Jags host top 25 team for first time
Friday, December 16, 2005
By KIM SHUGART
Sports Reporter
South Alabama's basketball team has played 93 games in the Mitchell Center since the 10,000-seat facility opened during the 1999-2000 season and has never enjoyed the luxury of facing a nationally ranked opponent on its home floor.
The Jaguars will finally get that chance on Saturday when 25th-ranked Houston roll into town for the seventh annual Coors Classic.
South Alabama is riding a five-game winning streak and is off to it best start (6-1) in 22 years. The Jaguars and Cougars (4-1) will collide in the first game of the Classic at 5 p.m. The second game features Florida State (5-1) against Bowling Green (2-5) at approximately 7:30.
"This is where we would like to have the program," USA athletic director Joe Gottfried said in anticipation of one the school's biggest games since moving into the Mitchell Center.
"Coach (John) Pelphrey's team is off to a great start with three good road wins and we've got a top-25 team coming to the Mitchell Center. If you could have written the scenario of what you would like to see happen, this would be it. It should be a great basketball environment on Saturday."
Gottfried said the game against Houston is the most significant one for USA at the Mitchell Center since the Jags hosted the 2002 Sun Belt tournament. South Alabama made the finals but lost to Western Kentucky before 8,000 fans.
"People have used the excuse that they don't want to come to our games because we don't play good teams," Gottfried said. "There shouldn't be any excuses for this one.
"Houston comes in here with an up-tempo style like we play and Florida State plays the up-tempo style as well. If you like college basketball, it should be an exciting night."
The Cougars moved into The Associated Press Top 25 this week, making their first appearance in the poll since 1993. Houston enters the Coors Classic riding a three-game winning streak that started with an 84-83 victory at LSU. The Cougars then knocked off 15th-ranked Arizona 69-65 and pounded Sam Houston State a week ago.
According to Gottfried, close to 6,000 tickets have been sold for the Coors Classic. Tickets are available at the Mitchell Center (460-6047). Prices are $25 for lower-level seats, $15 for upper-level seats and $5 for upper-level end-zone seats. The ticket is good for both games.
