Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
Utah Valley
Wildcats back in action at Utah Valley Tuesday night
12/4/2023 2:15:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Weber State and Utah Valley tipoff Tuesday at 6 p.m. in Orem on ESPN+.
• After a week off, Weber State hits the road for its only in-state game this season as the Wildcats take on Utah Valley Tuesday night in Orem.
• The Wildcats and Wolverines will tipoff at 6 p.m. Tuesday night from the UCCU Center in Orem. The game will be televised on ESPN+ and the ESPN app. WSU radio coverage will be on 103.1 FM "The Wave" with Steve Klauke and former WSU standout and Big Sky MVP David Patten on the call. Live stats will be available at WeberStateSports.com and the Weber State Wildcats app.
• Weber State is 4-2 on the season. The Wildcats opened the year with a win over Benedictine Mesa, then went to No. 23 Saint Mary's and defeated the Gaels 61-57. It was WSU's first win over a ranked opponent in 23 years. The 'Cats then traveled all the way to Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada for three games at the Atlantic Slam Tournament. Weber State lost to Gardner-Webb, beat Yale in overtime and lost to Colgate.
• Weber State is coming off a 107-45 win over Navajo Tech in their last game on November 27. In that win, the Wildcats shot 51 percent from the field and knocked down 15 3-pointers. WSU also totaled 54 rebounds and had 21 assists. The 'Cats had four players in double figures, led by Steven Verplancken with 19 points and five 3-pointers. KJ Cunningham and Marko Sarenac had 14 points each and Viljami Vartiainen had 13 points. New Wildcat transfer Blaise Threatt had 10 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists, and four steals.
• Weber State leads the nation in free throw percentage. The Wildcats are shooting 82.5 percent from the free throw line through the first six games of the season. Steven Verplancken is a perfect 19 of 19 from the line this season. He is one of five players in the country with at least 17 attempts that has not missed a free throw this season.
• The Wildcats are also fifth in the country in scoring defense, allowing just 58 points per game. WSU is also 19th in the nation in scoring margin at +17.8.
• Wildcat standout Dillon Jones did not play in the game against Navajo Tech due to turf toe. Through his first five games, Jones has twice been named Big Sky Player of the Week. He leads the nation in defensive rebounds and is fifth in the country in total rebounds at 11.6 per game. He is also first in the Big Sky and 11th in the nation in scoring, averaging 22.0 points per game. He has four double-doubles in five games this season.
• Jones was the unanimous selection as the Big Sky Preseason MVP. He is a two-time first-team all-conference selection and a two-time all-district selection. He participated in the G League and NBA Draft combines this summer before returning to school. He has played in 93 career games at Weber State and ranks fourth in school history in career rebounding with 891. He is also 16th in career scoring, fifth in steals, and 10th in free throws made and free throw percentage. He has 42 career double-doubles.
• Weber State leads the Big Sky in scoring offense, scoring defense, scoring margin, field goal percentage defense, and free throw percentage. The 'Cats are also second in 3-point defense, third in 3-point percentage, and third in turnover margin.
• Weber State has all five starters returning from last year and the Wildcats were picked first in the Big Sky Conference preseason media and coaches polls. WSU had two players named to the Big Sky preseason all-conference team in Jones and senior Steven Verplancken.
• Verplancken earned third-team All-Big Sky honors last season. Also returning as starters for the Wildcats are KJ Cunningham, Dyson Koehler, and Alex Tew. Other returners that played last season include Louie Jordan, Handje Tamba, and Cole Lake, as well as red shirt freshman Chris Dockery.
• The Wildcats have added several new players to this year's team, including transfers Blaise Threatt and Arnaud Revaz. The 'Cats also added three international freshmen including Viljami Vartiainen from Finland and Marko Sarenac from Serbia.
• The Wildcats are coached by Eric Duft who returns for his second season as head coach and his 18th season overall at Weber State. He spent 16 seasons as an assistant coach under Randy Rahe before becoming the 10th head coach in WSU history in May 2022. Weber State finished 18-15 overall last season and was third in the Big Sky at 12-6.
• Weber State has one of the most international rosters in the country as the Wildcats have eight players that come from outside of the United States, representing six different countries. Two players are from England (Louie Jordan, Alex Tew), and two from Serbia in cousins Marko and Nemanja Sarenac. WSU also has players from Switzerland (Arnaud Revaz), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Handje Tamba), Finland (Viljami Vartiainen), and the Dominican Republic (Steven Verplancken).
• Utah Valley is 5-3 on the season heading into Tuesday's game. The Wolverines have wins over Sam Houston, Southern Miss, Western Colorado, and Seattle. They are coming off a 65-53 loss at Utah Tech last Saturday night in St. George. They are 3-0 at home this season. UVU is coached by Todd Phillips who is in his first season as head coach.
• This will be the 15th all-time meeting between the two in-state schools with Weber State holding an 8-6 series lead. The Wildcats are 7-1 against UVU in Ogden but are just 1-5 all-time in games in Orem. Weber State has won the last two games, a win in Orem in 2019, and a win in Ogden in January 2021.
• After Tuesday night, the Wildcats will return home to host Cal Poly Saturday night at the Dee Events Center. Weber State will face two Mountain West schools on the road next week, playing at Nevada on Dec. 13, and at Wyoming on Dec. 16.
