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MacMurray Game Notes) (
Rust Game Notes)
The men’s team faces a tough task Saturday from a team whose record would indicate they are struggling.
"I think it's going to be a tough game," said head coach Chris Bunch. "They have lost their last two games by close margins against some really good teams. They are a young team that is playing pretty hard."
MacMurray has really turned it on as of late, including scoring over 100 points in their first win of the season last week. After losing their first three games by an average of 26.3 points, the Highlanders lost the next two by a total of eight before trouncing Robert Morris of Springfield, 104-76.
The Highlanders have four players averaging double figures, led by Farrid Coleman and Frederick Miller with 16.2 and 15.2 points, respectively.
It’s not a secret on the Webster campus what the Gorloks need to do to reach similar plateaus as last season.
“We have to play better defensively, rebound better and get more of some people, and we will be fine,” said Bunch.
Senior guards
Ryan Turk and
Luke Niebrugge are taking over the offensive reigns scoring 18.0 and 13.3 points, respectively. This marks a huge change from years past when the Gorloks had a very good post presence.
With the graduation of two all-conference performers in the post, WU has had growing pains while breaking in a new set of forwards. In the loss to Westminster, junior
John Ortwerth took a step in an attempt to break away from the pack.
If the Gorloks are to be successful this week, someone needs to help take some pressure off Turk and Niebrugge on the inside.
"We just need more output, and I am not just talking about scoring," said Bunch.
While Ortwerth was latest to show flashes of potential, its going to take others to step up to the court - and the Gorloks have a plethora of options. The leading option could be junior Josue' Whitcomb, who hasn't quite fell into a groove offensively yet. After averaging 6.2 points per game last season, Whitcomb has scored two free throws in the first three games.
