GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Phoenix men's basketball team wraps up their five-game road trip this weekend at Northern Kentucky on Thursday and Wright State on Saturday. Green Bay will return home on January 5 to take on Milwaukee at the Resch Center.
 
Thursday, Dec. 30 – 6 p.m. CT – BB&T ARENA
Green Bay vs. Northern Kentucky
Links: Live Stats | Watch | Listen 
 
Saturday, Jan. 1 – 1 p.m. CT – NUTTER CENTER
Green Bay vs. Wright State
Links: Live Stats | Watch | Listen 
 
SERIES HISTORY
The Phoenix and Norse have played each other 13 previous times, dating back only a half-decade to 2016. Northern Kentucky controls the series with an 8-5 record. Green Bay hosted the Norse twice last season due to a COVID season and split the games. The Phoenix and Wright State have played 67 previous times. The series record is a near-even split, with the Raiders holding a 34-33 advantage. While Green Bay is 22-7 all-time at home against the Raiders, Wright State owns a 25-10 home record against the Phoenix. Green Bay's last victory at Wright State was February 2, 2015, a contest they took 71-58.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Green Bay came out strong against Minnesota on December 22, but ultimately fell 56-72. Kamari McGee, who made his second start, led the Phoenix with 14 points. He was also one of four GB players who posted 30 or more minutes, including Japannah Kellogg III, Manny Ansong, and Donovan Ivory. The Phoenix kept the Golden Gophers in check in the first half, holding them to just 38.46 percent from the field, and 1-9 from beyond the arc. GB's 29-28 halftime lead marked the 6th time in 11 games the Phoenix has led at the half.
 
MAGNIFICENT MANNY
Junior Manny Ansong continues to make an impact. He leads the team in:

• Minutes (27.5 per game)
• Points (12.2 per game)
• Rebounds (5.5 per game)
• Steals (0.9 per game)
• Field goal percentage (55-97, 56.7-percent)

STARTING NOD
Only three Phoenix players have started all 11 games this season: Cade Meyer, Manny Ansong, and Japannah Kellogg III. Ansong and Kellogg III are in the top three on the team in rebounds, minutes, steals, blocks, and field goal percentage.
 
FRESHMAN FRENZY
Green Bay has one of the youngest rosters in the country, boasting a total of seven freshmen (including redshirt freshmen) of the 13 players on the roster. Between Lucas Stieber (R-Fr.), Cade Meyer (Fr.), and Kamari McGee (Fr.), Head Coach Will Ryan has inserted two freshmen in each of his starting lineups in each of GB's 11 games. The 2021-22 season marks only the third time in the last decade Green Bay has had seven or more freshmen on the team. Ryan's first season (2020-21) had eight freshmen, and the 2017-18 squad had seven freshmen under Linc Darner. In all other seasons within the decade, GB had no more than four freshmen (2018-19).
 
PHENOMENAL FRESHMAN
After starting his first game at Kansas State on Dec. 12, true freshman Kamari McGee made another start against Minnesota on Dec. 22. Putting up 14 points in each start, McGee also shot 50-plus percent in each game while posting 31 or more minutes. His season-best performance came one game before his first start, at Kansas City. Against the Roos, McGee put up 19 points, five rebounds, and three assists.
 
NEW PHOENIX FACES
Green Bay welcomes eight new members in 2021-22, including five transfers and three true freshmen.
 
Transfers
Mitch Listau (6-4, G | Belmont)
Randy Tucker (6-4, G | Vincennes)
Donovan Ivory (6-6, G | Boise State)
Tutu Majok (6-8, F | Bossier Parish CC)
Nate Jenkins (6-2, G | Iowa)
 
True Freshman
Kamari McGee (6-0, G | Racine St. Catherine's)
Cade Meyer (6-8, F | Monroe)
Brayden Dailey (6-7, F | Cuba City)
 
RYAN'S RECORD ON STAFF
Will Ryan joined his father's staff at Wisconsin in 2002 and made three more stops before coming to Green Bay. His overall record is an impressive 362-242.
 
Wisconsin: 123-42
North Dakota State: 134-84
Ohio: 81-77
Wheeling: 14-13
Green Bay: 10-26
 
PRESEASON #HLMBB POLL
Pl. School (1st-place) – Votes
1. Cleveland State (30) – 502
2. Wright State (9) – 463
3. Northern Kentucky (1) – 406
4. Milwaukee (2)– 396
5. Detroit Mercy (2) – 350
6. Oakland – 340
7. Youngstown State – 214
8. UIC – 204
9. Purdue Fort Wayne – 169
10. Robert Morris– 157
11. Green Bay – 146
12. IUPUI - 85
 
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