College – Page 221 – St. Joseph Post Archive

Mizzou hires Cuonzo Martin as new men’s basketball coach

Posted on March 15, 2017March 15, 2017

COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Director of Athletics Jim Sterk announced today the appointment of Cuonzo Martin as Mizzou’s 19th head men’s basketball coach. Martin, who has spent the past three seasons as head coach at the University of California, has averaged 20.7 wins in nine seasons as a head coach with seven postseason appearances to his credit.

Martin, who was born in St. Louis and moved to East St. Louis, Ill., as a young child, will be introduced at a 4 p.m. campus celebration on Monday, March 20 at Mizzou Arena. Doors open to the general public at 3:30 p.m.

“We are thrilled that Cuonzo is returning to the Midwest and that his family will now call Columbia home,” Sterk said. “From the outset of our search, our goal was to find a coach who had demonstrated success, academically and on the court, while also sharing our values and who can help to reignite interest in Mizzou Men’s Basketball among our fan base. I believe we found all of that and more with Cuonzo and I look forward to watching him compete for championships and postseason appearances for many years to come.”

Martin has registered six, 20-win seasons as a head coach, including a 21-13 mark in his final season at Cal which earned the Golden Bears an NIT bid. He owns a nine-year head coaching record of 186-121 (.606), which includes a three-year mark of 62-39 (.614) in three seasons in Berkeley. After directing his first Cal team to an 18-15 mark in 2014-15, Martin’s Golden Bears went 23-11 in 2015-16 and tied for third in the Pac-12 en route to an NCAA Tournament appearance.

Before moving to the West Coast, Martin spent three successful seasons at Tennessee, where he guided the Volunteers to a 63-41 (.606) record and into the postseason each year (one NCAA, two NIT). After reaching the NIT in each of his first two seasons in Knoxville, his final UT squad registered a 24-13 record and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.

Martin is no stranger to the Show-Me State, having launched his head coaching career at Missouri State. After an 11-20 debut season at the Springfield school, Martin led the Bears to a 24-12 record and the CollegeInsider.com Championship in 2009-10. His third season saw Missouri State record a 26-9 record en route to the program’s first-ever regular-season Missouri Valley Conference championship and an NIT bid. Martin was named the Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year and was the 2011 recipient of the Ben Jobe National Coach of the Year Award, presented annually to the nation’s top minority head coach in Division I men’s basketball.

The 45-year-old Martin has served the game of basketball for more than two decades, beginning with a standout four-year playing career at Purdue University. He has played and coached alongside some of the game’s most highly-regarded mentors, including Hall of Fame Coach Gene Keady. Martin is a member of a distinguished group of successful college basketball coaches to serve under Keady, along with Matt Painter (Purdue), Bruce Weber (Illinois and Kansas State), Steve Lavin (UCLA and St. John’s) and Kevin Stallings (Vanderbilt and Pitt).

Martin also has experience as a coach with USA Basketball, serving on the USA Junior National Team staff at the 2011 FISU World University games in Shenzhen, China.

As a student-athlete, Martin was a 1995 First-Team All-Big Ten selection at Purdue when he averaged 18.4 ppg and sank 91 three-pointers. He graduated as one of the program’s all-time leaders in three-pointers (179) and among the Boilermakers’ career scoring leaders (1,666). Playing under Keady and alongside All-American Glenn Robinson, Martin led Purdue to a pair of Big Ten titles and to a 90-37 four-year record. The Boilermakers went to the postseason each season with Martin, reaching the Elite Eight of the 1994 NCAA Tournament.

Following his collegiate playing career, Martin was selected by the Atlanta Hawks with the 57th overall pick of the 1995 NBA Draft. He played professionally for four years with the NBA’s Hawks, Milwaukee Bucks and Vancouver Grizzlies. In 1997, Martin was the leading scorer for Felize Scandone in Italy.

Martin returned to his alma mater where he earned his bachelor’s degree in restaurant, hotel, institutional and tourism management from Purdue in 2000. He and his wife, Roberta, have two sons, Joshua and Chase, and a daughter, Addison.

— Mizzou Athletics —

Northwest Missouri State will play St. Thomas Aquinas in Elite Eight

Posted on March 15, 2017March 15, 2017

MARYVILLE, Mo. – The Northwest Missouri State University men’s basketball team has earned the No. 2 seed in the 2017 Elite Eight which begins next week at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. The Bearcats, 32-1, will play St. Thomas Aquinas, 28-5, on Wednesday, March 22 at 6 p.m.

