TULSA, Okla. – Coming off a 71-60 victory over the University of South Alabama last week, the University of New Orleans (4-3) visits the Donald W. Reynolds Center for a 7 p.m. tip versus the University of Tulsa (7-3) Thursday. The game will be streamed on ESPN3.
NCAA STATS
The updated NCAA Division I statistical rankings was released Tuesday and New Orleans ranks fourth in steals per game and fifth in turnovers forced with 11.0 and 12.14, respectively.
Entering Wednesday, the Privateers are recording 11.5 steals per game and forcing 20.67 turnovers. UNO is also 12
th in assists per game as the selflessness shows with 18.6 assists/game.
HOW TO FOLLOW
Game Notes:
http://unoprivateers.com/sports/2017/11/6/mens-basketball-game-notes.aspx
Live Stats:
http://www.statbroadcast.com/events/statbroadcast.php?t=1&gid=tuls
Watch (ESPN3):
http://www.espn.com/watch/_/id/3460539/new-orleans-vs-tulsa
Listen:
http://unoprivateers.com/watch/
Social Media
Twitter:
@PrivateersMBB
Instagram:
@PrivateersMBB
Facebook:
PrivateersMBB
TIP-OFF
• The Privateers head to Tulsa for the second time in three seasons to battle the Golden Hurricane Thursday at 7 p.m. on ESPN3.
• New Orleans is searching for its first road win of the season and looks to hand Tulsa its first home loss.
- Entering Thursday, Tulsa is 7-0 at Donald W. Reynolds Center.
• UNO is coming off a 71-60 victory over South Alabama that featured four double-digit scorers, led by
Ezekiel Charles' 18 points. The Privateers outscored the Jaguars 43-26 in the second half and forced 17 turnovers.
• Tulsa is coming off back-to-back Power 5 wins at home - 74-71 over Oklahoma State and 47-46 vs. then No. 16 Kansas State.
• The 2016 meeting was the first between New Orleans and Tulsa.
• Frank Haith is in his fifth season at the helm of the Golden Hurricane and 15th overall as a Division I head coach (Miami, Missouri, Tulsa).
•
Scott Plaisance Jr. will graduate Friday, earning his bachelor's degree. He is one of 11 current or former student-athletes earning a degree in the fall.
• Charles leads the league in three-point shooting and UNO is atop the Southland in blocks, assists, and steals. The club is also second in turnover margin, assist/turnover ratio, FG %, and scoring.
ABOUT THE PRIVATEERS
The league's leader in assists, blocks, and steals enters the Reynolds Center fourth in the nation in steals per game (11.0) and fifth in turnovers forced (20.14). New Orleans has the Southland Conference's leading three-point shooter in
Ezekiel Charles (53.3 percent from long distance) and he is one of two players averaging double figures for UNO.
Charles' 14.0 points are good for eighth in the Southland, followed by
Scott Plaisance Jr.'s 10.3 points per ballgame.
Lamont Berzat 's 3.3 assists/game is good for third in the SLC.
In last week's win over South Alabama, Charles posted 18 points, five rebounds, and two steals, Plaisance Jr. added 13 points, six rebounds and three blocks and two others -
Damion Rosser (11 points, five rebounds, three assists) and
Jorge Rosa (10 points - nine from three-point range) reached double figures.
ABOUT THE GOLDEN HURRICANE
Frank Haith's ballclub is 7-3 on the season and a perfect 7-0 at Donald W. Reynolds Center.
DaQuan Jeffries received American Athletic Conference Player of the Week honors after leading the Hurricane to wins over Oklahoma State and then No. 15/16 Kansas State.
Dating back to the 2017-18 season, Tulsa has won 13 consecutive home games.
Point guard Sterling Taplin, a second-team preseason all-AAC selection, leads the club in assists (5.5) and steals (1.3). Jeffries' 12.5 points per game are tops and Martin Igbanu follows with 12.1 to go with 5.8 rebounds.
THE SERIES
The lone meeting was back in 2016-17. Tulsa defeated New Orleans, 77-68, but the Privateers went on to win the Southland Conference regular season and tournament that season. In the game,
Christavious Gill scored 23 points off the bench. That year's Southland Conference Player of the Year
Erik Thomas scored 20 points and added six rebounds and five assists.
A WIN WOULD...
- Give the Privateers their best start under head coach
Mark Slessinger (5-3)
- Give UNO its first road win
- Make UNO 2-0 to begin December for the first time since 2009-10.
SWARMING DEFENSE
With a defense ranked in the top five in steals and turnovers, UNO has forced 15+ turnovers four times this season and 20+ three times. The Privateers collected 10+ steals four times.
BALANCED ATTACK CONTINUES
In last week's win, UNO featured four double-digit scorers. They are 3-0 when four or more players reached double figures.
FRONTCOURT SOLID EARLY
Scott Plaisance Jr. and
Gerrale Gates are the only two players to start all seven games for the Privateers. The frontcourt continues to play big, combining to average 19.3 points, 10.8 rebounds and added 15 steals and 15 blocks.
33 FOR THREE
Ezekiel Charles led the conference in three-point shooting last season and is atop the charts again early on this season at 53.3 percent from long distance. On the year, Zeke is averaging 14.0 points per game and is connecting on 53.7 percent of his shots.
NATIONAL RANKINGS AS OF 12.11 (TOP 50)
- New Orleans
- Steals per Game - 4th (11.0)
- Turnovers Forced - 5th (20.14)
- Assists per Game - 12th (18.6)
- Fewest Fouls - 14th (124)
- Offensive Rebounds per Game - 19th (13.86)
- Blocked Shots per Game - 31st (5.1)
- Turnover Margin - 41st (3.9)
- Total Steals - 49th (77)
- Tulsa
- Free Throws Made - 37th (166)
- Free Throw Attempts - 47th (231)
- Individual
- Sterling Taplin
- Total Assists - 39th (55)
- Assists/Game - 50th (5.5)
SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans are encouraged to follow
@PrivateersMBB on Twitter,
@PrivateersMBB on Instagram, like
/PrivateersMBB on Facebook and subscribe to the
PrivateerAthletics YouTube channel.
