By Woodrow Carroll
Because Eastern Washington University lost, 71-63, to Idaho State in a Big Sky Conference game Saturday, Feb. 25, there is one remaining undefeated Div-I men’s basketball team in league play, Oral Roberts University.
The Golden Eagles closed their league play Saturday, Feb. 25 with a 69-65 road victory over South Dakota State in a bit of a statement victory. The Jackrabbits of South Dakota State finished in second place in the Summit League. Oral Roberts finished 18-0 in the Summit League and 27-4 overall. Its regular season has been concluded.
Before we get carried away with Oral Roberts’ success this season, we might touch base with reality. The Golden Eagles suffered an 83-45 loss to a very good Houston team early in the season in a non-conference game. A national championship for Oral Roberts is not in the picture! Houston this week retained its No. 1 Associated Poll Div-I ranking.
Home base for Oral Roberts is Tulsa, Okla., so the closest team this season for The Voice are fans to see the team play, is Western Illinois University, based in Macomb, Ill. and Western Illinois is in the Summit League.
The Summit League Conference Tournament will get under way Friday, March 3. All tournament games will be played at the Sanford Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Oral Roberts will play the winner of the Friday, March game between Denver and North Dakota Saturday, March. The tournament champion will be determined Tuesday, March 7. (See final standings on page 11.
For Oral Roberts to reach the NCAA Division I postseason tournament, the Golden Eagles likely will have to win the league tournament. In spite of Oral Roberts’ league success, the Summit League is not regarded as a strong gathering. The winner of the league tournament is likely to be the lone Summit League entrant in the NCAA men’s postseason tournament. The Golden Eagles have their work cut out for them.
Perhaps, the real story might be Oral Roberts’ head coach Paul Mills. The son of a pastor who served a largely Hispanic area, Mills, 50, attended MacArthur High in East Aldine, Texas, in the greater Houston area. At 5-8, Mills played high school basketball with more verve than success. Mills finds it difficult to sit on the bench while coaching because of a back injury in basketball.
Clearly a student of the game of basketball, Mills, 50, served on the staff of the Baylor University men’s basketball team, 2003-2017. It led to Mills’ being hired as Oral Roberts’ men’s head coach in 2017.
• It was little more than a week ago that Northwestern University was being hailed as one of the surprise teams in Division I college basketball ranks. The Wildcats recorded big victories over both Purdue and Iowa. Nice victories!
But, Northwestern suddenly became a target.
Playing at Illinois last week, Northwestern let a 37-19 halftime advantage slip away and a 66-62 overtime victory for the host Fighting Illini. Then, on the road Sunday, Feb. 26, Northwestern was taken down, 75-59, by Maryland.
Northwestern was 20-9 overall and 11-7 in the Big Ten Conference prior to being host to Penn State, Wednesday, March 1. The Wildcats needed a victory to get back on the NCAA tournament track.
Illinois, 19-10 overall and 10-8 in the Big Ten may have been giddy after the comeback victory over Northwestern, however, the Illini have reason to be concerned. Four times in February, Illinois lost on the road by falling to Iowa, Penn State, Indiana, and Ohio State. Balance that with home victories over Rutgers, Minnesota, Northwestern.
Similar to Northwestern, the Fighting Illini have a crucial home game this week. when it plays host to Michigan Thursday, March 2. Michigan was 17-12 overall and 11-7 in the Big Ten.
Illinois will play at Purdue Sunday, March 5 in the Big Ten’s regular season finale. Both victories and defeats now take on added importance for postseason play. Big Ten Conference men’s tournament will begin Wednesday, March 8.