KWC To Host NCAA Tournament

Eight-time NCAA Champion Kentucky Wesleyan (29-3) will host the Division II Men's Basketball Midwest Regional Championship, on Saturday, March 13 (quarterfinals), Sunday, March 14 (semifinals), and Tuesday, March 16 (championship), at the Owensboro Sportscenter (5,002) for a record 21st time. This marks their 36th record breaking appearance in the NCAA.

The No. 1 seed Panthers will play No. 8 seed and fellow Great Lakes Valley Conference member Saint Joseph's (17-11) on Saturday at 6 p.m. CT. KWC won the lone meeting with the Pumas, 102-92, on Jan. 2 at Owensboro.
   
The winners of the eight regions from around the nation will meet in the "Elite Eight" in Springfield, Mass., on March 24-27.
   
The Midwest Championship schedule (times are Central):
        Saturday, March 13
        Noon          No. 6 Quincy (21-8) vs. No. 3 Drury (23-6)
        2:30 p.m.    No. 7 Central State (22-5) vs. No. 2 Bellarmine (22-8)
        6:00 p.m.    No. 8 Saint Joseph's (17-11) vs. No. 1 Kentucky Wesleyan (29-4)
        8:30 p.m.    No. 5 Grand Valley State (21-8) vs. No. 4 Findlay (24-6)
        Sunday, March 14
        5:00 p.m.    Semifinals Quincy-Drury winner vs. Central State-Bellarmine winner
        7:30 p.m.    Semifinals Saint Joseph's-KWC winner vs. Grand Valley State-Findlay winner
        Tuesday, March 16
        7:00 p.m.    Championship
   
Tickets for the NCAA Midwest Region Men's Basketball Championship go on sale Monday, March 8 at 8 a.m. in the lobby of the Woodward Health and Recreation Center.
   
KWC season ticket holders will have until Wednesday, March 10 at noon to pick-up their tickets. All other tickets will be sold to the general public also on Monday at 8 a.m.
   
Season tickets not purchased will go on sale to the general public at noon on Wednesday.
   
Tickets will be sold from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Prices per game are $12 for chairbacks, $10 for bleacher seats and $5 for students per session. Tickets will also be sold at the Sportscenter on game day. 

KWC Ends Arch Rival USI's Perfect Season

Sold Out PAC Arena The pursuit for perfection for USI comes to an end.  Arch rival Kentucky Wesleyan put it to the Eagles all night long.  The Panthers win 86-68.  Willie Richardson was the MVP of this game.  Richardson did it all for KWC.  He finished with 18 points on 4-4 shooting from three point range. 

It marks the first Eagles loss in the Rodney Watson era.  USI falls to 23-1 overall.  The Eagles still lead the Panthers in the GLVC standings, but by just one game.  There are three contests left in the season.

Penetration really helped the Panthers.  KWC’s guards really broke down the Eagles defense setting up kickout passes for three, or a driving layup. 

The PAC Arena was sold out for the first time in two years.  However, Eagles fans had little to cheer.  USI never put together a sustained run all game long.  Jamar Smith tweaked his heel in the Eagles last game against Indianpolis.  The injury showed on the court.  At one time, Jamar was just a few feet from me during a dead ball.  He was grimacing in pain.  Smith was just 4-15 shooting, and 1-8 from beyond the arc.

The Panthers had an immediate answer to ever USI counterpunch.  KWC was 9-22 from three point range, and the Panthers hit their final 22 straight free throws to seal the victory.

Rodney Watson tied an amazing record.  23 straight wins to start your first season as head coach ties a mark set in the 1920s.  Watson has done a tremendous job in guiding this team among some difficult adversity.

What class shown by Todd Lee’s Panthers.  KWC wore USI red warm ups with the late Jeron Lewis’ #40 on them.  It was such a great way to tribute Lewis.

Congratulations to KWC for the outstanding road victory, and a standing ovation to the Eagles for one magical season.

Here are some extended highlights from my sportscast tonight:

Pumped Up for Round II of USI/KWC

Photo Courtesy: KWCI am looking forward to heading out to cover the Tri-State’s best rivalry.  USI hosts Kentucky Wesleyan.  The Eagles are a perfect 23-0.  The Panthers are 25-3, and have won seven in a row.

Anytime two local teams play each other I always try to take a completely neutral stance.  However, I cannot deny that I would like to see the Eagles go 27-0 to end the season.  It would be an amazing accomplishment for a team that has had to overcome a coaching staff change and the death of a teammate.

In my perfect world scenario, USI goes unbeaten, and Kentucky Wesleyan would go on to win the National Championship. 

Even with the snowfall, the PAC Arena will be jam-packed.  Eagles’ fans are going to wear all white.  USI fans only get two more chances to see this year’s amazing team:  tonight’s game and the finale against Quincy a week from tonight.

If you are on the fence on whether or not to go…do it!  If nothing else, to see how amazing Jamar Smith is. 

Here’s to a great game that goes down to the wire!