Postgame notes

WKU lives to play another day with the 66-48 victory over FIU (a score that was much more convincing than what most media members, including yours truly, thought it would be). After the game, the press conference gave me a few more good quotes and facts that are worth mentioning. I just sent my story through, so check WKUHerald.com here in a few for the game story.

• After the game, senior guard Orlando Mendez-Valdez gave his Player of the Game award to sophomore forward D.J. Magley, citing his contributions: three points, seven rebounds and only one turnover in 15 minutes. “I really think his minutes he played were really key,” Mendez-Valdez said. “He came and defended and held Freddy (Asprilla) to eight points. I mean, that counts for all the bigs. But I thought he had key rebounds and good decisions, passing back out or taking it when he had it. He was just playing really well. I strongly believe that he deserved it.”
• With his 18 points, Mendez-Valdez became the 42nd player in WKU history to surpass the 1,000 point plateau.
• You have to wonder what the bench is going to do. I know it’s like beating a dead horse, but when the horse is Secretariat, it matters. Magley and Anthony Sally (22 minutes, two points, four rebounds, one assist and three turnovers) played solid minutes, but the bench only contributed nine points, and after those two, the next biggest contributor was Matt Maresca, with six minutes and three fouls. A team can go seven-deep and last, but only for so long. And it isn’t been more than six-deep the entire season, sometimes only five-deep. This was a good start, but to win the tournament, they will have to have this on a consistent basis.
• An otherwise big bright spot was the Toppers’ ability to score in the half-court and rely on their set plays and grind-it-out possessions. WKU only had two fast break points (holding FIU to none) and won the points in the paint battle 26-20 against a sizeable FIU front line that was noticably bigger. Being able to rely on their trademark transition game, like they have all season, makes it a lot easier to play at any pace. When faced with a slow down team like Middle Tennessee State (which could be their next opponent), that can pay dividends.
• WKU is now 18-9 all-time in quarterfinal match-ups in the Sun Belt tournament.

First half, 7:31 to go: WKU 22, MTSU 9

D.J. Magley came in after the last 30-second timeout and has been effective on defense, staying straight up and down and denying MTSU any good shots down low. He was called for over-the-back on offense, but on the next WKU possession, leading scorer Desmond Yates was called for his second foul. MTSU coach Kermit Davis is keeping him in, but I have a feeling he won’t be as aggresive for the rest of the half.

Kerusch has gotten off to a great start offensively. He just made another three for nine points in the game. On the other side, the MTSU offense is cold. Maresca just took a charge and the reserves are really contributing for WKU.

-Just got word that Orlando Mendez-Valdez went down with a sprained knee and he will return in the game.

First half, 11:36 to go: WKU 15, MTSU 9

The tempo has slowed down, and MTSU’s 2-3 zone has somewhat halted the Topper offense. WKU keeps its man-to-man defense, and despite MTSU getting to the rim, the posts are getting position and forcing MTSU to take tough shots. Matt Maresca replaced Evans at the 15:09 mark, and Anthony Sally replaced Mendez-Valdez shortly after. Mike Walker came in for Steffphon Pettigrew and was called for an offensive foul, but the subs seem to be handling the MTSU starters well. The Toppers are moving the ball well around the perimeter and getting good open shots in mid-range. There just haven’t been many of them due to Blue Raiders closing out well.

-Currently the MTSU crowd is going nuts over the Domino’s Pizza “Delivery of the Game.” I’m not a fan of Domino’s, but it sounds good right now.

Second half, 1:46 to go: FAU 62, WKU 85

This one is pretty much a forgone conclusion, as McDonald is subbing out the seniors to get their standing ovations and cheers of “thank you seniors” are ringing out. Maresca got his first double-digit rebound game as a Topper, with four points and 10 rebounds.

Second half, 15:45 to go: FAU 39, WKU 59

FAU has come out all guns blazing in the second half, opening with a couple of threes and lay-ups to make the game a contest. But the Toppers are getting an unexpected boost from Maresca. He’s got four points and a board in the second half alone to go along with a charge in the first three minutes.

The boost worked, pushing the lead back out to 20. The ball pressure has increased for FAU as WKU continues to use three-quarter court pressure. The turnover battle is 4-4 in the second half.

First half, 14:58 to go: FAU 9, WKU 15

WKU starts out in a 2-3 zone, and it’s having sparing success. The seniors are making the most of their time so far. Japeth Aguilar got the opening defensive rebound, and after a Matt Maresca offensive board off a Slaughter miss, Mike Walker scores. An Orlando Mendez-Valdez three knotted the score, and an Aguilar jumper from the left baseline made it 7-5 WKU.

The seniors were subbed out at the 17 minute mark, except for Mendez-Valdez. He subbed out following a foul with Anthony Sally in. A Slaughter three makes it 12-7. The Toppers stay in the 2-3 zone, but the ball continues to get into the paint. Another Slaughter three makes it 15-9 going into the first media timeout.

FAU v. WKU: Senior night stuff

Japeth Aguilar came out with his mom and dad, and Matt Maresca is getting a standing ovation from the hometown fans.

