Each week we will be putting out our NAIA Hoops Report Game of the Week, with a breakdown of the game and what to expect. For this week, we put it out a little later, with the rankings coming out today and games tipping off tomorrow! Generally, this will be a Sunday post this season! In Week 1, we have no shortage of great games to choose from. Not only do we have three Top 25 matchups on Saturday, but we have some seriously fun ARC and Non-Conference games Thursday-Sunday! For us though, this week’s pick for our Game of the Week is a Top 25 rematch from last season’s NAIA National Tournament!
Week 1 Game of the Week: #22 Oregon Tech vs #6 William Jessup
Probable Starters
Jessup
#11 Myles Corey, 6’1 Soph
#00 Cash Williams 6’3 Sr.
#25 Jayden DeJoseph 6’6 5Yr
#2 Max Edwards 6’7 Jr
#3 Xavier Lovelace 6’7 Jr
Oregon Tech
#3 Kam Osborn 6’0 So
#35 Kaison Faust 6’3 Sr
#23 Keegan Shivers 6’5 So
#33 Kody Bauman 6’7 Jr
#25 Joey Potts 6’10 Sr
Keys To Victory
Jessup
- Composure in hostile environment
- Limit OIT to 1 shot or less
- Don’t settle for 3’s earl
- Defend the OIT fast break
Oregon Tech
-
- Limit Jessup Scoring runs.
- Create 2nd chance opportunities.
- Win the Faust vs Cash Williams matchup
- Pound the Paint, use size advantage
Summary
It’s a late West Coast game for anyone in the East or Midwest, but this game is going to be well worth it! These two teams met in the Championship game of the opening round of the NAIA Tourney last season. A game in which Jessup was able to pull out the 93-89 win and advance to Kansas City. This game should have plenty of pace to it as both teams don’t mind pushing the tempo. The stars will be showcased here on both sides, with Cash Williams, Myles Corey and Keegan Shivers all making our preseason NAIA All-American list.
Jessup returns a vast majority of their team from a squad that advanced to the NAIA Quarterfinals last season. They are led by one of the best back courts in the NAIA with Cash Williams (Reigning GSAC POY) and Myles Corey. Both Williams and Corey were All-American selections last season. They do have some holes to fill with the losses of Tarren Storey-Way and Tim Strijaous. Look for transfers Xavier Lovelace (Eastern Oregon), Max Edwards (La Pierce College) and Nigel McKay (Warner Pacific) to fill those holes early for the Warriors.
Oregon Tech did lose a healthy group of veteran leadership from a year ago, but Senior Kaison Faust (CCC Defensive POY) and Sophomore Keegan Shivers (All-CCC) are back to lead the way for the Hustlin’ Owls. This OIT is pretty deep, honestly and it is going to be fun to see how Head Coach, Justin Parnell, rotations play out. After watching the Owls exhibition game, the other night, Parnell and the Hustlin’ Owls have a lot of roster flexibility that you can interchange depending on matchups. It’s early in the season, so take our probable starters lightly here, especially since Faust and Shivers didn’t play in the exhibition the other night, but this Oregon Tech team, especially in Klamath Falls, on Danny Miles Court, could be the Vegas favorites here, even against a Jessup team that is ranked 6th in the country. The Owls are still going to have to play well though, as this Jessup team won’t come in afraid of the moment. All of this and more is why you should stay up to watch this game on Saturday night!
Other Notable Matchups
We will still have every game posted on our Schedule and Links Article each day, but to get you hyped for the weekend, here are some other notable games to look out for:
Thursday:
7:30pm CT – Rio Grande @ Shawnee State
Friday:
6:30pm CT – RV Missouri Baptist vs RV Evangel
9pm CT – Dordt @ Mayville State
9pm CT – RV Lewis-Clark State @ #1 Arizona Christian
Saturday:
Noon CT – #4 Indiana Wesleyan vs #25 Indiana Tech
6pm CT – Morningside @ Peru State
7pm CT – RV Missouri Baptist @ RV MidAmerica Nazarene
9pm CT – #15 Science & Arts (OK) @ #5 Oklahoma Wesleyan
