Thomas, Koenig playing on nation's best

By RICK SOLEM
ricks@mwfbroadcasting.com

They’re making an impact as freshmen on two of the best men’s basketball teams in the country.

Aquinas graduate Bronson Koenig and Onalaska alumni Matt Thomas are a combined 18-0 for their respective teams.

The way things are going, these two players may see each other once again … deep into the NCAA tournament. 

Thomas has started every game this season and leads No. 17 Iowa State (7-0) in minutes.

He is averaging 10.3 points, shooting 44 percent from the field. The 6-foot-3 shooting guard is also averaging 1.4 assists and is 15-for-40 from beyond the arc, having hit two or more 3-pointers in five games this season.

The Cyclones, who host Iowa at 8:30 p.m. tonight and can be seen right here, lead the nation in scoring (91.7), are second in assists (19.9), fifth in 3-pointers made (10.4), fourth in rebounds (46.3).  

Koenig is the second person off the bench for the Badgers (11-0), ranked fourth in the nation. Their next game is at noon Saturday, hosting Eastern Kentucky (7-3). It can also be seen on ESPN3. 

Wisconsin plays its starters a majority of the minutes and really just brings three off the bench, led by Thomas’ 15.4 minutes a game.

The 6-3 point guard is averaging 3.5 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 10 games. He’s 15-for-27 from the field and 5 of 13 from beyond the arc.

Koenig’s best game came in 27 minutes against Bowling Green (4-5). He scored 14 points, going 5-for-6 from the field and 2-for-3 from deep.

Thomas has scored in double figures in five games this season, including 14 points, twice. But his best game may have been against BYU (8-3) where he scored 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting, including two 3-pointers and added six rebounds in the 90-88 win on the road.