Pregame

The No. 10-ranked Washburn Ichabods return home for what will be the final regular season meeting between the Washburn and the visiting Truman Bulldogs as the Bulldogs are leaving the MIAA to become members of the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Washburn (10-2, 3-1 MIAA) is coming off a 72-56 win at Nebraska-Kearney and the Bulldogs (5-9, 2-4 MIAA) dropped their third-straight game falling 65-60 to Emporia State. Following Wednesday's game with Truman, the Ichabods will set out for three consecutive road games starting with new MIAA foe Northeastern on Jan. 19. The Ichabods will return home on Jan. 31 to face Missouri Southern in only their third home game in the month of January.

'Bod Quick notes

• The Ichabods have won three straight over the Bulldogs overall and six straight in Topeka.

• All-time the Ichabods are 26-4 in Topeka against the Bulldogs.

• The Ichabods shot a season-high 55 percent from the field in their win over Nebraska-Kearney last time out hitting 30 of 55 shots.

• The six free throws against the Lopers were a season-low as were the 11 attempts.

• The Bulldogs were a founding member of the MIAA in 1912.

• Will McNeill recorded his sixth double double of his career against the Lopers and his second-straight and his third overall this season.

• Bobby Chipman needs 12 rebounds to reach 500 for his career and he moved into a tie for fifth on the Ichabod all-time block chart with 67 with Rich Hamilton.

• In his last three games Martin Mitchell has averaged 21 points a game with 4.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists.

• This past week Bob Chipman passed Norm Stewart and Jerry Tarkanian for 22nd on the all-time NCAA all-division coaching win chart who each had 729 wins. Chipman has 731 wins entering the Truman game. Next on the chart is John Chaney who had 741 career wins.

• Former Ichabod basketball head coach Glenn Cafer was a standout basketball player at Truman going 50-8 in two seasons earning all-MIAA honors earning a 1990 induction into the Bulldogs athletic hall of fame. He is also in Washburn athletic hall of fame.

Ichabods on radio

Washburn games will be broadcast on AM 580 WIBW with Mark Elliott and Jake Lebahn. The game will also be streamed live on the wusports.com website by following the listen live links on the men's basketball schedule page.

The coaches

Washburn Ichabod head basketball coach Bob Chipman 

• He is in his 34th season at the helm of the Ichabods.

• Ichabod head coach Bob Chipman is a 1973 graduate of Kansas State earning both his undergraduate and master's degree in Manhattan.

• He is 731-298 overall.

• He has 490 wins since the Ichabods joined the MIAA, the most of any conference school since the 1989-90 season.

• Has led the Ichabods to 12 MIAA regular season titles and a MIAA-coaching tops of five postseason tournament championships.

• He has led the Ichabods to 12 NCAA National Tournament appearances.

• In home games, he is 422-77 going 369-66 in Lee Arena.

• He is second in all-time coaching victories in active NCAA Division II coaches.

• His 731 coaching wins is 22nd in all-time NCAA coaches at all levels.

• He led the Ichabods to the 1987 NAIA National Championship and a 2001 NCAA National game, which was later vacated by Kentucky Wesleyan. 

• Chipman played for legendary coach Jack Hartman earning two letters.

• Chipman is 38-13 against the Bulldogs.

Truman head coach Matt Woodley . . .

• is 13-29 in his second season at Truman and 7-19 in MIAA games.

• is 0-2 against the Ichabods.

• Woodley graduated with a degree in elementary education from Drake (Iowa) University in 2000, having played three seasons for the Bulldogs. He was a starter in every game played and ended his career as the program's all-time leader in steals and second in three-pointers. He twice earned honorable mention honors from the Missouri Valley Conference and was the team MVP his senior season.

Last time out for the Ichabods • #13 Washburn 70, Nebraska-Kearney 56, • 1/12/13

KEARNEY, Neb. -- The No. 13-ranked Ichabods made their first made their first trip to face the Lopers a good one as Washburn cruised to a 72-56 win over Nebraska-Kearney. 

