The Lindenwood Lions tip-off the 2013-14 season at the CCA Division II Tip-Off Classic in Anaheim, Calif. on Friday afternoon. The Lions will play three straight days against tough competition. Lindenwood will play two teams ranked in the top five in Division II and a team that won 18 games last season.
The Lions start the classic against Alaska-Anchorage who won 18 games last season. Seattle Pacific is up next and start the season ranked No. 2. To close out the weekend Lindenwood will take on No. 5 Minnesota State.
• The Lions finished tops in the MIAA in field goal percentage with a mark of .481. The team also finished first in the conference in scoring with an average of 78.6.
• This year's team will have a completely different look than last season. The Lions lost four of five starters from last season and almost 70 percent of their scoring.
• Three point shooting was a strength a season ago. The Lions made at least five threes in every game but three last season. The team made double digit threes four times last season. The season high in made threes last year was 12 against William Woods.
• When the offense scored over 80 points last season it was dominant. The Lions were 12-0 if the team reach the 80 point mark.
• Lindenwood shot 246 more free throws than its opponents in 2012-13. When the team shot more free throws than its opponents, the team was 18-4. The Lions made at least 10 free throws in every game but one. Â
• Junior guard
Darris Smith is the team's lone returning starter from last year. Smith averaged over seven points a game last year and had an assist to turnover ration of almost two.
• The Lions outrebounded its opponents last season by a 1000-708 margin. When the team grabs more rebounds it is 18-2.
• Lindenwood is outscored its opponents by an average of 10 points a game. The defense surrendered just 68.4 points to its opponents.
• Lindenwood outscored its opponents in the second half in all but seven games in 2012-13.
• Lindenwood outscored its opponents in both the first half and the second half last season. But the second half was the Lions best. The team outscored its opponents 1065-934 in the final 20 minutes.
• If the Lions held their opponents to 69 points or less the team is 12-2. If the opposition scores more than 70 the team is 7-4.
• Head Coach
Brad Soderberg is just one win away from winning his 100th game as the head coach of the Lions. He has over 300 total wins as a basketball coach in his career. Â
• The Hyland Arena floor has been very good to the Lions since
Brad Soderberg took over. In his first four seasons, Lindenwood is 50-8 at home.Â
Opponents Notes
• Alaska-Anchorage had a record in 2012-13 of 18-8 overall and 11-7 in GNAC play.
• The Seawolves return four letterwinners from last year's team. All four returners were also starters.
• Kyle Fossman is the team's top returner. In 2012-13, he averaged over 14 points a game and was named to the first-team All-GNAC.
• Seattle Pacific had a record of 27-4 in 2012-13 overall and 16-2 in GNAC play. Â
• The Falcons are ranked No. 2 in the country and was named No. 1 in conference polls.
• Junior guard David Downs was picked as the the preseason GNAC player of the year in the preseason.
• Seattle Pacific has the country's longest current playoff streak of nine consecutive years.
• Minnesota State compiled a record of 28-5 overall last season.
• The Mavericks enter the season ranked No. 5 in the NCAA Division II rankings.
• Minnesota State returns four of five starters from last year's team.
