College – Page 748 – St. Joseph Post Archive

Griffons jump three spots to fourth in Super Region 4 rankings

Posted on November 7, 2011November 7, 2011

The Missouri Western football team jumped three spots from 7th to 4th in the latest Super Region 4 rankings after their upset victory of Northwest Missouri State last weekend by a score of 31-28.

Four other MIAA school are ranked in the poll with Washburn sitting in 2nd, Pittsburg State in 3rd, Northwest Missouri State in 6th and Central Missouri in 10th.

The top two teams in the region get a bye in the first week of the playoffs while four will host five and three will host six on Saturday, November 19.

The Griffons will play their final regular season contest on Saturday, November 12 when they travel to Hays, Kan. to take on the Fort Hays State Tigers. Game time is set for 2:00 pm from Lewis Field Stadium.

— MWSU Sports Information —

MWSU’s Zuerlein earns MIAA honor

Posted on November 7, 2011

For the second time this season senior place kicker Greg Zuerlein has been named MIAA Special Teams Player of the Week. The senior from Lincoln, Neb. propelled the Griffons to a 31-28 victory over the 3rd ranked Northwest Missouri State Bearcats connecting all three of his field goal attempts with two being over 50 yards. Zuerlein also earned this award on October 3 for his performance against Missouri Southern.

MIAA SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Greg Zuerlein, K, Missouri Western

Zuerlein nailed all three of his field goal attempts, which included two over 50 yards. The senior from Lincoln, Neb., also had five touchbacks in seven kickoff attempts and went 2-for-2 in PAT attempts. Zuerlein nailed a 37-yard field goal in the first quarter against the wind, and then hit a 53-yarder late in the first half, cutting the Griffon deficit to one at the break. With 11 seconds remaining in the third quarter and the score tied at 28, he nailed a 58-yard field goal, which proved to be the game-winner. Zuerlein’s 58-yard field goal is a new school record, which was 57 yards, which he set earlier this season against Missouri Southern. Zuerlein has made 16 consecutive field goals, which is an MIAA record and he has made 18 field goals, a new single-season record by a Griffon kicker. During his current 16 straight field goals, 13 of them have been from 30+ yards. Zuerlein is a perfect 4-for-4 from 30-39 yards, 3-for-3 between 40-49 yards, and 6-for-6 from 50+ yards. He scored 14 of the Griffons’ 31 points in the game.

The 25th ranked Griffons will play their final regular season contest of the season on Saturday, November 12 in Hays, Kan. against the Fort Hays State Tigers. Kickoff is set for 2:00 pm from Lewis Field Stadium.

— MWSU Sports Information —

KU’s Robinson named to Naismith Award watch list

Posted on November 7, 2011November 7, 2011

Kansas junior Thomas Robinson has been named to the 2011-12 Naismith Trophy preseason watch list the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced Monday evening.

Robinson has been listed on numerous preseason All-America teams entering the 2011-12 season. The Washington, D.C., native averaged 14.6 minutes in 33 games with two starts last season and was the Jayhawks’ most productive player off the bench, averaging 7.6 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. Robinson notched four double-doubles in 2010-11 and his 60.1 shooting percentage ranked second highest on the team.

Kansas’ Danny Manning, a current assistant on the Jayhawk staff, won the 1988 Naismith Men’s College Player of the Year Trophy.

The watch list was compiled by the Atlanta Tipoff Club’s Board of Selectors, which based its criteria on player performances from the previous year and expectations for the 2011-12 college basketball season. The Naismith Trophy presented by AT&T will be awarded at the 2012 NCAA Men’s Final Four in New Orleans.

In February, during CBS’ coverage of college basketball, the “AT&T at the Half” segment will feature a Naismith Trophy update highlighting the players in contention for the award.
In late February, the Atlanta Tipoff Club’s Board of Selectors will compile a mid-season team of the top 30 players in the nation. The Naismith Trophy voting academy will then vote to narrow the list to four finalists in March.

The Naismith Trophy is the most prestigious national award presented annually to college basketball’s player of the year. For more information, visit www.naismithawards.com<http://www.naismithawards.com>.

