Spartans Ranked 25th by D3hoops
Jan 21, 2014 | J.Crane
DUBUQUE, IOWA - After six weeks of receiving votes, the University of Dubuque Men's Basketball team has jumped into the national rankings at #25 in the D3hoops.com Top 25. The 15-0 Spartans are one of five undefeated teams remaining in Division-III. UD has used a balanced scoring attack with four individuals averaging double digit points per game to rank 33rd in D-III in scoring offense at 83.3 points per game.
The Spartans aggressiveness on the offensive end of the court has been a major reason for the offensive success this season. UD currently leads the Iowa Conference in free throws made (309), free throws attempted (427), and free throw percentage (72.4%). The Spartans 309 free throws made ranks 11th nationally. Dubuque also ranks 25th in D-III in scoring margin having outscored their opposition by an average of 12.6 points per game.
D3hoops.com Top 25 |
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| # | School (1st Votes) | Record |
| 1 | UW-Stevens Point (23) | 16-0 |
| 2 | Wooster (1) | 14-1 |
| 3 | Cabrini (1) | 13-0 |
| 4 | Illinois Wesleyan | 14-2 |
| 5 | WPI | 14-1 |
| 6 | Amherst | 13-2 |
| 7 | UW-Whitewater | 14-2 |
| 8 | Washington U | 12-2 |
| 9 | Williams | 13-2 |
| 10 | St. Thomas | 12-2 |
| 11 | St. Norbert | 13-1 |
| 12 | Wesley | 13-1 |
| 13 | Augustana | 14-2 |
| 14 | SUNY-Purchase | 12-0 |
| 15 | Mary Washington | 13-2 |
| 16 | Virginia Wesleyan | 12-3 |
| 17 | Messiah | 13-1 |
| 18 | Wittenberg | 12-3 |
| 19 | Ohio Wesleyan | 12-3 |
| 20 | Albertus Magnus | 12-1 |
| 21 | Oglethorpe | 14-1 |
| 22 | Bowdoin | 13-1 |
| 23 | Brockport State | 11-1 |
| 24 | St. Mary's (Md) | 11-4 |
| 25 | Dubuque | 15-0 |
Another reason for the Spartans success is their ability to force turnovers and take care of the ball on offense. UD leads the IIAC and ranks 34th in Division-III with a +3.53 turnover margin average. In 15 games, UD has forced 226 turnovers while only turning it over themselves 173 times. The Spartans 112 steals is tops in the Iowa Conference. The defenses ability to contest shots has forced their opponents to shoot just 28.1% from beyond the three-point arc, which is the 13th lowest percentage in D-III.
Individually, sophomore Andre Norris (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfeild Central) leads the Spartans in points (258), blocks (17), field goal percentage (60.9%), and field goals made (98). Norris is third in the IIAC at 17.2 points per game and has scored 10+ points in 13 of 15 games this year. Frontcourt mate Gage Heffernan (Dubuque, Iowa/Hempstead) has made an immediate impact in his first year in the Blue and White with 12.8 points per game while leading UD in rebounds (91), steals (28-1st in the IIAC), and free throws made (58).
Seniors Chris Frazier (Heidelberg, Germany/Heidelberg) and Mitch Michaelis (LeClaire, Iowa/Pleasant Valley) round out the Spartans double figure scorers at 13.5 ppg and 10.0 ppg respectively. Frazier and Michaelis have each reached the milestone mark of 1,000 career points this season. Frazier leads the IIAC in three-pointers made (40) and free throw percentage (90.2%).
UP NEXT: The #25 Spartans return to action on Wednesday, January 22nd on the road at Coe College (9-6, 1-3 IIAC). Game time in Cedar Rapids is 8:00 pm.
LIVE Video/Stats available at: UD Men's Basketball at Coe
Follow all UD Athletics action on Twitter at: @UDubuqueSports
