The Johnnie basketball team (4-3, 1-1 MIAC) returns to action this Wednesday, Dec. 9, against Macalester. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Sexton Arena in Collegeville. – Listen Live (WBHR-660 AM) | Live Stats
A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: Carleton snapped the Johnnies' four-game win streak with a 66-55 decision on Dec. 5, in Collegeville. Junior Aaron Burtzel (Cold Spring, Minn./Rocori) led SJU with 18 points and eight rebounds on eight of 11 shooting. Sophomore Andy Burns (Shorewood, Minn./Minnetonka) followed with 15 points and five assists. Jeremy Sutherland led the Knights with 20 points, while Bryan Rosett posted a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Both teams recorded identical shooting percentages at the half (11-28, 39.3 percent) and at the end of the game (23-58, 39.7 percent). The statistical difference was behind the arc, in which Carleton was nine of 29 (31.0 percent) and SJU was just two of 15 (13.3 percent). The Knights held a combined advantage of 18-4 in points off turnovers and second-chance points.
MIAC ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Burtzel was named the MIAC Men's Basketball Athlete of the Week on Monday, Dec. 7. Burtzel recorded his second consecutive double-double with 13 points, 12 rebounds and added six assists in the Johnnies' 67-61 win over Bethel in their MIAC opener on Dec. 2. His sixth assist was the 200th of his career. He then led SJU with 18 points and eight rebounds on eight of 11 shooting in the 66-55 loss to Carleton on Dec. 5. Burtzel is currently second in the MIAC in rebounding (tied for first in conference games only) and third in both assists (second in conference games only) and minutes played (33.86 mpg.; first in conference games only).
A LOOK AT THE SCOTS: Macalester (1-4, 0-3 MIAC) is currently riding a four-game losing streak. Junior Colin Keeley leads the Scots with 13.8 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. Mac returned four starters from last year's squad that went 0-25. The Scots are led by first-year head coach Tim Wittle, who came to St. Paul after serving as an assistant coach at two-time defending NCAA Division III champion Washington University in St. Louis.
THE LAST MEETING: Saint John's used a 17-2 run to end the first half enroute to a 67-51 win over Macalester on Feb. 2 of last season in Collegeville. Burtzel and junior Chris Schwartz (Sioux Falls, S.D./Lincoln) led SJU with 10 points apiece as 16 different Johnnies played and 10 recorded a point. Richie led all scorers with 12 points and added eight assists for Macalester. The Johnnies are 64-27 all-time against the Scots under the direction of head coach Jim Smith, including a 35-10 record in Collegeville. SJU has won 18 of the last 19 meetings at Sexton Arena.
