Storm Eager to Prosper Against Visiting Vulcans
UP NEXT: Dixie State College of Utah hosts the Academy University of Hawaii-Hilo Vulcans on Thursday, March 5, 2010 at 7:30pm in the Burns Arena.
THE RECORDS: DSC enters the game with an 18-5 record after defeating Academy of Art 88-77 on Saturday afternoon. The Red Storm remains undefeated with a 10-0 record in the Burns Arena. UH Hilo is 13-10 on the year and 7-6 in Pac West play. The Vulcans had their most recent game against Chaminade postponed to March 8 due to tsunami warnings caused by the Chilean earthquake last Saturday.
ALL-TIME SERIES: With Dixie State’s win on Valentine’s Day, the all-time series evened at three games apiece. DSC won its first game on the Big Island after dropping two overtime contest previously. UHH has one win at the Burns Arena back in 2007.
BROADCAST INFORMATION: RADIO - Dixie State College basketball games, both home and away, can be heard live on the Red Storm Basketball Radio Network - Classical 91.3 FM and Network1Sports.com online with the voice of the Red Storm, John Potter.
RED STORM WATCH: Tom Whitehead leads the team in scoring average at a 16.5 point per game clip. Donovan Plunkett (13.9) and Andy Palmer (10.7) also average double figures. Freshman Zach Robbins paces the club pulling down 7.2 rebounds a game with Palmer (5.3) and Whitehead (5.2) following. DSC averages 76.0 points a game shooting 47.5% FG while allowing 69.5 points to opponents.
STORM FAST BREAK TIDBITS:
· REGION RANKS – Dixie State remained at #5 in the West in the final regional poll announced by the NCAA on Wednesday. BYU-Hawaii stayed steady at #6. Seattle Pacific and Western Washington of the GNAC remain atop the region.
· CAREER SCORING RANKS - #3 Tom Whitehead (577; 186 points behind #2 Ben Hartman), #5 Andy Palmer (482; 2 points behind #5 Kasey Winters), , #8 Donovan Plunkett (320; 76 points behind # 7 Dan Stock), #9 Nick Howard (312, 8 points behind Plunkett), #10 Kevin Lindquist (289; 813 points behind Howard)
· PWC AWARDS – Zach Robbins was named Pac West Player of the Week on Monday. Andy Palmer earned an honor roll spot in the Top 10.
· GAME RECORDS – The 38 free throws made and 47 attempts both rank second on the DSC D-II list. The record for both categories occurred on Dec. 1, 2007 when Dixie State was 47-of-65 against CO-Colorado Springs.
· WITHIN REACH – Andy Palmer needs 16 rebounds to reach 250 career, 18 points for 500 career, 6 free throws for 100 career, 16 field goals for 200 career, 16 rebounds for 250 career, 10 steals for 50 career; Tom Whitehead needs 23 points for 600 career, 34 assists for 100 career, 22 three-pointers for 100 career, 1 blocked shots for 50 career; Adam Ross needs 6 steals for 50 career, 11 assists for 150 career; Donovan Plunkett needs 9 three-pointers for 50 career; Kevin Lindquist needs 11 points for 300 career; Zach Robbins needs 35 rebounds for 200 career
SCOUTING HAWAII HILO: The Vulcans heading into the first meeting this year with DSC had visions of a late season run toward the Pac West title. After losing to the Storm, UHH has not been able to get back in the win column. Their three-game skid includes losses to Grand Canyon at home and BYU-Hawaii on the road. The team is heavy with guards, but the two starting forwards account for 26.9 PPG. Junior forward Justin Smith paces the Vulcans in scoring (18.4) and rebounding at 7.4 a game. Hilo is coached by Jeff Law in his 12th year. He has compiled a career coaching record of 178-136.