DETROIT, Mich. – After a holiday break, the Green Bay men's basketball team is ready to get back to work, continuing their long road trip with Horizon League matchups against Detroit Mercy and Oakland this weekend.
Thursday, December 29 – Detroit, Mich. – CALIHAN HALL
Green Bay (2-11, 1-1 HL) vs. Detroit Mercy (5-8, 1-1 HL)
6:00 PM
Follow the action: Watch (ESPN+) | Listen (WDUZ The Fan) | Live Stats
Saturday, December 31 – Rochester, Mich. – O'RENA
Green Bay vs. Oakland
12:00 PM
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Green Bay is 34-30 against Detroit Mercy and 14-10 versus Oakland. GB is 13-17 on the road against DMU, last visiting the Motor City on March 1, falling 62-79 in the Horizon League Quarterfinals. The Phoenix is 4-6 at Oakland, last visiting February 23, 2020, falling in double-overtime 88-92.
ABOUT THE TITANS
Mike Davis is in his 5th season at the helm of Detroit Mercy's program, posting a 50-77 record entering Friday's contest. Davis' son, Antoine, has consistently been a top scorer in the nation and is averaging 24.2 points through 13 games. Gerald Liddell paces DMU with 5.6 rebounds per game.
ABOUT THE GOLDEN GRIZZLIES
Legendary head coach Greg Kampe is in his 39th season with Oakland, boasting an impressive resume that includes a 666-515 record. Kampe, one of the all-time winningest coaches in NCAA history, is guiding Oakland through a challenging start to the season, with the Golden Grizzlies entering Friday with a 2-11 record. Trey Townsend is a bright spot, averaging 18.0 points per game.
DON'T COUNT OUT CADE
Cade Meyer, a sophomore forward, scored a career-high 25 points in Green Bay's win against Kansas City on December 10. He followed up that performance by scoring 24 in the loss at St. Thomas on December 13. His efforts have made him the leading scorer for the season at 11.6 points per game. He is also second on the team in rebounds, pulling down 3.6 per contest, which is only behind Zae Blake's 3.8 RPG.
NO HARM, NO FOUL
The Phoenix has shown discipline through their first 13 games, committing 16.2 fouls per contest. That ranks 145th in the nation. GB is eighth in the Horizon League in the same category but is right behind Youngstown State. The Phoenix averages the same number of fouls per game as Michigan State (16.2) and slightly more than Wisconsin (16.0). Green Bay has totaled 211 fouls while drawing 240 from opponents.
WHAT DO YOU ZAE?
Sophomore guard Zae Blake has been a difference-maker in his first season with Green Bay. Despite missing one game, Blake ranks at or near the top of most statistical categories on the team, including:
- First in three-point percentage (14-of-28, 50.0 percent)
- First in rebounds (3.8 RPG)
- First in assists (2.8 APG)
- First in steals (1.3 SPG)
- Second in field goal percentage (43-of-79, 54.5 percent)
- Second in points (10.2 PPG)
FREE IS FOR ME
The Phoenix has been consistent at the charity stripe this season, ranking 138th in free throws made per game (18.6) and 149th in free throw attempts per game (13.0). Garren Davis and Nate Jenkins have been a reason for that success, with Davis shooting 17-of-21 (81.0-percent) and Jenkins knocking down 20 of 25 attempts (80.0-percent).
RANDY ON A ROLL
Redshirt junior guard Randy Tucker has been impactful off the bench for Green Bay. He is shooting 31-of-81 (38.3-percent) from the floor and has been solid from the charity stripe, knocking down five free throws in six attempts. Tucker, a Rock Island, Illinois native, is tied for fourth on the squad with Davin Zeigler, averaging 3.2 rebounds per game. Tucker is doing all of his work in 23.7 minutes per contest.
ON THE ROAD
Two more Horizon League games round out the road trip, with games against Purdue Fort Wayne on Thursday, January 5, and Cleveland State on Saturday, January 7. Green Bay's next home game isn't until Thursday, January 12, when the Phoenix will welcome the Wright State Raiders to the Resch Center on Military Appreciation Night.
NEW PHOENIX FACES
Green Bay welcomes 10 new players for the 2022-23 season.
TRANSFERS
Garren Davis (6-4, G | Clarendon College)
Clarence Cummings III (6-5, F | State College of Florida)
Zae Blake (6-1, G | Southwest Mississippi CC)
Brock Heffner (6-8, F | Hawaii)
Davin Zeigler (6-3, G | Indian Hills CC)
Ryan Wade (6-2, G | Central Michigan)
TRUE FRESHMEN
Donavan Short (6-10, C | Denmark, Wis.)
Amari Jedkins (6-7, F | Racine, Wis.)
Jack Rose (6-5, G | Bristol, Wis.)
PRESEASON #HLMBB POLL
Pl. Team (1st-place votes) – Pts.
T1. Purdue Fort Wayne (17) - 394
T1. Northern Kentucky (15) - 394
3. Wright State (3) - 329
4. Oakland (2) - 321
5. Youngstown State (1) - 291
6. Detroit Mercy (2) - 268
7. Cleveland State - 188
8. Robert Morris - 163
9. Milwaukee - 132
10. Green Bay - 111
11. IUPUI - 49
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