Washburn didn’t need any more motivation heading into its rivalry matchup with No. 19 Emporia State on Saturday.
But that’s exactly what the Ichabods received earlier this week, as David Boyce’s Power Rankings in The Kansas City Star caused a stir and should add some spice to the always-intense matchup.
In his bi-weekly MIAA rankings on Wednesday, Boyce listed Washburn as ninth, with his comment saying, “(ESU coach David) Moe says Ichabods are new Mo.-Rolla.”
Missouri-Rolla was an annual bottom-feeder in the MIAA conference before joining the Great Lakes Valley Conference in 2005.
Moe said a comment he made was taken out of context but admitted that it would play a factor in Saturday’s game.
“I’m sure they’ll be fired up coming in here,” Moe said. “We’re going to have to play better ourselves to overcome that.”
ESU forward Caleb Tegtmeier learned about the comment after receiving a text message from teammate Wes Book in class.
The junior said he was actually looking forward to the challenge of taking on a motivated Washburn team.
“It makes things a little more interesting than just the regular go-round,” Tegtmeier said. “I know the two coaches have had some disputes in the past. It’ll give a little more flair to the game, especially on their side.”
ESU knows better than anyone the benefit of having some media motivation. After being picked ninth in the MIAA preseason coaches’ poll, the Hornets started the season 16-0, eager to prove each coach in the conference wrong.
“Any time somebody gives you something,” Book said, “it definitely adds fuel to the fire.”
Both Book and Tegtmeier know the significance of the rivalry first hand. The two grew up in Emporia and attended the ESU-Washburn matchups each year.
“I was here when Corky and the Ichabod got in a fight. I remember that,” Book said. “I just have memories from that, being around and knowing how much the rivalry means to the people in Emporia and how much they like to beat Washburn.”
“Any game that we play, they make a huge deal out of it,” Tegtmeier said. “It’s just a huge rivalry. It’s one of the biggest rivalries I will ever be a part of.”
After losing two consecutive games for the first time all season, ESU comes into the game needing a victory to get back in the thick of the MIAA conference and Regional races.
The Hornets lost to No. 5 Central Missouri, 88-79, on Saturday before dropping a 91-88 decision to 13-10 Pittsburg State at home on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, WU (8-15) enters tied for ninth in the conference, having lost four of its last five games. The last one was especially crushing, as the Ichabods fell 87-85 in double-overtime to No. 19 Northwest Missouri State in Maryville, Mo.
“With them being at the bottom of the league and us towards the top,” Book said, “it would make their season trying to beat us here.”
WU forward Frank Phifer comes in playing his best basketball of the year. The senior scored 32 points and grabbed 11 rebounds against Northwest, posting at least 20 points for the fourth straight contest.
The game will begin at 1:30 p.m., giving a brief cooling-off period between the nationally-televised women’s matchup and the men’s game.
“Hopefully the big crowd sticks around for the guys’ game,” Book said. “If they stick around for our game, I think they’re going to see a really good one.”