By Monica Weltzien, Sports Information Intern
The last time the UW-Eau Claire men's basketball team made it to the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Tournament, names like Geoff Probst and Dan Beyer were on the Blugold roster and Terry Gibbons was the team's head coach. That was back in 2009 and now, six years later, the Blugolds are back and ready to go all the way.
This year's team is playing significantly better basketball than they were just three years ago when Head Coach Matt Siverling took over. The turnover average per game has dropped, going from 14.3 to 11.7, and the team is averaging 65.9 points per game, up from 62.6 in 2012.
Even with the improvement, it is hard to single out the top UW-Eau Claire men's basketball players because there is just so much balance. Each of the men on the roster makes an important impact on the game, each and every game. Individual shooting percentages are neck-in-neck and the average playing time is just as close.
One standout is the St. Cloud State transfer, Tyson Kalien (Jr.-Chippewa Falls, WI). Kalien, playing in all 25 of the team's games this season with 18 starts, hasn't missed a beat during his first year on this UW-Eau Claire team. Rising to the challenge of maintaining the intensity and energy of this Blugold squad, he is averaging 14.8 points per game and scored a career high 32 points during a conference win over UW-La Crosse.
"Tyson can make shots so the defense has to know where he is at all times," said head coach Matt Siverling. "That allows us to really spread the floor and attack the basket."
With Kalien having standout games early in the season, defenses have had to key in on him. This required other Blugolds to step up in big ways and step up they have. Multiple players have the ability to put up points, putting pressure on defenses all season to stay on their toes.
Senior Lewis Mau (Sr.-Colfax, WI) has been a game changer ever since he put on the Blugold uniform four years ago and this year proves to be no different. Averaging 9.1 points with a field goal percentage of 41.0 percent and grabbing 6.4 rebounds per game, Mau has left his mark each game on both the offensive and defensive ends.
Jack Martinek (So.-New Brighton, MN/Irondale) has also come up big for the Blugolds this season. He played a career-high game at home on February 11th. Scoring 21 points and grabbing six rebounds, Martinek shot 75 percent from behind the arc and recorded one block. UW-Eau Claire would win 80-62 over UW-Platteville.
Down low, Jacob Kohner (Jr.-Bloomington, MN) is making his presence known as well. Averaging 3.8 rebounds per game, his ability to muscle his way to the basket scored him a career-high 25 points in a double overtime 83-78 win over Hobart. He is shooting 54.4 percent from the field. What is even more surprising, is that standing at 6 feet 9 inches tall, Kohner can shoot from the outside perimeter like any of the guards. This season, he has gone 19-for-46 (41.3 percent) three point range.
The Blugolds have numbers and depth. They also possess the ability to call on any of the players on the bench to get into the game and expect them to contribute on both ends of the ball. Players like George Diekelman (Fr.-Stevens Point, WI) who, several times this season, has hit clutch plays to generate Blugold momentum. While injuries have played a hindering role this season, the Blugolds have looked to the reserve players to show up and play when they need them the most.
"We are very excited about the opportunity to participate in the WIAC tournament," said Siverling. "I know it means a lot to our players, especially the seniors. We will continue to work hard in an effort to participate in the WIAC tournament every season."
The journey starts tonight as No. 6 seed UW-Eau Claire travels to No. 3 seed UW-River Falls in the first round on of WIAC Tournament play. Tip-off is set for 7pm.
