managed a 23-10 run to take the lead in the late stages of the game. Roger White almost saved the day for the Golden Rams when he nailed a 3 pointer with 1:21 left to play, but Dave Ben countered with a trifecta of his own to seal the deal.

Telling Stat: The Golden Bears did not shoot well in the game, particularly in the first half when they made just 9 of 35 shots (25.7%). A strong second half earned them the victory, but West Chester was certainly more efficient from the field and from beyond the arc. So, what was the difference in the game? KU outrebounded the Rams 44-37, including 21-10 on the offensive glass.

Key play: Ben’s three pointer with 1:05 to play was the clear key play of the game. The Golden Rams had just tied the game, stealing away some of the KU momentum. Ben would have none of that, however, and answered with the game-winning bucket. West Chester still had a chance, but Kenneth St. George missed a layup and Stephen Dennis grabbed the rebound to put the Golden Rams to bed.

Most Valuable Golden Bear: Five Golden Bears were in double figures, but Dave Ben would prove to be the most valuable player when he nailed the game winning bucket. Ben was 6-of-14 from the floor for 16 points, grabbed 4 rebounds, and chipped in with four dimes.

Least Valuable Golden Bear: No one played particularly bad in the game, so it’s tough to choose a LVGB here. Nonetheless, it has to go to someone. Steve Coffey played 11 minutes off the bench for KU and you barely would’ve known. The freshman did not get a shot off and failed to contribute with an assist, rebound, or steal. The only mark on his boxscore was 1 personal foul. If anything, at least he didn’t turn the ball over.

Impact: The win allows KU to keep up with the Cheyney Wolves, who took care of business against Bloomsburg. Both teams are now 6-1 and pace the PSAC East. West Chester falls to 2-5 and have a tough task ahead of them if they hope to qualify for the PSAC playoffs.

Adjusted Game Score formula in works

I'm still working on the formula you've seen me use before to come up with the Clay Player Rankings. I expect to have it perfected in a few days or weeks. Today I did a single game analysis using Wednesday's men's game at ESU. In my recap article yesterday I chose Dave Ben as the Most Valuable Golden Bear of the game (not too hard of a decision) and Jeremy Coombs as my least valuable. After plugging in the numbers today, it appears that I was pretty close to being right on the money. Take a look:

1. Ben 84.4
2. Dennis 40.7
3. Woodlin 39.9
4. Washington 25.2
5. Edwards 22.9
6. Coffey 8.6
7. Bower 3.4
8. Nemetz 0.0
9. Connolly 0.0
10. Coombs -6.4
11. Hafera -7.6

The higher score is obviously the better one. If your score is positive, you made a positive impact on the game and if your score is negative, you made a negative impact on the game. A score of 0.0 would mean that you either made no impact (good or bad) on the outcome of the game or that your good and bad plays completely offset each other.
The 84.4 points by Dave Ben is a very good score, while the 40.7 from Dennis is certainly an excellent showing.

I use a bunch of different factors in my formula, which sometimes brings me to some interesting information. For example:

On a given trip down the court, there was a:
23% chance a 2 point bucket would be made
21% chance a 2 point attempt would be missed
6% chance a 3 point bucket would be made
9% chance a 3 point attempt would be missed
15% chance a free throw would be shot and made
10% chance a free throw would be shot and missed
16% chance of a turnover

Golden Bears Begin Second Half of PSAC East Slate

What:West Chester Golden Rams vs. Kutztown Golden Bears
When: Saturday February 9th
Where: Keystone Arena on the campus of Kutztown University

The Kutztown men's basketball team will look to build off a sizzling second half on Wednesday night which saw them score 52 points and erase an 11-point deficit. The Golden Bears defeated East Stroudsburg 78-56 to move into a first place tie in the PSAC East with Cheyney. This is the start of the second half of the PSAC East slate for the Golden Bears. They begin this stretch against a West Chester team that they beat on the road on January 19 by a score of 70-54. In that game, freshman Ryan Washington had 16 points and nine rebounds, while Dave Ben had 14 points and seven rebounds. Stephen Dennis added 11 points. The Golden Bears won despite shooting an abysmal 2-of-7 from the charity stripe. KU has won seven of its last nine games.