Martin Mitchell led the Ichabods with 23 points tying a career high and Will McNeill recorded his second-straight double double - his sixth of his career - in the win while Bobby Chipman filled up his stat line with eight points, 10 rebounds and a career-high seven assists.

The Ichabods (10-2, 3-1 MIAA) trailed only once at 4-3 during the game as Washburn turned an 11-11 tie using a 13-2 run over a four-minute span to go up 11 at 24-13 with 8:19 to play in the first half. The Ichabods would go on to lead by as many as 14 in the first half before taking a 36-25 lead into the break over the Lopers (4-10, 1-5 MIAA).

In the second half the Lopers would get no closer than 13 as Washburn started on a 6-0 run to put the game out of reach as the Ichabods would go on to build a margin of 25 points at 59-34 with 11:15 to play rolling to the 16-point win.

Mitchell scored 17 of his 23 in the first half hitting 7 of 9 shots from the field including three 3-pointers. Washburn shot 58 percent in the first half hitting 15 of 26 shots and finished 30 of 55 from the field for a 55 percent average. Defensively the Ichabods held the Lopers to 34 percent from the field. 

Washburn had 24 assists on its 30 made field goals. Following Chipman's seven, Kyle Wiggins and Mitchell each had five assists and McNeill had four. Joseph Smith had three blocks eight points and seven rebounds.

Pierre Newton led the Lopers with 14 points and Jon Henderson scored 13. 

Series history with Truman

• The Ichabods lead the all-time series 40-17 and have won the last three games overall. 

• The Ichabods are 26-4 all-time against the Bulldogs in Topeka.

• In games played in Lee Arena the Bulldogs are 2-25 against the Ichabods picking up a 67-65 win on Feb. 1, 1999 and an 81-72 win on Jan. 28, 2006.

• The Ichabods have won the last six played in Topeka.

About Truman

• The Bulldogs are 5-9 and 2-4 in MIAA this season.

• Truman has lost its last three games losing the last two at home by five points in each game.

• Mike Carlson leads the team in points (16.9), rebounds (6.4) and blocks (1.2) and steals (1.7).

• The Bulldogs are scoring 72.5 ppg on the season (72.2 MIAA), shooting 45.1 percent from the field (43.8 percent MIAA), and 36.1 percent from three-point range (37.9 percent MIAA). • The Bulldogs are connecting at a 71.3 percent clip from the foul line through all 14 games.

• Truman has already matched its 2012 road win total (2-12) through four road contests and is three wins away from matching the 2012 home win total (6-7) with five to play within the friendly confines of Pershing Arena.

• Entering this past weekend, the Bulldogs ranked second in the MIAA in three-pointers per game, third in assist/turnover ratio and fifth in turnover margin.

• Mike Carlson has inked his name all over the MIAA stat sheets, ranking amongst league leaders in free throw shooting (87.3%), scoring (16.9), steals (24), blocks (17), rebounds (6.4) and field goal percentage (53.7%).

Last time out for Truman

(Jan. 12, 2013) -- KIRKSVILLE, Mo. - - For the second time in three days, the Truman men's basketball team came up just short in a home effort, falling 65-60 to visiting Emporia (Kan.) State on Saturday afternoon in Pershing Arena.

Junior Mike Carlson (Superior, Wis., Marshall) scored 16 points, grabbed seven rebounds, handed out four assists and swatted a pair of shots to lead Truman (5-9, 2-4 MIAA), but a pair of key scoring droughts plagued the 'Dogs in the final minutes of the second half to quell their comeback effort.

The Bulldogs and Hornets (6-7, 1-4 MIAA) were tied 52-52 with 9:27 to play after freshman Cory Myers (Ankeny, Iowa, Ankeny) sank a pair of free throws. However, Truman then went more than four minutes without a score before a Carlson lay-up pulled the 'Dogs back to within two at 56-54. After ESU built the lead to five at 59-54 with 4:35 on the clock, the teams traded buckets to 61-58 ESU with 2:10 to play.

