Friday, November 17
Louisville, Ky.
6 p.m.
Omaha
at
Louisville
Junior Mitch Hahn and the Mavericks visit No. 18 Louisville Friday night.
Photo by: Mark Kuhlmann
Omaha Tangles With No. 18 Louisville
Nov 16, 2017 | Men's Basketball
This Weekend
The Omaha men's basketball team takes on its highest-ranked opponent of the Division I era this Friday, Nov. 17, traveling to No. 18 Louisville. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. CT at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Ky., and the game will be broadcast live on ACC Network Extra with Kent Taylor on play-by-play and Jody Demling providing color commentary. Gary Sharp will have the radio call on 1620 The Zone, and links to live stats, audio and video will be available on OMavs.com.
Quick Hits
• Louisville is the highest-ranked opponent Omaha has ever faced in its Division I era. The Mavericks previously faced Iowa State, then ranked 19th nationally, in 2016-17.
• Friday marks the second time Omaha will play a team from the ACC. Its last ACC opponent was Pitt on Dec. 21, 2015.
• Omaha came a shot shy of its first NCAA Tournament bid in the Division I era last season, falling 79-77 to South Dakota State in the Summit League Championship. The Mavericks were 18-14 (9-7 Summit League) en route to their second straight third-place finish in the regular-season standings.
• The Mavericks return a pair of double-figure scorers in juniors Mitch Hahn (11.7 ppg) and Zach Jackson (10.8).
• Omaha returns seven letterwinners from its 2016-17 squad, including a Summit League All-Newcomer pick in Hahn.
• Head coach Derrin Hansen enters his 13th year at Omaha in 2017-18 and needs just three wins to reach 200 career victories.
• Omaha ranked 13th nationally with 83.9 points per game last season.
• Omaha has had at least one scorer tally 20+ points in 18 of its last 20 games dating back to Jan. 4, 2017.
• Omaha went 7-6 in non-conference play in 2016-17, marking its fourth straight season finishing .500 or better against non-conference opponents.
Scouting the Louisville Cardinals
No. 18 Louisville is 1-0 (0-0 ACC) entering the week after a 72-61 season-opening win over George Mason at home last Saturday. The Cardinals were picked fifth in the ACC Preseason Poll, and Deng Adel and Quentin Snider were named to the Preseason All-ACC Second Team. Acting head coach David Padgett is in his first season at UL.
Friday's game marks the first meeting all-time between Omaha and Louisville.
Last Time Out: New Mexico Drops Mavericks, 103-71
Omaha played its third game in five days Tuesday night, falling 103-71 to New Mexico at Dreamstyle Arena as part of the Emerald Coast Classic. Juniors Zach Jackson and Mitch Hahn paced the Mavericks with 16 points apiece and three 3-pointers. Jackson added seven rebounds, an assist and a steal, while Hahn had two boards, an assist and a steal.
Sophomore JT Gibson added 12 points, five rebounds and a team-high four assists, and senior Daniel Norl registered another double-figure scoring effort with 10 points, seven rebounds, two assists and a steal.
Senior Daniel Meyer also pulled down seven rebounds, and freshman Ayo Akinwole had a team-leading three steals for the night.
New Mexico shot 44.2 percent (34-of-77) to Omaha's 38.6 percent (22-of-57). The Lobos drained 17 threes in the game and had a 48-37 rebounding advantage, including 19-9 on the offensive end. UNM forced 26 Maverick turnovers, scoring 39 points off miscues.
Road Warriors
Omaha plays 18 of its 30 games on the road in 2017-18, including seven straight to open the season while its home facility, Baxter Arena, plays host to the U.S. Olympic Curling Trials. The Mavericks begin with three games in one continuous seven-day trip at Montana State (Nov. 10), Oklahoma (Nov. 12) and New Mexico (Nov. 14). Following a short return home, they set out again for Louisville (Nov. 17), and after another short trip back to Omaha, visit TCU (Nov. 20). A Thanksgiving trip to Niceville, Fla., caps it off with two games in the Emerald Coast Classic, Nov. 24-25.
