GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Golden Eagles continue the season opening home-stand with a huge week as WHAC play opens taking on (RV) Indiana Tech and rival Aquinas inside Mol Arena. CU hosts Indiana Tech at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, November 10 due to WHAC Tournament volleyball taking place that night, and will be followed by a standard 3 p.m. tip vs. Aquinas on Saturday, November 13. To avoid lines, you can purchase tickets in advance HERE. To watch this week's games online, you can visit the schedule page HERE for live links.
Rodriguez WHAC Player of the Week
For the second time in his career and first time this season, redshirt senior Christian Rodriguez earned the WHAC Player of the Week award after an outstanding week scoring the rock. Rodriguez averaged 28.3 PPG and scored a career high 34 in the win over Graceland to help CU to a 2-1 week and a 4-1 start to the year. On the year, Rodriguez ranks 10th in the NAIA with 25.6 PPG and he is first in the country in total points at 128. For his career, Rodriguez has 1,654 career points putting him closer to becoming the seventh CU player to eclipse 2,000.
Coach E Stats
Head Coach Kim Elders continues to rack up the stats in his Hall of Fame career as he is one win away from 300 non-conference victories. Elders has also coached 975 career games, putting him 25 away from 1,000 games coached. He has dominated WHAC openers as well as he is 22-6 all-time in WHAC opening games and he is 24-4 in WHAC home openers.
Getting Healthy
After seeing eight different players earn a start through the first three games of the year due to injury, Cornerstone is starting to get healthy again. This week, CU saw Cory Ainsworth return to action as well as Drew Knickerbocker continue to battle through injury. EJ Bowman also returned from injury to play some minutes and Connor Dykema is close to returning as well.
Scouting Indiana Tech
The Warriors have started the year 2-2 with their only two loses coming to two NAIA Top 10 teams from the Crossroads League. Depth has been an issue for the Warriors, as three of their starting five are averaging over 30 minutes a game with the other two in the mid 20's per game. Four of the five starters are averaging double-figures in points with Rog Stein leading the way at 17.8 PPG. In the last seven matchups between the two sides, they have traded victories as Indiana Tech was the last team to win two straight back in 2018.
Scouting Aquinas
The Saints have gone 3-1 to begin the year with their only loss coming to NAIA (2) Saint Francis of Indiana, 80-63. AQ is very balanced offensively as they enjoyed the return of Gabe Overway last game who scored 19 points in his first game of the year. Sammie Ryans leads a group of four players who have started every game that all average over 10 points per game as Ryans sits at 16.5 a game. Rebounding the team is very balanced as well, averaging 34.0 per game with Jaylen Rutherford and Justin Lary each at 5.8 a game. Cornerstone has had the edge over Aquinas for quite some time now as they have won nine straight meetings. The last time Aquinas earned a victory vs. Cornerstone came on February 15, 2017 when they won 87-77.
