Upon Further Review
Surprise Start
Mike Jeffries/Asst. Sports Editor
Issue date: 11/9/06 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
Last week, I was ready to write my weekly column on how much this year's Mules basketball team will miss All-Everything guard Mike Hicks, who is now playing in Europe.
To say the least, I've changed my mind.
In an exhibition game against the Oklahoma Sooners (yes, those Oklahoma Sooners) the Mules put up a sterling fight.
The Mules were expected to lose the game by 30 points or more. That's what happens to most Div.-II schools when they play Div.-I opponents in exhibition basketball.
It certainly happened to the Mules MIAA counterparts. The Emporia State Hornets tried their luck against No. 3 Kansas and were dealt a 90-55 loss in Allen Field House.
The Truman State Bulldogs were no different. They saw the Drake Bulldogs go on a 31-7 run and end the game 91-59.
Also following the 30-point-loss trend was the Washburn Ichabods, who were downed by Kansas 99-69 Tuesday.
Perhaps most laughable was the Fort Hays State Tigers loss to the Wichita State Shockers. The Shockers got off to an early lead and never looked back, whipping the Tigers 80-38.
Almost there were the Northwest Bearcats, who lost to Bradley 87-59 and the Missouri Southern Lions who lost to Indiana State 75-48.
These MIAA squads each were dealt exhibition losses by great margins.
But the Mules put an end to the large-margin-defeat trend. The Mules traveled on the road to take on a top-ranking Big-12 team and came very close to pulling an upset.
The Mules were up by four at halftime, when most of each team's starters saw a good amount of minutes.
UCM continued strong play through the second half and lost to Oklahoma by five in the last few minutes of play, final score 74-69.
Now I know it was only an exhibition game
and there is no trophy for moral victories, but this wasn't supposed to happen.
The final score was supposed to be strongly lopsided, just like the games of the other poor MIAA doormats.
I'm not ready to propose that UCM joins the Big-12, or even that the Mules are the best team in the MIAA. But what I am saying is that the fighting Mules have a fighting chance to do good things this year.
They showed an ability to score points without Hicks, last year's leading scorer.
Theo Jones picked the Mules up with his perimeter shooting, knocking down five three pointers in leading the Mules with 18 points.
Newcomer Zack Wright, a transfer from Div.-I Arkansas-Little Rock, chipped in 16 points in his UCM debut.
They also showed an ability to play good defense, giving up only 74 points to a high-powered Oklahoma offense capable of putting up many more.
I have to admit, my first impressions about Central's basketball team were a little premature. They showed on Sunday afternoon that they have the ability and talent to be a force in the MIAA.
To say the least, I've changed my mind.
In an exhibition game against the Oklahoma Sooners (yes, those Oklahoma Sooners) the Mules put up a sterling fight.
The Mules were expected to lose the game by 30 points or more. That's what happens to most Div.-II schools when they play Div.-I opponents in exhibition basketball.
It certainly happened to the Mules MIAA counterparts. The Emporia State Hornets tried their luck against No. 3 Kansas and were dealt a 90-55 loss in Allen Field House.
The Truman State Bulldogs were no different. They saw the Drake Bulldogs go on a 31-7 run and end the game 91-59.
Also following the 30-point-loss trend was the Washburn Ichabods, who were downed by Kansas 99-69 Tuesday.
Perhaps most laughable was the Fort Hays State Tigers loss to the Wichita State Shockers. The Shockers got off to an early lead and never looked back, whipping the Tigers 80-38.
Almost there were the Northwest Bearcats, who lost to Bradley 87-59 and the Missouri Southern Lions who lost to Indiana State 75-48.
These MIAA squads each were dealt exhibition losses by great margins.
But the Mules put an end to the large-margin-defeat trend. The Mules traveled on the road to take on a top-ranking Big-12 team and came very close to pulling an upset.
The Mules were up by four at halftime, when most of each team's starters saw a good amount of minutes.
UCM continued strong play through the second half and lost to Oklahoma by five in the last few minutes of play, final score 74-69.
Now I know it was only an exhibition game
and there is no trophy for moral victories, but this wasn't supposed to happen.
The final score was supposed to be strongly lopsided, just like the games of the other poor MIAA doormats.
I'm not ready to propose that UCM joins the Big-12, or even that the Mules are the best team in the MIAA. But what I am saying is that the fighting Mules have a fighting chance to do good things this year.
They showed an ability to score points without Hicks, last year's leading scorer.
Theo Jones picked the Mules up with his perimeter shooting, knocking down five three pointers in leading the Mules with 18 points.
Newcomer Zack Wright, a transfer from Div.-I Arkansas-Little Rock, chipped in 16 points in his UCM debut.
They also showed an ability to play good defense, giving up only 74 points to a high-powered Oklahoma offense capable of putting up many more.
I have to admit, my first impressions about Central's basketball team were a little premature. They showed on Sunday afternoon that they have the ability and talent to be a force in the MIAA.
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