Final Four Foes
Omaha faces three teams with NCAA Final Four appearances on their resumes in the last decade. Oklahoma last made the Final Four in 2016, while Kansas went in 2012 and 2008, and Louisville earned a trip in 2012.
Six of the Mavericks' 2017-18 opponents have earned at least one NCAA Tournament berth over the last four years: Kansas (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017), Louisville (2014, 2015, 2017), Oklahoma (2014, 2015, 2016), North Dakota State (2014, 2015), South Dakota State (2016, 2017) and New Mexico (2014).
Feelin' Hahn, Hahn, Hahn
Junior Mitch Hahn has scored in double figures in all three games so far, tallying a season-high 16 points Tuesday at New Mexico. Hahn made his season debut last Friday at Montana State and posted his second career double-double on 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Hahn averaged 11.6 points per game in his sophomore season in 2016-17, appearing in 31 games before earning his first start in the Summit League Championship Game. For the year, he had 20 double-figure scoring games, including two with 20 or more points, and canned at least five 3-pointers three times. The Fremont, Neb., native ranked sixth in the league for free throw percentage (.838) and 10th for 3-point percentage (.420) and blocks (22), and he capped the year with Summit League All-Newcomer Team recognition.
Hahn scored in double figures in seven straight games from Jan. 7 to Feb. 1 and had 12 games of 15+ points last year. In games when he scores in double figures, Omaha is 12-10.
Action Jackson
Junior Zach Jackson is in his third year as a starter, averaging a team-leading 17.3 points per game with 5.3 rebounds per contest. The Wichita, Kan., native scored a career-high 24 points Sunday at Oklahoma and followed up with a team-high 16 points Tuesday at New Mexico.
Jackson had 10.8 points per game last season and scored in double figures in 21 games, including two 20-point performances. He was instrumental in Omaha's road upset of Iowa, posting a then-career-high 21 points and a career-high-tying eight rebounds. Jackson strung together six straight double-figure scoring games from Nov. 19 to Dec. 3, 2016, then had another six-game stretch from Feb. 11 to March 6, 2017.
Norl Off to a Strong Start
Senior Daniel Norl has had a standout start to his senior season, pacing Omaha with 16.7 points and a team-high 7.3 rebounds per game over the first three contests. The Clarksville, Tenn., native earned his first career start at Montana State last Friday, exploding for career highs of 29 points, nine rebounds and two steals while shooting 13-of-18. He collected 11 points, six boards, two assists and two steals at Oklahoma, then followed with 10 points and seven caroms at New Mexico.
Norl made his Maverick debut in 2016-17, appearing in 29 contests and averaging 5.6 points, 1.4 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 15.6 minutes per game. He had eight double-figure scoring performances as a junior, including a season-high 14 points with four 3-pointers in Omaha's quarterfinal win over Fort Wayne in the Summit League Tournament. He accounted for 10 performances with at least two 3-pointers.
Gibson Back at Full Strength
Sophomore JT Gibson was one of two Mavericks to achieve a career high in scoring last Sunday at Oklahoma. The Brooklyn Park, Minn., native tallied 16 points on 5-of-7 shooting with three 3-pointers, adding four rebounds, and career bests of four assists and three steals.
Gibson had a second go at his freshman campaign in 2016-17. In 2015-16, he appeared in eight games off the bench before suffering a season-ending elbow injury that led to a medical redshirt.
2017-18 Slate = Tough Test for Mavericks
Omaha's 2017-18 schedule includes 30 games, and the team will play in 16 states against schools from 11 other Division I conferences. The schedule has three opponents from the Big 12 and one each from the ACC, Pac-12, Mountain West, MVC, Big West, Sun Belt, Big Sky, OVC, SWAC and MEAC. Three opponents – Kansas, Louisville and defending Summit League champion South Dakota State – played in the 2017 NCAA Tournament, with the Jayhawks reaching the Elite Eight.