Elite Eight Seeds
1 – Fairmont State
2 – Northwest Missouri State
3 – Lincoln Memorial
4 – Bellarmine
5 – Colorado School of Mines
6 – Chico State
7 – St. Thomas Aquinas
8 – Rollins

Wednesday, March 22
12:00 pm – Fairmont State vs. Rollins
2:30 pm – Bellarmine vs. Colorado School of Mines
6:00 pm – Northwest Missouri State vs. St. Thomas Aquinas
8:30 pm – Lincoln Memorial vs. Chico State

— Northwest Athletics —

MWSU’s Green named national player of the week; Griffons now ranked 18th

Posted on March 15, 2017March 15, 2017

ST. JOSEPH – More good news came in Wednesday for Missouri Western softball as Kailey Green was named the Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Player of the Week and the team moved up five spots in the NFCA Division II poll to No. 18.

Green hit four home runs and went 5-for-6 with seven RBIs and four runs scored in a doubleheader sweep of Lindenwood last Thursday. The senior hit two home runs in each game and raised her season batting average by 65 points against Lindenwood. Tuesday, she was named MIAA Hitter of the Week. Greeen’s four home runs last week moved her into sole possession of fourth place on the MWSU all-time list with 31. She needs nine more to break Keri Lorbert’s career record. Last season, Green hit 14 home runs.

The Griffons have now won 11 of their last 12 games and sit 18-4 overall this season with a 2-0 mark in MIAA play that has the team tied atop the MIAA standings. This weekend, Missouri Western hosts the 20-team Hy-Vee Classic. Missouri Western is scheduled to play six games March 17-19 in the event, all against Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference competition, before diving back into MIAA play for the remainder of the regular season next week.

— MWSU Athletics —

Missouri baseball extends win streak to 16 with fifth walk-off win

Posted on March 15, 2017March 15, 2017

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Baseball edged Chicago State, 7-6, in extra innings after a walk-off dropped fly ball off the bat of sophomore OF Connor Brumfield (Columbia, Mo.) in the 13th inning Wednesday night at Taylor Stadium. Mizzou moves to 16-1 on the year, the longest win streak by a Mizzou team since 1981 and ties the longest active win streak in the nation this season. At 16-1, Mizzou is also off to the best start in program history through 17 games.

Mizzou led much of the game before Chicago State tied the game in the top of the eighth inning. Mizzou left 18 men on base as it failed to get the clutch hit many times. It looked like that would haunt them as Chicago State hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the 11th. But Brumfield hit a two-out, two-run double to tie the game at 6-6 in the bottom of the 11th. Mizzou loaded the bases in the 13th and Brumfield lifted a fly ball to left field which was dropped, allowing the winning run to score. The play was reviewed, but the call was upheld to seal the win.

Lost in the long, 4:40 game was the start by junior RHP Bryce Montes De Oca (Lawrence, Kan.) who went 5.0 innings with just one unearned run and a career-high six strikeouts. He was part of a Mizzou pitching staff that allowed just three earned runs over the 13-inning affair.

Montes De Oca cruised through the first two innings, picking up a pair of strikeouts and a slick 1-3 pickoff for out No. 3 in the second inning. Mizzou then got on the board in the bottom half of the inning, picking up an RBI single from Matt Berler (Hoover, Ala.) and an RBI groundout from Chris Cornelius (St. Louis, Mo.), giving Mizzou a 2-0 lead. Chicago State’s CF Matt Paciello robbed Brumfield of a hit and an RBI to end the frame with a diving catch.

After the offense gave him a lead, Montes De Oca issued a pair of walks in the third, but got a huge 4-6-3 double play and his third strikeout of the game to escape the inning. Mizzou got another run on an RBI single from Trey Harris (Powder Springs, Ga.) in the bottom of the third.

Chicago State got an unearned run in the fourth after a passed ball and an error put two men on. Jacob Northrup doubled to plate a run, but Mizzou got out of the jam with just one run allowed and took a 3-1 lead into the bottom of the fourth inning.

CSU cut into the lead in the seventh on a two-out, RBI single off Mizzou reliever Ty Shoaff (Akron, Ohio). That cut the lead to 3-2.

Mizzou loaded the bases in the seventh inning with one out after a Kameron Misner (Poplar Bluff, Mo.) bunt single. Berler hit an RBI groundout to second to extend the lead to 4-2. The Cougars then took advantage of a pair of Mizzou errors in the eighth inning, getting a big two-out single to tie the game at 4-4.

Mizzou stranded three runners in the eighth, one in the ninth and two in the 10th inning, including the winning run on third base in the 10th. RHP Cole Bartlett (Williamsburg, Ind.) then got hit with a two-run homer by 3B Rick Salazar to take a two-run lead in the top of the 11th inning.

