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Ashland Men's
Basketball Weekly Report |
The Week Ahead About the Eagles Thanks to a four-game winning streak and a 2-0 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference start, the Eagles have forced fans, coaches and players around the league to pay attention. AU is 6-2 and coming home to play rival Findlay this week. This is Ashland’s first appearance at Kates Gymnasium since losing to Saint Joseph’s on Nov. 19, 110-87. Last week the Eagles won at Lake Superior State, 93-68 and followed that up with a 70-58 triumph at Michigan Tech. The win at Tech was just the second in the program’s history in Houghton, MI, and snapped a five-game losing skein against the Huskies. The game against Lake Superior State marked the sixth time this season the Eagles have scored 80 or more points. AU is 5-1 in those contests. The Eagles shot 53.7 percent (36-of-67) from the floor against Lake Superior State and 53.2 percent (25-of-47) against Tech. Junior guard Rob McRae (Flint, MI/Mott C.C.), in his first season at AU, scored a season-high 18 points at Lake State. Five AU players reached double digits in that contest. One member of that group was junior center Matt Engler (Port Clinton, OH), who came off the pine to hit 6-of-8 field goal tries for a season-best 12 points. Junior forward Greg Emmons (Ashland, OH) had 17 points and seven rebounds against Lake Superior State and 11 points and 12 boards at MTU. Emmons hit 10-of-15 field goal tries (.667) last week. Ashland is the GLIAC leader in scoring offense (81.2 ppg.) and is third in rebound margin (+5.1). The Eagles are fourth in the GLIAC in field goal percentage (.484).
Brown’s Town The Line on Lyons Knowing Me, Knowing You “I think it’s going pretty well,” said Bartlett. “I think you learn more in game situations than in practice or open gym.” Bartlett says that it hasn’t been a struggle to adapt to a new cast of characters. But he’s had to adjust to a new philosophy in directing the team on the floor. Elsewhere in his career, he’s been a point guard who’s expected to handle the ball the majority of the time. His coaches were confident when the basketball was under his watch. That’s changed here. “Coach (Lyons) wants you to get the ball out of your hands as soon as possible,” Bartlett said. “Here I’m taught to get the ball to the open man right away. Plus, this is a faster pace. Early this season Coach probably over-exaggerated getting the ball out of my hands.” Lyons also told Bartlett he would have to be the best conditioned athlete on the team. That wasn’t an exaggeration, Bartlett is logging 29.3 minutes per game, the third highest figure on the squad. The sophomore is also fourth in the GLIAC in assist-turnover ratio (1.94), sixth in free throw percentage (.846), seventh in assists per game (3.88) and ninth in three-point field goal percentage (.469). Over the summer, Bartlett got himself ready for the AU challenge by lifting weights and running on a track. He went to the gym two or three times a week. That got him physically prepared for what he would face. As for this week’s game – the first matchup of the year against arch rival Findlay and All-GLIAC point guard Dustin Pfeifer, that’s a little more difficult to simulate. “We have to take the same approach we’ve taken all season,” Bartlett said. “But, in the back of your mind, it’s Findlay. We have to stay focused. “I’ve got to do what it takes for us to win,” said Bartlett of going against Pfeifer. “I can’t get caught up on something one-on-one.” Traveling In Style “One, we have players with more experience,” said Lyons. “We have a senior, three juniors and a transfer on the floor. “Two, we’re really moving the ball well. It’s not stopping at one or two players.” The Eagles have ranged far and wide to get these victories. They picked up one in Florida, one in West Virginia and two in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Speaking of that trip to the UP, Lyons estimates that it takes a team until Wednesday of the following week to adequately recover from that journey. AU’s return trip, which began Saturday afternoon and ended Sunday morning, consumed 16 hours. The fact that Lake Superior State and West Virginia Wesleyan, teams AU defeated on the road, are struggling right now doesn’t do anything to diminish their importance in Lyons’ eyes. “It’s difficult getting a win on the road in college basketball anytime,” reminded Lyons. Short Shots
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