No. 13 Men's Basketball Set for SCB Champions Classic

ABERDEEN, S.D. - The No. 13 University of Saint Joseph (USJ) men's basketball team is set to compete in the inaugural Small College Basketball Champions Classic Friday and Saturday inside Wachs Area, within the confines of Division II Northern State University's Barnett Center, in Aberdeen, S.D. The Blue Jays compete against a pair of nationally-ranked opponents in the classic-style tournament, taking on No. 3 Wisconsin-Oshkosh on Friday, before squaring off with No. 21 Illinois Wesleyan on Saturday. Tipoff for both games is slated for 1:00 p.m. EST.

SCB CHAMPIONS CLASSIC TOURNAMENT PAGE

"It's such a thrill to bring the SCB Champions Classic to life, and I am very grateful for the partnership with Northern State University (NSU)," Small College Basketball Founder John McCarthy said. "NSU has led small college basketball in attendance for 13 consecutive years, and the Aberdeen community has a passionate fan base. Wachs Arena will be a great venue for this event, and we're so excited to bring some of the very best teams in NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, and the NAIA to one site for a national showcase for college basketball."

The national event, which is set to host some of the best college basketball teams at the NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, and NAIA levels, will include six games on both Friday and Saturday. For fans traveling to Aberdeen, tickets may be purchased at the gate, and the ticket prices per day are as follows: Reserved Seat ($21), General Public ($16), Senior (65+) ($11), Youth (K-12) ($8), Age 5 and Under (Free). Admission is good for all day. Fans watching from home can access the livestream via the tournament page linked above.

"We are honored to be participating in the inaugural Small College Basketball Champions Classic," said Head Men's Basketball Coach Glen Miller. "Five years ago, Coach Calhoun and I began building a program that we hoped could compete for a National Championship someday. We have made a lot of progress in a short amount of time, and this will give us an early-season opportunity to play against two of the best teams in all of Division III men's basketball. Our players want to play against the best and they are incredibly excited for this opportunity."
 
USJ QUICK HITTERS 

• USJ was ranked No. 13 in the nation to start the 2022-23 season by D3hoops.com in its Preseason Top-25 Poll.
• The Blue Jays are off to a 2-0 start with victories at home over (RV) Yeshiva, 69-60, on November 9 and (RV) Babson, 77-56, on November 14.
• With the pair of home wins to start the year, Saint Joseph has now won its last 19-straight home games. That mark is the fifth longest streak in the nation.
• Through two games, the Blue Jays average 73.0 ppg and hold opponents to 58.0 ppg.
• Four players average double figures paced by graduate student guard Ryan O'Neill (Litchfield, Conn.) at 20.5 ppg.
• O'Neill is the Blue Jays' top threat from beyond the arc and is 8-for-15 (53.3%) from distance to start the year.
• O'Neill became the second USJ men's basketball player to eclipse the 1,000 career point milestone in Monday's triumph over Babson.
• Graduate student forward Alec Kinder (West Haven, Conn.) is the Blue Jays' leading rebounder at 8.5 rpg.
• Senior point guard Jaecee Martin (Hartford, Conn.) is USJ's primary playmaker, averaging 12.5 ppg and 5.5 apg.
• Friday's contest marks the first time the Blue Jays face a ranked opponent since they played then-ranked No. 24 Yeshiva on February 17, 2022.
• No. 3 Wisconsin-Oshkosh is the highest ranked opponent Saint Joseph will face in program history.
• USJ is 2-3 all-time versus ranked opponents.
• The Blue Jays are 3-3 all-time in neutral site games.

SCOUTING WISCONSIN-OSHKOSH

• Wisconsin-Oshkosh (UWO) was ranked No. 3 in the nation to start the 2022-23 season by D3hoops.com in its Preseason Top-25 Poll.
• The Titans are 2-1 to start the season. They won their season opener, 76-63, at home versus Lawrence University on November 8 before falling on the road to (RV) Calvin University, 59-56, on November 11. UWO rebounded with a win, 67-56, on the road over (RV) Hope College on November 12.
• Through three games, the Titans average 66.3 ppg and hold opponents to 59.3 ppg.
• Senior forward Levi Borchert (Kimberly, Wis.) is the lone Titan averaging in double figures at 18.7 ppg.
• Senior guards Quinn Steckbauer (Merrill, Wis.) and Hunter Plamann (Appleton, Wisc.) are the team's top three-point threats.
• Borchert is also the Titans' leading rebounder, pulling down 11.0 rpg.
• Senior guard Eric Peterson (Batavia, Ill.) is Wisconsin-Oshkosh's primary playmaker, averaging 9.7 ppg and 4.3 apg.
• In 63 seasons of the program, UWO has made 11 NCAA Tournament appearances, two Final Fours, and won the National Championship in 2019.

SCOUTING ILLINOIS WESLEYAN 

• Illinois Wesleyan (IWU) was ranked No. 21 in the nation to start the 2022-23 season by D3hoops.com in its Preseason Top-25 Poll.
• The Titans are 1-1 to start the season. They opened the season hosting the Jack Sikma Hall of Fame Invitational, defeating (RV) Yeshiva, 76-71, on November 12 before falling in the championship game, 71-67, to University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point on November 13.
• Through a pair of contest, IWU averages 71.5 ppg and holds opponents to 71.0 ppg.
• Four players average double figures led by sophomore forward Harrison Wilmsen (St. Louis, Mo.) at 15.5 ppg off the bench.
• Senior forward Cody Mitchell (St. Charles, Ill.) is the team's top returning three-point threat.
• Junior guard Ryan Sroka (Lake in the Hills, Ill.) currently leads the team in rebounding at 7.0 rpg. He also averages 13.0 ppg.
• Mitchell does a little bit of everything for the Titans, averaging 6.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg, and 3.0 apg.
• The Titans are superb from the charity stripe, hitting 22-of-24 (91.7%) attempts from the line so far this season.
• IWU has made 25 NCAA Division III Tournament appearances, six Final Fours, and won the National Championship in 1997.

UP NEXT

Men's basketball returns back to the hardwood on Friday, November 18 and Saturday, November 19 at the inaugural Small College Basketball Champions Classic in Aberdeen, S.D. The event, which will take place in Wachs Arena, within the confines of The Barnett Center, and is hosted by Division II's Northern State University, features 12 selected teams from across the nation with four from Division II, Division III, and NAIA, respectively. The No. 13 Blue Jays open the weekend on Friday against No. 3 Wisconsin-Oshkosh before playing No. 21 Illinois Wesleyan. Both games tipoff at 1:00 p.m. EST. Fans traveling to the event or looking to follow the action can find more information by clicking here.