SHANE WILSON

Where’s the love for Division II?

It’s pretty easy to find information on virtually every NCAA Division I team in the country. The Entertainment Sports Programming Network (ESPN) has a bevy of information, stats and otherwise, readily available for anybody who wishes to view it. In-depth analysis, previews, reviews and even live coverage are at the fingertips of every sports lover who has a television or the internet.

Why is that sort of information harder to access for Division II?

There’s really only one answer I could think of – money.

Division I schools are typically the more high profile institutions with high enrollment numbers and big time sports programs. These colleges bring in big bucks when it comes to sports revenue – ticket sales are just a portion of the thousands of dollars these schools bring in. With a larger alumni pool, there’s more of an opportunity for donors contributing to a program’s facilities, scholarships, etc.

It’s simple when you first think about it. Larger schools who are members of bigger conferences like the ACC, SEC, Pac 10 or the Big XII bring in the big bucks.

Does that mean these schools hold more entertainment value?

I think not.

The obvious differences in competition aside, Division II sports provide an excellent opportunity for athletes and fans alike to participate in the art of sport. Athletes who did not have the opportunity to participate in the upper echelon of their respective sports have the chance to be a part of something bigger than themselves, albeit on a smaller stage.

Sports enthusiasts who enjoy a more “pure” form of the game can marvel at the sights and sounds of Division II sports. Athletes who engage in this competition are less likely to be centrally motivated by money or fame.

It’s really too bad that ESPN, the self proclaimed “Worldwide Leader in Sports,” doesn’t have a good pulse on Division II. There are rankings and the occasional story or two on the Web site, but it just isn’t good enough.

The argument is similar, in part, to the market debate in professional sports. Take a large market team like the Philadelphia Eagles, who have seen their ups and downs over the past few decades, and compare them to a small market team like the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Eagles play in a larger market than most, allowing them more consistent coverage and exposure. The Chiefs, on the other hand, play in a small market, hampering their ability to consistently bring in big name free agents and gain a steady dose of national exposure.

Philadelphia represents Division I. Big money markets, big money schools – same difference. The small-market Chiefs are similar to Division II. Less exposure and revenue usually equals less highly-touted recruits.

The assumption is a smaller school can’t produce entertaining, highly competitive sporting events.

I’d like to hear someone who has watched an MIAA basketball game say that.

Send article as PDF to

SHANE WILSON

The basketball season is coming to a swift end. The final few games of the season are within mere weeks and talks about postseason play are becoming abundant. The MIAA Tournament is inching closer, which begs a few questions.

Will the ESU women get the number one seed for the tournament?

Will the men even make the tournament?

The women almost seemed destined for the number one seed, as they solely control their destiny in doing so. The only possible hiccup, in my mind, for the Hornets in getting the top seed could be the Feb. 24 game against Washburn – luckily for ESU, the game is at home.

The number one seed would secure the easiest route for the Hornets to play through to the championship game, which could have huge implications for ESU and other teams, alike. The winner of the conference championship game earns the MIAA’s automatic bid to the South Central Regional – and a step closer to nationals.

I’m not saying these last few games for the ESU women should be overlooked, by any means. Higher ranked teams have often overlooked lower ranked teams and paid the price for it. This could be costly, in more ways than wins and losses, for this team.

The ESU men, on the other hand, have an entirely different scenario before them. They currently sit at ninth in the league, with only Pittsburg State and Truman having worse conference records than Emporia State. The kicker is this – only six teams are allowed to play in the MIAA Tournament.

This set of circumstances doesn’t bode well for the ESU men.

As it stands now, Missouri Western is the last team to get the invite to the conference tourney with an 8-8 record. Three other teams – Northwest Missouri State, Washburn and Emporia State – have seven conference wins.

This bulge in the middle of the MIAA only means that we will have to wait until the end of the season to find out who gets to go to the MIAA Tournament.

Emporia State, it seems, probably has the toughest road to travel in order to get to postseason play. A home game against Washburn and an away game against nationally-ranked Ft. Hays State separate ESU from that opportunity.

Hopefully for the Hornets, the taste of the 73-42 loss at Washburn earlier this season is gone.

Perhaps the Hornets can make it happen. Their recent play looks like a step in the right direction. The ESU men look like their in a groove – most of the roster is healthy and in good form, something that had been missing earlier in the season. The key will be for all of them to play collectively as one unit, one team. When that happens, this team can do some pretty spectacular things.

