Jaguars prepare for Elite Eight against Chico State on day one in Evansville
By Chris Rickerson | Sports editor
EVANSVILLE, Ind.—The Augusta University men’s basketball team has arrived in Evansville, Ind., and the Jaguars are getting ready for their biggest game of the season so far at the Ford Center on Tuesday night, March 22.
AU plays West Regional champion Chico State (22-4) in the national quarterfinals at 9:30 p.m. Tuesday.
The Jaguars began day one of the Elite Eight journey with a short morning shootaround at the University of Southern Indiana on Monday, March 21, at 11 a.m.
AU players then had a virtual pizza party with possible future athletes. Young students of the 21st Century After School Program got to meet and talk to some of the AU men’s basketball players. Kids of the program welcomed the AU players dribbling a basketball during the meeting.
The Elite Eight coaches then met the media at 1 p.m. Four coaches joined the first half of the press conference. These included Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s Joe Lombardi, Hillsdale’s John Tharp, Augusta’s Dip Metress and Chico State’s Greg Clink.
“If the clocks move and you’re still playing basketball, you’re having good season,” said Metress in his opening statement. “We’re just happy to be here representing our university. Evansville looks like a great host, and we look forward to playing a very good Chico State team.”
Coach Clink also commented on his opponent in the Augusta Jaguars.
“I know who we play tomorrow and I know how good they are,” he said.
The four other Elite Eight coaches joined for the second half of the press conference in Bentley’s Jay Lawson, Northwest Missouri State’s Ben McCollum, Nova Southeastern’s Jim Crutchfield and Black Hill State’s Ryan Thompson. Coaches were also welcomed and congratulated by the Mayor of Evansville, Lloyd Winnecke, at the press conferences.
Metress and the Jaguars wrapped up the day with an evening practice at 5 p.m.
“We were little tight to start out which is natural,” Metress said. “Guys are a little giddy to be here, we did a little more shooting than we usually do, different arena, but overall, it was pretty good.”
Metress also spoke on how grateful he was to be in the Elitle Eight and is hoping for all the fan support back home in Augusta.
“Yeah, it’s great,” he said. “You see your logo when you walk in the arena, it means your one of the eight teams playing and very fortunate to get here. It’s tough for our fans to make it because it is a Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday deal, but hopefully a lot of people will be watching us back home.”
Elite Eight matchups will begin tomorrow, starting with No. 4 Bentley against No. 5 Northwest Missouri State at 12 p.m. No. 1 Nova Southeastern will play No. 8 Black Hills State at 2:30 p.m., followed by No. 2 Indiana University of Pennsylvania against No. 7 Hillsdale at 6 p.m.
Augusta and Chico State play in the nightcap.
The games can be watched at the NCAA website: NCAA D2 Elite Eight live video (<—CLICK HERE).
Contact Chris Rickerson at crickerson@augusuta.edu.
Elite Eight coaches Joe Lombardi, John Tharp, Dip Metress and Greg Clink meet the media at the Monday press conference. At the top of the page, Tyree Myers fires a jumper during AU’s Monday practice. (photos by Chris Rickerson)
