Panthers look to continue dominance of NAIA foes: KWC averaging 99.5 points per game in two victories.
Messenger-Inquirer (Owensboro, KY) November 25, 2006 Byline: Rich Suwanski Nov. 25–If this was two months into the season and not two games, Kentucky Wesleyan College would be rocking NCAA Division II’s world. go to site ohio christian university
The Panthers are 2-0, averaging 99.5 points per game and shooting 62 percent from the field. KWC has six players scoring in double figures, led by Jeff Fahnbulleh at 25 ppg and Tim Baker’s 20 ppg.
Fahnbulleh is making an astounding 79 percent of his shots, converting 23-of-29. Of course, he’s shooting from 5 feet or closer, and it’s come against weak NAIA competition. But isn’t the point taking good shots and making them? That’s what he’s doing.
No matter what time of year it is, though, winning is good, especially for a Wesleyan program that won just seven games last year and lost 19.
Besides, the competition will get tougher soon enough — Southern Indiana on Dec. 2, for one — so the Panthers should enjoy the moment.
Wesleyan tackles its third NAIA team this afternoon when it hosts Mayfield’s Mid-Continent University, which boasts a 7-1 record, including the Ohio Christian University Tournament championship.
Game time is 3:15 p.m. at the Sportscenter.
While fans might whoop it up for the aforementioned statistics, coaches are more likely checking categories like field-goal defense, rebounds, assists and turnovers. Again, KWC is setting the stat sheet on fire. go to site ohio christian university
The Panthers are holding opponents to 35 percent shooting and outrebounding them by an average of 13 boards per game. They also average 20 assists per game and just 13 turnovers per game.
The only real area of concern is allowing opponents 26 offensive rebounds. KWC has 28.
“At the end of the first half (against Illinois Institute of Technology), they outhustled us and were outrebounding us,” KWC coach Todd Lee said of the Panthers’ most-recent victory, a 99-50 decision. “That was a byproduct of looking up at the scoreboard and seeing we’re up 20.” Yet, Wesleyan refocused at intermission, hit 7-of-11 shots to start the second half, and turned a 17-point halftime lead into a 49-point rout.
“We did a good job of sharing the ball on the break,” Lee said.
Such tendencies indicate Wesleyan should fare better this year, putting last year’s debacle behind it. The real test, however, will be when Great Lakes Valley Conference play begins with three tough road games in Indiana — at USI, Indianapolis and St. Joseph’s.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News.
