NATCHITOCHES, La. – A familiar foe awaits the University of New Orleans (9-10, 6-2 Southland) as the Privateers head to Prather Coliseum to face Northwestern State University (3-15, 0-7 Southland) Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.
Privateers head coach
Mark Slessinger, who is the third winningest coach in program history, was an assistant under 19
th year coach Mike McConathy as Northwestern State for 11 seasons.
HOW TO FOLLOW
Game Notes:
http://unoprivateers.com/sports/2017/11/6/mens-basketball-game-notes.aspx
Live Stats:
http://sidearmstats.com/uno/mbball/
Watch:
http://www.nsudemons.com/watch/?Live=1454&type=Live
Listen (
Jude Young):
http://unoprivateers.com/listen/
Social Media
Twitter:
@PrivateersMBB
Instagram:
@PrivateersMBB
Facebook:
/PrivateersMBB
TIP-OFF
• One game back of the top spot in the Southland Conference (loss column) New Orleans heads to head coach
Mark Slessinger's old stomping grounds, Prather Coliseum, to take on Northwestern State.
• The Privateers are coming off a 2-1 homestand with victories over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and UIW.
•
Travin Thibodeaux is one of the hottest players in the country, reaching double figures in 12 consecutive games and collecting four 20-point performances since the flip of the calendar.
• In his first career start,
Lamont Berzat provided 12 points - nine from three-point range.
•
Ezekiel Charles came up with a crucial rebound down the stretch Saturday and finished with 15 points, five rebounds and two steals. The junior also connected on three triples.
• Saturday's starting lineup was the eighth different starting five of the season for the Privateers.
• The Privateers are battling a depleted Demons team that is searching for their first Southland victory of the season. On Saturday, Northwestern State fell by 27 to conference leading (tie) Southeastern Louisiana.
• Following the bus trip to Natchitoches, the Privateers return to New Orleans for a day, then head to San Antonio for the second matchup in as many weeks versus UIW.
• That game will be televised on Cox Sports Television.
ABOUT NEW ORLEANS
New Orleans takes on Northwestern State in the first of two meetings in a week Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. The Privateers are a game back of Southeastern Louisiana, Nicholls and Stephen F. Austin in the loss column in the Southland Conference.
With 10 regular season games remaining, the Privateers look for back-to-back Southland championships and have been counting on four-year member
Travin Thibodeaux.
Thibs is averaging 16.8 points per game (fifth in SLC) and is shooting 56.3 percent from the floor, second best in the conference.
Bryson Robinson follows with 8.4 points and
Makur Puou and
Michael Zeno are chipping in 7.0+ a game.
Diontae Champion is hitting 60.0 percent of his shots but the junior has missed the last three games due to injury.
From behind-the-arc,
Ezekiel Charles and
Bryson Robinson have combined for 57 triples. On Saturday,
Lamont Berzat drained three and Thibodeaux, who worked on his long distance shooting to extend his range in the offseason, has connected on 11.
ABOUT NORTHWESTERN STATE
The Demons are searching for their first Southland Conference win since ending last season on a three-game win streak that began with a victory over New Orleans. In his 19th season at the helm of the Demons, Mike McConathy is 283-291.
Ishmael Lane is leading the club with 12.6 points per game followed by Iziahiah Sweeney's 12.1. Lane also pulls down 7.3 rebounds per game and has posted six double-doubles.
THE SERIES
The Privateers and Demons are tied at five apiece in the series meetings with the clubs each taking two wins at Prather Coliseum.
SERIES BREAKDOWN
Overall: 5-5
Home: 2-3 | Away: 2-2 | Neutral: 1-0 | Southland: 2-4
01/06/73 H W 101-87
12/19/86 N/1 W 71-57
11/25/06 H L 67-71
11/14/07 A W 72-66
03/01/14 H * L 71-84
02/21/15 H * L 84-87
03/07/15 A * L 78-88
02/20/16 A * W 102-99
03/05/16 H * W 97-86
02/25/17 A * L 82-83
* - Southland Conference game
1 – LSU Invitational (Baton Rouge, La.)
DEFEND THE LAKEFRONT
New Orleans is 7-1 at Lakefront Arena and the home mark is one of the best in the nation. Southland Conference foes Sam Houston State (8-1), and McNeese (5-1) have lost just once at home - the Cowboys' loss coming at the hands of the Privateers - and SFA is a perfect 11-0 in Nacogdoches.
NEXT UP - COX SPORTS TELEVISION
Saturday's game at UIW will be the second in a week's span and second televised game. The Privateers defeated the Cardinals 74-70 on ESPN3 and #LoadTheLakefront January 20.
DOUBLE DIGIT STRETCH FOR THIBODEAUX
Travin Thibodeaux is putting together his best offensive season as a Privateer. The Plaquemine native entered with zero 20 point games in three seasons and begins the week with eight in 2017-18, including a 21-point performance in the win over UIW Saturday.
