The Johnnies play host to Saint Mary's for Senior Night at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 13, in Sexton Arena. – Listen Live (Real Audio Player) | Live Stats | Live Video
Preview Video:
-Head coach Jim Smith (2:38)
A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: Top-ranked St. Thomas shot 63.6 percent from the field in a 93-68 win at Saint John's (10-13, 9-9 MIAC) on Feb. 9 in Collegeville. The Tommies tallied 23 points on 12 offensive rebounds in the game and closed out a 13-point halftime lead (44-31) by shooting 66.7 percent from the floor in the second half. SJU committed only three turnovers in the contest but shot 37.5 percent from the floor, including 31 percent in the second half. The Johnnies made only one of their 11 three-point attempts and were out-rebounded 37-26, though the home team held a 15-12 advantage on the offensive glass. Senior Chris Neumann (Winsted, Minn./Holy Trinity) led the Johnnies with 17 points, while freshman Alex Schmitt (Chaska, Minn./Waconia) added 14 points off the bench. Junior Seth Marx (Maple Grove, Minn./Benilde-St. Margaret's) was held to seven points and seven rebounds on a 2-for-11 afternoon.
PLAYOFF PICTURE: SJU most likely needs a pair of wins this week to contend for a trip to the six-team MIAC playoffs, though the Johnnies could get in with a 10-10 record in conference play. The Johnnies' goal is to either finish ahead of Gustavus (10-8 MIAC) in the standings or tie with the Gusties since they own the head-to-head tie-breaker (two head-to-head wins). The Gusties end MIAC play with road games at Carleton (Feb. 13) and Concordia (Feb. 16). Although Bethel is currently tied with SJU at 9-9, the Royals end the regular season with home games against two of the three teams at the bottom of the MIAC standings (Hamline and Macalester). St. Olaf (8-10 MIAC) makes a trip to St. Thomas Wednesday before returning home to host the Johnnies in the regular-season finale Saturday arfternoon.
A LOOK AT THE CARDINALS: Saint Mary's (4-19, 3-15 MIAC) snapped a six-game skid with a 58-46 win over Macalester Feb. 3 before falling to Bethel 94-46 on Feb. 9. Senior Michael Burfeind leads the team with 16.4 points per game and sophomore point guard Evan Pederson has 93 assists on the year with an average of 11.6 points per contest. Freshmen Mark Schumacher (10.1 ppg.) and Will Swiggum (10.0 ppg.) also average over 10 points per game. The Cardinals, however, commit 15 turnovers per game and allow a .505 shooting percentage.
EARLIER THIS SEASON IN WINONA: SJU started a seven-game winning streak by ending a five-game losing skid with a 63-46 win at SMU on Jan. 14. SJU scored a total of 16 points off turnovers and offensive rebounds to post a 34-16 halftime lead. The Johnnies shot 49.4 percent in the game's first 20 minutes, while the Cardinals shot 30.4 percent and committed eight turnovers. Marx led the Johnnies with 15 points, including 13 points in the first half (10 in the game's first 9:17). Neumann followed with 10 points and a team-leading five rebounds, while freshman Mitchell Kuck (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial) added eight points and a career-high eight assists. Burfeind and Swiggum led SMU, which cut its deficit to as little as 15 in the second half, with 10 points apiece. The Johnnies out-rebounded the Cardinals 39-30, including an 11-6 edge on the offensive glass (8-2 in second-chance points).
SERIES HISTORY: The Johnnies are 75-20 all-time against SMU under the direction of head coach Jim Smith, including a 46-1 record at home. SJU has won 42 consecutive home games against the Cardinals and 42 of the last 50 meetings overall, including each of the last 11. The lone home loss occurred Jan. 31, 1968, when SJU still played in the Old Gym (80-77 in overtime).