2011-12 Naismith Trophy Preseason Watch List
Tim Abromaitis, Notre Dame
Harrison Barnes, North Carolina
Will Barton, Memphis
Bradley Beal, Florida
William Buford, Ohio State
Aaron Craft, Ohio State
Anthony Davis, Kentucky
Marcus Denmon, Missouri
Andre Drummond, Connecticut
Festus Ezeli, Vanderbilt
Ashton Gibbs, Pittsburgh
Michael Glover, Iona
Drew Gordon, New Mexico
Draymond Green, Michigan State
JaMychal Green, Alabama
Tim Hardaway Jr., Michigan
Elias Harris, Gonzaga
John Henson, North Carolina
Tu Holloway, Xavier
Robbie Hummel, Purdue
Joe Jackson, Memphis
John Jenkins, Vanderbilt
Orlando Johnson, UC Santa Barbara
Darius Johnson-Odom, Marquette
Perry Jones III, Baylor
Terrence Jones, Kentucky
Kevin Jones, West Virginia
Kris Joseph, Syracuse
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Kentucky
Jeremy Lamb, Connecticut
Kendall Marshall, North Carolina
Ray McCallum, Detroit
Doug McDermott, Creighton
Khris Middleton, Texas A&M
Quincy Miller, Baylor
Reeves Nelson, UCLA
Andrew Nicholson, St. Bonaventure
Alex Oriakhi, Syracuse
Austin Rivers, Duke
Thomas Robinson, Kansas
Terrence Ross, Washinton
John Shurna, Northwestern
Peyton Siva, Louisville
Joshua Smith, UCLA
Jared Sullinger, Ohio State
Jordan Taylor, Wisconsin
Jeffery Taylor, Vanderbilt
Marques Teague, Kentucky
Patric Young, Florida
Tyler Zeller, North Carolina

— KU Sports Information —

KSU’s Lockett named Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Wekk

Posted on November 7, 2011November 7, 2011

Kansas State wide receiver/kickoff return specialist Tyler Lockett earned his second Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week honor in three weeks following his performance against No. 3 Oklahoma State, the conference office announced today.

Lockett earned the sixth weekly conference award by a Wildcat this season, while it was the second in the freshman’s career. He is also the first Wildcat true freshman to earn Big 12 Player of the Week accolades twice in a season since Josh Freeman in 2006.

The Tulsa, Okla., native continues to put up All-America numbers in the return game and collected the fifth-most all-purpose yards in K-State history against Oklahoma State (315 yards). He returned a fourth-quarter kickoff 80 yards to set up a game-tying score late in the game and totaled 193 yards in kick returns for the game. The freshman currently ranks second in the nation in kickoff return average. Lockett also rushed three times for 84 yards and caught three passes for 32 yards and a score.

No. 14 Kansas State (7-2, 4-2) hosts Texas A&M (5-3, 3-3) on Saturday in a game that will be televised by ABC at 2:30 p.m.

Fans can purchase tickets to both remaining home games as a combo ticket to both the Texas A&M game and the December 3 home finale against Iowa State is available for only $85. The first 500 fans to purchase a combo ticket will receive a free Jordy Nelson bobblehead.

— KSU Sports Information —

Western moves up to No. 17 in AFCA Top 25 poll

Posted on November 7, 2011November 7, 2011

After an exciting 31-28 victory over the 3rd ranked Bearcats of Northwest Missouri State the Missouri Western football team jumped eight spots to 17th in the latest AFCA Division II Coaches Poll. Western defeated the 3rd ranked Bearcats for the first time since 2003 and it marks the highest ranked team the Griffons have defeated since joining the NCAA in 1989.

Three other MIAA school were in the top 15 as Washburn sits 6th while Pittsburg State and Northwest Missouri sit at 9th and 11th after losses last week.

The Griffons have currently won six straight football games coming into this week’s match-up Fort Hays State Tigers. Western holds a 8-2 overall record and 6-2 in MIAA play while the Tigers are 4-6 overall and 3-5 in MIAA action. Game time is set for 2:00 pm from Lewis Field Stadium in Hays, Kan.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Kansas/Texas A&M gametime set for 11:00 AM

Posted on November 7, 2011November 7, 2011

Kansas’ football game at Texas A&M on Saturday, Nov. 19 will be televised by Fox Sports Net and feature an 11 a.m. kick off, it was announced Monday. This will mark KU’s eighth television appearance of the season and fourth on FSN.

