Tuesday, November 9
Omaha, Neb.
7 p.m.
Omaha
vs
Hastings
Mavericks Open 2021-22 Slate at Ralston Arena With Hastings
Nov 8, 2021 | Men's Basketball
The Basics
The Omaha men's basketball team debuts this week vs. Hastings College in a home contest hosted at Ralston Arena on Tuesday, Nov. 9. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. vs. the Broncos. The Mavericks were tabbed eighth in the Summit League Preseason Poll and are coming off a 5-20 season. Last spring, Omaha made the Summit League Tournament for the sixth time in program history and fell in the quarterfinals to South Dakota State ending their 2020-21 season.
Gary Sharp will have the radio call on 1180 Zone 2. Live updates can also be found by following @OmahaMBB on Twitter or live stat links can be found at OMavs.com.
Quick Hits
• The 2021-22 season tips-off at Ralston Arena before the Mavericks open a five-game road trip. Omaha will hit the road due to the Olympic Curling trials being held in Baxter Arena for the month of November. Their true home opener will fall on Tuesday, Nov. 30 vs. SIUE. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at Baxter.
• Omaha was tabbed eighth in the Summit League Preseason Poll. The Mavericks finished last season 5-20 overall with a 3-11 league finish. They earned the eighth seed in the Summit League Tournament last spring and fell to No. 1 South Dakota State in the opening round of action.
• The Mavericks return eight letterwinners and two starters from last season's squad. Returning from the lineup is sophomore guard La'Mel Robinson and senior forward Wanjang Tut.
• Robinson averaged 9.3 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 1.2 apg, and 1.0 spg over 24 games last season. He made 11 starts and scored double-figures in 11 games last year. He posted a career-high 23 points at South Dakota on Jan. 30 finishing 9-of-14 from the floor with three 3-pointers.
• Tut started all 20 games that he appeared in last season. He averaged 8.8 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 0.6 spg, and 0.6 bpg. Tut recorded six double-figure scoring performances including two 20+ point games. He put on a season-best all around performance at Wyoming last year with 27 points on 10-of-17 shooting with nine rebounds, four blocks, and an assist. His four blocks matched his career-high.
• Head coach Derrin Hansen enters his 17th season at the helm. He has a 248-235 career record leading the Mavericks.
New Faces
• In the off-season, Omaha added four new faces to the 2021-22 roster. Isaiah Poor Bear-Chandler, Felix Lemetti, and Akol Arop transferred into the program, while Frankie Fidler joins at the lone true freshman on the roster.
• Poor Bear-Chandler began his collegiate career with three seasons at Wichita State. He was the first man off the bench in 15 of the 18 games he saw action in as a junior. He averaged 12.0 minutes per game and contributed 3.0 ppg and 2.3 rpg.
• Lemetti played his freshman season at Fairfield and averaged 5.3 ppg, 1.1 rpg, and 1.0 apg in 2019-20. He then transferred to Salt Lake Community College and earned All-Region 18 honorable mention honors while averaging 9.9 ppg and 3.0 apg. He helped his team to a 20-5 finish on the year and qualified for the national tournament.
• Arop returned to his hometown after playing his first two seasons at Nebraska. As a true freshman, Arop saw 21 games off the bench. He used a redshirt season in 2020-21 after undergoing surgery.
• Fidler was a three-year letter winner at Bellevue West. He led the team his senior season with 21.2 ppg and 6.3 rpg. He shot 53 percent from the field and 40 percent from long range. He posted three 30-point performances in his senior campaign. He was named First Team All-Nebraska by the World Herald and was a First Team Super State pick by the Lincoln Journal Star.
• In his junior season, Fidler helped the Thunderbirds to a 2020 Class A state championship and a 24-3 overall record. He averaged 12.3 ppg, 6.2 rpg, and 2.0 apg.
Scouting the Hastings Broncos
The Broncos tipped off 2021-22 action on Oct. 22 and opened their season with a three-game win streak. They earned wins vs. Sterling, Presentation and Friends to open the year. Hastings has fallen in its last two games vs. No. 18 Benedictine and Walforf. The contest with Omaha will count as an exhibition game for the Broncos before they head to the Tabor Classic in hillsboro, Kan. this weekend.
Head coach Bill Gavers enters his eighth season leading Hastings. He has compiled a 120-97 record at the helm.
Series History
The Mavericks lead the all-time series 8-3 vs. the Broncos. The teams last met in the 2011-12 season. Omaha took an 82-49 win on Dec. 19.
Up Next
The Mavericks open a five-game road trip at Ball State Saturday, Nov. 13 at 11 a.m. CT. Gary Sharp will have the radio call on 1180 Zone 2, and links to live video, audio and stats will be available on OMavs.com.