The Morning After: WKU v. FIU

So after a game that should’ve been a blowout from the beginning, coach Ken McDonald gave some remarks that he believes the game went exactly as it should’ve, with the talent that FIU possessed. Golden Panther head coach Sergio Rouco had some compelling thoughts on the state of WKU basketball. Both coaches were hoping to see each other again in the Sun Belt tournament. Now a few more thoughts from the game:

-We start again with the bench. McDonald went to his bench early with the intention of keeping his starters rested against a shallow-but-strong roster of forwards for Florida International. It worked in the first half, forcing the guards to penetrate and take contested long-range shots, but late in the second half, the reserves showed their weaknesses. After only managing three points in the first half, they improved on that by one, scoring four in the second half, losing the bench scoring battle 21-7 to FIU. The other reserves must find a way to contribute, though. Sophomore forward D.J. Magley and senior forwards Japeth Aguilar and Matt Maresca combined for just seven minutes, two points and two rebounds.

-Even though the scoring was dry, a few reserves played valuble minutes. Senior forward Mike Walker contributed what were his best minutes in a month, with a rebound and an assist in 12 minutes, but it was his ability to push FIU forwards Russell Hicks and Freddy Asprilla out of the paint and make them take altered shots that made him valuable. Junior guard Anthony Sally scored six points, pulled down two boards and dished out two assists in 22 minutes in place of senior guard Orlando Mendez-Valdez and junior guard A.J. Slaughter. Despite a down game against Troy, Sally has been coming along with setting up the offense and knowing when to push the tempo. His play off the bench will be key in the grueling three-games-in-three-days format in the Sun Belt Conference tournament.

-Something that has to satisfy McDonald is the play of Sergio Kerusch and Steffphon Pettigrew. Though they have been consistent contributors all season, the game was an off night for Mendez-Valdez and Slaughter, who combined to shoot 6-for-22, including 0-for-11 from three, for 18 points. The duo of Pettigrew and Kerusch combined for 15-for-28 shooting for 43 points and also combined for 20 of Western’s 42 rebounds. It has to make McDonald happy to see other players are able to step up, especially in an athlete-dominated league like the Sun Belt, in case the team leaders aren’t having their best games.

-For eight minutes in the first half, junior forward Jeremy Evans left the bench. McDonald said it was for a “bathroom break” but also to clean up his bleeding upper lip. It shouldn’t affect his status for the rest of the season.

Monday Evening Memo

Well, school has officially started here at Western. That means the alarm going off too early, exams, quizzes, assignments, and whatever else comes with school.

But let’s review the weekend that was. Both the men’s and women’s basketball teams took rough tumbles at Denver. Luckily, because Arkansas-Little Rock and Middle Tennessee State both lost, the Toppers will survive the weekend and remain in first place.

Western has two games remaining in January, at Arkansas State on Thursday and then hosting North Texas on Saturday. The Toppers should win Thursday, but it may not be by much, and they should hold serve again on Saturday at Diddle. If they win both this weekend, it means they will finish 8-3 in the month of January.

And as we enter February, here’s three questions for the Toppers:

1. With four games remaining on the road, including stops at UALR and MTSU, can Western pick up pivotal road wins and hold their place in the standings?

2. When will the big men awake? Junior forward Jeremy Evans could use some support inside as Topper fans patiently wait for the likes of D.J. Magley, Japeth Aguilar and Matt Maresca to increase their productivity.

3. Is sophomore forward Steffphon Pettigrew Western’s most valuable player? He’s currently second on the team in scoring with 12.8 points per game and ranks third in rebounding averaging 4.9 boards per game.

Player to watch in February: Steffphon Pettigrew. The Elizabethtown product has turned it up in Sun Belt Conference play. Through nine games, he’s averaging 15.7 points per game, good for ninth-best in the conference. If he can continue his production in addition to what A.J. Slaughter, Orlando Mendez-Valdez and Sergio Kerusch can bring to the table, Western could present a potent four-headed monster down the stretch.

Game(s) to watch: This one is tricky. With this current squad, every game is one to watch because you never quite know what to expect.

-Andrew Robinson

MORNING AFTER: WKU defeats MTSU

Judging by this game, Western vs. Middle Tennessee should be a great race to the SBC East title–maybe even better than last season’s between the Toppers and South Alabama.

A few nuggets, good and bad, from the game:

• Though neither team played well offensively (a combined 29 turnovers), a great finish helped make up for it. Both team were able to keep up manageable shooting percentages–Western shot 42.9% compared to MTSU’s 43.6%.
• I’m starting to wonder whether or not this so-called “experiment” with Dejan Cvoro starting over Sergio Kerusch is permanent. Cvoro got his sixth straight start, and Kerusch is thriving off the bench as a sixth man. Cvoro’s learning curve will be faster, and Kerusch can give that already-thin bench some much needed help.
• Kerusch also continues to be a double-double machine, posting 15 points and 10 boards in the win, his fourth double-double of the season. Jeremy Evans also pulled down 10 rebounds paired with five points.
• Despite a thin bench, Western got one of its best outing from the reserves, holding a 20-9 scoring edge over the Blue Raiders.
• The Toppers have shown they know how to win close games so far this season. Western has won four of six games decided by 10 points or less, and when coach Ken McDonald’s technical and subsequent free throws left them in a 47-41 hole, the Toppers were able to go on a 9-0 run and retake the lead.
• The woes continue on Western’s depleted bench. Sophomore guard D.J. Magley continues to put himself in a hole early in the foul column (three fouls in six minutes), and senior forwards Japeth Aguilar and Matt Maresca combined for zero points off zero shots two rebounds in 14 minutes. If the Toppers want to be a postseason team, one of those players, or senior forward Mike Walker, has to start contributing better minutes off the bench.
• New Orleans comes in ranked 11th in the SBC in scoring offense, but fourth in scoring defense. Western swept UNO last season and currently hold a five-game winning streak over the Privateers (8-9, 3-4 SBC West Division) dating back to 2004.