Saint John's basketball begins its 2011-12 season at Division II St. Cloud State this Friday, Nov. 18. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. at Halenbeck Hall in St. Cloud. The Johnnies then face St. Scholastica for a 4 p.m. game Saturday, Nov. 19, in St. Cloud. – Listen Live (WBHR-660 AM, Both Games) | Live Stats (Both Games)
Preview Video:
-Head coach Jim Smith (1:36)
TICKET INFORMATION: Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students.
A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: Saint John's dropped a 76-51 decision to NCAA Division II Concordia-St. Paul in an exhibition game Nov. 5. Sophomore Seth Marx (Maple Grove, Minn./Benilde-St. Margaret's) led the Johnnies with eight points. Sophomores Kevin McKenzie (De Pere, Wis./Notre Dame Academy) and Jack Wittenborg (Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson), and freshman Jacob Peterson (Golden Valley, Minn./Hopkins) each added six points apiece. SJU shot just 23.3 percent (7-30) in the first half and ended the game three of 14 from behind the arc (21.4 percent).
A LOOK AT THE HUSKIES: St. Cloud State opened its season with a 74-56 win over the University of Sioux Falls (S.D.). Four Huskies scored in double figures. Junior Theo Rothstein led the team with 15 points, while collecting five rebounds, two blocks and two assists. Sophomore Tim Bergstraser recorded a double-double (10 points/10 rebounds) and collected three assists. As a team, the Huskies shot 42.1 percent, grabbed 38 rebounds and forced 21 turnovers.
SCSU finished the 2010-11 season with a 15-14 overall record. The team needs to replace four starters from last season, including three-time All-NSIC guard Taylor Witt, who led the team in scoring in 20 out of 29 games last winter. The Huskies return senior guard Bret Putz, who finished last season with an average of 12.1 points 3.3 rebounds per game. Putz scored 11 points in the season-opener against Sioux Falls (S.D.). The Huskies were picked to finish sixth in the 2011-12 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Preseason Coaches' poll.
THE LAST MEETING: Saint John's opened last season with a 70-65 upset victory of St. Cloud State in Collegeville. Four Johnnies scored in double figures. Senior Aaron Barmore (Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson) tallied 14 points, 12 of which came in the second half. Putz led all scorers with 20 points, while Witt added 13 on a 5-for-18 night from the floor for SCSU. SJU built a 30-23 lead at the half thanks to 11 points off eight SCSU turnovers. The Huskies shot 34.8 percent from the field in the first half, including 0-for-7 from behind the arc. The visitors cut the deficit to four with 3:48 left, but Hujdurovic made six straight free throws and Blank added two of his own to increase the SJU lead to 63-51 with 1:30 remaining. A free throw and layup cut it back to nine, but the Johnnies went seven of 10 from the charity stripe in the game's final minute to seal the victory. The Johnnies ended the contest 20-for-29 from the free-throw line, including a 17-for-24 mark in the second half.
SERIES HISTORY: The Huskies have won 11 of the last 14 meetings between the two schools. The last SJU win at St. Cloud State was a 72-67 victory on Dec. 10, 2005. Forward Paul Henrichs posted 24 points and 18 rebounds in the contest for the Johnnies.
A LOOK AT THE SAINTS: St. Scholastica lost its season opener against Wisconsin-Eau Claire, 63-41 on Nov. 15. Forward Brett Tester scored 19 points for the Saints and also collected eight rebounds in the loss. Forward Marshaan Johnson grabbed nine rebounds, but as a team, the Saints were outrebounded 50-28. The Saints finished the game with a .250 shooting percentage, including 15.8 percent (3-19) from behind the arc.
St. Scholastica finished the 2010-11 season with a 9-16 overall record. The Saints finished sixth in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) and were voted to finish fourth in this year's UMAC Preseason Coaches' poll. The team returns only two of last year's starters, Tester and guard Jonah Dahlman. Tester was named to the All-UMAC first team last season and was named the UMAC Freshman of the Year during the 2009-10 campaign. He finished last season averaging 15.8 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. Dalhman finished last season with an average of 9.4 points and 3.4 rebounds per game with a .452 shooting percentage.
THE LAST MEETING: The Johnnies are 3-0 all-time against St. Scholastica and have not played the Saints since Dec. 31, 2004; a 72-56 SJU win in Collegeville. Forward Craig Schafer dropped 19 points in the victory, while Henrichs added 16.
