2008 Woodie Awards
The Bubble Effect
With Only Three Conference Games Left before the MIAA Tournament, the Mules' NCAA Tournament Bid is Bubbling in an air of Uncertainty.
Nate Taylor: Muleskinner
Issue date: 2/21/08 Section: Sports
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He looks at the team's schedule, the MIAA standings and sees that his team is on the outside looking in when it comes to getting into the NCAA regional tournament.
With the top eight teams in the South Central region invited to the national tournament at the end of the conference postseason, the Mules are still not one of the 10 ten teams ranked in the latest regional poll Wednesday.
Wollbrinck realizes if he wants to play in mid-March, the team has a lot more work to do in order to make it to the big dance.
"We're coming down the stretch with three games left, and we have to win them all," Wollbrinck said. "There is definitely a sense of urgency to go out there and keep winning as many games as we can."
At 15-8, the Mules' basketball team is fourth in the conference after winning five of its last six games following a 71-52 win at Emporia State Saturday.
Although the team is playing some of its best basketball right now after a slow conference season start, coach Kim Anderson knows that being fourth in the standings doesn't make his team a sure lock for the tournament.
"There's no question we're a bubble team," Anderson said. "I think if you had to choose the teams in the MIAA, I would say Southwest Baptist and Northwest Missouri are in, Missouri Southern is almost in and us, with Fort Hays and Washburn, are on the bubble because so much can happen in the next few weeks."
The Mules have found extra motivation to move up in the conference standings after what happened to the team that finished fourth last year.
Following the conference postseason tournament, the MIAA was able to get four teams into the tournament, though Southwest Baptist, who finished the conference season fourth, was not invited to the tournament after Pittsburg State, who finished fifth, advanced to the MIAA tournament championship to jump over Baptist.
In order for the Mules to keep their postseason bubble from popping, the team understands every game from now on will be looked upon as a do-or-die situation.
"Every game is magnified now," Anderson said. "As opposed to the last three years, we were always able to look inside out, whereas now, we're outside looking in. There's still a possibility, but every game is going to be important."
With the uncertainty of being a bubble team, junior guard Nathan Frazier said he thinks chemistry will be a major key to the rest of the Mules' season.
"I think chemistry is the biggest part right now of keeping guys together," Frazier said. "We don't control our destiny right now as far as winning the conference regular season, but we have to come out and win games, and just let the chips fall where they may."
Even if the players are feeling the effect of being on the bubble, junior point guard De'Andre Byrd has confidence the team is ready to make a run at the tournament.
"It's almost tournament time, so I feel we're reaching our peak right now," Byrd said.
"I think it's a perfect time for us because we're learning our roles as a team, and guys are starting to step up to where we can play 10 guys anytime. I don't see many teams doing that."
Whether the rest of the team thinks the same way Byrd does or not, one thing is for sure.
The Mules do not want to spend March 9 looking at the television, watching the selection show, without their name being called to the big dance.
Regional Rankings
School Overall Regional
Talenton St. 17-3 14-3
SW Baptist 14-5 15-5
NW Missouri 14-6 13-6
Central Okla. 16-4 16-4
W. Texas A&M 18-4 16-3
SW Olka. St. 17-4 17-4
Mo. Southern 11-7 11-6
Fort Hays St. 9-8 9-8
St. Edward's 16-4 14-3
A&M Kingsville 16-4 14-3
Central Missouri 15-8 13-6
The top eight teams after March 9 are invited to the NCAA tournament.
Go to Digitalburg.com to see how the Mules' and Jennies' basketball team did Wednesday against Mo. Southern.
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