By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Tyler Nelson, one of the most experienced players for a young Washburn University men's basketball team, had to sit and watch as the Ichabods endured a tough early-season stretch.
The 6-foot-3 junior guard missed the first five games with a Jones fracture in his foot and played limited minutes in the Ichabods' next three games while working his way back into game shape.
Washburn junior guard Tyler Nelson (14) celebrates a big play for the Ichabods in a 76-51 win over Missouri Western along with teammate Connor Deffebaugh (10). [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Washburn junior Tyler Nelson scored 19 points with seven rebounds, six assists and six steals in the Ichabods' 76-51 MIAA romp past Missouri Western on Dec. 17. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
And now that the former Kansas City-Rockhurst, Mo. standout is finally close to full strength, Nelson is determined to do everything he can to help Brett Ballard's Ichabods reverse their fortunes after a 4-6 start to the 2022-2023 campaign.
"It's always frustrating going down with an injury and not being able to play out and compete with the guys,'' Nelson said. "That's always frustrating but the guys lift me up. We have good practices, good workouts so that just builds up my confidence so when I come back I'm just ready to hoop.
"We're all ready to hoop and it's always enjoyable to play the game I love.''
The last two games have provided evidence that Nelson is ready to be a leader that Washburn needs after the Ichabods suffered heavy graduation losses off of last year's team that advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season.
"I've just got to set an example for the young guys and be that leader,'' Nelson said. "It's my (fourth) year, and me and a couple of other guys like Con (Connor Deffebaugh), we've been here before. Coach always talks about setting a tone for the young guys, showing them how we're supposed to compete and how we're supposed to work hard, so I just try to come out every night and do that.''
Nelson had a breakout 15-point game while playing all 40 minutes in WU's 88-81 loss at Rogers State on Dec. 10 and then had one of the best overall games of his college career in the Ichabods' 76-51 home MIAA win over Misssouri Western on Dec. 17, contributing 19 points (four 3-pointers) with seven rebounds, six assists and six steals as Washburn picked up its first conference victory.
"I thought Tyler Nelson had a tremendous game,'' Ballard said after the Western win. "We need an alpha that sets the tone and I thought the last two games he's really tried to establish himself as the alpha on this team that he's going to lead us, he's going to make plays, and the rest of the guys can follow.''
Washburn will be looking for its second straight win in Saturday's 3:30 p.m. game at Central Oklahoma, which is off to an outstanding 11-1 start to the season (5-1 in the MIAA).
The Bronchos are coming off a 73-63 win on Wednesday over Southwestern Christian. The Bronchos' lone loss was to Missouri Southern, a 56-50 decision on Dec. 8.
Sophomore Andrew Orr leads the Ichabods with a 14.4 scoring average while averaging 18.3 ppg in four MIAA contests. He has reached double figures in eight of 10 games this season and is second on the team in rebounds with 6.2 boards per game.
Deffebaugh is averaging 11 points and 3.3 assists a game while Hayden product Levi Braun is averaging 8.5 points and has hit 22 of 52 3-pointers this season, including 5 of 6 treys against Missouri Western.
Freshman Brady Christiansen leads the Ichabods with 7.1 rebounds per game.
Jaden Wells leads four double-figure scorers for the nationally-ranked Bronchos (No. 9 NABC, No. 11 D2SIDA) with a 19.3 scoring average.
Callen Haydon averages 13.6 point, Camryn Givense 12.7 points and Curtis Haywoodd 11.8 points and 7.3 rebounds.
Washburn returns home to open 2023 on Jan. 5 against Central Missouri Oklahoma and on Jan. 7 against Lincoln.