Misner drew a leadoff walk in the bottom of the 11th inning and Brian Sharp (Liberty, Mo.) singled to put two men on. Brumfield then hit a double to center field to bring both runners home as the ball scooted under the glove of the diving CSU center fielder. That tied the game at 6-6 after 11.

Sharp took over on the mound in the top of the 13th inning, pitching lights out and retiring three consecutive batters, two on strikes. Moving into the bottom of the frame, Berler led off the inning with a single blasted through the left side. Sharp helped his team out with a single of his own while Alex Samples (Bridgeport, Texas) loaded the bags with a free pass to first, giving Brumfield the opportunity at the walk-off hit.

— Mizzou Athletics —

Barstow graduate Jeriah Horne to transfer from Nebraska

Posted on March 15, 2017March 15, 2017

Lincoln – University of Nebraska Head Coach Tim Miles announced Wednesday that freshman Jeriah Horne has decided to transfer from the Husker program following the spring semester.

“Jeriah informed me earlier this week that he intends to transfer,” Miles said. “Though I’m disappointed and hoped he’d stay at Nebraska, I fully support him as he considers his future plans.”
Horne, a 6-foot-7 forward from Overland Park, Kan., played in 29 games as a freshman, averaging 4.3 points and 1.9 rebounds per game. Horne had a season-high 18 points in a win over Southern, one of five double-figure performances for Horne during the 2016-17 season.

“I want to take a moment and thank the University of Nebraska, Coach Miles, my teammates, my fellow students and all the fans of Husker basketball for welcoming me into their community. I am so thankful for the support I have received here at Nebraska,” Horne said.

“However, I have decided to transfer at the end of the year. This wasn’t an easy decision, but I feel it is best that I explore other educational and athletic opportunities that may be available to me. I will be forever grateful for the opportunity I was given and wish everybody at the University of Nebraska nothing but success.”

The Huskers return four starters and eight of the team’s top 10 scorers from the 2016-17 team, while welcoming a trio of newcomers, including Georgetown transfer Isaac Copeland and Miami transfer James Palmer Jr., and incoming freshman Nana Akenten.

— Nebraska Athletics —

Bearcats hold off SW Minnesota State to advance to NCAA Elite Eight

Posted on March 14, 2017

By David Boyce

MARYVILLE, Mo. – Northwest Missouri State’s men’s basketball team knows as well as any team in NCAA Division II just how hard it is to take that final step to the Elite Eight.

In three previous seasons, Northwest lost in the Central Region championship game. Southwest Minnesota State gave everything it had to make it four years in a row.

“It is one thing to get here one time and quite another to make it four times,” said Southwest Minnesota coach Brad Bigler said.

Because of gritty defense played by Bigler’s team, shots weren’t falling for Northwest. The Bearcats went 1-for-15 on three-pointers. Northwest needed to scratch and claw to eke out a 55-52 victory Tuesday evening at Bearcat Arena.

“This means a lot because after last year’s loss, a lot of us stayed most of the summer and worked hard,” said Northwest junior guard Justin Pitts, who finished with 25 points. “We worked hard all preseason. This feels good. We have been so close the last three years. It feels special to finally get to the Elite Eight.”

Northwest, 32-1, is making its first trip to the Elite Eight since 2004 and third in school history. Southwest Minnesota finished the season 28-6.

“You definitely want to compliment Northwest Missouri State,” Bigler said. “It was a heck of a game, back and forth. Both teams gave everything they had. Justin Pitts made a couple of plays in the end to give them that edge. You have to tip your hat to him.

“I am proud of our guys. They showed a lot of resiliency out there. I think that toughness in our team is because of these two guys here (seniors Joey Bartlett and Mitch Weg).”

Although Southwest Minnesota never led in the second half, the Mustangs kept a sold-out crowd of 2,315 on the edge of their seats.

“First off, congratulation to Southwest Minnesota and the year that they had,” Northwest coach Ben McCollum said. “I am good friends with coach Bigler. He is as classy a guy as there is. We talk quite often. He texted me before the game. He is a special person and they have a special group of guys.

“Tonight, for us was very special because we have been here for our fourth straight year. You feel like man lets close this thing out and get this thing done. We didn’t hit shots tonight, but we made enough plays and some big rebounds and key finishes. It was a special night. We have a special group. I am glad they were rewarded with a regional championship.”

Northwest appeared to be in control when it built a 39-31 lead midway through the second half. After a timeout, the Mustangs fought back. They closed to 41-37 on consecutive baskets by senior Mitch Weg.

