Diego Bernard has performed in his justifiable share of massive video games with Northwest men’s basketball. The senior guard’s crew is the three-time defending champions, and he was a starter for every of these three nationwide championships.
When the No. 4 Bearcats journey Jan. 12 to Edmond, Oklahoma, Bernard can have one other large sport below his belt. Waiting for Bernard and the remainder of his crew will probably be No. 7 Central Oklahoma. Both groups are assembly for the primary time of the season and are ranked within the high 10 within the newest National Association of Basketball Coaches top-25 ballot.
“I expect us to come in with a lot of energy,” Bernard stated. “Everybody has to be ready to go to start the game. We started off slow the last couple of games, and, in UCO, I think if we start off slow, it’s gonna be a tough place to get back up. For UCO, I know they’re gonna be ready to go.”
Statistically, Northwest (14-1, 7-1 MIAA) and Central Oklahoma (15-1, 9-1 MIAA) are very comparable. Both squads come into the sport with only one loss every — Northwest’s loss got here in opposition to Emporia State Dec. 17, and Central misplaced to Missouri Southern Dec. 8. The two groups are No. 1 and No. 2 within the MIAA in factors per sport. The Bearcats rating a median of 80.3 factors per contest whereas Central is averaging 79.8 factors.
Defensively, Central has the slight higher hand. The Bronchos are No. 2 within the MIAA in factors allowed per sport with 59.3, and the Bearcats are No. 3 with 60.7 factors allowed per sport. Northwest coach Ben McCollum stated it’s positively difficult to organize for groups as balanced as Central. Bernard stated it may be enjoyable to face powerful groups.
“The better the team, a lot of times, the less sleep you get,” McCollum stated. “I don’t know if it’s really considered fun, as much as it’s considered a challenge. It’s always good to be challenged because you’re able to come out of your comfort zone and improve from it.”
“That’s why you come to Northwest — to play the top teams,” Bernard stated. “In the MIAA, it’s any given night. Anybody can beat anybody. Just coming into the game, not trying to get too high or too low. Just trying to play our game and live with the results.”
One of the largest components to the Bronchos’ success on offense is sophomore guard Jaden Wells. Wells is No. 1 within the MIAA in factors per sport, scoring 19.8 factors per contest on 46% capturing — 47.1% from 3-point vary. The Hurst, Texas, native has been named the MIAA Men’s Basketball Athlete of the Week for the previous two weeks and has scored within the double digits each sport this season.
“I think his volumes went up. He’s shooting it a lot more,” McCollum stated. “He was always an elite shooter. Just because he can shoot at such an elite level, his trigger is so quick and he can do it in transition, it makes him really difficult to defend.”
After Central, Northwest will tackle Newman (5-10, 1-8 MIAA) Jan. 14 in Wichita, Kansas. The Jets are No. 12 within the MIAA in factors per sport and No. 13 within the convention in factors allowed.
Northwest has gained three consecutive video games over Newman by a median margin of 23 factors. Bernard stated it doesn’t matter how any of the earlier matchups went.
“We gotta not look past them,” Bernard stated. “They’re gonna be a tough opponent. Always scrappy. The record might not show it, but they’re college basketball players. They’re always gonna be tough and ready to go.”
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