The Jayhawks will be making their first trek to College Station, Texas since the 2007 season. Texas A&M leads the all-time series with KU, 8-2, including 4-1 at Kyle Field.

KU will host Baylor at 1 p.m. this Saturday as the team celebrates Senior Day at Memorial Stadium. The Jayhawks will recognize their 15-member senior class with a ceremony prior to the game.

— KU Sports Information —

K-State’s game at Texas will kick at 7:00 PM

Posted on November 7, 2011November 7, 2011

Kansas State athletics officials received word on Monday that the Wildcats’ football game at Texas on November 19 will be televised nationally on FX with a 7 p.m. kickoff.

The selection marks the 11th straight week that a Wildcat football game will be televised and will guarantee that all 12 games this season have been available to a national audience.

No. 14 Kansas State (7-2, 4-2) hosts Texas A&M (5-3, 3-3) on Saturday in a game that will be televised by ABC at 2:30 p.m.

— KSU Sports Information —

Mizzou Makes SEC Move Official

Posted on November 7, 2011November 7, 2011

The University of Missouri has pulled up stakes, renounced 100-years of tradition, and formally announced its move to the Southeastern Conference for all sports.

After watching Colorado, Nebraska, and Texas A&M abandon the Big-12, Mizzou followed suit. On Sunday, Missouri Chancellor Brady Deaton pledged the Tigers to the SEC.

In a statement, Governor Jay Nixon called the move another chapter in a long and pround tradition of athletic achievement.

“This move is the result of the University’s detailed and thorough process of identifying the best opportunity for long-term stability in the future,” Nixon said.

“As we move forward in the SEC, it’s important that we also maintain the time-honored rivalries that have developed over generations during our long and proud involvement with the Missouri Valley, the Big 6, the Big 7, the Big 8 and the Big 12. The Tigers will continue to uphold Mizzou’s outstanding traditions both on the field and in the classroom.”

Starting in July 2012 the Tigers will officially become the 14th member of the Southeast Conference in all sports. The presidents and chancellors of the SEC all agreed Sunday to accept Missouri as a member.

Missouri has been a member of the Big 12 since 1907. The Tigers will leave the Big 12 and join the SEC effective July 1st, 2012, according to a release from the SEC. It will start competition in all sports for the 2012-13 academic year.

Northwest men lose exhibition game at Iowa

Posted on November 6, 2011November 6, 2011

The Northwest Missouri State men’s basketball team fell 79-59 in its only exhibition action of the season to the University of Iowa Sunday afternoon at Hawkeye-Carver Arena.

With three players returning who saw major action last season for head coach Ben McCollum, Northwest was able to hang with the Iowa Hawkeyes in front of 10,854 fans. The Bearcats open the regular season on Friday at UMKC with tipoff scheduled for 1 p.m.

McCollum saw 10 different Bearcats score against the Hawkeyes as they hustled their way to just a nine point deficit at intermission. Northwest would pull within one of the Hawkeyes twice in the first half as the second came on a DeAngelo Hailey three-pointer just under the nine minute mark in the first half.

Iowa would answer just 30 seconds later with a three-pointer of their own from Bryce Cartwright pulling ahead 21-17. Foul trouble allowed the Hawkeyes to increase their lead, but Northwest would manage to keep the Iowa lead under 10 in the first half.

A hot shooting Hawkeye team would build their lead to as many as 14 points to start the second half, but a resilient Northwest squad fought back to pull within nine at the 10:41 mark in the game on a Justin Clark jumper. Clark led Northwest in scoring with 13 points and made one of three treys by the Bearcats.

The Hawkeyes were able to shoot 35 percent from beyond the three-point line while Northwest shot only 15 percent. The Bearcats also struggled at the free throw line shooting 57 percent on 12 of 21 as Iowa shot 80 percent going 25 of 31.

Clark added five rebounds and three assists to his team high 13 points to lead Northwest in all three categories.

Jake Reinders also finished in double figures with 10 points for Northwest in the loss.

All-Big 10 guard Matt Gatens led all players with a game high 17 points.

