No. 3 Augusta to play No. 6 Chico State in the Elite Eight
By Chris Rickerson | Sports editor
After winning the NCAA Southeast Region Tournament on its home floor, No. 3 seed Augusta University men’s basketball team will play No. 6 Chico State in the NCAA Division II Elite Eight on Tuesday, March 22, at the Ford Center in Evansville, Ind.
The Jaguars (31-3, 15-3) are currently on a 17-game winning streak but will be going on the road where all three of their losses have come from. The last time the Jaguars lost on the road was on January 22 at Flagler without the Jaguars star freshman Ja’Queze Kirby. Coach Dip Metress spoke on how that road game was a turning point in the season.
“We were playing bad on the road,” Metress said. “We were bad defensively with the three losses, but I remember calling timeout during that game and telling them, ‘If we play this hard and we get Kirb (Kirby) back, then were going to be fine.’ I saw the fire we’re capable of playing with on the road because I didn’t see it in Columbus and Lander.”
Chico State (22-4,15-3) is led by region player of the year Malik Duffy, along with 14-year coach Greg Clink. Duffy, a 6-fot-8 senior, averages 16.2 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. Senior Guard Kevin Warren averages 12.6 points per game, and senior point guard Isaiah Brooks averages 11.8 points per game. The Wildcats also have an outstanding sixth man in Colby Orr, who was named the Most Outstanding Player in the NCAA West Regional Tournament.
“They have a good team, very sound, very well coached, very disciplined, a completely different style than the ones we have faced the last couple of weeks,” said Metress.
Besides the game being on the road, AU could have their hands full in the upcoming matchup against Chico State as the Wildcats are ranked second best in NCAA Division II against the 3-pointer. The Wildcats are also ranked 11th in defensive field-goal percentage.
The Jaguars are ranked second in offensive three-point field-goal percentage in Division II. They are also ranked first in free throw attempts and makes, which will be important in the game, especially if the Jaguars are halted at the 3-point line.
“The first thing that stood out to me is there a top team in defensive field goal percentage, but so are we,” said Metress. “But they play a completely different style of defense. The way they post doubles is different than we have seen all year. Your concerned about it, but you still have to get your own team ready to play.”
Augusta and Chico State will tipoff at 9:30 p.m. (ETD) on March 22 for a chance to move on to the Final Four, which will be held on Thursday, March 24, also in Evansville.
Other quarterfinal games will include No. 1 Nova Southeastern against No. 8 Black Hills State, No. 2 Indiana University of Pennsylvania against No. 7 Hillsdale and No. 4 Bentley against No. 5 Northwest Missouri State.
The 31 wins that AU has is the most in program record, and the Jaguars are back in the Elite Eight for the first time since 2010.
Contact Chris Rickerson at crickerson@augusta.edu.
Miguel Arnold, whose 3-pointer with 1.7 seconds left lifted AU over Queens in the Southeast Region title game, hugs with JagSquatch. At the top of the page, Ja’Queze Kirby muscles his way to the basket against Queens. (photos by Chris Rickerson)