Up Next
Omaha visits TCU on Monday, Nov. 20, with tipoff set for 8 p.m. in Fort Worth, Texas. The game will be broadcast live on Fox Sports Southwest Plus, and Gary Sharp will have the radio call on 1180 Zone 2. Links to live stats, audio and video will be available on OMavs.com.
The Omaha men's basketball team takes on its highest-ranked opponent of the Division I era this Friday, Nov. 17, traveling to No. 18 Louisville. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. CT at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Ky., and the game will be broadcast live on ACC Network Extra with Kent Taylor on play-by-play and Jody Demling providing color commentary. Gary Sharp will have the radio call on 1620 The Zone, and links to live stats, audio and video will be available on OMavs.com.
Quick Hits
• Louisville is the highest-ranked opponent Omaha has ever faced in its Division I era. The Mavericks previously faced Iowa State, then ranked 19th nationally, in 2016-17.
• Friday marks the second time Omaha will play a team from the ACC. Its last ACC opponent was Pitt on Dec. 21, 2015.
• Omaha came a shot shy of its first NCAA Tournament bid in the Division I era last season, falling 79-77 to South Dakota State in the Summit League Championship. The Mavericks were 18-14 (9-7 Summit League) en route to their second straight third-place finish in the regular-season standings.
• The Mavericks return a pair of double-figure scorers in juniors Mitch Hahn (11.7 ppg) and Zach Jackson (10.8).
• Omaha returns seven letterwinners from its 2016-17 squad, including a Summit League All-Newcomer pick in Hahn.
• Head coach Derrin Hansen enters his 13th year at Omaha in 2017-18 and needs just three wins to reach 200 career victories.
• Omaha ranked 13th nationally with 83.9 points per game last season.
• Omaha has had at least one scorer tally 20+ points in 18 of its last 20 games dating back to Jan. 4, 2017.
• Omaha went 7-6 in non-conference play in 2016-17, marking its fourth straight season finishing .500 or better against non-conference opponents.
Scouting the Louisville Cardinals
No. 18 Louisville is 1-0 (0-0 ACC) entering the week after a 72-61 season-opening win over George Mason at home last Saturday. The Cardinals were picked fifth in the ACC Preseason Poll, and Deng Adel and Quentin Snider were named to the Preseason All-ACC Second Team. Acting head coach David Padgett is in his first season at UL.
Friday's game marks the first meeting all-time between Omaha and Louisville.
Last Time Out: New Mexico Drops Mavericks, 103-71
Omaha played its third game in five days Tuesday night, falling 103-71 to New Mexico at Dreamstyle Arena as part of the Emerald Coast Classic. Juniors Zach Jackson and Mitch Hahn paced the Mavericks with 16 points apiece and three 3-pointers. Jackson added seven rebounds, an assist and a steal, while Hahn had two boards, an assist and a steal.
Sophomore JT Gibson added 12 points, five rebounds and a team-high four assists, and senior Daniel Norl registered another double-figure scoring effort with 10 points, seven rebounds, two assists and a steal.
Senior Daniel Meyer also pulled down seven rebounds, and freshman Ayo Akinwole had a team-leading three steals for the night.
New Mexico shot 44.2 percent (34-of-77) to Omaha's 38.6 percent (22-of-57). The Lobos drained 17 threes in the game and had a 48-37 rebounding advantage, including 19-9 on the offensive end. UNM forced 26 Maverick turnovers, scoring 39 points off miscues.
Road Warriors
Omaha plays 18 of its 30 games on the road in 2017-18, including seven straight to open the season while its home facility, Baxter Arena, plays host to the U.S. Olympic Curling Trials. The Mavericks begin with three games in one continuous seven-day trip at Montana State (Nov. 10), Oklahoma (Nov. 12) and New Mexico (Nov. 14). Following a short return home, they set out again for Louisville (Nov. 17), and after another short trip back to Omaha, visit TCU (Nov. 20). A Thanksgiving trip to Niceville, Fla., caps it off with two games in the Emerald Coast Classic, Nov. 24-25.
Final Four Foes
Omaha faces three teams with NCAA Final Four appearances on their resumes in the last decade. Oklahoma last made the Final Four in 2016, while Kansas went in 2012 and 2008, and Louisville earned a trip in 2012.
