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November 28, 2009

Welcome back Kats

Following an impressive showing at Cancun Challenge, SHSU returns home Monday

By Cody Stark

Monday can’t get here quick enough.

Why? Well, that’s when the Sam Houston State men’s basketball team finally plays again at Johnson Coliseum.

It’s still early in the season, but in case you haven’t noticed, the Bearkats look like they are going to be pretty darn good this season.

Sam Houston State recently wrapped up a solid showing at the Cancun Challenge, with impressive wins over Oral Roberts and Rider at the Moon Palace in sunny Mexico.

If you are not a hardcore college basketball, you may not be familiar with those two teams. But the Golden Eagles and Broncs are well known to folks who follow the NCAA Tournament closely and both teams have a shot at making a return trip to the dance this year.

The Golden Eagles already have a win at Stanford this season, and the Broncs went to Starksville, Miss., and drubbed then 18th-ranked Mississippi State 88-74 on a night when the Bulldogs got their 2009 Southeastern Conference championship rings.

Those two wins over solid Mid-Major programs could be a strong indication of how Sam Houston State (3-2) will do in the Southland Conference.

But people are still talking more about one of the Bearkats’ two losses this season. That’s because Sam Houston State gave fifth-ranked Kentucky all it could handle in a 102-92 loss at Rupp Arena.

It was a memorable night. Bearkats senior guard Corey Allmond enjoyed one of the best performances in school history at one of the most historic arenas in college basketball.

Allmond couldn’t hardly miss from 3-point land, driving Wildcats head coach John Calipari nuts by hitting a Rupp Arena record 11 treys on the way to scoring a career-high 37 points.

The rest of the Kats got in on the action, knocking down seven 3s, which also set a Rupp record for most treys made by a team.

Even though they came up short, the Bearkats still gave fans a memory that will last a lifetime.

As well as Sam Houston has played so far this season, with the exception of an 80-65 loss at Cleveland State, things should only get better.

The Bearkats weren’t at full strength when they made the trip to Lexington, Ky., to begin the Cancun Challenge.

Senior forward Preston Brown has been slowed by a hamstring injury, but he still came off the bench to score 11 points in nine minutes against the Wildcats.

Senior point guard Ashton Mitchell, who along with Allmond make up arguably the best backcourt duo in the SLC, hurt his wrist toward the end of the Kats’ 91-54 win over Texas College on Nov. 16, SHSU’s last game at Johnson Coliseum.

But Mitchell looks like he is back. He scored 16 against Oral Roberts and poured in 28 in the win over Rider on the way to being named the Mayan Division most valuable player at the Cancun Challenge.

Allmond, who is averaging 17.8 points a game, was named to the all-tournament team.

The biggest area the Bearkats need to improve at is on the inside. Junior forward Gilberto Clavell has a motor that never stops, and despite still adjusting to big-time college basketball, is averaging 12 points a game, which is third on the team behind Allmond and Mitchell (12.5).

If Brown can get completely healthy, and if Clavell, sophomore forward Antuan Bootle and the rest of the frontcourt continue to grow, Sam Houston be just fine. Those guys will match up well with the other posts in the SLC.

The Bearkats also have guards Lance Pevehouse, Drae Murray, Josten Crow and Trevon Charles, who are all capable of stepping up and making plays.

For this team to go to a tournament like the Cancun Challenge, which was full of quality teams, and come away 2-2, there are reasons to get excited.

The Bearkats have three straight home games beginning with Mid-America Christian on Monday. Louisiana-Lafayette comes to Johnson Coliseum on Saturday before Ecclesia visits on Dec. 12.

Come out and enjoy the show. It’s time to give the Kats a nice welcome home.

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