WINONA, Minn. – The Winona State University men's basketball team tips off in McCown Gymnasium for the first time in the 2018-19 season on Saturday afternoon in non-conference action against NAIA opponent – Waldorf University. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m.
WSU defeated Waldorf last season, 88-60, and will look to record its first win of the year in similar fashion against the Warriors of Waldorf.
NOTES
PRESEASON PICK: Coming off a 19-10 (14-8 NSIC) season in 2017-18, the Warriors have been voted to finish fourth overall and third in the South Division in 2018-19. Head coach Todd Eisner is in his fourth season at Winona State and guided the Warriors to their most wins last year since the 2013-14 campaign.
HIGH PROFILE EXHBITIONS: The Warriors' 2018-19 season began with a pair of exhibition games on the road against NCAA DI opponents – both who made the NCAA Tournament a year ago. Todd Eisner had a reunion with his college teammate/roommate Porter Moser in the Warriors' 82-52 exhibition loss at Loyola University Chicago. The Ramblers made the NCAA Final Four in 2018. Kevion Taylor scored 22 of his 25 points in the first half of the exhibition. Eisner then returned to his alma matter at Creighton University where WSU dropped a 101-57 tilt.
TIP-OFF CLASSIC: Winona State was handed a pair of losses to begin the season at the annual Hillyard Tip-Off Classic hosted by Missouri Western State last weekend. The Warriors lost the opener to the host Griffons, 65-57, before dropping an 84-59 contest to No. 5 Northwest Missouri State. WSU owned a three-point lead with six minutes left to play against Missouri Western but went cold from the field down the stretch and was held to just three points on zero field goals in the season-opening loss.
SLOW START: The Warrior offense has shown some offseason rust over their first two official games, averaging just 58 points per contest. Last season, Winona State averaged 78.8 ppg which ranked sixth in the NSIC. Individually, Mason Domask and Dalante Peyton (career high) have produced the Warriors' highest scoring outputs with 13 points apiece. Senior Charlie Koontz is averaging 9.5 points per game over the first two contests.
DOWNTOWN: Last season, Winona State ranked third in the NSIC in three-point shooting (40.4%). Caleb Wagner shot 48 percent from beyond the arc while Mason Domask (45%) and Tommy Gathje (40%) each also had career years from downtown. Over their first two games of the year, the Warriors have struggled from three-point land at just a 29.8 percent clip.
BALANCED ROSTER: Seniors Mason Domask, Charlie Koontz, Connor Flack and Tommy Gathje headline the Warriors' roster that features five upperclassmen, four sophomores, one redshirt freshman and six rookies at Winona State. Flack will be sidelined for the entire 2018-19 season due to a knee injury.
BREAKOUT SEASON: Junior Caleb Wagner burst onto the scene in 2017-18, playing in all 29 games and making 21 starts. He averaged 12.2 ppg, led the team with 4.7 assists/game and ranked sixth in the NSIC in total assists (135). Wagner's 3.0 assist/turnover ratio last year ranked 14th in the country. He registered six 20-point scoring efforts along with a career-high 25 points vs. MSU Moorhead last season.
YOUTH MOVEMENT: Sophomores Kevion Taylor and Devin Whitelow each played significant roles in the Warriors' 2017-18 success and will look to continue their on-court improvements in the new year. Taylor was fourth on the team last season in scoring (9.6 ppg) just ahead of Whitelow (9.4). Taylor ranked second on the team in rebounding (4.9) while Whitelow was second in total assists (70). Taylor played in all 29 games a year ago and the duo combined to make 33 starts.
