GREEN BAY, Wis. – It's the beginning of a busy week for the Green Bay men's basketball team, with IUPUI visiting Titletown on Monday. Tuesday evening, GB will visit the Windy City for a clash against Loyola-Chicago before returning home to battle Kansas City on Saturday.
Monday, December 5 – Green Bay, Wis. – RESCH CENTER
IUPUI (1-7, 0-1 HL) vs. Green Bay (0-7, 0-1 HL)
11:00 AM | Purchase Tickets
Education Day presented by Cousin's Subs
UWGB Students: Join the Phlock
Follow the action: Watch (ESPN+) | Listen (WDUZ The Fan) | Live Stats
Tuesday, December 6 – Chicago, Ill. – GENTILE ARENA
Green Bay vs. Loyola-Chicago
Follow the action: Listen (WDUZ The Fan) | Live Stats
Green Bay is 7-8 against IUPUI, but has won four of the last five and three straight versus the Jaguars. GB is 4-4 at home against IUPUI, including a 69-54 win at the Resch Center on January 13. The Ramblers and Phoenix haven't clashed since February 2, 2013, when the Phoenix defeated Loyola-Chicago 73-65 in the Windy City. GB is 9-10 when visiting the Ramblers and has won 10 of the past 12 meetings.
ABOUT THE JAGUARS
Matt Crenshaw is in his second season as the Jaguars' head coach. IUPUI has started the 2022-23 season 1-7, and is coming into Monday off the back of a 74-61 loss to Milwaukee on Saturday.
The Jaguars are led by guard Bryce Monroe, who averages 12.0 points per game. However, Monroe has only played in four games so far this year, and hasn't played since November 25. Jlynn Counter also averages 11.6 points and 3.4 rebounds per game.
ABOUT THE RAMBLERS
Drew Valentine enters is in his second season as the head coach at Loyola Chicago. They've started the year 3-5, and are also coming off a loss heading into their game against the Phoenix. The Ramblers lost to DePaul in overtime this past Saturday, 78-72.
Philip Alston leads the Ramblers at 12.3 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. Alston is efficient from the floor, shooting 49.3-percent overall and 66.7-percent from three. Ben Schwieger and Marquise Kennedy are also weapons for the Ramblers, averaging 10.4 and 10.0 respectively.
LAST MATCHUP
Green Bay fell to in-state rival Milwaukee 67-81 last Thursday in the Horizon League opener. Four Phoenix scored in double figures, led by Cade Meyer's 19 points. Meyer also tallied four rebounds, two blocks, and an assist in 29 minutes.
CONSISTENCY COUNTS
The Phoenix has maintained the same starting lineup in six of the first seven contests. Nate Jenkins, Davin Zeigler, Brock Heffner, Cade Meyer, and Clarence Cummings III are all averaging 24.0 or more minutes a game. Heffner, Blake, Meyer, and Cummings have scored at least 52 points on the season.
MAKE WAY FOR MEYER
Meyer, a sophomore forward, is off to a good start this season. He is shooting 49.1 percent on 27-of-55 from the floor and is 26-of-46 (56.5 percent) inside the arc. Meyer is coming off a strong 2021-22 campaign in which he was named Freshman of the Week once and tabbed to the Horizon League All-Freshman team. Meyer has also recorded at least one block in four of GB's seven games.
SWISS ARMY NATE
Junior guard Nate Jenkins showed off his versatility at the Jersey Mike's Jamaica Classic on November 18 against Queens. The Delafield, Wis. native played the most minutes of any phoenix (30) and was one of four GB players to tally eight points while collecting a team-leading five rebounds, five assists, one block, and one steal. Jenkins is second on the team in rebounds per game (3.1).
BRILLIANT BROCK
Redshirt freshman Brock Heffner was a spark for GB against UIC on Nov. 26. The forward set season-highs in points (19), field goals made (6), rebounds (3), and assists (2) while also tallying a steal to fill out the stat sheet. Heffner also drew ten free throws as an interior presence on offense. Heffner racked up four blocks in the season opener at Indiana State on November 7.
WHAT DO YOU ZAE?
Sophomore Zae Blake has been a difference-maker in his first season as a Phoenix. Despite not appearing in a game, Blake leads the team in points per game (9.8) and has been remarkable from the field, shooting 21-of-35 (60 percent) overall and 7-of-13 (53.8 percent) from downtown. He had a standout game against BIG 10 foe Wisconsin, where he went 5-for-5 from the field and had a season-high 15 points in 26 minutes.
TOO EASY FOR DZ
Davin Zeigler, one of seven transfers, has been effective in his first season with Green Bay. His 3.8 rebounds per game lead the squad. He has also been a good find on offense, shooting 17-of-46 (17-of-46) from the field, including 13-of-29 (44.8 percent) from inside the arc. Zeigler opened his Green Bay career with a 19-point outing at Indiana State on November 7. Zeigler transferred from Indian Hills Community College after averaging 7.7 points per game in 2021 while shooting 46.4 percent from the field and 40.0 percent from deep.
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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