The Basics
The Mavericks posted a 79-72 win in their home opener vs. Idaho over the weekend helping first time DI head coach Chris Crutchfield to his first win at the helm. Omaha looks to build on that momentum with a win this Wednesday vs. Ball State. Tipoff between the Mavericks and Cardinals is set for 7:37 p.m. at Baxter Arena. The game will follow the women's basketball game vs. Weber State as part of a home doubleheader.

Gary Sharp will have the call on 1180  KZOT, and links to live stats, audio, and video can be found at OMavs.com.

Quick Hits
• The Mavericks won their first game of the 2022-23 campaign. It came in their home opener vs. Idaho. Omaha's win was powered by a 28-point, 11-rebound double-double from Frankie Fidler.
• It marked the sophomore forward's first career double-double and game with 10 or more rebounds.
• Marquel Sutton scored double-figures for the third straight game for Omaha. Against Idaho, he poured in a season-high 16 points.
• For the first time since the 2014-15 season, Omaha and Nebraska squared off for an in-state rivalry game last week. Despite getting the Husker lead under 10 points four times in the second half, the Mavericks fell, 75-61.
• Two Mavericks scored double-figures for the second straight game. Jaeden Marshall once again led the Omaha squad with 16 points, while Marquel Sutton added 14 points. Both were season-highs.
• Kennedy Brown made his career debut for Omaha at Nebraska. He finished six points and six rebounds vs. the Huskers. Brown (6.0 rpg) and Sutton (5.5 rpg) are the top rebounders through the first two games for Omaha.
• The Mavericks put up a fight in the season opener getting within seven of the Jayhawks Monday night. Kansas then used two late runs to pull away with an 89-64 lead.
• Four players notched double-figures in the opener. Marshall led the team with 13 points.
• Luke Jungers scored 12 points and grabbed a team-best six boards, while JJ White tallied six dimes.
• Omaha had its first taste of competitive action this season with a home exhibition vs. Mi-America Christian last Tuesday.
• The Mavericks are under new direction this season with UNO alum Chris Crutchfield at the helm. Joining him is associate head coach Kyan Brown and assistant coaches Kenya Crandell and Warren Niles.
• Omaha was tabbed ninth in the Summit League Preseason Poll, while sophomore forward Frankie Fidler garnered Preseason All-Summit First Team honors.
• Omaha finished its 2021-22 campaign at the 5-25 mark. A 4-14 finish in the Summit League earned them a trip to the championship as the No. 8 seed where the Mavericks fell in the opening round to South Dakota State.
• Fidler takes home a preseason all-league nod following a stellar freshman season. He led the Mavericks in scoring with 12.9 points per game on 48.6 percent from the field, 42.9 percent from three-point range, and 82.4 percent from the foul line.
• The Bellevue, Nebraska native scored double-figures 19 times last season including two 30-point performances. Fidler dropped a career-high 37 points at North Dakota which was the most points scored in a game last year by a freshman. His 35 points vs. SDSU in the league quarterfinals was the second most by a freshman in tournament history.
• In addition to Fidler, Omaha returned five players from last year's roster. Akol Arop, La'Mel Robinson, Dylan Brougham, Kyle Luedtke, and Grant Frickenstein will play another season as Mavericks.
• Crutchfield added 10 new players, which includes five freshman and five transfers.
• Crutchfield enters his first season at the helm with a 10-9 overall coaching record. It marks his second season as a head coach and first with the Mavericks.

Scouting the Ball State Cardinals
The Cardinals are 1-1 heading into the mid-week match up with the Mavericks. Ball State dominated Earlham in the season opener, 109-39. The Cardinals then fell over the weekend at Indiana State, 83-71. Ball State posted a 14-17 overall record with a 9-10 finish in the MAC last year. In the preseason poll, the Cardinals were tabbed fourth.

Four Cardinals are averaging double-figures after the first two games of the season. They're led by Jarron Coleman with 19.0 ppg. Coleman scored nine in the opener vs. Earlham and 29 at Indiana State. He's shooting 50 percent from the field and connected one seven three-pointers vs. the Sycamores.

Mickey Pearson Jr. is the team's leading rebounder as he averaged 7.5 boards per game. He notched a double-double vs. Earlham with 13 points and 13 rebounds.

Michael Lewis is in his first season at the helm with Ball State. Lewis previously served as an assistant coach at UCLA.