After a Cory Myers turnover following a Tom Norton (Bloomington, Ill., Central Catholic) blocked shot on a Hornet triple try, the Hornets got two offensive rebounds and a put-back tip-in by Paul Bunch with 24 seconds left to go ahead 63-58. Another Cory Myers turnover forced the Bulldogs to foul, and the Hornets hit both to move ahead by seven with 17.7 to play. Cory Myers hit two free throws, but that would be the final scoring of the night for either side, as the Hornets escaped Pershing Arena with a five-point victory.

Carlson's 16 led the Bulldogs offensively, while junior guard Isaac Gardner (Washington, Iowa, Washington) hit four second-half triples off the bench to finish with 12 points. Cory Myers scored all 11 of his points in the second half and added four assists, while Norton poured in nine points and freshman Jaylon Jones (Katy, Texas, Seven Lakes) added eight. Freshman Cole Myers (Ankeny, Iowa, Ankeny) did not score but led the 'Dogs with five assists and added five rebounds.

Truman shot 47% from the floor for the game, including 7-of-16 (44%) from three-point range and 13-of-19 (68%) from the foul line. ESU countered with a 25-for-52 (48%) mark overall and hit a dozen triples. The Bulldogs out-rebounded ESU 30-27 but committed 18 turnovers that turned into 23 Hornet points.

Chris Sights led ESU with 17 points and four assists, while Kaleb Wright chipped in 15 points and grabbed four rebounds.

Last meeting with Truman

(Feb. 1, 2012) KIRKSVILLE, Mo. -- The Washburn Ichabods used a 12-2 run over the first 5:12 of the second half to breeze to a 66-45 win over Truman State winning their third straight over the Bulldogs and their fourth in the last five trips to Pershing Arena. 

The Ichabods (15-6, 9-4 MIAA) jump started the second half with a quick 7-0 run to build the lead to 39-29 after taking a 32-29 advantage into the locker room at the break. The half started with a jumper by Martin Mitchell, then a pair of free throws by Will McNeill and a 3-pointer by Bobby Chipman forcing a Truman (6-15, 4-10 MIAA) timeout. The Ichabods continued the pressure on the Bulldogs holding Truman without a field goal for the first 4:20 of the second half. The Bulldogs finished 7 of 26 from the field in the second half including 2 of 12 from 3-point range.

The Ichabods trailed only twice in the game and held the lead for the remainder of the game after the Bulldogs took a brief 7-6 lead at the 13:23 mark of the first half.

Zack Riggins led the Ichabods with a career-high 14 points with 12 coming in the first half. McNeill finished with 13 points. Chipman recorded a career-high 12 rebounds with 10 coming on the defensive end. Christian Ulsaker tied a career-high with eight points adding four rebounds. The Ichabods finished with 11 team steals with Jared Henry grabbing four and McNeill swiping three. Washburn turned 13 Bulldog turnovers into 18 points.

The Ichabods hit only 9 of 21 field goal attempts in the second half of the game for a 43 percent clip, but were 14 of 16 from the free throw line in the period and finished 20 of 24 for the game.

Washburn finished the game 21 of 52 from the field while the Bulldogs were held to 17 of 45 shooting and 8 of 26 from 3-point range. Truman was also 3 of 9 from the free throw line.

Bod bits

• Will McNeill was named a preseason All-American by the Basketball Times. He is the first Ichabod to receive preseason All-American honors since Travis Robbins prior to the 2004-05 season.

• Will McNeill has been named the MIAA Player of the Week twice on Nov. 26 and on Dec. 3. 

• The Ichabods are +14.7 in scoring margin this season.

• The three freshman on the Ichabod roster (Khai Hutchinson, Evan Robinson and Colton Anderson) are all redshirting this season.

• Bryce Simons has missed the entire season with a knee injury.

