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Last Updated: Mar 31st, 2009 - 23:57:33 |
#7 SBU BEARCATS (26-4) vs #6 CENTRAL MISSOURI MULES (28-4)
NCAA D-II SOUTH CENTRAL REGIONAL FINAL
TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2009 • 7:00 PM
WARRENSBURG, MO • UCM MULTIPURPOSE BUILDING
RADIO: KBFL 99.9 FM (Josh Thompson, play-by-play)
INTERNET AUDIO: www.radiospringfield.com INTERNET VIDEO: none
LIVE STATS: www.ucmo.edu/athletic/live/mensbb/xlive.htm
SBU NOTES
This is one most people wanted and expected. Bearcats and Mules. An all-MIAA final for the right to move on to the Elite Eight in Springfield, Massachusetts. The MIAA regular season champion versus the MIAA postseason tournament champions. Number seven in the country versus number six. Both teams won on their home floor this season. Two schools separted by just 90 miles. This will be the 51st meeting between the two rivals, with UCM leading 29-21. SBU advanced to this contest by defeating Angelo State and Dallas Baptist while UCM took down Texas A&M-Kingsville and Midwestern State.
The Bearcats won the MIAA regular season title outright (for the third time in four years) and extended one of D-II’s longest home court winning streaks to 30 games to close out the regular season. SBU also set an MIAA record for most conference wins in a season with 17. SBU was the first MIAA school to win back-to-back regular season titles outright since Washburn (2003 &’ 04).
SBU was nationally ranked in multiple categories entering the tournament: scoring (89.0, 5th in D2), scoring margin (+13.9, 10th nationally), field goal percentage (49.7%, 9th in D2), blocks (5.6, 8th nationally), assists (19.0, 5th nationally), and threes made (10.9, tops in the nation in Division II). They also led the MIAA in these stats entering the NCAA Tournament.
The Bearcats welcomed back Daktronics South Central Region Player of the Year, NABC All-District First Team, MIAA MVP, MIAA Defensive Player of the Year, and First Team All-MIAA Matt Rogers for the regional. He leads the MIAA in scoring (18.6 PPG). Rogers also leads Division II in blocks (4.2). He was ranked in the MIAA top ten in rebounds (2nd - now at 8.8), field goal percentage (51.1%), and free throw percentage (75.5%).
Also a First Team Daktronics All-South Central Region as well as First Team All-MIAA was D’Ante Harris. Harris ranked eighth in MIAA scoring (now at 16.1). He was ranked in the MIAA top ten in free throw percentage (76.6%), in threes made (2.79) and in three-point percentage (40.7%). Guard Tomas Brock was also among league leaders in assists (3.7) and in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.5). Wendell Mardis was in the MIAA best in 3-point percentage at 45.9% and in treys made with 1.7. Honorable mention All-MIAA Nick Kovacevich, who’s playing with knee injuries, ranks in the MIAA top ten in assist/turnover ratio (1.9) and assists (3.5).
BEARCATS HEAD COACH JEFF GUIOT
NABC South Central Region and MIAA Coach of the Year Jeff Guiot is now at 107-42 (.718) in five years at SBU and his overall record is 325-135 (.706). His Division II record, which includes three years at Bemidji State (Minn.), is 161-75 (.682). In 15 seasons as a head coach, Guiot has never had a losing record and has recorded 10 years with 20 or more wins. His winning percentage, both overall and in MIAA games, is tops all-time among 12 coaches in SBU’s history.
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