i'm teetering on the fence on this one. here's a nice writeup on the game though. note the blurb on colwell at the bottom.
SMS men look to regain edge
Bears hope to use regular-season finale to build momentum for MVC tourney.
Northern Iowa at SMS
? When: 7:05 p.m. today
? Where: Hammons Student Center
? Records: Northern Iowa 11-15, 7-10 Missouri Valley; SMS 15-11, 11-6
? Radio: KTXR 101.3 FM
? Tickets: At Hammons box office. Call 836-7678
Tonight?s regular-season basketball finale against Northern Iowa means nothing and it means everything to the Southwest Missouri State Bears.
SMS, regardless of the outcome, is locked into the fourth seed at next weekend?s Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.
But the Bears are desperate to rekindle the warm feel of success. They?ve lost two straight ? both at home ? and risk entering postseason in a complete nosedive.
?We need to get our momentum back and our swagger back before we go into the tournament,? senior guard Jason Gilbert said.
?While this game does not matter seed-wise, it?s going to matter a lot confidence-wise and for our mental state of mind.?
Gilbert and fellow seniors Terrance McGee and Travis Walk play at home for the final time in a game sure to test the Bears? pride.
Not only did Wichita State handle SMS 71-65 on Saturday, the Shockers took great joy in doing so. Several Bears were infuriated as Wichita players talked and laughed as the teams left the court.
Bears coach Barry Hinson said he was unhappy that his players got caught up into mind games during, and after, the game.
?We didn?t play smart and we lost our composure,? Hinson said.
A Sunday-morning practice had the goal of regaining mental focus.
?It doesn?t matter what we do defensively or offensively,? Hinson said. ?It?s between our ears now. Let?s see how we respond.?
Northern Iowa comes to Hammons Student Center as one of the Valley?s hottest teams. The Panthers have won four straight and have something tangible to play for ? a chance to avoid being part of Friday?s play-in round of the league tourney.
In a three-way tie for fifth with Evansville and Bradley at 7-10, Northern Iowa can assure itself of a top-six finish with a win.
?It?s just an old gut-check now, for both teams,? Hinson said.
SMS handled the Panthers easily on Jan. 25 in Cedar Falls, Iowa, winning 70-53 behind Merrill Andrews? career-high 28 points.
Coach Greg McDermott said his team has improved greatly in the last month, especially with the return to health of point guard Chris Foster from a broken hand.
Forwards Matt Schneiderman and David Gruber both average just over 13 points and seven rebounds to lead the way, with freshman guard Ben Jacobson scoring 11.5 per game.
McDermott said guard John Little, another freshman, has also been a key.
?Ben Jacobson and John Little are the reason we?re still standing,? McDermott said. ?A lot of times freshmen hit a wall the last 25 percent of a season, but those two seem to have gained steam.
?We play well on the road when we?ve gotten off to a good start,? McDermott added.
Pairings for the Valley Tournament will be announced late tonight.
The most likely opponent for the Bears, if it wins, is Evansville at 2:30 p.m. Saturday. Evansville would earn the fifth seed by beating last-place Indiana State tonight in Evansville.
Colwell to sit?
Forward Shelton Colwell had seven points and four rebounds on Saturday in his return from a broken foot. But because of severe foul trouble, Colwell played 25 minutes ? more than Hinson would have liked.
Swelling and soreness surrounded the area of the break on Sunday and Hinson said Colwell?s availability for tonight is uncertain.
