By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Coaches have a whole list of things they're concerned about and Washburn University men's basketball coach Brett Ballard is no exception.
No. 1-ranked Washburn will be aiming for its 20th straight win in Thursday's 7:30 p.m. MIAA home game against Fort Hays State. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
But one thing Ballard doesn't waste time worrying about is how his Ichabods are going to handle their responsibilities on and off the court, including the pressures that go along with being 19-0 (10-0 in the MIAA) and ranked No. 1 in the nation for the third straight week.
"Ten out of ten as far as preparation on the court, off the court and how they've handled everything,'' said Ballard, whose Ichabods begin a three-game homestand at 7:30 p.m. Thursday against Fort Hays State. "It's been a lot of fun. The daily preparation's been there, effort, energy, coachability, all that stuff's been off the charts, really good.''
The Ichabods blasted Missouri Western 85-52 on Saturday in St. Joseph, the largest margin of victory in series history, as WU tied a program record with its 19th straight win to open the season. Washburn can set the win mark in Thursday's game.
While the Ichabods are enjoying their success, sophomore standout Brayden Shorter said there's no over-confidence in the Washburn camp.
"I feel like one of the best parts about us is we don't look past any team,'' Shorter said. "Just the level of compete that we all have I feel like is definitely for sure what's gotten us to the point that we're at right now.
"It does feel good, but I just feel like we are really grateful for the opportunity and we get ready for every single game like it's going to be the team that could beat us and we're all just trying to keep doing what we're doing.''
The Tigers are 13-5 overall and 6-3 in the MIAA play after falling at Central Oklahoma, 75-65, on Saturday, snapping a four-game winning streak. Washburn won the first meeting of the season with the Tigers in the second MIAA game of the season, 71-57 in Hays.
Washburn is one of two undefeated teams remaining in the NCAA Division II ranks, joining No. 2 Daemen (14-0).
Ichabod senior Andrew Orr became the 28th member of the Ichabod 1,000 point club with a free throw at Fort Hays State earlier this season and he now has 1,153 career points, sitting in 17th all-time. Next on the chart is Jemi Johnson in 16th with 1,215 career points from 1992-95. Orr played in his 100th career game last time out against Missouri Western.
Senior Michael Keegan has 934 career points in 115 career games as an Ichabod and he has moved into a tie for fifth all-time at Washburn in career blocks with 94, tying Bobby Chipman, who had 94 from 2009-13. Keegan is also fifth all-time in steals with 146.
Sophomore Jack Bachelor is eighth in the nation and leading the MIAA in assist to turnover radio at 3.45, is 12th in total assists at 107 and 15th in assists per game with 5.6. In the last seven games Bachelor has had 52 assists and seven turnovers -- a 7.4 to 1 ratio.
Senior Jacob Hanna is 34th in the nation in free throws made with 95, leading the MIAA, while also leading the MIAA with 130 attempts.
Shorter is sixth in the nation in 3-pointers per game at 3.68 and he's ranked fifth in total 3-pointers made at 70.
FHSU was tabbed No. 2 in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll behind the Ichabods.
Kaleb Hammeke leads the Tigers in scoring at 15.0 points per game while shooting 29 of 74 from the 3-point line and 53 of 64 from the free throw line.
Kyle Grill is averaging 11.9 points and 4.4 rebounds while Shaun Riley is averaging 10.4 points and leads the Tigers with 6.9 rebounds per game.
Washburn leads the all-time series 100-72 and the Ichabods have won 17 of the last 23 games in the series.
The Ichabods will continue their homestand on Saturday, hosting Nebraska-Kearney in a 3 p.m. game.
