2008 Woodie Awards
Mules Undefeated Season Has Been Dominant
Mike Jeffries/Sports Editor
Issue date: 2/1/07 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
More than three-fourths of the way through the Div.-II basketball season, it's hard not to get excited and look ahead to what could happen in postseason play if the Mules continue their dominating play.
The No. 2 Mules have been the most exciting story on campus by far this year, and with the MIAA and NCAA-II tournaments only a month away, dreaming of championships comes naturally.
The last Mules' basketball championship came when half of this year's players were not yet born.
The year was 1984, and Lynn Nance was coach of a 29-3 team that beat St. Augustine's College (North Carolina) 81-77.
But this year's Mules could possibly be a better team, and have put themselves in a position that they, too, can join the ranks of champions at the University of Central Missouri.
Much like the 1984 squad, this year's team has dominated the NCAA-II and the MIAA with high-percentage shooting and ruthless defense.
The Mules rank near or at the top of just about every important statistical category in the MIAA, including a league-high in scoring margin, field-goal percentage and rebound margin.
Large margins are something the team has enjoyed in almost every game, boasting a 21.6-point margin of victory, good for second best in the nation. The closest game the Mules have played this year was against No. 15 Rollins, a seven-point victory in Las Vegas.
Out of 18 games, the Mules have played this year, 10 of them have been 20-point or more victories, including a 37-point thumping of Westminster College in December.
The team's current string of 18-straight victories to begin a season has tied the best start in 101 years of Mules' basketball.
The Mules haven't played just anybody either. They have already beat some of the best Div.-II teams in the nation including an 11-point win over then No. 4 Seattle Pacific and No. 15 Rollins in Las Vegas and a 14-point home win against No. 15 Northwest Missouri State.
A large part of the Mules' success is thanks to head coach Kim Anderson, the former University of Missouri Tiger and member of the recently announced MU All-Century basketball team.
Perhaps as early as the end of this season, Anderson will become a hot commodity on the Div.-I head coaching candidate list.
In just five seasons as Central's coach, Anderson has compiled a 97-40 record, which is fifth-best all-time, just behind Nance.
Aside from all the handsome statistics, this Mules basketball team is fun. Newcomer Zach Wright has energized the team with high-powered scoring, while Darryl Sommerset has lifted the team with his 7.6 rebounds per game and his steadily improving scoring ability.
The team has been fun to watch so far this season, but I am thoroughly convinced the best is yet to come.
The No. 2 Mules have been the most exciting story on campus by far this year, and with the MIAA and NCAA-II tournaments only a month away, dreaming of championships comes naturally.
The last Mules' basketball championship came when half of this year's players were not yet born.
The year was 1984, and Lynn Nance was coach of a 29-3 team that beat St. Augustine's College (North Carolina) 81-77.
But this year's Mules could possibly be a better team, and have put themselves in a position that they, too, can join the ranks of champions at the University of Central Missouri.
Much like the 1984 squad, this year's team has dominated the NCAA-II and the MIAA with high-percentage shooting and ruthless defense.
The Mules rank near or at the top of just about every important statistical category in the MIAA, including a league-high in scoring margin, field-goal percentage and rebound margin.
Large margins are something the team has enjoyed in almost every game, boasting a 21.6-point margin of victory, good for second best in the nation. The closest game the Mules have played this year was against No. 15 Rollins, a seven-point victory in Las Vegas.
Out of 18 games, the Mules have played this year, 10 of them have been 20-point or more victories, including a 37-point thumping of Westminster College in December.
The team's current string of 18-straight victories to begin a season has tied the best start in 101 years of Mules' basketball.
The Mules haven't played just anybody either. They have already beat some of the best Div.-II teams in the nation including an 11-point win over then No. 4 Seattle Pacific and No. 15 Rollins in Las Vegas and a 14-point home win against No. 15 Northwest Missouri State.
A large part of the Mules' success is thanks to head coach Kim Anderson, the former University of Missouri Tiger and member of the recently announced MU All-Century basketball team.
Perhaps as early as the end of this season, Anderson will become a hot commodity on the Div.-I head coaching candidate list.
In just five seasons as Central's coach, Anderson has compiled a 97-40 record, which is fifth-best all-time, just behind Nance.
Aside from all the handsome statistics, this Mules basketball team is fun. Newcomer Zach Wright has energized the team with high-powered scoring, while Darryl Sommerset has lifted the team with his 7.6 rebounds per game and his steadily improving scoring ability.
The team has been fun to watch so far this season, but I am thoroughly convinced the best is yet to come.
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