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Butler men ready for NJCAA Nationals
Published 3/16/2010 in Sports
(MCT) — It's usually not until after you've watched the Butler Community College men's basketball team play that you realize what wasn't there.
"We don't have a center," said Butler coach Mike Bargen. "So we ask a lot of everybody as far as being physical and going after rebounds."
What the Grizzlies do have is a whole bunch of players determined to get rebounds _ regardless of size.
And nowhere is that emphasis felt more on the offensive glass as Butler averaged 15.5 offensive rebounds per game during the regular season.
They'll need every one of those boards facing Wallace (Ala.) State (24-9) tonight at 8:30 p.m. in the first round of the NJCAA Division I national tournament at Hutchinson.
Wallace is outrebounding opponents by almost 15 per game.
"We've gotten pretty good at going and getting offensive rebounds," Bargen said. "We had Troy (Pierce) last year and he's really been key for us in the post again this season."
Pierce, a 6-foot-6 sophomore forward from Emporia, has been the Grizzlies' de facto center this season, usually drawing the other team's toughest post assignment on defense.
Pierce caught Bargen's eye in high school while watching him play against Manhattan's Jackie Carmichael. The 6-9, 240-pound Carmichael now plays for Illinois State and was named to the Missouri Valley Conference's all-freshman team this season.
"We saw Troy block Carmichael's shot twice without even leaving his feet," Bargen said. "That made me think he could do what we were going to ask of him."
Pierce, who averages 9.9 points and 5.4 rebounds, will likely be matched up with Wallace's Darrick Thomas, a 6-7 forward who averages 10.5 points and 7.7 rebounds.
"We've got to be very, very good on the boards because Wallace will try to slow the game down," Bargen said. "We've got to try to speed up the pace and play our game."
It's Butler's first trip to the NJCAA tournament since 1996 after beating Coffeyville in the Region VI Tournament finals last Monday at Koch Arena.
The Grizzlies play the nightcap of today's spate of six first-round games starting at 10 a.m. with Southeastern Iowa-Northwest Florida. There are two more first-round games on Wednesday.
In the women's NJCAA Division I tournament at Salina's Bicentennial Center, Region VI champion Labette County (31-3) takes on Northern Oklahoma-Enid (31-1) today at 6:15 p.m.
It is the Cardinals' first trip to the national tournament.
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NJCAA Tournaments
Men
At Hutchinson Sports Arena
Today
First Round
Southeastern Iowa (24-10) vs. Northwest Florida State (28-3), 10 a.m.
Three Rivers, Mo. (27-6) vs. Monroe College (26-7), noon
Brunswick, N.C. (23-10) vs. East Mississippi (26-5), 2 p.m.
Navarro, Texas (28-5) vs. Middle Georgia (28-3), 4:30
Eastern Utah (24-9) vs. North Platte (28-4), 6:30
Wallace State-Hanceville (29-4) vs. Butler (29-5), 8:30
Wednesday
First Round
Walters State (22-8) vs. Connors State (30-2), 11 a.m.
Southeastern Illinois (22-9) vs. Howard, Texas (29-2), 1 p.m.
Women
At Bicentennial Center, Salina
Today
First Round
Midland, Texas (30-3) vs. Shelton State (19-12), 10 a.m.
North Idaho (26-6) vs. Monroe College (20-5), noon
Gulf Coast, Fla. (28-1) vs. South Georgia Technical (28-5), 2 p.m.
Jefferson College, Mo. (29-1) vs. Williston State, N.D. (17-14), 4
Northern Oklahoma-Enid (31-1) vs. Labette (31-3), 6:15
Trinity Valley, Texas (28-5) vs. Walters State, Tenn. (25-2), 8:15
Wednesday
First Round
Copiah Lincoln, Miss. (28-1) vs. Casper College, Wyo. (31-3), noon
Central Arizona (29-2) vs. Lincoln Trail, Ill. (28-3), 2 p.m.
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