It's too early for the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay men's basketball team to consider its showdown against Valparaiso on Friday night a must-win, but nobody is downplaying its importance.
The Phoenix (16-4) and Crusaders (18-3) are tied with Cleveland State at 5-1 atop the Horizon League standings with 10 games remaining as the trio fights for the right to host the Horizon tournament in March.
"This is obviously a big game, probably the biggest game of the season yet," junior guard Carrington Love said. "So, we have to step it up in all areas."
The Crusaders have the top-ranked offense in the nine-team Horizon at 73.4 points per game, while the Phoenix permits the fewest points in the league at 58.8 a contest.
UWGB might have to find a way to contain sophomore forward Alec Peters in order to win. He's third in the league in scoring at 17.8 points and is shooting 49.6 percent from the field and 47 percent from 3-point range. He's also among the league leaders with 6.3 rebounds a contest.
The 6-foot-9 Peters has scored 20 or more points in a game nine times this season.
UWGB and Valparaiso, meanwhile, have split the 16 games it has played since the Crusaders joined the Horizon in 2007.
"We expected them to be good," UWGB coach Brian Wardle said. "Valpo has been good. ... I can't remember the last time they haven't been good. They have got a long, historic program.
"They have good players, talented players. They share the ball. They are who they are. They play very consistent on film. They bring the same effort, the same ball movement, the same defense every game. They are good."
DON'T WORRY, BE HAPPY
UWGB star point guard Keifer Sykes is leading the league in scoring at 19.7 points per game and is third with 4 assists a contest.
He's also playing a lot of minutes, ranking third with 34.8, and at times has taken a beating this season.
Wardle said he is not worried about Sykes' minutes and has made sure to keep him fresh by not letting him take too much pounding in practice.
Sykes isn't the only point guard playing a lot of minutes. Oakland standout Kahlil Felder is averaging a league-high 38.3.
"I think in college basketball, if you look at the elite point guards throughout the nation, they are going to play 36 to 40 minutes," Wardle said. "I've been told by a wise coach that your best player at 80 percent is better than any other player at 100 percent, and that's Keifer Sykes."
Sykes is fine with the big minutes and agreed the coaching staff has done a good job of keeping him fresh with the way they are practicing him.
He comes into every game prepared to play the entire time.
"I'm focused on doing what I can in 40 minutes," Sykes said. "If Coach manages that to 38 one night or is at 33 one night or 30 minutes, I just have to be ready to go for our team."
FEELING DEFLATED
The New England Patriots were accused this week of deflating footballs during its game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.
Does it happen in basketball?
Wardle said the air pressure of a ball never has been an issue during his coaching tenure.
"I guess we have to stop deflating balls at halftime now," said Wardle, joking. "You don't think about that as a coach, you really don't. You game plan, you prepare, you get your team to play. The last thing I think about is what our Nike balls are feeling like.
"But I do know this: If Keifer came to me or Carrington, the guys who handle the ball the most, and they say, 'Hey, the ball is flat, Coach,' I'd probably point it out to the referee."
The Phoenix (16-4) and Crusaders (18-3) are tied with Cleveland State at 5-1 atop the Horizon League standings with 10 games remaining as the trio fights for the right to host the Horizon tournament in March.
"This is obviously a big game, probably the biggest game of the season yet," junior guard Carrington Love said. "So, we have to step it up in all areas."
The Crusaders have the top-ranked offense in the nine-team Horizon at 73.4 points per game, while the Phoenix permits the fewest points in the league at 58.8 a contest.
UWGB might have to find a way to contain sophomore forward Alec Peters in order to win. He's third in the league in scoring at 17.8 points and is shooting 49.6 percent from the field and 47 percent from 3-point range. He's also among the league leaders with 6.3 rebounds a contest.
The 6-foot-9 Peters has scored 20 or more points in a game nine times this season.
UWGB and Valparaiso, meanwhile, have split the 16 games it has played since the Crusaders joined the Horizon in 2007.
"We expected them to be good," UWGB coach Brian Wardle said. "Valpo has been good. ... I can't remember the last time they haven't been good. They have got a long, historic program.
"They have good players, talented players. They share the ball. They are who they are. They play very consistent on film. They bring the same effort, the same ball movement, the same defense every game. They are good."
DON'T WORRY, BE HAPPY
UWGB star point guard Keifer Sykes is leading the league in scoring at 19.7 points per game and is third with 4 assists a contest.
He's also playing a lot of minutes, ranking third with 34.8, and at times has taken a beating this season.
Wardle said he is not worried about Sykes' minutes and has made sure to keep him fresh by not letting him take too much pounding in practice.
Sykes isn't the only point guard playing a lot of minutes. Oakland standout Kahlil Felder is averaging a league-high 38.3.
"I think in college basketball, if you look at the elite point guards throughout the nation, they are going to play 36 to 40 minutes," Wardle said. "I've been told by a wise coach that your best player at 80 percent is better than any other player at 100 percent, and that's Keifer Sykes."
Sykes is fine with the big minutes and agreed the coaching staff has done a good job of keeping him fresh with the way they are practicing him.
He comes into every game prepared to play the entire time.
"I'm focused on doing what I can in 40 minutes," Sykes said. "If Coach manages that to 38 one night or is at 33 one night or 30 minutes, I just have to be ready to go for our team."
FEELING DEFLATED
The New England Patriots were accused this week of deflating footballs during its game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.
Does it happen in basketball?
Wardle said the air pressure of a ball never has been an issue during his coaching tenure.
"I guess we have to stop deflating balls at halftime now," said Wardle, joking. "You don't think about that as a coach, you really don't. You game plan, you prepare, you get your team to play. The last thing I think about is what our Nike balls are feeling like.
"But I do know this: If Keifer came to me or Carrington, the guys who handle the ball the most, and they say, 'Hey, the ball is flat, Coach,' I'd probably point it out to the referee."