— NWMSU Sports Information —

No. 25 Missouri Western upsets No. 3 Northwest Missouri State

Posted on November 5, 2011November 6, 2011

Missouri Western snapped an eight game losing streak against rival Northwest Missouri State winning by a score of 31-28 in front of 8,811 fans at Spratt Stadium. Two fourth down stops by the Griffons defense in the fourth quarter helped them seal the upset. This marks the highest ranked team that the Griffons have beaten in school history with the previous high being the 5th ranked Washburn Ichabods back in 2005. Western improves to 8-2 overall 6-2 in MIAA action.

The Griffons moved the ball in the first quarter against the Bearcats against the wind rushing the ball 15 times for 73 yards with six first downs. Despite controlling the time of possession by over seven minutes they trailed 14-3 after one quarter of play. Western’s only points came off a 37 yard field goal by Greg Zuerlein with 40 second to play capping a 14 play 61 yard drive cutting the Bearcat lead to 7-3.

Northwest opened their next drive with a 60 yard pitch and catch from Trevor Adams to Tyler Shaw setting the Bearcats up with a four yard touchdown run from James Franklin as time expired in the quarter. Franklin rushed for two touchdowns in the quarter which included a three yard plunge with 7:18 to play in the first.

The second quarter belonged to the Griffons as they had the wind to their backs. They outscored the Bearcats 10-0 trailing by one 14-13 heading to the half. Travis Partridge had a one yard touchdown run with 7:18 to play while Zuerlein nailed a 53 yard field goal with 2:53 to play.

Western had 107 yards rushing with Michael Hill gaining 43 on 12 carries. Partridge had 41 yards on 12 carries and connected on 8-of-15 passes for 65 yards. David Fowler had three catches for 15 yards. Ben Jackson and Tom Madget had four tackles for Western in the first frame. Northwest had 169 yards of total offensive with Jordan Simmons rushing for 31 yards. Chad Kilgore had nine tackles in the half.

The third quarter went back and forth as the two teams combined to score 32 points in the quarter. The Bearcats opened the quarter going 80 yards on four players with Franklin scoring his third touchdown of the game from 37 yards out going up 21-13. Western responded nicely on their first possession with a 71 yard three play drive that ended with a one yard plunge from Hill cutting the Bearcat lead to 21-19. Jerry Partridge gambled going for two which paid off with son Travis finding Reggie Jordan in the back of the end zone tying the score at 21.

An interception by Jeremy Weston gave the Griffon great field possession and nine plays later Partridge found Adam Clausen two yards out giving the Griffons the 28-21 lead with 4:09 to play in the third. Northwest would tie the score at 28 after a Simmons three yard run with 2:36 to play. Before the quarter was over the Griffons drove into Bearcat territory and with 11 seconds left and the wind went for a 58 yard field goal. Zuerlein blasted it through breaking his school record of 57 yards which he set earlier in the year against Missouri Southern. With the field goal he also broke a Missouri Western single season record with 18 in one season. The field goal also proved to be the game winner.

In the fourth the Griffon defense rose to the occasion forcing a turnover and stopping the Bearcats twice on fourth down. The first fourth down attempt by the Bearcats was from the Griffon one. Western defensive end David Bass broke through stopping Simmons for a two yard loss. The tackle for a loss by Bass tied the single season record with 18.5. He tied Eric McDowell who set it in 2003.

The final Bearcat possession would also end on a fourth down play when Griffon cornerback Jackson tackled Shaw one yard shy of a first down dropping the Bearcats to 8-2 overall and 6-2 in MIAA play.

Western racked up 348 yards of total offense with 237 coming on the ground. Western improves to 7-0 this season when rushing for over 200 yards. Partridge rushed for over 100 yards for the first time in his career going for 106 on 18 rushes. Michael hill had 81 yards on 30 carries and now has 1,058 yards on the season. Jackson led the charge defensively with a career best 12 tackles.

Northwest finished with 420 total yards with 263 through the air and 157 on the ground. Simmons had 81 yards while Franklin finished with 73. Adams completed 17-26 passes while Shaw caught four balls for 89 yards. Kilgore and DJ Gnader finished with 13 tackles apiece.

Western plays their final regular season game on Saturday, November 12 in Hays, Kan. against the Fort Hays State Tigers. Game time is set for 2:00 pm from Lewis Field Stadium.

— MWSU Sports Information —