Complete PDF Notes
Upcoming in Gray Wolves Basketball: Lourdes hits the hardwood for the first time this season as a nationally-ranked team as the Gray Wolves play their final two Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference games prior to the holiday break.  Lourdes, ranked 14th in the latest NAIA top-25 poll, hosts Siena Heights on Saturday afternoon before traveling to Concordia (Mich.) on Wednesday night.

Head Coach Dennis Hopson: In his first season on the Lourdes bench, Dennis Hopson is 9-3 (.750) with the Gray Wolves and as a men's collegiate head coach.  He is only the third head coach in Lourdes program's history.

Series Notes: Lourdes holds a 10-8 all-time series advantage against Siena Heights dating back to Nov. 12, 2011.  The Gray Wolves and Saints split last year's meetings, with each school defending its home floor.  Siena Heights was a 93-78 winner in Adrian, Mich. and Lourdes won 93-76 in the Ebeid Rec Center.  The Saints hold a 2-1 advantage in the Ebeid Rec Center, but the Gray Wolves hold a 5-3 edge all-time in home games.  Lourdes is 11-9 all-time against Concordia (Mich.) in a series that began Nov. 2, 2010.  The Gray Wolves have won the last two meetings after posting a 78-65 victory earlier this season at home on Dec. 7.  The Cardinals hold a 6-4 advantage in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Wrapping Up Last Week: Lourdes picked up a big road win at Michigan-Dearborn last Wednesday (Dec. 4) 68-54.  McRay White scored 18 points and grabbed eight rebounds off the bench while Nick Welch tallied 13 points and nine boards.  Saturday (Dec. 7), the Gray Wolves had five players in double figures and shot 58% from the floor in a 78-65 win over Concordia (Mich.).  White and Clif Snow led the Gray Wolves with 16 points each.

Scouting Siena Heights: The Saints saw their two-game winning streak snapped with a 76-75 setback at home against Indiana Tech last Saturday.  DeMarco Dickerson leads Siena Heights averaging 22.5 points and 7.6 rebounds per game this season while shooting 51.2% from the floor.  Keith Jordan Jr. adds 15.0 points and 7.2 boards per contest for a team scoring 76.1 points per night.

Scouting Concordia (Mich.): The Cardinals enter the week having dropped six straight games after suffering an 78-65 setback at Lourdes last Saturday.  Concordia travels to Northwestern Ohio on Saturday before hosting Lourdes on Wednesday night.  Jerald Booker leads the team averaging 16.0 points per game while Greg Alexander adds 12.6 points per night.  Paul Zysk is grabbing a team-leading 6.7 rebounds per contest.

Crashing the Polls: Lourdes jumped into the NAIA Coaches' Top-25 Poll for the first time this season, checking in at 14th in this week's ranking.  The ranking is the highest ever for the Gray Wolves in men's basketball, surpassing the No. 18 ranking in the Dec. 3, 2013 poll.  Lourdes is ranked for the first time since the Gray Wolves were 25th in the Dec. 10, 2013 poll.

Playing Defense: Lourdes ranks sixth in the NAIA Division II in scoring defense, allowing just 65.9 points per game.  The Gray Wolves five of their 12 opponents under 60 points this season, and have not allowed more than 65 in a game since yielding 72 to Madonna on Nov. 20.

A Good Shooting Team: Lourdes is ranked 20th nationally shooting 39.0% from three-point range this season.  The Gray Wolves are connecting at a 49.0% clip overall from the floor, a mark that is 22nd best in the country.  McRay White is shooting a blistering 66.1% from the field while Julian Egbo is making shots at a 57.9% rate.  Little Anderson is also shooting 56.1% from the floor.

A Balanced Scoring Attack: While Clif Snow leads the Gray Wolves scoring 18.2 points per game this season, Lourdes is getting production from a variety of players.  Five Gray Wolves are averaging between 8.8 and 9.7 points per outing, giving Lourdes a balanced offensive attack.

Providing Bench Production: McRay White came off the bench to average 17 points and eight rebounds in the two games last week for the Gray Wolves.  The junior made 16-of-21 (76.2%) shots from the floor while averaging 27 minutes per contest.

Taking Care of the Basketball: Lourdes is averaging just 11.8 turnovers per game this season.  In four games this season, the Gray Wolves have committed 10 or fewer miscues, including a season-low four in the win a Indiana Tech on Nov. 16.  Lourdes has committed more than 15 turnovers just twice this year.

Exhibition Ahead: Lourdes will conclude play prior to the holidays with an exhibition game on Dec. 20.  The Gray Wolves will face NCAA Division II Ashland on the road.  This is the third consecutive season Lourdes will play an exhibition game in December against a NCAA Division I or II opponent.

Making Halftime Adjustments: Despite a 9-3 record, the Gray Wolves have been outscored 405-398 in the opening 20 minutes of play this season.  Lourdes has rallied in the second half, though.  Over the second 20 minutes, the Gray Wolves have outscored their opposition 495-365 this season.

Team Captains: Lourdes will have four captains for the upcoming season.  Bryce McComb, Clif Snow, and Brett Lauf join newcomer Nick Welch, a transfer from Spring Arbor, in leading the Gray Wolves.

This and That: Kenny Coleman ranks 41st in NAIA Division II with 45 assists ... Nick Welch is 45th nationally grabbing 2.67 offensive rebounds per game ... Lourdes allowed just 14 rebounds to Concordia (Mich.) last Saturday.