From that point on, every possession became critical. One of the biggest came with just under 4 minutes remaining and Northwest leading 45-42. Twice the Bearcats missed a shot and twice senior D’Vante Mosby grabbed a rebound. On the third attempt, Mosby scored, making it 47-42 with 2:40 left.

“It is backbreaking for the opponent just because you work so hard to get a stop,” McCollum said. “If he (Mosby) doesn’t get the ball, it is like he is going to get shot. He is so hungry for the ball. D’Vante is one of the most unselfish players I have coached.”

Southwest Minnesota answered on three-pointer by sophomore Taylor Schafer, who heated up down the stretch. A 15-footer by Schafer closed the gap to one at 48-47.

“When he (Schafer) hit that first one, he had that look in his eyes,” Bigler said. “We wanted to make sure we gave him an opportunity to make some more plays. Thankfully, he stepped up and did that.”

Pitts always seemed to have an answer. He put the Bearcats back up three on a 10-foot floater. With 30 seconds left, Pitts gave Northwest a 52-48 lead with a basket.

Southwest Minnesota wasted little time scoring when sophomore point guard Ryan Bruggeman drove in for a layup for his 20th point of the game, making it 52-50.

“It was a very competitive game,” Bartlett said. “Playing in an environment like this is fun for both teams. We knew it was going to come down to the last possession. We liked our chances. We thought we matched up well with them.

“We knew we were going to have to battle on every possession, and they were able to make some plays down the stretch.”

The Mustangs fouled Pitts with 12.3 seconds left. Pitts swished both free throws and put the game away.

“When the game comes down to the end, he is allowed to be Justin,” McCollum said. “The thing with him is he is humble enough to know he is not able to be Justin without the other guys and the guys allow him to do that.”

Despite struggling on offense throughout the first half, Northwest went into halftime with a 24-19.

Each team made just nine field goals in the first half. Northwest really struggled from the outside, making only one of 11 three-point attempts.

Early on, it was obvious both teams were tight. Shots simply weren’t falling. Because of that, the game stayed close. There game had four ties in the first 6 minutes and five lead changes in the first 10 minutes.

Northwest took its third lead of the half at 15-13 on a basket by Pitts and maintained a slim advantage the rest of the half.

The only player on the court who had consistent success on offense was Bruggeman, who went five for nine from the field for 11 points. Pitts also scored 11, but he needed 13 shots to reach that point.

— Northwest Athletics —

Mizzou earns No. 6 seed in NCAA Women’s Tournament

Posted on March 13, 2017March 13, 2017

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Women’s Basketball is officially returning to the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament for the second consecutive season. The Tigers have now earned berths in the back-to-back NCAA Tournaments for the first time since 1985-86.

Mizzou clinched a No. 6 seed in the Stockton (Calif.) region, it was announced Monday. Mizzou will face No. 11-seed South Florida at 4 p.m. CT on Friday on ESPN2 at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center on the campus of Florida State University. The winner of the opening round game will take on the the winner of the game between Florida State and Western Illinois on Sunday in the second round.

The Tigers will make their 11th appearance in the NCAA Tournament, seeking a win in back-to-back tournaments for the first time in program history. It’s the 24th overall postseason tournament selection for Mizzou. The Tigers are 5-10 all-time in the Big Dance after downing BYU in the opening round of last season’s NCAA Tournament.

— Mizzou Athletics —

Northwest’s Pitts named D2CCA Central Region Player of the Year

Posted on March 13, 2017March 13, 2017

MARYVILLE, Mo. – Northwest Missouri State University junior Justin Pitts has been named the 2016-17 Conference Commissioner’s Association (D2CCA) Central Region Player of the Year. He was also named to the All-Central Region first team for the second straight year. Pitts is now eligible for D2CCA All-America honors which will be voted upon later this season.

The two time MIAA Player of the Year is now the all time leading scorer in program history with 1,825 points in 92 career games (19.8 ppg). This year, he is averaging a team-best 20.3 points and 5.2 assists per game. He has scored in double figures in 30-of-32 games this season and all 29 contests against Divsion II opponents.