Only time will tell.

Send article as PDF to

SHANE WILSON

Three-point shooting can make or break a team.

            Just ask the ESU women’s basketball team, and they will tell you how big of a factor a shot from beyond the arc is in a conference game.

            For instance, the team hit an MIAA record 20 three-pointers against Missouri Western on Jan. 27. The ultra impressive performance gave the Hornets a 110-68 win over the Griffons.

            In contrast, ESU hit only 2-20 three-pointers in a disappointing loss to Central Missouri on Feb. 3, 64-60. The loss broke a 14-game winning streak.

            How can a good team depend on the three-ball so often and be successful?

            They can’t.

            Every shot in basketball is a risk. The closer the shooter is to the basket, the lower the risk and vice versa. When a team shoots multiple times from long range, the risk becomes exceedingly apparent each and every time.

            When the three-pointer goes down, everything is fine. When it doesn’t, however, a multitude of problems arise from a variety of critics.

Fans tend to see excessive three-point shooting as a sloppy, inefficient way to handle an offensive possession, and rightfully so for the most part. Some people fail to see the reward outweighing the risk.
            Games like the one the Hornets played against Missouri Western come few and far between. There’s a reason why records aren’t broken very often – they are almost out-of-reach milestones that take a special team on a special day to overtake.

Games like the one the Hornets played against Central Missouri are more common. Emporia State shot less than 10 percent from beyond the arc – it’s not uncommon for teams to shoot below 20 percent on a regular basis.

My point is this: it’s nearly impossible for a team to rely solely on consistent three-point shooting and be successful.

Thankfully for the Hornets, other options are available.

Junior forward Alli Volkens has an impressive low post game on the offensive end, and junior forward Negesti Taylor is improving her offensive prowess each and every game. Some teams don’t have the luxury of one solid 5-man, let alone two.

The dribble-drive is another option the Hornets fancy but sometimes not enough. Senior guards Cassondra Boston and Sophia Lenard excel when driving to the basket off of solid screens. What better way to combat a zone defense when the three-ball isn’t falling than to attack the seams.

The game after the Hornets lost to Central Missouri, the team used a balanced attack of offensive production in the paint and mid-range jumpers to defeat a hot shooting Nebraska-Omaha squad. There’s no reason why this Hornets team can’t use multiple approaches to bring down anyone they face.

Send article as PDF to

Shane Wilson

While National Signing Day was abuzz on national television networks around the country, ESU also got a taste of the action, as the Emporia State football team announced their signing day class yesterday, headed by 17 incoming freshman and seven transfer players.

At first glance, the class looks very impressive. Three 2-star recruits according to various recruiting Web sites (ESPN Insider, Scouts, Inc. and Rivals.com) and other notables are making their way to Emporia this fall to continue the Hornets’ rich football tradition. Some of the transfer players are already enrolled in classes at ESU, giving them a step ahead in the playing time battle.

The thing that impressed me the most about this signing class is the amount of players that were brought in who play non-skilled positions. It’s widely known that to build a solid football program, you have to start from the inside out.

You have to start with offensive and defensive linemen.

The big guys in the trenches add an element to a football team few people think about – stability. The offensive and defensive line serve the most unappreciated, overlooked, yet one of the most important roles for a football team, especially a young one. If a team has no one to protect the quarterback or stuff the run up the middle, that team is destined to fail.

Now it goes without saying, you simply can’t just field a team solely with linemen (although I’m sure some of them wouldn’t mind getting a carry or two every now and then). Skill position players are a valuable asset as well. I’d like to see a team try and field an extra-point team without a competent kicker…and you would have seen one this past season if you had watched an ESU football game.

But don’t fret – a kicker happens to be on this year’s signing list.

Quite a few of the incoming skill players are transfers from other institutions. This is great news for the Hornets faithful, as experience in these areas especially is always important. Experience is one thing this Emporia State team hasn’t had enough of recently, and an influx of talented, experienced players could turn this team into a well-led unit of football players.

Whether or not this class will produce on the field remains to be seen. However, each individual’s personal accomplishments on and off the field, on paper at least, have led them to the Emporia State football program. The Hornets’ coaching staff placed enough trust in these players to allow them to compete for a prominent role in their program, a role that can feasibly make or break this program and Higgins’ legacy at ESU.

We’ll have to wait until the fall to find out.