The senior has reached double figures in 12 consecutive games.
RECORD BOOK CHANGES
Privateer faithful have seen
Mark Slessinger move up the ranks this season with the seventh-year coach now second on the most games coached, 17 behind
Ron Greene.
Most Games
211, Ron Greene, 1969-77
194,
Mark Slessinger, 2011-Present
185, Tim Floyd, 1988-94
Most Wins
146, Ron Greene, 1969-77
126, Tim Floyd, 1988-94
86,
Mark Slessinger, 2011-Present
CLUTCH DOWN THE STRETCH
They say championship teams know how to win late in ballgames and the defending Southland Conference champs are doing just that. The Privateer are 9-0 when leading with 2:00 minutes remaining.
ZEKE LEADS THE WAY in 3FG
Ezekiel Charles' 49.1 percent shooting from three-point range would be tops in the Southland Conference if the junior qualified. Charles scored a career-high 15 and hit three triples in the 74-70 win over UIW Saturday.
BERZAT COMING ON STRONG
The smallest guy on the court had a strong week with 12 points in his first career start in Saturday's win over UIW.
Lamont Berzat went 3-of-5 overall, hitting three of his four three-point attempts in 26 minutes.
IN THE RANKINGS
Below are the statistical categories the Privateers and their opponent are nationally-ranked in (top 50 only).
Thru 1/22/18
New Orleans
- Team
- Turnovers Forced (44th, 15.74)
- Steals per Game (49th, 7.6)
- Individual
-
Travin Thibodeaux
- Field Goal Percentage (46th, 56.3)
Northwestern State
- Team
- Offensive Rebounds per Game (31st, 12.72)
- Individual
- n/a
FAMILIAR PLACE
Wednesday's game at Prather Coliseum will be familiar territory for head coach
Mark Slessinger. Sless was an assistant for head coach Mike McConathy for 11 seasons.
SURPASSING THE CENTURY MARK
The Privateers routed Oklahoma Panhandle State 107-59 December 18, tying the point total from 2002 versus Saint Leo for the most points scored in regulation at Lakefront Arena by UNO. New Orleans featured five double digit scorers, led by
Travin Thibodeaux's 22 points on 10-of-14 shooting.
FUTURE PRIVATEERS
New Orleans signed four high school stars to NLI's two weeks ago; Tony Hopkins (6-4 wing, Howe HS, Indianapolis, Ind.), Gerrale Gates (6-5 forward, Butler HS, Matthews, N.C.), Jahmel Myers (6-7 forward, Mariner HS, Cape Coral, Fla.) and high-flyer Jamal Harris (6-1 guard, Crispus Attucks HS, Indianapolis).
FORMER PRIVATEERS UPDATE
Christavious Gill inked a pro contract with KK Ulcinjska Rivijera Ulcinj, a club competing in Ulcinj, Montenegro. A four-year letterman for UNO, Gill averaged 11.5 points, 2.7 assists and 1.5 steals per game for the Privateers last season en route to a Southland Conference championship.
Cory Dixon and
Bo McCalebb also inked professional deals.
PRIVATEERS TV SCHEDULE
There are three remaining TV games on the docket for UNO. Below is the full schedule including previous games.
11.10 at St. John's (Fox College Sports)
11.13 at Oakland (ESPN3)
11.21 at Memphis (ESPN3)
12.13 at SMU (ESPN3)
1.10 at SFA (ESPN3)
1.20 at Incarnate Word (ESPN3)
1.27 vs Incarnate Word (Cox Sports TV)
2.10 at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (ESPN3)
2.21 at Sam Houston State (ESPN3)
SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Week 1 - Nov. 13 - Kevon Harris, Stephen F. Austin
Week 2 - Nov. 20 - Jordan Howard, Central Arkansas
Week 3 - Nov. 27 - Marlain Veal, Southeastern Louisiana
Week 4 - Dec. 4 - Josh Ibarra, Houston Baptist
Week 5 - Dec. 11 - Kevon Harris, Stephen F. Austin
Week 6 - Dec. 18 - Ivan Canete, Stephen F. Austin
Week 7 - Dec. 27 - Jordan Howard, Central Arkansas
Week 8 - Jan. 2 - Josh Nzeakor, Lamar
Week 9 - Jan. 8 - Bryson Robinson, New Orleans
Week 10 - Jan. 15 - Roddy Peters, Nicholls
Week 11 - Jan. 22 - Nick Garth, Lamar
NEXT UP
The Privateers head to San Antonio to close the season series with UIW. Tip-off is at 2:05 p.m. and the game will be televised in New Orleans on Cox Sports Television.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans are encouraged to follow
@PrivateersMBB on Twitter,
@PrivateersMBB on Instagram, like
/PrivateersMBB on Facebook and subscribe to the
PrivateerAthletics YouTube channel.
