Can't
get to the game? Don't worry, we've got ya covered.
Conor's Blog: 19 wins and the MIAA
3/14/2008
Small Conferences, 19 wins and the MIAA,
The team had another practice and I- as well as some of the coaches and team- watched the American vs. Colgate game on ESPN. American won the Patriot League conference tournament and earned its first first ever NCAA bid.
I love Championship Week in Div. I. The first four days of the NCAA tournament, in my view, the best four days on the sports calendar all year. But Championship Week, especially for the smaller conferences, is just awesome.
Every year, I try to catch a few of the smaller conference championship games- the team will have a No. 15 or No. 16 seed, but just getting to the NCAAs is like getting to the Final Four. Win a game? You are remembered forever. Who still remembers Valpo or Hampton? Great moments.
It’s a matter of your entire season boiling down to the conference tournament. Who can play well enough on both ends for 40 minutes, handle the ball and make shots? American, with the season in the balance, did.
Afternoon thoughts: American will try to become the second Patriot League team to capture a NCAA tournament game next week. The first team to win a game was Bucknell’s victory over Kansas several years ago.
The MIAA, always competitive from top to bottom, has had nine of 10 teams qualify for the NCAA tournament in the last four years. The only one who has not is Missouri Western, who has missed the last two MIAA tournaments after a strong run.
2008: Northwest, SBU, Fort Hays
2007: Central, Northwest, Emporia, Pittsburg State
2006: SBU, Northwest, Central, Truman
2005: Washburn, Northwest, Central
The top of the MIAA may not be as strong as some other conferences/teams, but the depth is hard to beat by any Div. II conference in the country.
Fort Hays is one of 14 teams that has fewer than 20 victories and made the NCAA field this year.
Fort Hays’ 19-10 season, a year that included a 3-1 non-conference record against Div. II teams and 10 conference wins, was considered better than many of the other teams’ records who had less than 20 victories.
Seven of those 14 teams with fewer than 20 wins are No. 8 seeds and all of those teams have either 17, 18 or 19 wins.
Two are No. 7 seeds and have 18 and 19 wins.
Three (including Fort Hays) are No. 6 seeds. They are Fort Hays (19-10), Catawba (19-11) in the South Atlantic and Harding (18-12) in the South regional.
Two are No. 5 seeds: Cheyney (19-9) in the East and Bryant (17-12) in the Northeast.
However, especially in recent years, it’s common for a MIAA team to not win the postseason conference tournament (and gain an auto bid) and not have more than 20 wins. Last three seasons:
2008: Fort Hays, 19-10, 10-8 MIAA, won one conference postseason game, earned No. 6 seed in regional
2007: Pittsburg State, 18-12 (entering NCAAs), 9-9 MIAA, won two conference postseason games, earned No. 5 seed
2006: Truman State, 20-8, 10-6 MIAA, lost in first round of conference postseason tournament, earned No. 6 seed
Leaders
Several Fort Hays players could move into the top 10 on the Fort Hays single-season leaderboards in the NCAA tournament. Junior guard Tyrone Evans has 78 3s, and No. 10 is 85 by Rodney Malloy in 1999-00. Evans’ single game high is 8 3s, set twice this season.
Terry Jeffries is averaging 4.1 assists, currently tied for 10th.
Hotel update
The Texan Inn is moving up on my list. The AC works very well and, while the entire hotel has just two irons, both work. Plus, the Internet connection and TV is very good.
| Scoreboard | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sport | Date | Opponent | Score |
| BB | 5/04 | Pittsburg State | W 17-5 |
| BB | 5/04 | Pittsburg State | L 4-3 |
| BB | 5/03 | Pittsburg State | L 15-7 |
| BB | 5/03 | Pittsburg State | L 5-4 |
| SB | 5/02 | Central Missouri | L 3-1 |
| SB | 5/02 | Missouri Western | W 3-2 |
| SB | 5/01 | Pittsburg State | W 6-0 |
| SB | 5/01 | Emporia State | L 11-0 |
| BB | 4/30 | Kansas Wesleyan | W 14-1 |
| BB | 4/30 | Kansas Wesleyan | W 12-2 |
