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| After scoring just eight
points in the WIAC final at UW-Stevens Point, KJ Evans has scored
25, 22 and 27 in the Warhawks' last three NCAA Tournament
games. Photo by Steve Frommell, d3photography.com |
By Josh Smith
D3sports.com
WHITEWATER, Wis. — About a month ago, Pat Miller didn’t think his team was playing very well.
The UW-Whitewater men’s basketball team won its regular season final vs. UW-Eau Claire and topped UW-La Crosse to reach the WIAC tournament championship game. But the Warhawks looked sluggish in doing so.
But after getting thumped by UW-Stevens Point in the conference tourney title game, the Warhawks have recovered and have followed that momentum all the way to Salem, Va., where they will compete in the Final Four for the second time in three years.
“I thought we played well against Northwestern, and then the second half of the Augustana game we really got back to having some edge — being physical, taking teams out of what they wanted to do. And that carried over into the third and fourth round games, especially the second half against Emory,” said Miller, whose team enters the national semifinals with a 27-4 record. “That gives guys confidence.
“These guys are experienced. They knew during that stretch we weren’t playing particularly well even though we were winning games. And then it kind of came to a head with the beatdown at Stevens Point in the conference tournament championship,” he continued. “The more I’ve been around this, I’m just more and more convinced that that might be a game you don’t really want to win. It created a little adversity. It forced guys to refocus. It’s working out well for us so far.”
UW-Whitewater, ranked No. 3 nationally, also caught a break when rival and top-ranked UW-Stevens Point lost in overtime to Emory in the Sweet 16. Although the Warhawks had beaten Stevens Point in overtime at Kachel Gym earlier this year, the Pointers had won meetings at Quandt Fieldhouse by 12 and 17 points. Prior to its loss at Whitewater in February, the Pointers had won eight straight meetings with UW-W dating back to 2010.
“There’s no question. If you asked any coach, ‘Would you rather play a neutral court game against someone who’s never played you before? Or play the No. 1 team in the country on their home floor where you’ve lost by double-digits in two previous games?’ You’d have to be a fool to choose the latter,” Miller said. “There was no question Point had our number, especially at Point. To be perfectly honest, I believe our guys were rooting very hard for Emory. And when Emory won it was probably a bit of a relief to them to not have to go through Point.”
The Warhawks took advantage of their opportunity and beat Emory, 74-51, to get back to the Final Four for the first time since winning the 2012 national title.
Veteran players like Alex Merg, Quardell Young, Cody Odegaard and Eric Bryson were on that championship team. But this year’s run to the national semifinals has been different.
“It’s been a journey. When we made it to Salem my freshman year, we were at home. So it was a little bit different atmosphere because we had our home crowd all the time,” said Young, who is averaging 10.8 points and 3.9 assists per game this season.
Miller agreed that playing at home two seasons ago was an advantage. But he also said that making a deep run in the tournament was new to his players and brought pressure with it.
“Whereas this year, hosting the first two rounds was great. Going up to Stevens Point, I’m pretty sure that most people had written us off prior to that weekend,” Miller explained. “So to an extent you’re playing with house money.”
Along with its veteran core, the Warhawks have received strong play throughout the year from big men K.J. Evans and Reggie Hearn, who average 16.8 and 12.6 points per game, respectively. Evans also averages 8.3 rebounds per game while Hearn collects an average of 5.4 boards.
“Going into the season, I was really concerned about our rebounding. Reggie Hearn is the one guy who has dramatically exceeded expectations. The productivity and consistency we’re getting from him is not what we expected,” Miller said. “And K.J. Evans obviously has increased his productivity significantly. Moving from the 3 last year to the 4 has gotten him around the basket more.”
Evans watched from a distance when UW-W won the 2012 title and his excited to have is chance at bringing home Walnut and Bronze.
“The year they actually won it, I transferred in and I couldn’t be a part of it,” Evans said. “To be a part of something like this is great.”
Miller credited the Warhawks’ scoring balance, tenacity and competiveness for their success. He also said that the team has improved overall on defense. The players believe in their ability as well.
“We’re a pretty deep team in all positions. Everyone on our team has the capability to score, to defend — we’re not just a one-dimensional team,” Young said. “Everyone can do something different. That’s what’s great about this team.”
Whitewater will face No. 6 Illinois Wesleyan Friday at the Salem Civic Center. The Warhawks swept a home-and-home series with the Titans in the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons.
“They’re really good,” Miller said. “Ron Rose is a great coach. I know they’re really deep. They have really good inside players, they shoot the ball well and, obviously, coming out of the CCIW they’re very battle-tested and experienced.
“They’re a great team and we know that.”
Amherst and Williams will play the other semifinal Friday. The NCAA Division III national championship game will take place Saturday.
Young said his team is ready for the challenge.
“It’s going to be a battle,” Young said. “I feel like we’re prepared. We’re going to be mentally and physically prepared to play, and we want to bring the title back home.”
“I really believe the Final Four is four very good teams from very good programs. All have won national championships,” Miller added. “It’s a great field. I don’t really know that there is a clear-cut favorite. I think it’s going to be a great weekend.”