THIS WEEK: Dixie State College of Utah competes in the 2009 Northwest Nazarene University Classic beginning Friday afternoon at 3pm against Central Washington University. The next evening at 7pm (Saturday), DSC will play the tournament host – Northwest Nazarene. The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs will also be at the event, but Dixie State is not scheduled to play the Mountain Lions.
THE RECORDS: The Red Storm are 1-0 on the young season after a 69-49 victory at home over Cal State Dominguez Hills last Saturday. Central Washington is also 1-0 after a season-opening win over Portland Bible College 99-84. Northwest Nazarene opened their season on Tuesday with a convincing 115-73 victory over Walla Walla University.
BROADCAST INFORMATION: Dixie State College basketball games, both home and away, can be heard live on KXDS 91.3 FM and Network1Sports.com with the voice of the Red Storm, John Potter. Home games can be seen live online at B2LiveTV.com and on tape delay on DTV. All access video passes for Dixie State can be purchased on the B2 Networks site.
RED STORM WATCH: Dixie State College won a season opener for the first time since 2005 last Saturday with a 20-point win against CSU Dominguez Hills. Tom Whitehead (St. George, UT/Dixie) (17) and Donovan Plunkett (Oroville, CA/Las Plumas) (16, 7-7 FG) each scored in double figures while Jeremiah Barnes (Compton, CA/Los Altos) dished out seven assists in his first game in a Dixie State uniform. This year's squad features five returners including two starters, one returning redshirt freshman, four junior-college transfers and four true freshman. Returning senior Andy Palmer (St. George. UT/Pine View) was a second-team all-league selection last year and was the only DSC hoopster on this year's Pac West Preseason All-Conference Team. Jon Judkins, the Pac West Coach of the Year in 2008-09, returns to the bench for a fifth season. Judkins is 61-51 over his first four years and guided the Storm to their highest conference finish a year ago.
STORM FAST BREAK TIDBITS:
- Since moving to Division-II, the Red Storm have 1-0 series record against both Central Washington and Northwest Nazarene
- Dixie State is 3-4 all time against teams from the GNAC, but did win two-of-three last season (def. Central Washington and Western Washington at home, lost to Western Oregon on the road)
- Career Scoring Ranks: #8 Andy Palmer (St. George. UT/Pine View) (244; 18 points behind #7 Johnny Little (Murray. UT/Murray HS)), #9 Tom Whitehead (St. George, UT/Dixie) (232), #10 Kevin Lindquist (Gilbert. AZ/Lone Peak) (226)
SCOUTING CENTRAL WASHINGTON: Central Washington University has the most victories all-time in Division-II basketball with 1,585 in their 103-year history. This year's squad returns just point guard Jon Clift from the team that was 18-7 in the regular season, 12-4 inside the GNAC and lost in the first-round of NCAA Tournament to CSU Dominguez Hills. Central was selected in the preseason to finish third in a vote of the coaches. Clift started 23-of-25 games for CWU and averaged 5.3 points per contest. Junior forward Chris Sprinker leads all Wildcat returners in scoring at 7.6ppg. Central took 80 shots in their season-opener against Portland Bible College. JC Cook led five Wildcats in double figures with 25 points. The Wildcats are coached by alum Greg Sparling in his 15th year at CWU. He has compiled a 239-156 record as a head coach.
SCOUTING NORTHWEST NAZARENE: The Crusaders were 14-13 last season and finished tied for sixth in the GNAC. A trio of double figure scorers, including two GNAC all-stars are among five letter winners available for Northwest Nazarene head coach Tim Hills. Forward Kendall Gielow (6-7, 222, Sr., Medford, OR – South Medford) is the GNAC active career scoring leader with 1,095 points, ranking 35th on the all-time conference list. A year ago Gielow led the Crusaders in scoring (14.9) and ranked second in rebounding (5.4) in earning honorable mention all-league honors. Center Brian Barkdoll (6-10, 253, Jr., Portland, OR – Central Catholic) was also an honorable mention pick averaging 13.7 points and a team-high 6.5 rebounds and ranking third in the conference in field goal percentage (63.6). Guard Louie Beech (6-3, 190, Sr., Nampa, ID - Skyview) also returns from NNU's 2008-09 starting lineup. He averaged 11.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists in his junior season. NNU shot over 54% from the floor in a 42 point win over Walla Walla in their season opener. Anthony Golden had 18 points to lead all scorers. Five Crusaders scored in double figures. Barkdoll ended a point short of being the sixth with nine points and 11 rebounds.
