2008 Woodie Awards
'Hawks tip off year like champs
Demetrius Klyce
Issue date: 11/7/07 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
As the Warhawks prepared for the season, they wanted to prove to all their critics and every team they compete against that they are the team to beat and are destine to win back-to-back championships. The wheelchair basketball team put everyone in its league on notice as the season opened in Marshall, Minn.
After the time ticked to zero, the 'Hawks made everything loud and clear with a strong first impression to open the year, going 4-0 on the weekend by defeating the Edinboro Fighting Scots, 68-18; the Southwest Minnesota State University Mustangs (SWMSU), 98-36; the University of Illinois Lady Fighting Illini, 77-40; and the University of Illinois Fighting Illini men, 70-53, Saturday.
The 'Hawks shot 53 percent from the field, outrebounded its opponents 150-115, and outscored all four teams 313-147. The team was lead by senior Matt Scott, who ended the weekend averaging 19.8 points, including a double-double of 29 points and 12 boards in their win against SWMSU Friday.
Warhawk Head Coach Tracy Chynoweth elaborated on his "well-oiled machine team."
"I feel like we established ourselves as the team to beat," Chynoweth said. "By no means do I think we played extremely well, but I wouldn't expect that to happen during the first games of the year.
"We have a very well-balanced team with many lineup options," Chynoweth added. Each lineup showed strengths and weaknesses, [and] we'll continue to try to make them better from here on out.
"We have more experience than any team in the college division and our kids just know how to win. There are some other good teams out there, but none with much winning experiences as our kids. We have great senior leadership that we'll lean on all year."
Chynoweth said that some changes need to be adjusted throughout the season.
"We need to work on being consistent with our decision making," Chynoweth said. "When the games were on the line, we'd made great decisions, which turned into points on one end of the floor, then worked really hard to get stops on the other end. However, once we felt like we had control, we'd let up a bit and allow the other team to gain a little momentum before we'd play well again. A more sustained effort will be needed to defend our title."
The 'Hawks will carry on its momentum into the Illinois Invite, when the road to defend its championship continues Friday and Saturday in Champaign, Ill.
After the time ticked to zero, the 'Hawks made everything loud and clear with a strong first impression to open the year, going 4-0 on the weekend by defeating the Edinboro Fighting Scots, 68-18; the Southwest Minnesota State University Mustangs (SWMSU), 98-36; the University of Illinois Lady Fighting Illini, 77-40; and the University of Illinois Fighting Illini men, 70-53, Saturday.
The 'Hawks shot 53 percent from the field, outrebounded its opponents 150-115, and outscored all four teams 313-147. The team was lead by senior Matt Scott, who ended the weekend averaging 19.8 points, including a double-double of 29 points and 12 boards in their win against SWMSU Friday.
Warhawk Head Coach Tracy Chynoweth elaborated on his "well-oiled machine team."
"I feel like we established ourselves as the team to beat," Chynoweth said. "By no means do I think we played extremely well, but I wouldn't expect that to happen during the first games of the year.
"We have a very well-balanced team with many lineup options," Chynoweth added. Each lineup showed strengths and weaknesses, [and] we'll continue to try to make them better from here on out.
"We have more experience than any team in the college division and our kids just know how to win. There are some other good teams out there, but none with much winning experiences as our kids. We have great senior leadership that we'll lean on all year."
Chynoweth said that some changes need to be adjusted throughout the season.
"We need to work on being consistent with our decision making," Chynoweth said. "When the games were on the line, we'd made great decisions, which turned into points on one end of the floor, then worked really hard to get stops on the other end. However, once we felt like we had control, we'd let up a bit and allow the other team to gain a little momentum before we'd play well again. A more sustained effort will be needed to defend our title."
The 'Hawks will carry on its momentum into the Illinois Invite, when the road to defend its championship continues Friday and Saturday in Champaign, Ill.
Be the first to comment on this story