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Are the Eagles back?
By Mike Minyard
The
Oral Roberts University men's basketball team made it through the
non-conference portion of the schedule with a 9-4 record, highlighted
with wins over Arkansas, SMU and Wichita State and near misses at
Tulsa and Minnesota.
The non-conference games were fun for everyone but in reality they
don't mean much in the whole scheme of things. Conference season
is here and now the games count for more than just pride.
The Golden Eagles were chosen by several national magazine publications
to knock off perennial Mid-Continent Conference champion Valparaiso
and advance to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1984.
The last time ORU made it to the NCAA tournament, they were in the
Elite Eight. Kansas knocked off the Titans (former ORU team name)
in a 93-90 overtime battle at the Mabee Center in 1974, ending the
hopes of a national title run.
Back in the 70s and through the mid-80s, ORU produced eight All-Americans
and played in five NITs as well as two NCAA tournaments.
Golden Eagle basketball was the buzz of the town. ORU games averaged
well over 7,000 fans and regularly sold out. Students stood outside
the Mabee Center doors for hours just so they could get a seat and
cheer ORU on to victory.
Well if you haven't noticed, ORU basketball is back. ORU is averaging
over 5,000 fans per game this season including nearly 9,000 fans
at the Arkansas game in November. The student section has been large
and passionate. The nation has taken notice of what's going on at
the charismatic private school in Tulsa, Okla.
This year's squad started the season 6-0, the best start in school
history. The Golden Eagles received national attention by being
ranked in three Mid-Major polls and receiving votes in both the
Associated Press Top 25 and USA Today Coaches' Poll.
The team is ready to put ORU back on the map. They are lead by head
coach Scott Sutton and seniors Tyrone Tiggs (Frances Pomeroy Naismith
Award candidate,) and Reggie Borges (Mid-Continent Conference player
of the year candidate).
Before ORU can go take on the big boys, though, the Golden Eagles
must take care of business in the Mid-Con. Valparaiso has won seven
of the last eight Mid-Con championships and advanced to the Sweet
16 in 1999.
The Golden Eagles and Crusaders have established one of the better
rivalries in the conference. Neither team has figured out how to
win on the other's home court. ORU will take a stab at it again
on January 30. Valpo won't make it to the Mabee Center until the
final regular season game on March 1.
Many believe that the conference championship will go to either
ORU or Valparaiso but someone obviously forgot to tell the rest
of the teams in the conference that they aren't supposed to win.
Southern Utah, Oakland, IUPUI and UMKC could contend for the conference
championship. Western Illinois and Chicago State might not make
a run for the regular season title but they could ruin the season
for someone with a win in Kansas City this March.
The Mid-Con tournament will be held at Kemper Arena in Kansas City
March 8-11. For ticket information, contact the ORU Athletic Department
at 495-7151.
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