The Golden Rams have lost six of nine and are 11-10 overall and a dismal 2-4 in the PSAC East. WCU lost to Millersville on Wednesday night by a score of 75-62 thus dropping them a game out of the final PSAC East playoff spot. WCU is led by guard Kenneth St. George who averages 16.7 points per game. Teammate Kahinde Roberts is second on the team and averages 13.8 points per game. Forward Lenwood Greenwood leads the team in rebounds, averaging 8.8 per game. WCU has a very deep bench, however, it is not laden with much talent. KU's bench players significantly outperformed WCU's bench players in the team's first meeting of the season.

Probable Starters:

West Chester
G- #10 Aaron Smith
G- #12 Kenneth St. George
G-#40 Kahinde Roberts
F- # 21 Lenwood Greenwood
C- # 32 Ralph Hegamin

Kutztown
G- #14 Stephen Dennis
G- #32 Andre Woodlin
F- #34 Dave Ben
F- #52 Ryan Washington
C- #55 Jeremy Coombs

Prediction: Considering that the Golden Bears had no trouble with the Golden Rams the first time around, and that game was on the road, expect the Golden Bears to be in cruise control from the get go. WCU will need a spectacular game from both St. George and Roberts. They will get that kind of game from one, not both. Dave Ben has continued to prove that he can carry this team on his back when he needs to. He won't need to do a lot of it in this game, but I expect three or four dunks out of him. Golden Bears will keep pace with Cheyney after winning this one.

KUTZTOWN 80
WEST CHESTER 65

Ben there, done that

Kutztown Golden Bears 78
East Stroudsburg Warriors 56

Recap: The Golden Bears struggled out of the gate against PSAC rival East Stroudsburg, trailing by 11 at the half. It would be another story in the second half, however, as Dave Ben led KU to 52 second half points and, in turn, to a comfortable win. The Golden Bears shot 62 percent in the second half and outscored the Warriors 52-19. It was easily the team’s best half of the season and possibly one of its best ever.

Telling Stat: The Warriors shot just 13.3% in the second half, making just 4 (yes, I said four) of their 30 field goal attempts. The KU defense clamped down hard in the second half and the offense was not far behind, scoring 52 total points.

Key play: Ryan Washington hit a jumper 2 minutes into the second half, which cut KU’s deficit to 11. From there, KU would score another 15 straight points to take their first lead of the game. The Golden Bears would eventually turn that 17-0 run into a 28-4 run and then coasted to the victory from there.

Most Valuable Golden Bear: David Ben scored a career high 32 points, which was also a season high for KU. 24 of Ben’s points came in the second half, one in which he, by himself, outscored ESU 24-19. The junior was 12-of-20 from the floor, including 4-of-8 from beyond the arc. He also chipped in with 6 boards, 2 assists, and a steal.

Least Valuable Golden Bear: Starting center Jeremy Coombs played just 16 minutes and made little impact. Coombs was 0-for-4 from the free throw line and grabbed just 2 rebounds. If anything, Coombs did see some second half minutes when KU held ESU to just 19 points. Coombs will need to step it up if KU hopes to have any answer for the league’s big men, most notably Cheyney’s Robbie Simpson.

Impact: The Golden Bears win returns them to the top spot in the PSAC East at 5-1. This time around, however, KU is tied with Cheyney for that spot. The Wolves, of course, hold the tiebreaker as they are responsible for KU’s only divisional loss. The two teams meet again at Cheyney on Feb. 23. Also of note in this game were the efforts of point guard Stephen Dennis. The sophomore has been hobbled by injury over the past few weeks, but looked like he was back to 100 percent last night. He didn’t shoot as well as he can, but he certainly looked like his speed and agility was back to normal.

Photo: The play Dennis was injured on against Millersville on Jan. 23.

Men can return to first place with win over ESU

What: Kutztown Golden Bears @ East Stroudsburg Warriors
When: Wednesday, February 6, 2008 @ 8 p.m.
Where: Koehler Fieldhouse on the campus of East Stroudsburg University

The Kutztown men’s basketball team will try and rebound from their first PSAC East loss of the season when they take on East Stroudsburg. KU lost to Cheyney on Saturday by a score of 81-75. Up 42-39 at the break, the Golden Bears struggled to stop CU’s Rob Simpson down the stretch and it cost them as the Wolves pulled away late and took over first place in the standings.

