In its first WAC game ever, Chicago State (5-8) will play at Idaho (6-9, 0-1 WAC) tonight. The Cougars enter with losses in their last two games as they search for their first road win of the season, but the Vandals have lost three in a row, the last two on their home court.
The Vandals, picked to finish fourth in the WAC’s preseason poll, lost their conference opener to UMKC on Thursday night.
Led by Stephen Madison, Connor Hill, and Glen Dean, Idaho has one of the conference’s most potent offenses. Madison is the league’s No. 3 scorer with 17.6 points per game, and Hill and Dean chime in with 13.3 points apiece.
All three are also capable outside shooters. Dean leads the way with 40.6% three-point shooting, while Madison shoots 39.5% and Hill clocks in at 35.4%.
In addition to providing the bulk of the scoring, Madison is also the Vandals’ leader in rebounds, assists, blocks, and free throws. The 6’6″ senior can do it all and will be Chicago State’s main focus.
The Cougars are also a team who are more efficient on the offensive side of the ball than the defensive.
Senior Quinton Pippen is leading the team in scoring, as expected, with 14.6 points per game, and he also averages 3.0 assists.
The Cougars have also been receiving high-quality contributions from junior guard Clarke Rosenberg. Rosenberg, who averaged only 7.7 points last season, is scoring 14.2 per contest this year. His three-point shooting is also up to 43.3%.
In his last five games, Rosenberg has recorded 17.2 points while shooting 53.2% from the field.
Senior forward Matt Ross, Chicago State’s premier forward, will have a tough task in the frontcourt against Idaho.
The Vandals use a committee of forwards to flank Madison with Bira Seck, Joe Kammerer, and Paulin Mpawe all averaging double digit minutes. However, none of the trio play more than 18.4 minutes per game.
Tip-off at the Cowan Spectrum is set for 9 p.m. CT.
