Our View: Mules, Jennies make UCM look good
Issue date: 3/11/10 Section: Voices
There can't be a better time for Central Missouri sports fans than right now. Both the Mules and Jennies will play in the Division II NCAA Tournament this weekend in Texas.
The Mules, who are 25-3, face Missouri Western State in a rematch. The Jennies, who are 19-11, have a similar story, as they will face Washburn for the fourth time on Friday.
Not only has the basketball season been special, but also both teams have a unique story that any sports fan could like. After all, we here at UCM are lucky since we're the only school in the MIAA to have both basketball teams in the national tournament.
The Jennies season has been more than just a little strange. The team started well, fell into a funk in January when the team was below .500. Since then, the Jennies have won 10 of their past 12 games to reach the tournament. The best part of the Jennies season was this past week in Kansas City, Mo., at the MIAA Tournament.
For a weekend where most fans looked forward to seeing the Mules, the Jennies were the surprise of the tournament as they advanced to the championship game.
Coach Dave Slifer has the Jennies playing its best basketball right now and if the Jennies beat Washburn - the only team in the conference they haven't beaten - the Jennies could play their way into the South Central Regional championship game.
As for the Mules, they're having one of their best seasons in school history. The Mules won their first 24 of 25 games and are the second seed in their bracket. Even though the Mules and coach Kim Anderson won't have the regional tournament like years past, the team has played some of its best basketball of the season on the road. If the Mules can bounce back from a few recent losses, the team could go to its third Elite Eight in Springfield, Mass., for the third time in four years.
Yep, the basketball season has had everything -- exciting wins, funny moments and great performances -- you could ask for.
And even if 8 hours is too long of a trip to see our teams play in the postseason this weekend, they have already given us a fantastic season.
The games can be listened to on FM radio at 98.5 and 1450 on the AM band.
The Mules, who are 25-3, face Missouri Western State in a rematch. The Jennies, who are 19-11, have a similar story, as they will face Washburn for the fourth time on Friday.
Not only has the basketball season been special, but also both teams have a unique story that any sports fan could like. After all, we here at UCM are lucky since we're the only school in the MIAA to have both basketball teams in the national tournament.
The Jennies season has been more than just a little strange. The team started well, fell into a funk in January when the team was below .500. Since then, the Jennies have won 10 of their past 12 games to reach the tournament. The best part of the Jennies season was this past week in Kansas City, Mo., at the MIAA Tournament.
For a weekend where most fans looked forward to seeing the Mules, the Jennies were the surprise of the tournament as they advanced to the championship game.
Coach Dave Slifer has the Jennies playing its best basketball right now and if the Jennies beat Washburn - the only team in the conference they haven't beaten - the Jennies could play their way into the South Central Regional championship game.
As for the Mules, they're having one of their best seasons in school history. The Mules won their first 24 of 25 games and are the second seed in their bracket. Even though the Mules and coach Kim Anderson won't have the regional tournament like years past, the team has played some of its best basketball of the season on the road. If the Mules can bounce back from a few recent losses, the team could go to its third Elite Eight in Springfield, Mass., for the third time in four years.
Yep, the basketball season has had everything -- exciting wins, funny moments and great performances -- you could ask for.
And even if 8 hours is too long of a trip to see our teams play in the postseason this weekend, they have already given us a fantastic season.
The games can be listened to on FM radio at 98.5 and 1450 on the AM band.
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