Saint John's (7-3, 4-1 MIAC) plays host to Augsburg (8-2, 3-2 MIAC) this Wednesday, Jan. 6. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. at Sexton Arena in Collegeville. – Listen Live | Live Stats
Preview Video:
-Head Coach Jim Smith (2:54)
A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: Saint John's is currently riding a three-game conference win streak, including a 2-0 record in 2010. The Johnnies are now a combined 127-44 (.743) against Saint Mary's and St. Olaf under the direction of head coach Jim Smith, and have won a combined 53 of the last 66 meetings with the two schools. Four Johnnies scored in double figures and SJU shot 54.7 percent from the field, including 10-for-20 from three-point range, to defeat St. Olaf 87-81 in its last game on Jan. 4 in Northfield. Junior Aaron Burtzel (Cold Spring, Minn./Rocori) led the Johnnies (7-3, 4-1 MIAC) with 17 points, 12 rebounds and four assists for his fifth double-double of the season. Sophomore Aaron Barmore (Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson) followed with 16 points, including a six-for-six performance from the free-throw line in the game's final 2:16. Junior Sam Blank (Rollingstone, Minn./Winona Cotter) and sophomore Andrew Latzke (Shorewood, Minn./Minnetonka) added 10 points apiece. STO and SJU entered the contest 1-2 in the MIAC in free-throw percentage. The Johnnies, however, shot 79.2 percent (19-24) from the charity stripes, while the Oles were just 16 of 26 (61.5 percent).
A LOOK AT THE AUGGIES: Augsburg is currently on a four-game winning streak, including a similar 2-0 mark in the MIAC so far in 2010. Led by senior David Olson's 24-point, 9-of-11 shooting performance, Augsburg defeated Concordia-Moorhead 68-52 on Monday night. He leads the team with 15.1 points per game, while junior Ben Flavin and senior Jon Cassens average 12.1 and 11.9 points, respectively. Both are tied with Burtzel for second in the MIAC (conference games only) in assists (4.2 apg.). Freshman Andy Burns (Shorewood, Minn./Minnetonka) leads the conference with 4.8 assists per game. The Johnnies are 48-45 against the Auggies under the direction of Smith and have won nine of the last 10 meetings in Sexton Arena.
LOOK OUT FROM BEHIND THE ARC: Augsburg leads the MIAC in three-point shooting (conference games only) at 45.5 percent (45-99). The Johnnies, on the other hand, boast the MIAC's top three-point defense at 32.2 percent (28-87).
