Getting to know: Siena basketball

Duke's Grayson Allen defends Siena's Marquis Wright during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Durham, N.C., Friday, Nov. 13, 2015.

Duke's Grayson Allen defends Siena's Marquis Wright during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Durham, N.C., Friday, Nov. 13, 2015.

After playing two of the most historic programs in college basketball, Indiana and Duke, the Kansas Jayhawks finally return to Allen Fieldhouse for their home opener against Siena at 7 p.m. Friday.

Siena doesn’t have the same history or talent level as KU’s first two opponents, but it won’t be a cupcake on the schedule, either.

The Saints (1-1) were picked second in the MAAC preseason poll behind Monmouth. They beat Cornell in their home opener before losing to George Washington by two points Tuesday.

Ranked 79th in the latest KenPom rankings, Siena features a dynamic offense with a few players capable of scoring in double figures in each game. Turnovers were a big problem for the Saints last season, but they’ve made big strides and committed only 14 turnovers through two games.

One of the biggest benefits for Siena — like many of the top mid-major schools — is that it returned most of its top players. The Saints bring back their top five scorers and rebounders from last year.

“It’s not the team that I was hoping we would come home to after a long trip,” KU coach Bill Self said. “We’ll have to be ready obviously, and hopefully the crowd will be juiced for it.”

Interesting note: With a victory, Self will become the winningest coach in Allen Fieldhouse history, surpassing Ted Owens’ 206 wins. Self owns a 206-9 record at Allen Fieldhouse, including a 40-game win streak.

Interesting note, part II: Siena coach Jimmy Patsos, then with Loyola (MD), was the only coach to hold Steph Curry to zero points in a game at Davidson. Patsos opted to double-team Curry at all times, essentially making 4-on-3. “Anybody else ever hold him scoreless?” Patsos asked in his postgame press conference. “I’m a history major. They’re going to remember that we held him scoreless or we lost by 30?”

Series history: Kansas leads, 1-0. Jayhawks won the only meeting on Jan. 6, 2009, 91-84.

SIENA STARTERS

No. 1 — G Marquis Wright | 6-1, 161, sr.

Wisconsin guard Bronson Koenig (24) and Siena's Marquis Wright (1) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Sunday, Nov. 15, 2015, in Madison, Wis. Wisconsin won 92-65.

• Siena’s leading scorer, Wright is averaging 26 points on 47 percent shooting (17-of-36). He’s 7-of-12 from deep (58 percent) and has dished nine assists without a turnover.

• The Waldorf, Md., native earned preseason third-team All-MAAC honors and he wasn’t thrilled that he was passed over on the first two teams. “See what I mean about the disrespect,” Wright posted on Twitter, “it’s all good ima [sic] earn mine.”

• Wright became the 42nd player in school history to surpass 1,000 career points, passing the milestone in the team’s season opener. He was named the MAAC’s Player of the Week after scoring 31 points in the win over Cornell.

• He missed 15 games last season with a foot injury including most of conference play. Before the injury, he led the Saints in points (17.3), assists (4.6), steals (2.1) and three-point percentage (.548).

• QUOTE: “I actually thought it was a real honor for Marquis because the coaches kind of vote on what you did against (them) and they didn’t really see him (last season),” coach Jimmy Patsos said of Wright’s preseason third-team selection. “He played in two league games, really, and he was limping at the end. So I thought it was a credit to him to be picked.”

No. 13 — G Khalil Richard | 6-0, 188, fr.

• Richard didn’t play during his senior year of high school because of a broken foot. He said he practiced at the end of the year but never recovered in time to step on the court in a game.

• In two starts, he’s only scored two points in 39 minutes, shooting 1-of-9 from the field. But the point guard has made up for it with strong passing (five assists) and good ball control (one turnover).

• Received an All-Baltimore Catholic League honorable mention after averaging 12.9 points as a junior in high school.

• QUOTE: “I’m definitely surprised about the situation,” Richard said of competing for a starting role. “I wasn’t expecting that. I’ve just got to keep working hard and turn it up a few notches.”

No. 15 — G Nico Clareth | 6-5, 186, soph.

Siena's Nico Clareth (15) grabs an offensive rebound away from Wisconsin's Nigel Hayes (10) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Sunday, Nov. 15, 2015, in Madison, Wis.

• He was named the MAAC’s Sixth Man of the Year last season after breaking Siena’s freshman scoring record with 13.1 points per game. He was also chosen for the MAAC All-Rookie team.

• A fiery, emotional leader, Clareth is averaging 14 points and three assists in the first two games this year. He’s shooting 10-for-32 from the floor (.313), including 5-of-18 from downtown (.278).

