START THE MADNESS: For the first time in 33 years, Seattle University is eligible for the NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament. The Redhawks will need to win four games in five days in order to earn the coveted automatic bid from the Western Athletic Conference. The journey begins Tuesday evening against the Texas State Bobcats, a team that the Redhawks lost to twice by a total of five points. The winner advances to Thursday's quarterfinals against second-seed Denver, the WAC co-champion after defeating Louisiana Tech last Saturday.
WHERE TO FIND THE GAMES: 770 AM KTTH The Truth will broadcast all Seattle U men's basketball tournament games live, with Dave Grosby and Gary Hill Jr. courtside starting with the pregame show at 5:45 p.m. Tuesday. The WAC will be streaming all tournament games up to the Saturday finals on www.WACSports.com, the same site where live stats will be housed.
LAST WEEK: Seattle U played two more close games during the last week of the regular season, but could not come out on top in either contest. Last Wednesday, the Redhawks headed south to the ShoWare Center in Kent for the second annual ShoWare College Showcase, facing future WAC member CSU Bakersfield. The Roadrunners were ahead by eight points with eight minutes remaining in regulation, but six straight Redhawk points pulled Seattle U to within two at 49-47. The Roadrunners reestablished a seven-point advantage with three minutes to go, but a 9-2 Seattle U run created a 61-61 tie. Down by two, Seattle U used a layup by Prince Obasi with 11 seconds left to force overtime. Chad Rasmussen hit a three-pointer with 22 seconds left in the extra period to give the Redhawks a one-point lead, but Stephon Carter responded with a jumper with two seconds left to help the Roadrunners pull out a 75-74 victory. Saturday night in Moscow, Seattle U took a 13-point lead late in the first half, but the three-point shooting of Mike McChristian and Connor Hill, as well as the post play from WAC Player of the Year Kyle Barone, helped Idaho defeat the Redhawks, 76-72. Rasmussen led Seattle U with 16 points.
SCOUTING TEXAS STATE: The Bobcats enter the WAC Tournament with a 10-21 overall record, including a 5-13 record within the conference to finish seventh in the regular season standings. Texas State is coming off a split on the final weekend of the regular season, losing at Utah State (77-61) before defeating San Jose State on the road (90-67). The Bobcats are scoring 70.7 points per game and giving up 76.1 points per contest. As a team, Texas State is shooting 41.6 percent from the field, including 33.3 percent from behind the three-point line, and 69.3 percent from the free throw line. Joel Wright earned Second Team All-WAC and All-Newcomer Team honors after leading the Bobcats with 17.2 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. Wright has gotten to the free throw line 226 times this season (7.3 fta per game), making 171 of them for a free throw percentage of .757. Matt Staff is contributing 11.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.4 blocked shots per game for Texas State.
THIS YEAR'S MEETINGS: These teams met for the first time ever Jan. 26 at KeyArena, with Texas State pulling out an 86-83 victory. There were five ties and four lead changes in the first half before Seattle U went on a 12-3 run, capped by three-pointers from Jarell Flora and Prince Obasi, to take a nine-point lead. Obasi hit a layup with 26 seconds remaining in the first half to give Seattle U a 42-35 halftime advantage. A layup by Jack Crook with 8:55 remaining in the second half put the Redhawks ahead, 67-55, but Texas State responded with a 17-4 scoring run to take the lead. The Bobcats went 8-for-8 from the free throw line in the final two minutes to hold off the Redhawks. Clarence Trent scored a career-high 22 points, Deshaun Sunderhaus notched a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds, and Obasi finished with nine points, six rebounds, and 11 assists. Reid Koenen led the Bobcats with 24 points, and Joel Wright collected 19 points and nine rebounds. On Feb. 28 in San Marcos, Seattle U shot 61.5 percent from the field in the first half, including 6-of-10 from behind the three-point line, to take the early lead. Texas State once again rallied back, holding on for a 67-65 victory over the Redhawks. Chad Rasmussen hit six three-pointers to lead Seattle U with 18 points, Allen Tate scored a career-high 14 points, and Obasi notched a double-double with 11 points and 11 assists. Wright led the Bobcats with 17 points and seven rebounds, and Deonte' Jones added 16 points in the Bobcat victory. Seattle U committed 19 turnovers in the game, leading to 24 Bobcat points.
SEATTLE U IN WAC TOURNAMENT: Seattle University begins its journey towards the conference tournament title and the automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament with Tuesday's game against Texas State at 6 p.m. A victory will advance the Redhawks to Thursday's quarterfinal round against Denver at 2:30 p.m. If Seattle U wins that game, it would play in the 6 p.m. semifinal Friday, with the championship game set for Saturday at 8 p.m. on ESPNU.