Six of the Mavericks' 2017-18 opponents have earned at least one NCAA Tournament berth over the last four years: Kansas (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017), Louisville (2014, 2015, 2017), Oklahoma (2014, 2015, 2016), North Dakota State (2014, 2015), South Dakota State (2016, 2017) and New Mexico (2014).
Feelin' Hahn, Hahn, Hahn
Junior Mitch Hahn has scored in double figures in all three games so far, tallying a season-high 16 points Tuesday at New Mexico. Hahn made his season debut last Friday at Montana State and posted his second career double-double on 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Hahn averaged 11.6 points per game in his sophomore season in 2016-17, appearing in 31 games before earning his first start in the Summit League Championship Game. For the year, he had 20 double-figure scoring games, including two with 20 or more points, and canned at least five 3-pointers three times. The Fremont, Neb., native ranked sixth in the league for free throw percentage (.838) and 10th for 3-point percentage (.420) and blocks (22), and he capped the year with Summit League All-Newcomer Team recognition.
Hahn scored in double figures in seven straight games from Jan. 7 to Feb. 1 and had 12 games of 15+ points last year. In games when he scores in double figures, Omaha is 12-10.
Action Jackson
Junior Zach Jackson is in his third year as a starter, averaging a team-leading 17.3 points per game with 5.3 rebounds per contest. The Wichita, Kan., native scored a career-high 24 points Sunday at Oklahoma and followed up with a team-high 16 points Tuesday at New Mexico.
Jackson had 10.8 points per game last season and scored in double figures in 21 games, including two 20-point performances. He was instrumental in Omaha's road upset of Iowa, posting a then-career-high 21 points and a career-high-tying eight rebounds. Jackson strung together six straight double-figure scoring games from Nov. 19 to Dec. 3, 2016, then had another six-game stretch from Feb. 11 to March 6, 2017.
Norl Off to a Strong Start
Senior Daniel Norl has had a standout start to his senior season, pacing Omaha with 16.7 points and a team-high 7.3 rebounds per game over the first three contests. The Clarksville, Tenn., native earned his first career start at Montana State last Friday, exploding for career highs of 29 points, nine rebounds and two steals while shooting 13-of-18. He collected 11 points, six boards, two assists and two steals at Oklahoma, then followed with 10 points and seven caroms at New Mexico.
Norl made his Maverick debut in 2016-17, appearing in 29 contests and averaging 5.6 points, 1.4 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 15.6 minutes per game. He had eight double-figure scoring performances as a junior, including a season-high 14 points with four 3-pointers in Omaha's quarterfinal win over Fort Wayne in the Summit League Tournament. He accounted for 10 performances with at least two 3-pointers.
Gibson Back at Full Strength
Sophomore JT Gibson was one of two Mavericks to achieve a career high in scoring last Sunday at Oklahoma. The Brooklyn Park, Minn., native tallied 16 points on 5-of-7 shooting with three 3-pointers, adding four rebounds, and career bests of four assists and three steals.
Gibson had a second go at his freshman campaign in 2016-17. In 2015-16, he appeared in eight games off the bench before suffering a season-ending elbow injury that led to a medical redshirt.
2017-18 Slate = Tough Test for Mavericks
Omaha's 2017-18 schedule includes 30 games, and the team will play in 16 states against schools from 11 other Division I conferences. The schedule has three opponents from the Big 12 and one each from the ACC, Pac-12, Mountain West, MVC, Big West, Sun Belt, Big Sky, OVC, SWAC and MEAC. Three opponents – Kansas, Louisville and defending Summit League champion South Dakota State – played in the 2017 NCAA Tournament, with the Jayhawks reaching the Elite Eight.
Up Next
Omaha visits TCU on Monday, Nov. 20, with tipoff set for 8 p.m. in Fort Worth, Texas. The game will be broadcast live on Fox Sports Southwest Plus, and Gary Sharp will have the radio call on 1180 Zone 2. Links to live stats, audio and video will be available on OMavs.com.
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