• Erupted for 21 points in 24 minutes off of the bench against Wisconsin last season.

• He underwent knee surgery on June 1 after playing through patellar tendinitis.

• QUOTE: “There were times when I wouldn’t go to the bucket because of my knee or I wouldn’t dunk the ball because of my knee,” Clareth said. “This surgery is supposed to fix or just greatly decrease the symptoms I had, so I think this should change the game completely. Now I’m playing basketball. This is a new year for me. This is the beginning of my basketball career, I think.”

No. 31 — F Brett Bisping | 6-8, 234, r-sr.

• From the great city of Peoria, Ill., Bisping earned preseason first-team All-MAAC honors after ranking 19th in the country with 10.4 rebounds per game. He added 15.9 points per game, registering 13 double-doubles.

• One of the best post players in school history, Bisping is 31st in all-time scoring (1,138 points) and 11th in rebounding (715). He does most of his damage by simply out-hustling opponents.

• Through two games, Bisping is averaging 14 points and 10.5 rebounds with three blocks, four steals and four turnovers. He’s shooting 71.4 percent from the field (10-of-14) and 80 percent from behind the three-point line (4-of-5).

• His sister, Brooke, was a starter for the Bradley University women’s basketball team. His father, Todd, won a Class 2A Kansas state title with Linn in 1985.

• QUOTE: “My Dad always told me, ‘Rebounding is how bad you want it, the position you have, and then athleticism,'” Bisping said. “I think I want the ball more than other people. Sometimes I steal rebounds from my teammates just by accident because I want the ball.”

No. 0 — F Javion Ogunyemi | 6-10, 243, sr.

Siena's Javion Ogunyemi (0) shoots against Wisconsin's Bronson Koenig (24) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Sunday, Nov. 15, 2015, in Madison, Wis

• After earning MAAC Defensive Player of the Year honors last season, Ogunyemi opens as a preseason first-team all-conference selection.

• He led the MAAC with 71 blocks (2.09 per game) last season — third-most in single-season school history. He added 113 offensive rebounds.

• Ogunyemi is averaging 16 points and six rebounds in 25.5 minutes per game. He’s added five blocks, five assists and three turnovers.

• Pronunciation: JAY-vee-on Oh-gun-YEM-ee. He grew two inches in the offseason, according to the Siena roster. He went from being listed at 6-foot-8 during the past three years to 6-10.

• After his sophomore season, he briefly transferred to Boston University. After he was home sick, according to the Albany Times Union, he returned to Siena without playing a game at Boston.

• QUOTE: “He’s shooting the ball more,” Patsos said. “I think he’s trying to be more like (Golden State’s) Draymond Green. They watched the NBA finals. He’s still rebounding and still doing good. He’d better play inside.”

SIENA BENCH

No. 21 — G Ahsante Shivers | 6-4, 209, fr.

• In 27 minutes this season, Shivers has scored nine points with two steals, five rebounds and one assist.

• Pronunciation: Ah-SAHN-tay SHIV-ers. His older brother, Keith, plays for Coppin State.

• QUOTE: “He’s a junkyard dog,” Patsos said. “The MAAC’s not a pretty league. It’s a tough, grind-it-out league. I think that’s what Sante kind of gives us. He’s a tougher guard, doesn’t really have a position. I’ve seen a lot of guys like him be successful in this league.”

No. 32 — F Evan Fisher | 6-8, 246, soph.

• A stretch big man with an ability to shoot threes, Fisher has struggled to shoot the ball this season, going 1-for-6 from deep (.167) in two games.

• Fisher has scored six points in 37 minutes with five fouls.

• The left-hander averaged 1.6 points and 1.2 rebounds in 8.3 minutes per game last year off of the bench.

• QUOTE: “We want him to do the dirty work,” Patsos said. “We want him to rebound and set good screens like (former Detroit Pistons center) Bill Laimbeer and shoot open 3s.”

No. 14 — G Kadeem Smithen | 6-3, 167, r-soph.

• A transfer from Richmond, Smithen sat out all of last season. In his lone season there, in 2014-15, he averaged 3.6 minutes per game. He had 11 points, eight rebounds and five assists.

• In two games with Siena, he’s scored seven points with seven rebounds, two blocks and six fouls in 40 minutes.

No. 24 — F Lavon Long | 6-7, 222, sr.

• Expected to be a starter, Long was suspended for the first three games for an athletic department rule violation, which includes Friday’s matchup against KU.

• Long scored in double figures 17 times last season, averaging 10.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game.