Hornets look to get by Truman, advance to MIAA Tournament
By Jesse Newell
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
After losing six straight, the Emporia State men’s basketball team must hang its NCAA Tournament hopes on winning the MIAA Tournament.
Now, the trick for the Hornets is just to get to Kansas City.
“We’ve got to get one more win to get into that tournament,” ESU forward Caleb Tegtmeier said. “Then, anything can happen.”
ESU is two games up on ninth-place Truman with two games to go, meaning one Hornet win or one Bulldog loss would put ESU into the conference tourney.
The easiest path for the Hornets to K.C. would be to win their next game, as they travel to take on Truman in Kirksville, Mo.
The Bulldogs have lost seven of their last eight games and are 0-3 in their last three home contests.
“We’re just trying to get a win against anybody we can,” ESU guard Wes Book said. “I don’t care what the name on the front of the jersey is.
In ESU’s last loss, a 76-58 setback to Washburn, the Hornets tired in the second half after trailing just 38-35 at the break.
Four Hornets played more than 30 minutes, with Book and DeAndre Townsend combining for 75.
“Somehow,” Book said, “we’ve got to find a way to have some energy for the full 40 minutes.”
Though the Hornets haven’t won since Feb. 2 against Fort Hays State, they still aren’t lacking in confidence.
ESU has been known to be streaky this season. After losing six of seven games earlier this year, the Hornets came back to win six of their next eight before falling into their recent slump.
“There’s no question we can win games,” Tegtmeier said. “We can beat anybody.
“When we hit shots and play some defense, we’ll be able to beat somebody.”
ESU won the teams’ previous matchup, taking a 67-57 victory on Jan. 16 at White Auditorium.
Senior forward Nick Certa leads the Bulldogs, averaging 13.8 points per game, while 6-foot-3 junior guard Banks Estridge also contributes 12.4 points per contest.
Lady Hornets to take on Mueller, Bulldogs
Michelle Stueve sees two options for the Emporia State Lady Hornets after Saturday’s humbling 78-52 loss to Washburn.
“You can either move on, or you can sit and sulk about it,” Stueve said. “There’s still a lot of season left.”
ESU will need to recover quickly from the defeat if it hopes to beat a Truman team that has been impressive on its home court this season.
The Bulldogs are 11-2 at Pershing Arena, losing only to Washburn and Central Missouri.
Meanwhile, the Lady Hornets also will prepare to face one of the league’s top players in 5-foot-11 Georgia Mueller.
The senior forward is averaging nearly a double-double, posting 21.9 points and 9.6 rebounds per game.
ESU did a good job of containing her in the teams’ first meeting, a 98-61 Lady Hornet win on Jan. 16 in White Auditorium.
In that game, Mueller scored 21 points but went only 8-for-22 from the floor.
ESU has won 12 straight contests in the series and is 33-5 all-time against Truman.
The Bulldogs’ coach, John Sloop, is just 1-14 against the Lady Hornets.