Send article as PDF to

Shane Wilson

As of late, several conversations with Emporia State men’s basketball coach David Moe have led to the same few phrases being said over and over. Moe has admitted several times that his team is “not well prepared” and “not coached very well.”

A red flag went up in my mind after each occurrence.

Now we have to understand – it’s very commendable for a coach to step up and take responsibility for a team’s mishaps. Not very often do the anointed leaders of a team rise above the criticism and take the blame for a team’s losing ways.

One thing I don’t understand, however, is how a coach can continually take sole responsibility for a losing season and there not be much concern about it.

The men’s basketball team is loaded with ballers. The talent level of this team alone should be capable of a winning season. A senior-laden team as this one can dominate the game – and we’ve seen just that from time to time.

Take, for instance, the games versus Central Missouri and Ft. Hays State. The opposing teams were ranked in the top five in the nation at the time ESU played them. Despite the difference in ranking, Emporia State played each team neck and neck, down to the wire. Even though ESU lost both games, it was still worth noting how well the team played while facing far superior teams, on paper at least.

Now take, for instance, the last game versus Northwest Missouri. While the team took a 16-point lead in the second half, they couldn’t hold on for long and lost to a ho-hum Bearcats team.

So where’s the connection?

A well coached team doesn’t play down to their competition. A well coached team plays together and uses their collective talents to smother their opponent.

At times, this Emporia State men’s basketball team doesn’t look like it is well coached.

The inconsistencies that are on display when this team plays are ever apparent. Great plays are followed up by boneheaded ones on a regular basis. And the kicker is this – in conversations with some of the players on the team, not one of them can explain where the true problem lies. Yes, some offer possibilities in not valuing possessions and playing poor transition defense.

The problem of poor preparation is not one easily noticed, especially when you’ve been in the routine for some time.

I’m not saying the problem is Moe, only Moe and nothing but the Moe. And I’m certainly not advocating for his removal. I’m simply saying this – if a team loaded with talent is not performing up to par, shouldn’t there be someone, anyone, in the administration looking into the situation?

With these frequent admissions from Moe, I would say there’s definitely something to examine.

Send article as PDF to

Shane Wilson

Where have all the fans gone?

And not just any fans, mind you – I’m talking about the ranting, raving, getting under the opposing team’s players and coaches skin kind of fans. More specifically, I’m talking about the student section at ESU sporting events.

When I look at the more sports-rich tradition schools around the country, it amazes me how enthused and excited the student body is about their school’s sports teams. They don’t call Duke’s student fan base the “Cameron Crazies” for nothing – that student section goes nuts throughout the whole game. Even the student fans in Manhattan raised the bar this past Tuesday as they played a significant role in the dismantling of Texas, the former number one team in the nation in Division I men’s basketball.

Why not at Emporia State?

Now I can certainly understand some of the difficulties in getting pumped up about a losing team. I get that. And as you know, ESU has its fair share of those.

But still, is it not possible to cheer on the home team even if they are in a bit of a slump? Do the students who attend Syracuse or Kansas or Boise State not care about their school’s teams if they have a losing record?

I would say, in large part, that they still do. Students who attend universities with a high level of competitiveness n their sports teams still care about their teams, even if they are certain underdogs. Watch ESPN sometime – and when you hear the crowd sounds from an unranked team’s arena as they watch their team face off against a Top 25 program, you’ll be amazed at how loud it can get.

Emporia State does have some sports teams who aren’t quite top notch, just like any other program in the country. But just like those other programs, Emporia State also boasts some highly competitive, quality talent on a few teams.

And when the student body barely even supports the teams playing exceptionally well, I have to ask myself, “What’s the problem, here?”

I’ve come up with a few theories here and there, but nothing makes as much sense to me as one simple thought: no one really cares.

I’m not sure if I can really blame some people. If you don’t grow up watching and appreciating the tradition of ESU athletics, then where is the attachment? If you don’t know or have any sort of connection with anyone who participates in athletics, what’s the significance of cheering them on?

This whole debate really comes down to one thing, and it’s this: this campus and its people are disconnected. And it merely begins with athletics – the entire entity of Emporia State is lacking that certain interconnection between its students and the rich history, sports and academics, of the university.

Obviously, if only for the sake of morphing ESU into what it could be from a sports perspective, something must be done. But what, you may ask, can we do? For starters, you could get together with some friends and get rowdy at the next home sporting event.

Traditions don’t start themselves, you know.

Send article as PDF to