KU is still in good shape, but must take on a pesky ESU squad that has lost three straight after winning 13 in a row. Those last two losses have come in overtime to Millersville and Mansfield. ESU is now 13-6 overall and 2-3 in the PSAC East. This puts the Warriors in third place behind KU, so this game is crucial for them to keep pace.

Probable Starters:
ESU:
G- # 24 - Andy Heimbach
G- # 31 - Pat Fleury
G- # 42 - Dawud Lyons
F- # 22 - Josh Wentz
F- # 40 - Chris Bach

KU:
G- # 11 - Nate Edwards
G- # 32 - Andre Woodlin (pictured)
F- # 34 - Dave Ben
F- # 52 - Ryan Washington
C- # 55 - Jeremy Coombs

Scouting Report:

Kutztown (13-6 overall, 4-1 PSAC East, Second Place)

Last Game: Lost to Cheyney 81-75
The Golden Bears got off to a strong start thanks to Dave Ben, however, CU clamped down on him, which proved to be the difference. Nate Edwards started in place of Steven Dennis and had some nice stretches, but did pick up a technical foul. Dennis went 1-of-7 from the floor and is still trying to recover from his tailbone and hip injuries. He missed some shots that he usually makes, but I wouldn’t count on two straight bad games for him. The post tandem of Ryan Washington and Jeremy Coombs was effective on the offensive end of the floor in spurts, but they had no answer on the defensive end for Simpson. Both Washington and Coombs got into early foul trouble and reserve Kevin Hafera picked up three quick fouls off of the bench.

East Stroudsburg (13-6 overall, 2-3 PSAC East, Third Place)

Last Game: Lost to Millersville 68-66 (OT)
The Warriors were again without leading scorer Channon Easley who is out with an injury, but junior forward Chris Bach has been picking up the slack, and he dropped 26 points and grabbed 10 boards in the loss at Millersville. When on the floor, Easley leads the Warriors averaging 14.8 points per game and grabbing 8.1 boards per game. Bach averages 10.3 points per game and pulls down 6.8 rebounds per game. He also shoots 53 percent from the floor. Guard Andy Heimbach averages 13.7 points per game and shoots 41.3 percent from beyond the arc. Forward Josh Wentz averages 10.4 points per game and shoots 47.8 percent from the floor.

Last Season:
@ Kutztown: KU 74 ESU 69
@ ESU: ESU 74 KU 72

Prediction:
The Golden Bears are in unfamiliar territory this year after suffering their first PSAC East loss. The team had several opportunities to beat CU but couldn’t get the job done down the stretch. This game will be decided by foul trouble and bench play. The ESU bench does not get as many minutes as the KU bench does, so look for that to play a major factor. I think Dennis will still show some effects of his injury, but I’m hoping it is an improvement from last game. I can’t imagine that tailbone/hip injuries heal quickly and are easy to play through. That being said, the Golden Bears must forget about their last loss and realize that they can distance themselves in the division with a few more wins. The problem is that ESU has been playing some tight games and maybe catching the Golden Bears ripe for an upset. The road is never easy in the PSAC East, even though the Golden Bears have made it look that way thus far.

ESU 75
KU 71

Article written by Jason Ogle

Golden Bears look to tame Wolves

What: Cheyney Wolves vs. Kutztown Golden Bears
When: Saturday February 2, 2008 @ 8 p.m.
Where: Keystone Arena

It has been almost a full year since the Cheyney Wolves knocked the Kutztown Golden Bears out of the 2007 PSAC East Playoffs. It was a heart-breaking end to a magical season for KU as they hosted their first ever PSAC Playoff Game. The 79-63 defeat at the hands of CU was not how KU wanted to reward its faithful fans. However, the Golden Bears have made this season worthwhile thus far as they have stormed out of the gates to a 4-0 start in the PSAC East. The Wolves trail the Golden Bears by a half game in the standings.

This game could end up deciding who wins the PSAC East title, however, both teams appear to be headed for home games when the PSAC Playoffs start at the end of the month. KU has defeated Mansfield, West Chester, Millersville and Bloomsburg. The most impressive statistic about these four victories was how much the Golden Bears won by. Most games in the PSAC East are usually decided in the final minutes and come down to free throw shooting. KU’s closest margin of victory was 13 points in an 88-75 win over Mansfield. KU defeated WCU by 16, MU by 18, and BU by 15.