• Alex North suffered a knee injury against Central Oklahoma and missed the Fort Hays State and Nebraska-Kearney games.

• With his 10 rebounds against Fort Hays State, Will McNeill became the first Ichabod to record at least 1,000 points (1,376); 400 rebounds (406), 200 steals (203) and 150 assists (157) in a career.

• Will McNeill is 39 assists shy of becoming the sixth Ichabod to reach at least 1,000 points and 200 assists joining Tom Meier (2,082/242), Greg Wilson (1,323/295), Mike Dickerson (1,130/214), Todd Alexander (1,099/215) and Shannon Kruger (1,014/341). He enters the Truman game with 1,389 points and 161 assists.

Bod tweets . . . 140-character or less notes on the Ichabods

• The Ichabods have trailed at the half in three of their last five games #NeedBetterStarts

• The game against Newman was the first time the Ichabods did not lead at any point in a game since Feb. 17, 2010 in a 77-54 loss at Missouri Southern #PlayingFromBehind

• Washburn did not lead at any point against Central Oklahoma either #GoGoGo

• Will McNeill moved into seventh on all-time scoring chart passing Ron Berkholtz (1,342 from 1965-69 in 101 games) against ESU. He has scored 1,389 points in 102 games #Buckets

• Next on the chart is Dan Buie (1,484 - 1995-97) in sixth on the all-time chart #SelectCompany

• Will McNeill's 463 field goals is eighth all-time at Washburn #Scorer

• Bobby Chipman's 200 3-point attempts is 22nd in school history #FromWayDowntown

• Bobby Chipman's 67 career blocks is tied for fifth all-time at Washburn and can move into the top four with 12 more #RejectionCity

• Bobby Chipman's 448 rebounds is 23rd all-time at Washburn #boards

• Will McNeill's 405 free throw made is fourth at Washburn #GetToTheLine

• Will McNeill's 515 free throw attempts is sixth at Washburn #LineTime

• Will McNeill's .786 free throw percentage is eighth all-time at WU #Automatic

• Martin Mitchell's assist average of 3.7 per game is tied for seventh all-time at Washburn #Dimes

• Will McNeill's 203 career steals is first at Washburn #NoBodyInFrontOfHim

• The MIAA record for career steals is 383 by Eddin Santiago #FastHands

• In reaching 13 points against Nebraska-Kearney, Will McNeill kept his double-figure scoring streak alive at 45 games with all 33 games in the 2011-12 season and the first 12 of this season. #DoNotTalkAboutTheStreak

Ichabod Basketball HIstory

• Washburn is 1,441-971-2 all-time in 2,413 games played

• The 2012-13 season is Washburn's 107th of basketball.

• Washburn is the ninth-winningest program in NCAA Division II history.

• The Ichabods are 490-214 since joining the NCAA Division II ranks, which is the most wins by any program in the MIAA since the 1989-90 season.

• Washburn has won ten MIAA regular season championships and 21 conference championships in school history.

• The Ichabods previously won the MIAA regular season championship in 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2012.

Ichabods in the national rankings

• The Washburn Ichabods climbed from 13th to 10th in the latest NABC Top 25 coaches poll which was released on Jan. 15.

• The Ichabods have been in the top 25 a total of 94 times since joining the NCAA ranks.

• The Ichabods have been in the top 10 in the national rankings 51 times.

Home sweet home

• The Ichabods are 369-66 (.848) all-time in Lee Arena.

• The 2012-13 season marks the 28th season of play in Lee Arena.

• The Ichabods recorded a school-best 28-game winning streak from Nov. 19, 1993 to Feb. 8, 1995 in Lee Arena.

?Up Next

Washburn start another three-game trip with contests at Northeastern State on Jan. 19, at Lincoln on Jan. 24 and at Lindenwood on Jan. 26. Washburn will then finish the regular season with seven of its final 10 regular season games at home starting on Jan. 31 with Missouri Southern.