2008 Woodie Awards
Mules use defensive strength
Team prepares for Bearcats, Gorillas
Brad Seiner
Issue date: 1/26/06 Section: Sports
|
The Mules (14-4, 4-3 MIAA) traveled to Pittsburg, Kan., Wednesday to take on the Pittsburg State Gorillas, but the results were not available before deadline of this publication. The Gorillas will be in the Multi at 7:30 p.m. next Wednesday for a rematch.
"We've just got to go out there and play hard and believe in ourselves," said Mules' guard Wadale Williams. "We always hear about [Gorilla guard] Eddie Jackson. We know he's a great player, but we've got to stop the rest of the people on the court."
Central is in third place, two games behind the Bearcats and one behind Southwest Baptist, and Mules' head coach Kim Anderson said every game is just as important as another.
"When you're in the position we're in, having lost two games at home and three overall in the league, every game is a playoff game if you're going to have a chance at winning the conference title and/or playing in the national tournament."
Back on track
The Mules are coming off a decisive 79-52 victory against the Missouri Southern State Lions Jan. 18 in the Multi. The defensive pressure the Mules exhibited throughout the contest was key to the victory.
A 20-4 start got the Mules going, and they never looked back. The Lions never got closer than 11 points after that, as the Mules defense continued to keep Southern off balance. Anderson was pleased with the win, especially with the intensity the Mules showed on the defensive end.
"It was huge because we had struggled the two games previously," Anderson said. "I like the manner in which we did it. I thought we came out and were very aggressive defensively."
As the season has progressed, the Mules have had their share of defensive struggles.