CU has also dominated throughout PSAC East play. Their only loss was at East Stroudsburg in overtime 88-85. CU rarely loses at home and is 6-2 overall at Cope Hall and 3-0 in conference play. However, the Wolves are 3-4 on the road overall as they head into Saturday’s matchup.

Scouting Report:

Cheyney Wolves (11-6 overall, 4-1 PSAC East - 2^nd Place)

Last Game: Won 72-42 vs. Millersville

The Wolves dominated the Marauders as they outscored them 41-20 in the second half. MU, the preseason favorite in the PSAC East, has been anything but, as they fell to 2-2 with the loss. CU was led by Ed Braswell (18 points) and Tyrone Smith (13 pts., 12 rbs.). MU did not have any players in double figures including superstar Charlie Parker who only attempted five shots.

The Wolves matchup well against the Golden Bears as they rely on strong guard play and establishing a dominant presence in the post. They are led by center Rob Simpson, reigning PSAC East Player of the Week, who averages 13.6 points and leads the PSAC in field goal percentage shooting 59.9 percent. In last year’s PSAC East Quarterfinal against KU, Simpson was 11-of-15 for 26 points. Braswell adds 13.2 points per game and shoots 42.5 percent from beyond the arc. Smith adds 12.7 points per game and shoots 50.6 percent from the floor. CU has four players that average double figures in points, and three players that are in the top 11 in the PSAC in field goal percentage.

Kutztown Golden Bears (12-6 overall, 4-0 PSAC East - 1^st Place)

Last Game: Lost 81-79 (OT) @ District of Columbia

The Golden Bears played their second straight game without leading scorer Stephen Dennis (hip and back injuries) and erased a 15-point deficit to force overtime. Junior Dave Ben had 23 points to lead KU while reigning PSAC East Rookie of the Week Ryan Washington added a double-double with 19 points and 13 rebounds.

KU hopes to have Dennis back in the lineup, but the Golden Bears still remain a legitimate threat without him due to the improved post play of Washington and Jeremy Coombs. This inside tag team has taken some of the pressure off of Ben and fellow guard Andre Woodlin. Guard Nate Edwards has seen time in the starting lineup with Dennis out and has shown no ill-effects of an ankle injury that he suffered last month. KU is led by Dennis who is third in the PSAC averaging 19 points per game. He also averages six rebounds and is in the top five in blocks per game. Ben adds 15.4 points per game (8^th in PSAC) and 6.2 rebounds. Woodlin averages 11.9 points per game.

Probable Starters

Cheyney:
C- #33 Rob Simpson
F- # 4 Tyrone Smith
G- # 3 Ed Braswell
G- # 1 Dawud Morris
G- # 31 Dominique Curry

Kutztown
C- #55 Jeremy Coombs
F- #52 Ryan Washington
F- #34 Dave Ben
G- # 32 Andre Woodlin
G- # 14 Stephen Dennis

Prediction

Since this game will probably decide the PSAC East title, the Golden Bears must defend their home court. They will need another strong performance out of Washington and Coombs, who must contain Simpson. If either Washington or Coombs get into early foul trouble, it could be difficult for the Golden Bears to matchup well down low. The good news for the Golden Bears is that they should get Dennis back who should be fresh and ready to go. KU could afford to sit him against BU (PSAC East cellar dwellers) and UDC (non-conference game). There should also be a large crowd at Keystone Arena with this game being at night, and the Golden Bears are a exceptional home team. This game is too close to call, but until someone comes up with a game plan to stop KU’s well-balanced attack, I can’t pick against them.

KUTZTOWN 78
CHEYNEY 72

Pictured: Andre Woodlin

Men's team downed by DoC

Boxscore

Kutztown 79
Dist. of Columbia 81

The KU men's basketball team erased a 15 point second half deficit at District of Columbia last night, but fell 81-79 in overtime.

Dave Ben led all scorers with 23 points in the non-conference affair. The loss drops KU to 12-6 overall season, but does not affect their 4-0 PSAC East-leading record.

Ryan Washington had a double-double for the Golden Bears, scoring 19 points and grabbing 13 boards. Steve Coffey added 10 points off the bench, while Jeremy Coombs added 9.

KU leading scorer Stephen Dennis missed his second straight game, but will look to be back in action on Saturday when KU welcomes Cheyney [11-6 (4-1)] to Keystone Hall. The game matches the top 2 teams in the PSAC East.

No surprises in Clay Rating System for men's team

Using the same complicated method (more in depth breakdown will come with time) I explained earlier today in the women's article, I plugged the stats from this season's men's team into my player rating formula. You'll notice there were no real surprises, with the big 3 (Dennis/Ben/Woodlin) taking the top 3 spots.

Dennis is the clear number one, but Ben and Woodlin are separated by just 0.3 points. Washington, Coombs, and Edwards are also very tight, which is accurate as their impact on the game has been similar (in a good way).

1. Dennis 53.7
2. Ben 37.5
3. Woodlin 37.2
4. McKeon 36.9*
5. Washington 33.3
6. Coombs 32.5
7. Edwards 31.9
8. Foye 28.7**
9. Nemetz 25.4
10. Coffey 23.0
11. Connolly 18.7
12. Bower 18.3
13. Hafera 14.3
14. Lewis 4.9

*No longer with team (personal reasons)
**Out for season (academics)

Dennis, men’s hoops team opening eyes in PSAC

The men’s basketball team might be the best in the entire PSAC.

That’s right, KU students—the basketball team is really a contender this year. Get off your lazy asses and get to a game over the next few weeks before it’s too late. This group might be the best ever at this university.

Looking for a specific game to get to? Try Cheyney on Saturday.

One season ago, Cheyney was responsible for knocking off KU in the first round of playoffs right here at Keystone Hall. Led by superstars Dave Ben, Steve Dennis, and Sean McKeon, Kutztown was making their first legitimate run at a playoff victory in years. Unfortunately for them, Cheyney was the better team in 2007.

Now fast forward one year. McKeon is gone, but Dennis is arguably the best player in the conference and Dave Ben is just as good on most days. Andre Woodlin would be a go-to-shooter on several PSAC foes and Ryan Washington is becoming the frontcourt presence KU lost when McKeon hit the road. Toss in possibly the best supporting cast in the business and you have the real deal.

Following some major offseason hype, most people, including myself, were shocked to see the Golden Bears stumble out of the gates back in late November. A 1-3 start coupled with the departure of superstar center McKeon made it look like another year of disappointment for the KU faithful.

That certainly has not been the case.

Enter Stephen Dennis. The sophomore point guard and reigning PSAC East rookie of the year has taken the league by storm, notching 30 points on several occasions and carrying the Golden Bears to a 4-0 start in the PSAC East. Arguably the top player in the PSAC so far this season, Dennis does it all, near the conference leaders in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks. That’s right—a point guard who blocks and gets rebounds. He is a phenomenal athlete and, at times, looks untouchable.

But, it’s not just Dennis carrying the load. David Ben is an unbelievable athlete who, when in the zone, is also a top five player in the PSAC. He can score, rebound, create turnovers, and, if you’ve seen a game, you know can he dunk. Andre Woodlin has played in the shadows of Ben and Dennis, but has played his role outstandingly and has proved just as valuable.

Little guy Nate Edwards has taken a beating, missing several games due to injury, but has been stellar when healthy, hitting three balls and making big defensive plays. Jeremy Coombs has been starting in the front court and has formed quite the dynamic duo with fellow big man Ryan Washington.

Washington, a transfer redshirt freshman, has been a pleasant surprise for KU. Since the departure of McKeon, Washington has stepped into the starting lineup and made play after play in the lane. Not only does he score almost every time he shoots, but he has excellent vision when going to the hole and has found teammates, usually Coombs, for easy buckets.

Kevin Hafera, Steve Coffey and Mike Connolly have been stellar in their roles off the bench, hitting big shots and making big plays when KU has needed them.

This team is the real deal, already manhandling reigning PSAC East champ and pre-season favorite Millersville 78-60. Toss in thrashings of Mansfield, West Chester, and Bloomsburg and what are you left with?

A rematch with Cheyney on February 2 at Keystone Hall. Be there.