MILLIKIN UNIVERSITY MEN’S BASKETBALL RELEASE Millikin Big Blue (0-0) Vs. Carthage College (0-0) Saturday, January 23 at the Tarble Arena in Kenosha, Wis. at 2 p.m. Monday, January 25 at the Griswold Center in Decatur, Ill. at 6 p.m. GAME NOTES The Millikin men’s basketball team is thrilled at the chance to return to a competitive season as they open the season with two games against Carthage College. Due to the COVID-19 protocols, the schedule will look a little different this season playing only 12 games against conference opponents. In an effort to limit travel across the league and control testing costs, Millikin will only play six of the eight College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) schools and will play everyone twice. Most of those match-ups will be on a home and away format and only separated by one off day. Unfortunately, no spectators will be allowed at attend any CCIW games including those played at Millikin. Head Coach Mark Scherer is in his fourth season leading the Big Blue. Scherer believes this year’s team is his hardest working most physical team. “They are strong, smart, tough and together” adds Scherer. The Big Blue will emphasis team unity, defense and rebounding, but Scherer knows they will have to take care of the basketball to be successful in the CCIW. “Individually and as a group we are tremendously excited to be playing after the challenges of COVID” said Scherer. “We are pumped to compete in the CCIW and our goal is to make a deep run in the CCIW Tournament in March.” Millikin returns four of its five starters from last year lead by junior Calvin Fisher who averaged 14 points and six rebounds per game a year ago. Jake Hampton, Sam Stichnote and Cole Laurence all return for the Big Blue. Transfer guard Scott Gowan has earned a spot in the starting lineup to start the season. Scherer thinks he can go deep on his bench with six to seven guys expected to get playing time. There is a changing of the guard at the top of the Carthage men’s basketball program as Steve Djurickovic takes over from longtime coach and his father Bosko Djurickovic. Steve has spent the last eight years as the program’s assistant coach. As a player, Steve remains Carthage’s all-time leading scorer with 2,547 career points. Carthage lost its top two scorers from last season, but does return 6-11 center Sean Johnson who averaged 11 points and 8.5 rebounds per game in 2019-20. Carthage has retired its longtime nicknames “Lady Reds” and “Red Men” and will refrain from using any nickname until a suitable new one can be found. THE SERIES: MILLIKIN VS. CARTHAGE COLLEGE Carthage leads the series 70-58 with the Red Men winning 19 of the last 22 games. PROBABLE MILLIKIN STARTING LINE-UP 2 Jarius Ingram* G 5-10 160 So. Decatur, Ill./Warrensburg Latham Or 31 Jake Hampton** G 6-0 170 Jr. O’Fallon, Mo./Fort Zumwalt West 12 Calvin Fisher** G 6-6 200 Jr. Monticello, Ill./Monticello 14 Sam Stichnote* G 6-2 185 So. Ashland, Mo./Southern Boone 23 Scott Gowan G 6-2 170 Jr. Rockford, Ill./Rockford East/Carl Sandburg 50 Cole Laurence* F 6-8 250 So. Farmington, Mo./Farmington SCORING AND REBOUNDING LEADERS (Returners from 2019-20) Millikin Scoring: Calvin Fisher—14.3 PPG Jake Hampton—11.4 PPG Rebounding: Calvin Fisher—6.3 RPG Cole Laurence—5.8 RPG Carthage Scoring: Sean Johnson—11.1 PPG Crishawn Cook—10.0 PPG Rebounding: Sean Johnson—8.5 RPG BROADCAST AND INTERNET INFORMATION Carthage will provide live coverage of Saturday’s game at Live Stats: https://athletics.carthage.edu/sidearmstats/mbball/summary Live Video: https://www.carthage.edu/multimedia/webcast-4/ Monday’s game at Millikin will be broadcast live on Fox Sports 1050AM in the Decatur area and online at www.nowdecatur.com. Millikin will provide a Live Video and Live Stats: Live Video: https://athletics.millikin.edu/watch Live Stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/millikin/mbball 2020-21 SCHEDULE AND RESULTS DATE OPPONENT Location Time/Result Jan. 23 Carthage College Kenosha, Wis. 2 p.m. Jan. 25 Carthage College Decatur, Ill. 6 p.m. Jan. 28 Wheaton College Decatur, Ill. 7 p.m. Jan. 30 Wheaton College Wheaton, Ill. 2 p.m. Feb. 4 Augustana College Rock Island, Ill. 7 p.m. Feb. 6 Augustana College Decatur, Ill. 2 p.m. Feb. 11 North Central College Naperville, Ill. 7 p.m. Feb. 13 North Central College Decatur, Ill. 2 p.m. Feb. 16 Illinois Wesleyan University Bloomington, Ill. 7 p.m. Feb. 18 Elmhurst College Decatur, Ill. 7 p.m. Feb. 20 Elmhurst College Elmhurst, Ill. 2 p.m. Feb. 23 Illinois Wesleyan University Decatur, Ill. 7 p.m. .