2016-17 D2 Conference Commissioner’s Men’s Basketball All-Central Region
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Justin Pitts, Northwest Missouri State

FIRST TEAM
Gage Davis, St. Cloud State University
Aaron Lien, Minnesota State University Moorhead
* Justin Pitts, Northwest Missouri State University
Braxton Reeves, East Central University
Jordan Spencer, Augustana University

SECOND TEAM
Rob Davis, Fort Hays State University
Derylton Hill, University of Arkansas at Monticello
Tyler Rudolph, Minot State University
Brady Skeens, Washburn University
Anthony Virdure, Lincoln University

* Denotes 2015-16 All-Central Region First-Team selection

— Northwest Athletics —

KU’s Mason named USBWA All-American, finalist for Oscar Robertson Trophy

Posted on March 13, 2017March 13, 2017

ST. LOUIS – Kansas senior Frank Mason III has been named to the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) 2016-17 All-America First Team and a finalist for the prestigious Oscar Robertson Trophy as the USBWA’s Men’s National Player of the Year, the association announced Monday.

The USBWA and the legendary Oscar Robertson will announce the Oscar Robertson Trophy winner as the national player of the year at the NCAA Men’s Final Four in Glendale, Arizona, at a press conference on Friday, March 31. The trophy is named after “The Big O,” a three-time National Player of the Year and All-American at Cincinnati.

Mason is the 18th Jayhawk to earn USBWA All-America honors and is the first first-team guard from Kansas since 2010 (Sherron Collins).

Mason, the Big 12 Player of the Year and the USBWA District VI Player of the Year, led the Jawhawks to their 13th-straight conference title. Mason is the first Kansas player to lead the Big 12 in scoring (20.8 ppg) since the 2004-05 season, and is vying to become the first player in Kansas and Big 12 history to average at least 20.0 points per game and 5.0 assists per game in the same season. Mason averages 20.8 points and 5.1 assists per game.

The Petersburg, Virginia, native has already received National Player of the Year honors from four different publications, to date – Sporting News, USA TODAY, Bleacher Report and NBC Sports.

The USBWA All-America teams are voted on by members of the USBWA, which is comprised of more than 900 sportswriters and sports journalists who cover college basketball for newspapers, magazines and websites.

The USBWA was formed in 1956 at the urging of then-NCAA Executive Director Walter Byers. With some 900 members worldwide, it is one of the most influential organizations in college basketball. It has selected an All-America team since the 1956-57 season. For more information on the USBWA and its award programs, contact executive director Joe Mitch at 314-795-6821.

2016-17 USBWA ALL-AMERICA TEAM

FIRST TEAM
G Lonzo Ball, UCLA (6-6, 190, Fr., Chino Hills, Calif.)
G Nigel Williams-Goss, Gonzaga (6-3, 195, Jr., Happy Valley, Ore.)
G Josh Hart, Villanova (6-5.5, 215, Sr., Silver Spring, Md.)
G FRANK MASON III, Kansas (5-11, 190, Sr., Petersburg, Va.)
F Caleb Swanigan, Purdue (6-9, 250, So., Fort Wayne, Ind.)

SECOND TEAM
F Dillon Brooks, Oregon (6-7, 225, Jr., Mississauga, Ont.)
F/G Justin Jackson, North Carolina (6-8, 210, Jr., Tomball, Texas)
G Luke Kennard, Duke (6-6, 202, So., Franklin, Ohio)
G Malik Monk, Kentucky (6-3, 200, Fr., Lepanto, Ark.)
F Johnathan Motley, Baylor (6-10, 230, Jr., Houston, Texas)

— KU Athletics —

Missouri’s Glendinning named SEC Player of the Week

Posted on March 13, 2017March 13, 2017

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Baseball junior INF Robbie Glendinning (Scarborough, Australia) was named SEC Co-Player of Week, announced Monday (March 13) by the league office. This is the first weekly conference honor for Mizzou Baseball this season Glendinning’s first career SEC honor. The Australia native notched a pair of walk-off singles and hit a team-high .476 as Mizzou extended its national-best winning streak to 15 games.

Glendinning was a key reason why Mizzou was able to run its record to 15-1, matching the best start in program history, with a 5-0 mark last week. He hit a walk-off, 10th-inning single in a 7-6 win over a quality Western Carolina team Wednesday. He then tallied a ninth-inning, bases-loaded single to walk-off in Sunday’s win over Appalachian State, completing the sweep. In five games last week, Glendinning hit .476 with five runs, four RBI, two doubles, a triple and a homer while walking three times.

On the best offensive team in the SEC, Glendinning has emerged as the top offensive weapon for first-year head coach Steve Bieser. Glendinning ranks third in the SEC in batting (.429) and on-base percentage (.540) while checking in at fifth overall in slugging (.694).

Glendinning and the Tigers close a 10-game homestand with a pair of midweek games vs. Chicago State on Tuesday and Wednesday before opening SEC play at Alabama this weekend.

— Mizzou Athletics —