UT Tyler Teams Make A Statement
Phil Hicks
In their first year of eligibility for postseason play, the UT Tyler Patriots have already made their presence felt in the American Southwest Conference.
Both the women's and men's basketball teams earned playoff berths and the women even have the special treat of hosting the ASC Tournament by virtue of capturing the East Division Championship.
The men finished second in the East and thus earned a berth in the ASC Tournament, which will be held in Belton.
Both tournaments are scheduled to get under way Thursday and continue through Sunday's championship game. The winner of the tourney gets an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III version of March Madness.
For UT Tyler head coach Terry Deike winning the East Division is a common occurrence, considering the Patriot women have a three-peat.
But what's new is participating in the playoffs.
The last four years, UT Tyler teams were provisional members of the NCAA and thus ineligible for the postseason. All teams which join the NCAA must wait a certain number of years before they are eligible for playoffs. And UT Tyler did not waste time the minute the Patriots were eligible.
Deike, always considered one of the top coaches in East Texas during her years at Whitehouse High School, showed her successful formula works on the next level.
The top four teams in the East and West divisions earn tournament berths. The winners of the division rotate each year in hosting roles. This year, the East women were hosts, thus the games are at UT Tyler's Louise Herrington Patriot Center. Mary Hardin-Baylor won the men's West division.
The Patriots (17-8) open the women's event with the nightcap on Friday, meeting No. 4 seed Mary Hardin-Baylor (14-11). Tip-off is 8 p.m.
Other first round games on Friday are: Louisiana College (East No. 4) vs. Howard Payne (West No. 1), 1 p.m.; Mississippi College (East No. 2) vs. Hardin-Simmons (West No. 3), 3 p.m.; and UT Dallas (East No. 3) vs. McMurry (West No. 2), 6 p.m.
The tourney continues on Friday with semifinal games at 3 p.m. (LC-HPU winner vs. MC-HSU winner) and 5 p.m. (UTD-MU winner vs. UTT-UMHB winner) and the championship is slated for 2 p.m. Sunday.
For the Patriots, who had their 10-game winning streak snapped Saturday at Mississippi College, four players average in double figures - 5-6 Lake Travis freshman guard Melissa Thomas (16.7), 5-10 Lake Dallas senior forward Kasey Buggs (15.6 ppg), 5-10 Lake Travis freshman forward Lindsay Eaton (12.2) and 6-0 Cy-Falls freshman forward Maci Trogus (10.4). Near double digits is 5-9 New Caney sophomore forward Becky Taylor (9.6). Buggs leads in rebounding at 7.6, while Taylor is at 7.5.
Head coach Chris Kielsmeier and defending ASC champion Howard Payne won the West Division crown and currently have a 25-0 record. The Lady Jackets, one of three unbeaten teams in the nation, became just the second basketball team in ASC history - women or men - to go through the regular season undefeated, joining the 26-0 Hardin-Simmons women from the 2002-03 season. HPU also became the first team to sweep through league play (21-0) since the ASC went to an expanded conference schedule in 2004-05.
Admission prices each day will be $6 (adults) and $3 (students and senior citizens).
As for the Patriots men, coach Kenny Bizot has turned the program around in his first year. UT Tyler had won eight in a row before dropping a close decision at Mississippi College Saturday. The Patriots are 14-11 overall.
UT Tyler opens the men's tournament with a 5:30 p.m. game Friday against West No. 3 Hardin-Simmons (14-11).
Other first round games on Friday are: Mississippi College (East No. 1) vs. Howard Payne (West No. 4), noon; UT Dallas College (East No. 3) vs. Concordia (West No. 2), 2 p.m.; and East Texas Baptist (East No. 4) vs. Mary Hardin-Baylor (West No. 1), 7:30 p.m.
The tourney continues on Friday with semifinal games at 2 p.m. (MC-HP winner vs. CU-UTD winner) and 4 p.m. (UTT-HS winner vs. UMHB-ETBU winner) and the championship is slated for 2 p.m. Sunday.
For the Patriots, three players average in double figures - 5-7 Cypress-Springs senior guard Brandon Weasby (14.0 ppg), 6-0 Longview junior guard Anthony Reese (12.0), and 6-3 Cypress-Springs senior forward Patrick Branche (11.0).
Branche is tops in rebounding at 6.8 per game, while Reese (5.0), 6-6 Etta, Miss., senior forward Mike Smith (4.4) and 6-4 Nederland junior forward Marlon Hill (4.1) are right behind.
Admission prices each day will be $7 (adults) and $3 (students and senior citizens). Tournament passes will be $15.
Whether in Tyler or Belton, fans can be entertained at either venue.
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