Midwestern State opens the 2011 Elite Eight with a national quarterfinal matchup with No. 2 Bellarmine Wednesday morning at MassMutual Center in Springfield, Mass.
The Mustangs are the lone returning program from last season's Elite Eight in a field loaded by lower seeds.
The MSU/Bellarmine contest leads off the games of the Elite Eight beginning at 11 a.m. (Central Time) and will be followed in the first session by a pair of No. 1 seeds in Minnesota State-Mankato and Alabama-Huntsville at 1:30 p.m.
The late session features a load of lower seeds with the top-ranked team in the last NABC Top 25. No. 1 West Liberty takes on 7th-seeded Anderson (S.C.) at 5 p.m. followed by matchup of two No. 7 seeds in BYU-Hawaii and Bloomfield at 7:30 p.m.
The winners of the early session games battle in the the first semifinal at 5 p.m. on Thursday followed by the victors of the two late session contests at 7:30 p.m.
The championship game is set for noon on Saturday.
All times are Central.
Where to Find the Game
100.9 BOB FM - The broadcast features the play-by-play voice of two-time Lone Star Conference Broadcaster of the Year Bill Powers.
On the Web - The game will be streamed through two outlets: Limited: BOB-FM Unlimited: Stretch Internet
Live Video - The game will streamed free of charge courtesy of NCAA.com Link
Live Stats - Live stats are available courtesy of NCAA.com Link
NCAA Divison II Championship Interactive Bracket - Link
Game Notes - Link
About the Mustangs
Midwestern State steadily built confidence in a late season run which included taking take down the top three seeds in descending order last week at the South Central Regional in Edmond, Okla. The Mustangs opened the tournament with a convincing 64-51 win over No. 19 Tarleton State before beating back No. 9 Missouri Southern 75-52 and outlasting No. 4 Central Oklahoma in the regional finals, 73-66.
Senior guard Chris Hagan was named Most Oustanding Player of the South Central Regional after averaging 18.7 points per game. The 5-9 Houston product leads the region in scoring at 21.3 points per game, but failed to garner any mention in either the NABC (Coaches) or Daktronics (Sports Information Directors) All-America teams.
Junior guard Michael Loyd, who averages 12.7 points a game, also gained all-tournament honors after pouring in 25 points in the Mustangs' 75-52 win over No. 4 Missouri Southern.
Midwestern State was held without a field goal over the final 8 minutes of its South Central final win over Central Oklahoma, but connected on 18-of-24 (75 percent) during the stretch to better its season team average of 62.8 percent.
Bellarmine represents the Mustangs' 11th nationally ranked opponent this season.
About the Knights
Bellarmine (30-2) ranks amongst the nation's Top 10 in field goal percentage and 3-point field goal and have won 22 of their last 23 coming into their first ever Elite Eight.
The Knights are led by Daktronics third-team All-American Jeremy Kendle, who averages 16.8 points per game agamst while connecting on 47.1 percent from the field including 41 3-pointers.
Kendle is just one of five Knights averaging better than 10 points a game including sophomore guard Chris Dowe (13.3 points), senior guard Justin Benedetti (13.0 points, 5.2 rebounds), junior guard Braydon Hobbs (12.9 points, 6.7 assists) and junior forward Luke Sprague (10.8 points, 4.2 rebounds).
Bellarmine averages 84.1 points per game while shooting 52.3 percent from the field, while allowing 69.9 points per contest.
About the Series
MidwMidwestern State and Bellarmine (Ky.) meet for the second time on the hardwood Wednesday morning in the opening round of the Elite Eight at MassMutual Center in Springfield, Mass.
MSU owns a 1-0 lead in the series winning the only meeting of the series by a 86-74 margin on Dec. 21, 1998 at the Hoop 'n Surf Classic in Hilo, Hawaii on Dec. 21, 1998.
The then-Indians improved to 12-1 on the season as Charlie Bennett and Terrence Thomas scored 13 and 12 points, respectively.
MSU went on to advance to and host the South Central Regionals in its first NCAA Division II postseason appearance later that season.
The Mustangs have compiled a 9-5 record in now their sixth NCAA II Tournament appearance and are 32-21 all time in NAIA and NCAA II postseason showings.
Bellarmine player honored - Times Record News
All-American teams miss out when voters exclude Hagan - Nick Gholson, Times Record News
A few weeks back, I was asked if I thought Chris Hagan was Midwestern State's best basketball player of all time.
My answer: No way.
Nothing against Hagan — he knows I love him. It is just that this program has had way too many good players over the past 65 years for me to single out one guy as the best ever.
But if the question had been "Do you think Chris Hagan is one of best players in the country this year?," my answer would have been much different.
Darn right, he is.
MSU seeks tough defense, few fouls - Nick Gholson, Times Record News
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Play tight, aggressive defense — but don't foul.
That oxymoron of a game plan is what Midwestern State will try to accomplish when the Mustangs take on Bellarmine University in the first game of the NCAA Division II Elite Eight at 11 a.m. today here at MassMutual Center.
"That will be the tricky element to the game," MSU coach Grant McCasland said. "We have to be aggressive defensively. They have a lot of size and shoot the ball really well. We have to come out and play with a lot of energy and not let them get comfortable shooting open shots.
"But," he added, "we can't foul, because they don't miss."
Webb Named All-America - NSU Sports
Jasmine Webb's influence on Northeastern State's women's basketball program has been phenomenal. It is only fitting the Owasso senior capped her four-year career on Tuesday by being named to the 2011 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II State Farm Coaches’ All-America team.
Webb becomes Northeastern State's first-ever women's basketball NCAA All-American. Over four seasons for the RiverHawks, Webb entrenched herself as the 4th all-time leading scorer with 1,265 points. She started 89 of her 115 games and helped NSU earn back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances in 2010 & 2011. She also collected 710 rebounds during her career.
Here is the official release from the Women's Basketball Coaches Association:
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Baseball Topples Top-Ranked Emporia, 18-9 - SWO Baseball
EMPORIA, Kan. – Southwestern Oklahoma State University sent a shock wave through the baseball world Tuesday night with a stunning 18-9 romp over top-ranked and previously unbeaten Emporia State. The Bulldogs humbled the Hornets (15-1) in every facet of the game, rolling to their 19th victory in their last 21 games.
SWOSU now 20-7 overall will have a chance to do it all over again when they meet the same Emporia State team in a single game Wednesday at noon.
Bulldog coach Scott Selby listed a number of reasons why he thought his team put together such a convincing win but twice the enthusiasm his players showed seemed to carry them throughout the game.
“This was a total team effort. We came out and hit the ball really well throughout the lineup,” Selby said. “It’s an awesome feeling, but we can’t get too far ahead of ourselves. We do this all over again tomorrow, and I’m sure Emporia is going to approach us differently.”
St. Edward's Blast Wildcats - ACU Baseball
Rams’ Rally Falls Short in Doubleheader Loss to No. 22 Southern Arkansas - ASU Baseball
Baseball: Aggies Sweep Vikings in Day 2 Doubleheader for Series Victory - CU Baseball
UCO Rolls Over Wonder Boys - UCO Baseball
SE Splits Two-Site Twinbill - SOSU Baseball
#18 Buffs Fall to Wayland Baptist, 6-2 - WTAM Baseball
Baseball Loses at #11 St. Mary's - TAMK Baseball
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Lale Lifts Zias to Doubleheader Sweep at New Mexico Highlands - ENMU Softball
Softball splits with Henderson State Tuesday - TSU Softball
DOUBLE DIP DEFEAT IN LAREDO - UIW Softball
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Rambelles Finish Ninth at Midwestern State Invitational - ASU Golf
Cameron Golfers Complete Final Day of Play at Midwestern Invitational - CU Men's Golf
Cameron Golfers Complete Final Day of Play at Midwestern Invitational - CU Women's Golf
A Dominating Win - UCO Men's Golf
Bronchos Come In Third At MSU - UCO Women's Golf
Mustangs take fourth at MSU Invitational - MSU Men's Golf
Whittley makes history, claims top individual medalist honors at MSU Invitational - MSU Women's Golf
Third at MSU Invitational - NSU Men's Golf
Miron, Kirkpatrick Pace NSU to Championship - NSU Women's Golf
SE Finishes in 12th at MSU Invite - SOSU Men's Golf
RUSSO HOLDS STRONG, FINISHES THIRD AT MIDWESTERN STATE INVITATIONAL - TAMC Men's Golf
MCMAHAN NOTCHES TOP-20 FINISH AS LADY LIONS CLOSE OUT MIDWESTERN STATE INVITATIONAL - TAMC Women's Golf
Buffs Finish Tied for Eighth at Midwestern Invitational - WTAM Golf
Women's Golf at Midwestern State Invitational - TAMK Golf
UIW WOMEN IN THE THICK OF IT AT MSU - UIW Women's Golf
TAYLOR LEADS MEN'S GOLF AT MSU - UIW Men's Golf
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Tennis Aggies Get Pair of Wins over Washburn as Helvey Nears 600 - CU Tennis
Bronchos Topple ECU - UCO Tennis
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Former Javelina Juan Castillo finds himself back where he started - Corpus Christi Caller Times
Most football fans were skeptical when the Philadelphia Eagles promoted offensive line coach Juan Castillo to defensive coordinator.
But for Castillo, the move to the defensive side of the ball is a return to his football beginnings.
"When I was at Texas A&M-Kingsville, I played defense and I coached defense," Castillo said. "Coach Ron Harms took a chance on me coaching the offensive line. So for me, it's really about going back to where I started. It's like I've been training to be a defensive coordinator for a long time by studying what they're trying to do."
The Port Isabel native played linebacker and defensive end for the Javelinas from 1978 to 1980 and was part of their last NAIA national championship team in 1979.
"Coach (Andy) Reid has always known I'm a defensive guy," Castillo said. "All those years of watching tape and talking football and learning things from coach (Jim) Johnson helped me in getting the job."
After his playing career in Kingsville, Castillo coached the Javelinas offensive line from 1982 to 1985 and from 1990 to 1994. Castillo was back in Kingsville on Tuesday as a guest speaker as part of A&M-Kingsville's lectureship series.
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