GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay men's basketball team will hit the road this weekend to take on Wright State and Northern Kentucky. The Phoenix will square off with Wright State on Thursday before heading to High Heights to take on the Norse on Saturday.
 
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Green Bay (2-13, 0-5 HL) at Wright State (7-8, 1-3 HL)
Thursday, Jan. 2
6:00 PM CST | Game Notes
Follow the action: Watch (ESPN+) | Listen (Mixlr) | Live Stats
 
Green Bay at Northern Kentucky
Saturday, Jan. 4
Noon CST
Follow the action: Watch (ESPN+) | Listen (Mixlr) | Live Stats
 
ABOUT THE RAIDERS
Under the guidance of first year head coach Clint Sargent, the Wright State Raiders have started the year 7-8 overall and 1-3 in Horizon League play. The Raiders are on a three-game losing streak, with the most recent loss coming to Cleveland State on Sunday, Dec. 29 by a score of 78-64.
 
Wright State is very efficient on the offensive end, shooting 49.7 percent from the field (24^th in the NCAA) and 37.9 percent from three (40^th in the NCAA). Big man Brandon Noel leads the way, averaging 19.3 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. Alex Huibregtse and Jack Doumbia also average double figures, coming in at 15.1 and 12.2 points respectively. Huibregtse is the Raiders most lethal shooter, knocking down 42.6 percent of his shots from deep.
 
ABOUT THE NORSE
Northern Kentucky is coming off of a triple overtime win over Robert Morris 97-93. Before squaring off with the Phoenix on Saturday, they'll take on Purdue Fort Wayne on Wednesday. NKU is currently 7-7 overall and 2-1 in league play.
 
The Norse also spread the ball around on the offensive end, with Trey Robinson leading the way with an efficient 15.3 points a game to go with 6.4 rebounds. Robinson converts 55.1 percent of his shots. Sam Vinson and Josh Dilling aren't far behind, averaging 11.8 and 11.4 points per game.
 
LAST TIME OUT
After a power outage at the Resch Center moved Green Bay men's basketball's game against Purdue Fort Wayne to the Kress Center on Sunday afternoon, the Phoenix fell 83-67. The Phoenix had two players score in double figures, led by Preston Ruedinger, who had 12 points, seven rebounds, and five assists. Ryan Wade matched a season-high 11 points from the bench and Marcus Hall added nine points, five assists, and two steals. The Mastodons shot well and spread the ball around, with Quinton Morton-Robertson leading the way with 16 points, while Jalen Jackson and Trey Lewis finished with 15 and 12 respectively. PFW made 15 of their 27 shots from deep (55.6 percent).
 
ROY RETURNS
After a stint at NAIA Langston University, where he was named an NAIA All-American First Teamer, Anthony Roy has returned to the Division I floor with Green Bay. After 11 games back in Division I, Roy has averaged 25.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game. He also shoots 50.3 percent from the floor and 43.2 percent from three. Roy is sending waves throughout the country, he is second in points per game and first in three-pointers made per game with 4.4, as well as being second in three-point attempts per game at 10.1. Roy has scored 30+ points in five out of 11 games, and 20+ points in nine of his 11 starts this season. Roy is set to have the highest-scoring season in Phoenix history. Roy is currently out for an extended period with a lower-body injury.
 
MAC ATTACK
Redshirt freshman Mac Wrecke had a career day on Dec. 21 against Drake, scoring 19 points on 6-of-10 shooting in 30 minutes. Wrecke has started the last five games, scoring in double figures in three of them.
 
MONEY MARCUS
After a Horizon League All-Freshman Team selection, a season ago, Phoenix forward Marcus Hall has been outstanding to start the 2024-25 Season. Hall is currently averaging 12.9 points and 4.5 rebounds in 33.9 minutes per game while shooting 43.6 percent from the floor and 37.0 percent from three-point range.
 
FREE POINTS
Green Bay had made their chances at the free throw line count. GB is knocking down 79.7 percent from the line, which ranks 14th best in the NCAA.
 
INTERNATIONAL TALENT
The 2024-25 Phoenix roster features players from three foreign countries and eight different U.S. states. Ben Tweedy is from Australia, Roee Oselka is from Israel, and Mouhamadou Cissé is from Senegal.
 
TOP 10 TURNAROUND
After a program-low 3-29 season in 2022-23, Green Bay bounced back with a resilient 18-14 record a season ago in head coach Sundance Wicks' lone season with the Phoenix, jumping from last in the Horizon League to third. That 15.0 game turnaround is tied for the 10th-best turnaround in NCAA Division I history.
 
NEW LOOK ROSTER
The Phoenix underwent a roster transformation this past off-season. Of GB's rostered players, five are returners, five are transfers, and eight are incoming freshmen.
 
FAMILIAR FACES
Multiple returners will play large roles in the upcoming 2024-25 season, including Foster Wonders, Preston Ruedinger, and Marcus Hall. Last season, Ruedinger averaged 8.4, Wonders averaged 7.8, and Hall averaged 6.4 points per game. Mac Wrecke and Ryan Wade are the other two returners and will be featured in Coach Gottlieb's rotation.
 
OFFSEASON RECAP
A lot happened during the 2024 offseason. Let's get you caught up:
 
May 12 – Sundance Wicks named Wyoming head men's basketball coach
May 14 - Doug Gottlieb is named the 10th head coach in Green Bay men's basketball history.
June 6 – The rest of the coaching staff is announced, consisting of Aerick Sanders, Damon Archibald, Dennis Harrington, and Kaden LeCapitaine, joining Jordan McCabe.
Over the summer - The Phoenix brings in eight freshmen for the 2024-25 season: Ayden Goll, Jeremiah Johnson, Ben Tweedy, Bennett Basich, C.J. O'Hara, Brady Fitzgerald, Caden Wilkens, and Roee Oselka. Five transfers make their way to Green Bay this season including, Donovan Santoro, Anthony Roy, Muodubem Muoneke, Isaiah Miranda, and Mouhamadou Cissé.
 
PRESEASON #HLMBB POLL
PL. TEAM (1st PLACE VOTES) – PTS.
T1. Milwaukee (15) – 421
T1. Purdue Fort Wayne (14) – 421
3. Northern Kentucky (4) – 389
4. Oakland (5) – 345
5. Wright State (4) – 315
6. Youngstown State (1) – 272
7. Cleveland State – 252
8. Green Bay – 171
9. Robert Morris – 148
10. IU Indianapolis (1) – 91
11. Detroit Mercy – 79
 
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