TIPPING OFF
Last season provided its share of unique challenges and was far from normal. Fortunate to play games in the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, one of the most unique challenges that presented itself for the college basketball season across the country was scheduling, and that was no different for the Great American Conference.
In playing the 2020-21 season, the league, for the first time in its 10-year history, broke up into divisions, separating East from West geographically. That temporary split left gaps in the schedule that could only be filled by in-division opponents. Thus, the initial conference schedule had each team within a division, playing their five other division-mates four times during the regular season - double the amount of matchups during a normal conference schedule.
Due to ongoing issues of COVID-19 and several games being canceled, there were not many instances in which teams indeed played one another four times during the 2020-21 regular season. One such instance, however, came between the Arkansas Tech and Henderson State men's basketball teams.
Unfortunately, for the Wonder Boys, it was the Reddies who came away with a win in each game last season adding a little more intrigue to the initial meeting in 2021-22.
TECH TIDBITS
The Wonder Boys enter play this weekend 3-4 overall and 1-1 in the Great American Conference. In splitting the opening weekend of GAC play, the Wonder Boys had an impressive home win against Ouachita but suffered a tough one-possession loss at Arkansas-Monticello a few days later.
So far this year, the Wonder Boys are averaging 67.4 ppg and rank 12th in the GAC. On the defensive end of the court, the Wonder Boys rank second in the league in scoring defense, giving up an average of 62.9 ppg. In terms of field goal percentage and field goal percentage defense, the Wonder Boys are eighth in the conference as they shoot at an overall clip of .447 (193-of-432) and are limiting their opponents to a .411 mark (156-of-380) to rank second.
From beyond-the-arc, the Wonder Boys are shoot at a clip of .320 (41-of-128) to rank 11th in the GAC while their opponents are making three-pointers at a mark of .361 (53-of-147) to rank 10th. From the free throw line, the Wonder Boys are shooting .672 as a team (45-of-67) to rank ninth.
Individually, the Wonder Boys have one player average double figures in scoring. Czar Perry leads the way at 15.6 ppg. Despite having only one player in double figures, the Wonder Boys have balanced scoring with five other players averaging at least 7.0 ppg.
The Wonder Boys are coached by Mark Downey, who is in his second season back on the sidelines at Tech after a 10-year hiatus. In his first stint, Downey patrolled the sidelines at Tech for four seasons from 2006-07 - 2009-10. In his final season, Downey guided the Wonder Boys to a program-record 30 wins and during the course of that season, the Wonder Boys were ranked No. 1 in NCAA DII for the first time ever.
In his time at Tech, which is now in its sixth season overall, Downey has amassed an 87-58 record. Overall, Downey is in his 15th season as a head coach and has career record of 253-164.
SCOUTING THE REDDIES
Henderson State enters Saturday's Great American Conference game against Arkansas Tech at 5-2 overall and 2-0 in the GAC. The Reddies also enter the game riding a three-game winning streak with wins over Pittsburg State, UAM and Southern Arkansas. The streak very well could be longer as HSU has overall won five of their last six games with the lone loss being a one-point defeat at UA-Fort Smith. On the flip side, the Reddies could be on a four-game skid as each of their last three wins are by a combined nine points.
Statistically this season, the Reddies average 68.6 ppg on offense to rank 11th in the GAC and give up an average of 66.6 ppg to rank fifth in the GAC. In terms of field goal percentages, Henderson shoots at a .414 clip overall (168-of-406) to rank 11th and is allowing opponents to shoot at a mark of .444 (164-of- 369) to rank 10th.
From three-point range, the Reddies shoot at a .330 clip (37-of-112) to rank seventh in the GAC and are allowing their opponents to shoot .281 (43-of-153) from range to rank first. At the charity stripe, the Reddies shoot .748 (107-of-143) to rank third in the GAC.
Individually, the Reddies have one player scoring in double figures and are led by Malik Riddle at 10.1 ppg. Despite having only one player in double figures, the Reddies have balanced scoring with seven other players averaging at least 7.0 ppg.
The Reddies are coached by Jimmy Elgas, who is in his seventh season at Henderson State. In his time as a head coach at HSU, Elgas has amassed a 97-76 record. In 2019-20, Elgas had his best year at Henderson, leading the Reddies to a 23-8 overall record and captured the GAC Tournament Championship
