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Humboldt State Men’s Basketball Weekly Preview 12/30/13
Dan Pambianco
Humboldt State Men’s Basketball Weekly Preview
New Year begins with games at CSUMB, CSUEB
Extended time off during holidays break in compliance with the NCAA’s Life in Balance initiative finds the Lumberjacks refreshed and ready to begin the 2014 part of their schedule. Or does the time off leave them rusty and lethargic heading into this week’s California Collegiate Athletic Association games?“The team looked hungry and inspired during practice today,” head coach Steve Kinder said, following the Jacks’ return to the court Monday. “Charges, loose balls and toughness were the backbone of our goals today. I liked the way the team responded to what is typically a difficult practice, coming back from break.”
Unfulfilled thus far despite respectable performances by the Lumberjacks as a team and individuals, Humboldt State begins the new year still seeking its first CCAA win. HSU attempts to address that predicament this week during a pair of away games, first facing CSU Monterey Bay (3-4, 1-3) on Friday in Seaside, then taking on Cal State East Bay (5-5, 2-2) on Saturday in Hayward. Both contests tip off at 7:30 p.m.
Track the Jacks
Audio: Every Humboldt State men’s basketball game is broadcast live on the local airwaves on KATA 1340 AM, the North Coast’s ESPN affiliate owned by BiCoastal Media. J.B. Mathers handles the play-by-play responsibilities, beginning with the pregame show 15 minutes prior to tip-off. The audio is also streamed live online at http://socialstreamingplayer.
Video: Friday’s game will be streamed live on CSU Monterey Bay’s site at http://www.otterathletics.com/
Live Stats: Follow Friday’s action online via CSU Monterey Bay’s live statistics viewer, located at the following link: http://www.sidearmstats.com/
Head-to-Head History
Last year’s two-game series produced a split, with a 70-61 Otters’ win in Seaside and a 108-100 Jacks’ victory in Arcata. HSU’s loss to CSUMB marked the first time an Otters’ team had defeated the Lumberjacks. Humboldt State enters this season’s series with an 18-1 record vs. CSU Monterey Bay. …The Jacks and CSUEB Pioneers also took a game last year, each winning on their own home court. HSU claimed a 77-69 win in Arcata, and CSUEB won, 78-70, in Hayward. In the all-time series the Jacks still trail the Pioneers, 35-48.
Statistically Speaking
Three hundred and five schools and their variable rosters of athletes will be sorted weekly in the NCAA Division II statistical rankings. Here’s a look at where the Jacks rank, team-wise and individually, in selected national and CCAA categories following seven games.
| Team/Player | Category | Mark | NCAA | CCAA |
| HSU | FG% | 50.7 | 25 | 2 |
| HSU | Scoring Off | 84.9 | 54 | 1 |
| HSU | Assists | 152 | 91 | 1 |
| David Howard | Double Doubles | 6.0 | 16 | 1 |
| David Howard | FG% | 66.1 | 41 | 4 |
| David Howard | Field Goals | 77 | 33 | 1 |
| David Howard | RPG | 8.1 | 81 | 3 |
| Allan Guei | A/TO Ratio | 6.0 | 3 | 1 |
Probable Starters
Lumberjacks
#4 Parker Farris, 6-4, 180, Fr., G, McKinleyville
#22 Will Taylor, 6-4, 220, So., G/F, Eureka
#10 Jordan Mackie, 6-6, 190, Jr., G/F, Los Angeles
#25 Allan Guei, 5-9, 163, Jr., G, Los Angeles
#32 David Howard, 6-7, 230, Jr., F, Chicago
Cal State Monterey Bay
#3 Brandon Cole, 6-1, 177, Sr., G, Victorville
#5 Alex Fertig, 6-3, 200, So., G, Fresno
#11 Ryan Nitz, 6-4, 182, So., F, Rancho Cucamonga
#15 Kris Gallop, 6-9, 215, Sr., Vallejo
#40 Jordy Scott, 6-7, 233, Jr., C, Lake Tahoe, Nev.
Cal State East Bay
#5 Jacari Whitfield, 5-, 160, Jr., G, San Francisco
#11 Mark Samuels, 6-0, 180, Sr., G, Berkeley
#22 Gabe Kindred, 6-2, 175, Sr., G, Oakland
#33 Ryan Hebrebrand, 6-5, 220, Sr., F, Livermore
#35 Kyle Frakes, 6-10, 225, Fr., C, Thousand Oaks
David Howard, The Sequel
Despite being slowed by a bout with the flu in the Jacks’ most recent game, forward David Howard continues to rank among league and national leaders in several statistical categories. Since returning to the court following a three-year hiatus, the junior leads the league in total field goals (77) and double-doubles (6).
Going his Guei
Flashy at moments, junior guard Allan Guei (rhymes with way) is still much better at being superbly understated. The transfer from Cal State Northridge rarely makes mistakes, and has been extremely effective directing the Jacks’ offense, setting up the system and distributing a team-high 36 assists. More remarkably, Guei has only committed six turnovers while playing a team-high 330 minutes (33.0 per game). His assist/turnover ration of 6.00 ranks third among NCAA Division II players.
Young and Younger
After establishing themselves as local prep legends, McKinleyville High’s Parker Farris and Arcata High’s Will Taylor – both freshmen – have already begun to make their marks in the collegiate ranks. Farris, averaging 8.7 points per game, has already hit a game-winning shot (vs. Pacifica), and Taylor, barely 18 when he started classes in the fall, has displayed composure and a variety of talents in posting a scoring average of 10.4 points per game. … “Our freshmen look promising, particularly Taylor and Farris,” Kinder said. “They have proven they can play as starters at the CCAA level. The fact that they are local products is icing on the cake.”
Scouting Cal State Monterey Bay
Cal State Monterey Bay brings a 3-4 overall record and 1-3 CCAA mark entering January. The Otters snapped a four-game losing streak with a 89-83 win over Cal State East Bay on Dec. 21. …Junior guard/forward junior Ryan Nitz is the Otters’ leading scorer with an average of 20.1 points per gam. That mark ranks him third among CCAA players. Nitz leads the CCAA in steals (16, 2.3 spg) and is No. 4 in 3–point percentage (46.9). “Cal State Monterey Bay will bring a tough line of competition within their guard play and be difficult to beat on their home court,” Kinder said.
Scouting Cal State East Bay
Senior guard Gabe Kindred has been a consistent force for the Pioneers, who enter the week 5-5 overall and 2-2 in conference action. Kindred tops his team in scoring with an average of 19.6 points per game and ranks second in league in 3-point accuracy at .476 percent shooting. The only player ahead of him in that category is teammate Nick Grieves, a 6-4 junior who has connected on 54.3 percent of his long bombs.
Kinder’s Comments
“I am encouraged by our roster and new faces after 10 games. At .500 on the year, I believe we have accomplished some of our goals and our progressing to become better each and every game.”
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