This week is the beginning of the holiday season for basketball fans. I like to call it my Christmas. I wish the Gazette would recognize it for that, but I haven’t been able to convince the higher ups.
My full-fledged attention is about to be with my Kansas Jayhawks.
But if I had my way, I would also be following both Emporia State programs around the country in the Division II NCAA tournament. The Lady Hornets had a good run, and if not for an Ida Edwards’ knee injury, they might still be playing.
The ESU men, however, never got an invite, although one probably was warranted. They finished the season ranked 15th in the RPI, according to the Web site www.talismanred.com/ratings/hoops/.
But even if the Hornets had made the tournament, they would not have made it far. Central Missouri and Southwest Baptist played in the South Central Regional final on Tuesday night, and Emporia State went 0-4 against those two teams this year.
A talent disparity was the main reason for the poor showing against the MIAA’s top two teams, and one position separated the Hornets from the Mules and Bearcats more than any other: Power forward.
Baptist had MIAA player of the year Matt Rogers, who scored a career-high 37 points against ESU at SBU. Central Missouri had Sanijay Watts, an All-conference player who averaged 14.5 points and 7.5 rebounds against Emporia State.
But it wasn’t just Rogers and Watts who dominated the interior against the Hornets. They struggled to guard every true four-man in the league. Even Truman State’s two power forwards combined to score 24 points against ESU at Truman.
Next year could be Emporia State’s year to make a run for the conference championship and a run in the NCAA tournament. ESU’s top six scorers return. Central Missouri and Southwest Baptist both lose several of their top perimeter players, but Watts and Rogers both return, and the Hornets will continue to be their whipping boy if ESU doesn’t find a big man.
If there’s a savior, this might be the week to find him. The national junior college tournament is in Hutchinson this week and one would think that would be the place to find a quick-fix to Emporia State’s big man needs.
The Hornets don’t need to find a scorer as talented as Watts or Rogers. They will have plenty of scorers next year. What they need is a big man stopper.
Dustin Andrews, listed as a generous 6-foot-3, was the starting four-man for the Hornets this past season. Andrews is a crafty defender and great spot-up shooter, but he is not the most intimidating presence.
That’s what the Hornets need: An enforcer, a player who is going to make life tough for Rogers or Watts. They would love to find a Rogers’ clone, a 6-foot-11 3-point shooting big man who can run the floor and lead the league in blocks. But Matt Rogers’ clones are either playing in the NBA or about to, and Baptist won the lottery when they signed Rogers.
A player in the Watts’ mold is a better target for Emporia State. Watts is only 6-foot-4, too small to play post for a D-1 school, but a perfect fit at a D-2.
Central Missouri won the Regional Championship on Tuesday, 98-63, and Watts was one of the main reasons. He scored 22 points and helped hold Rogers to 10 points.
The point production from the power forward position would be an added bonus, but, really, all Emporia State needs is the defense from the four spot to contend for a conference title and have a chance at knocking off Central and Baptist.
Emporia State already has the backcourt. In fact, the Hornets had one of the best backcourts in the conference. Lamar Wilbern, Robert Moores, Jeremiah Box, Tim Niles and Andrews were all impact players and will all be back for their senior seasons.
Local star Taylor Euler and Northern Illinois transfer Jarvis Nichols join the Hornets and will make the ESU backcourt the deepest and most talented in the MIAA.
Nichols was expected to be Emporia State’s best player this past season, but he tore his ACL last summer and spent the season rehabbing. Nichols has recovered, and he will be one of the best athletes in the conference. He has more explosion in his legs than any current ESU player, has a nice jump shot and has produced at the Division I level. He has the potential to be an All-conference player in his only season as a Hornet.
But Nichols’ presence will only be an added bonus; he is not the missing piece.
Without the missing piece, Emporia State still has a good chance to finish in the top three in the conference and might sneak into the NCAA tournament. But if the Hornets add a good defensive power forward, they could end up having their best season in David Moe’s tenure, which will make for an exciting and busy holiday season for me next March.
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cheese (anonymous) says...
Moe doesn't recruit big men and doesn't develop big men, it's just not his coaching style.
March 18, 2009 at 2:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )