Bears look to become first men?s basketball team to win a postseason tournament
Jeff Linder sounded like a circus barker.
Come one, come all.
His point was well taken Wednesday night.
Linder's University of Northern Colorado men's basketball team can make history this afternoon when it plays host to the University of Illinois-Chicago for the Division I CollegeInsider postseason tournament title.
The Bears and Flames will tip off at Bank of Colorado Arena.
A UNC victory would mark the first time a men's basketball team has ever won a Division I postseason tournament and the first time a Big Sky Conference team has done so.
Much like he has for the two seasons he's been the Bears' head coach, Linder praised everybody to the concession workers to his players on the end of the bench ? emphasizing the guard duo of senior Andre Spight and junior Jordan Davis.
"We have to be ready with energy and effort," Linder said, moments after the Bears cruised to a 99-80 victory over Sam Houston State University in a semifinal on Wednesday night at home.
"We're looking forward to the challenge," Linder added.
The challenge started in early March when the Bears excited the BSC postseason tournament in the semifinals, losing in overtime to eventual champion University of Montana.
The plans were already being drawn up to play in the CIT should an NCAA berth slip from UNC's grasp.
Since March 9, the Bears have played three games stretched over 21 days, averaging seven days in-between due to the no bracket format of the CIT.
Yet, Linder's squad has maintained its intensity with what he called "short, crisp practices ? keep the horses fresh," and a chance to make school history.
The team's premonition has also played a role.
"It doesn't matter who we're playing ?. we'll do film study and all, but it's about us," said Spight, who is arguably the best guard in UNC history despite playing only one season for the Bears after transferring from Arizona State University.
"We hit a buzz saw tonight," Sam Houston State University coach Jason Hooten said after Wednesday's loss. "They're really good at home, and I would guess that's the largest crowd they've had in a long, long time."
For the record, Wednesday's crowd of 2,019 was the largest in recent history.
Hooten continued his praise for the Bears, especially Spight.
"Any time you have a special player like they do, you don't have enough bodies to run at him and guard him," he said. "It just wears people down having to guard him on every possession. We've played (big) schools, but I don't remember a time we've given a guy 40 (points).
"You can say to run people at him, but if you do, they have good shooters and you give up a wide open shot. Three-fourths of the shots he made, we had a guy right up on him and he made the shot anyway."
Linder's Bears are built to share.
If Spight draws defenders, Davis has been there to pick up the slack along with sophomore guard Jonah Radebaugh or senior reserve guard Anthony Johnson.
"Over the last month, we've really learned to play well with each other," said Linder, whose team shot 59 percent from the floor on Wednesday. "This team has only played with each other for one season. We've had to learn how to adjust to playing with Andre Spight and how to adjust to playing with Jordan Davis. Those guys have learned how to play off one another."
Like UNC, the Flames can also make school history with a victory ? first postseason tournament victory and 10 consecutive road victories.
They've also saved their best for the end of the season, limiting opponents to 37.3 percent shooting.
"We're not going to bring a lot of new tricks," Linder said. "They are who they are and we are who we are."
The Bears are more than pleased to play at home, where they are 7-2 this season in front of less-than-capacity crowds.
"Now, we gave them a reason to come," Linder said. "When they show up, we have to give them a show. We need the type of atmosphere to have a homecourt advantage."
Jeff Linder sounded like a circus barker.
Come one, come all.
His point was well taken Wednesday night.
Linder's University of Northern Colorado men's basketball team can make history this afternoon when it plays host to the University of Illinois-Chicago for the Division I CollegeInsider postseason tournament title.
The Bears and Flames will tip off at Bank of Colorado Arena.
A UNC victory would mark the first time a men's basketball team has ever won a Division I postseason tournament and the first time a Big Sky Conference team has done so.
Much like he has for the two seasons he's been the Bears' head coach, Linder praised everybody to the concession workers to his players on the end of the bench ? emphasizing the guard duo of senior Andre Spight and junior Jordan Davis.
"We have to be ready with energy and effort," Linder said, moments after the Bears cruised to a 99-80 victory over Sam Houston State University in a semifinal on Wednesday night at home.
"We're looking forward to the challenge," Linder added.
The challenge started in early March when the Bears excited the BSC postseason tournament in the semifinals, losing in overtime to eventual champion University of Montana.
The plans were already being drawn up to play in the CIT should an NCAA berth slip from UNC's grasp.
Since March 9, the Bears have played three games stretched over 21 days, averaging seven days in-between due to the no bracket format of the CIT.
Yet, Linder's squad has maintained its intensity with what he called "short, crisp practices ? keep the horses fresh," and a chance to make school history.
The team's premonition has also played a role.
"It doesn't matter who we're playing ?. we'll do film study and all, but it's about us," said Spight, who is arguably the best guard in UNC history despite playing only one season for the Bears after transferring from Arizona State University.
"We hit a buzz saw tonight," Sam Houston State University coach Jason Hooten said after Wednesday's loss. "They're really good at home, and I would guess that's the largest crowd they've had in a long, long time."
For the record, Wednesday's crowd of 2,019 was the largest in recent history.
Hooten continued his praise for the Bears, especially Spight.
"Any time you have a special player like they do, you don't have enough bodies to run at him and guard him," he said. "It just wears people down having to guard him on every possession. We've played (big) schools, but I don't remember a time we've given a guy 40 (points).
"You can say to run people at him, but if you do, they have good shooters and you give up a wide open shot. Three-fourths of the shots he made, we had a guy right up on him and he made the shot anyway."
Linder's Bears are built to share.
If Spight draws defenders, Davis has been there to pick up the slack along with sophomore guard Jonah Radebaugh or senior reserve guard Anthony Johnson.
"Over the last month, we've really learned to play well with each other," said Linder, whose team shot 59 percent from the floor on Wednesday. "This team has only played with each other for one season. We've had to learn how to adjust to playing with Andre Spight and how to adjust to playing with Jordan Davis. Those guys have learned how to play off one another."
Like UNC, the Flames can also make school history with a victory ? first postseason tournament victory and 10 consecutive road victories.
They've also saved their best for the end of the season, limiting opponents to 37.3 percent shooting.
"We're not going to bring a lot of new tricks," Linder said. "They are who they are and we are who we are."
The Bears are more than pleased to play at home, where they are 7-2 this season in front of less-than-capacity crowds.
"Now, we gave them a reason to come," Linder said. "When they show up, we have to give them a show. We need the type of atmosphere to have a homecourt advantage."
