Idaho State's Jared Stutzman ranks second in the nation in three-point shooting at 53.7 percent, just .04 behind Nick Masterston of Kennesaw State. http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/statistics/player/_/stat/3-points
Jared will get a chance to raise that percentage today as the Bengals open against Southern Utah in the Big Sky Tournament.
I don't know the last time an Idaho State player led the nation in an individual statistical category, but if I had to guess it would be Lawrence Butler who led the country in scoring in 1979. (Beat out a guy named Larry Bird, as I recall).
Stutzman, of course, took a circuitous route to Idaho State, signing with San Francisco out of Bonneville High School in Idaho Falls, going on a mission, transferring to Utah Valley, then to ISU this year. Had to miss a few games early while the NCAA first denied his appeal for immediate eligibility, then changed its mind. But it was all worth the wait for the Bengals.
Next year ISU will add the Preston duo, Austin Smellie and Brayden Parker, contributors to the Indians three-peat state championship teams (Smellie was part of the team that started it all three years ago, then went on a mission. Parker has been a key piece of all three title teams). It's fun to have Idaho kids be important contributors to the program again.
If the Bengals win today -- and Southern Utah's men's team is no gimme, they are playing very good basketball lately -- they'll get a rematch with Idaho. But first things first -- let's get that first Big Sky tourney win since 2009.
PS--there seems to be some conflict between the ESPN stats and the official NCAA web site, which shows Stutzman leading the nation in three-point shooting. Masterson's season is over, so Jared is going to have to catch him. Don't know why the two sites differ, but in any event, Jared is either first or second in the nation, which is a pretty good place to be.
Jared will get a chance to raise that percentage today as the Bengals open against Southern Utah in the Big Sky Tournament.
I don't know the last time an Idaho State player led the nation in an individual statistical category, but if I had to guess it would be Lawrence Butler who led the country in scoring in 1979. (Beat out a guy named Larry Bird, as I recall).
Stutzman, of course, took a circuitous route to Idaho State, signing with San Francisco out of Bonneville High School in Idaho Falls, going on a mission, transferring to Utah Valley, then to ISU this year. Had to miss a few games early while the NCAA first denied his appeal for immediate eligibility, then changed its mind. But it was all worth the wait for the Bengals.
Next year ISU will add the Preston duo, Austin Smellie and Brayden Parker, contributors to the Indians three-peat state championship teams (Smellie was part of the team that started it all three years ago, then went on a mission. Parker has been a key piece of all three title teams). It's fun to have Idaho kids be important contributors to the program again.
If the Bengals win today -- and Southern Utah's men's team is no gimme, they are playing very good basketball lately -- they'll get a rematch with Idaho. But first things first -- let's get that first Big Sky tourney win since 2009.
PS--there seems to be some conflict between the ESPN stats and the official NCAA web site, which shows Stutzman leading the nation in three-point shooting. Masterson's season is over, so Jared is going to have to catch him. Don't know why the two sites differ, but in any event, Jared is either first or second in the nation, which is a pretty good place to be.
