MARCH MADNESS: Seattle University leaves Wednesday morning for Las Vegas and the 2015 Western Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament, held at the Orleans Arena. The Redhawks secured their best seeding in their three-year history within the WAC and, as the third seed, will serve as the home team Thursday when they face sixth-seeded Chicago State.
WHERE TO CATCH THE GAME: Thursday’s game will be broadcast on 770 AM KTTH, with Dave Grosby and Gary Hill Jr. providing the play-by-play descriptions, starting with the pregame show shortly before tipoff. It will also be streamed on the WAC Digital Network (www.wacsports.com/watch), with Mychal Clanton and former NBA player Steven Hunter on the call, along with sideline reporter Evyn Murray.
SCOUTING CHICAGO STATE: The Cougars finished the regular season with an 8-23 overall record, including a 4-10 mark within the WAC to finish in a tie for seventh place in the league standings. Chicago State won the tiebreaker over Texas-Pan American to earn the sixth seed in the tournament based on the Cougars’ sweep of second-place Grand Canyon this season. The Cougars are scoring 58.4 points per game and giving up 66.6 points per contest. As a team, Chicago State is shooting 37.9 percent from the field, including 30.5 percent from behind the three-point line, and 66.9 percent from the free throw line. Clarke Rosenberg leads the team with 12.8 points, 2.1 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. Trayvon Palmer is the team’s top rebounder, averaging 5.0 rebounds per game.
SEATTLE U VS. CHICAGO STATE: Seattle U swept the season series from Chicago State thanks in part to its defense holding the Cougars scoreless for significant stretches of time. On Jan. 22 in Chicago, the Redhawks held Chicago State scoreless for the final six minutes of the game, collecting 17 points to turn a nine-point deficit into a 75-67 victory. Isiah Umipig shot 8-of-12 from the field, including 7-of-11 from behind the three-point line, and 7-of-8 from the free throw line as he led all players with 30 points. Jarell Flora earned 19 points and six rebounds, while Emerson Murray dished out six assists. Joshua Meier notched a double-double for the Cougars with 20 points and 10 rebounds. In the rematch at KeyArena Feb. 21, a 16-minute scoreless stretch by the Cougars allowed Seattle U to turn an 18-11 advantage into a 41-11 lead halfway through the second half as the Redhawks won, 57-31. William Powell finished with 11 points, eight rebounds, and three assists, Umipig also scored 11 points, and Murray contributed six assists and five rebounds. Clarke Rosenberg led Chicago State with eight points, while Sean Hill finished with seven points and seven rebounds. The all-time series is now tied at 2-2 after the Cougars swept the season series in 2013-14.