The Omaha men's basketball team debuts this week vs. Hastings College in a home contest hosted at Ralston Arena on Tuesday, Nov. 9. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. vs. the Broncos. The Mavericks were tabbed eighth in the Summit League Preseason Poll and are coming off a 5-20 season. Last spring, Omaha made the Summit League Tournament for the sixth time in program history and fell in the quarterfinals to South Dakota State ending their 2020-21 season.
Gary Sharp will have the radio call on 1180 Zone 2. Live updates can also be found by following @OmahaMBB on Twitter or live stat links can be found at OMavs.com.
Quick Hits
• The 2021-22 season tips-off at Ralston Arena before the Mavericks open a five-game road trip. Omaha will hit the road due to the Olympic Curling trials being held in Baxter Arena for the month of November. Their true home opener will fall on Tuesday, Nov. 30 vs. SIUE. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at Baxter.
• Omaha was tabbed eighth in the Summit League Preseason Poll. The Mavericks finished last season 5-20 overall with a 3-11 league finish. They earned the eighth seed in the Summit League Tournament last spring and fell to No. 1 South Dakota State in the opening round of action.
• The Mavericks return eight letterwinners and two starters from last season's squad. Returning from the lineup is sophomore guard La'Mel Robinson and senior forward Wanjang Tut.
• Robinson averaged 9.3 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 1.2 apg, and 1.0 spg over 24 games last season. He made 11 starts and scored double-figures in 11 games last year. He posted a career-high 23 points at South Dakota on Jan. 30 finishing 9-of-14 from the floor with three 3-pointers.
• Tut started all 20 games that he appeared in last season. He averaged 8.8 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 0.6 spg, and 0.6 bpg. Tut recorded six double-figure scoring performances including two 20+ point games. He put on a season-best all around performance at Wyoming last year with 27 points on 10-of-17 shooting with nine rebounds, four blocks, and an assist. His four blocks matched his career-high.
• Head coach Derrin Hansen enters his 17th season at the helm. He has a 248-235 career record leading the Mavericks.
New Faces
• In the off-season, Omaha added four new faces to the 2021-22 roster. Isaiah Poor Bear-Chandler, Felix Lemetti, and Akol Arop transferred into the program, while Frankie Fidler joins at the lone true freshman on the roster.
• Poor Bear-Chandler began his collegiate career with three seasons at Wichita State. He was the first man off the bench in 15 of the 18 games he saw action in as a junior. He averaged 12.0 minutes per game and contributed 3.0 ppg and 2.3 rpg.
• Lemetti played his freshman season at Fairfield and averaged 5.3 ppg, 1.1 rpg, and 1.0 apg in 2019-20. He then transferred to Salt Lake Community College and earned All-Region 18 honorable mention honors while averaging 9.9 ppg and 3.0 apg. He helped his team to a 20-5 finish on the year and qualified for the national tournament.
• Arop returned to his hometown after playing his first two seasons at Nebraska. As a true freshman, Arop saw 21 games off the bench. He used a redshirt season in 2020-21 after undergoing surgery.
• Fidler was a three-year letter winner at Bellevue West. He led the team his senior season with 21.2 ppg and 6.3 rpg. He shot 53 percent from the field and 40 percent from long range. He posted three 30-point performances in his senior campaign. He was named First Team All-Nebraska by the World Herald and was a First Team Super State pick by the Lincoln Journal Star.
• In his junior season, Fidler helped the Thunderbirds to a 2020 Class A state championship and a 24-3 overall record. He averaged 12.3 ppg, 6.2 rpg, and 2.0 apg.
Scouting the Hastings Broncos
The Broncos tipped off 2021-22 action on Oct. 22 and opened their season with a three-game win streak. They earned wins vs. Sterling, Presentation and Friends to open the year. Hastings has fallen in its last two games vs. No. 18 Benedictine and Walforf. The contest with Omaha will count as an exhibition game for the Broncos before they head to the Tabor Classic in hillsboro, Kan. this weekend.
Head coach Bill Gavers enters his eighth season leading Hastings. He has compiled a 120-97 record at the helm.
Series History
The Mavericks lead the all-time series 8-3 vs. the Broncos. The teams last met in the 2011-12 season. Omaha took an 82-49 win on Dec. 19.
Up Next
The Mavericks open a five-game road trip at Ball State Saturday, Nov. 13 at 11 a.m. CT. Gary Sharp will have the radio call on 1180 Zone 2, and links to live video, audio and stats will be available on OMavs.com.
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballWednesday, August 26
Wednesday, August 26
Friday, August 21
Tuesday, April 21
