Wacky week of finals precedes today's FIU game
12/18/2010 6:40:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By Cody Stark - The Huntsville Item
It is a good thing the Sam Houston State men's basketball team is on the road this weekend.
With finals having been held throughout the week and graduation set for today and Saturday at Johnson Coliseum, the Bearkats have had to juggle their practice schedule between the HKC and Huntsville High School.
It's been hectic, but at least it has given that feeling of the hustle and bustle that comes with traveling as Sam Houston (5-3) prepares for Saturday's road trip to Miami to battle Florida International.
"This is a difficult week because we don't have our gym all week long because they started setting things up for graduation," Kats head coach Jason Hooten said Thursday afternoon. "We have been all over the place. We only got to walk through at the HKC because the court is smaller and it gets loud in there. We came over to the high school and we have been able to get more done. It does kind of get you ready for the road."
The Bearkats are coming off a streaky week in which everything went right in a rout of North Texas and a showing of good and bad in a 12-point loss to Cleveland State.
Sam Houston had its best full game of the season against the Mean Green, shooting 57 percent from the floor and 40 percent from behind the arc in the 94-74 victory. The Kats also committed only nine turnovers and got 37 points from the bench.
The loss to Cleveland State was a little different. Sam Houston did shoot well from the floor (46 percent) and again limited its turnovers to under 10. But the Bearkats were shaky on defense, allowing the Vikings to hit 49 percent of their shot attempts, including 10 of 21 from 3-point range.
Sam Houston also got outrebounded (37-26) by Cleveland State and only connected on 4-of-15 attempts from long range.
"I thought against North Texas we put our two best halves together, but then we turned around I was disappointed in our defense against Cleveland State," Hooten said. "They are a good team and had a lot to do with that, but watching the tape, we had some defensive breakdowns that I thought we were getting better at.
"We have to play better defensively. We are still trying to figure out our different lineups and we are working on that. We just need to keep getting better and improving. That is the main thing."
Saturday could be a good opportunity for the Bearkats to get back on track. Florida International (4-5) comes into the contest nursing a four-game skid with losses to Marshall, Louisville, Jackson State and Bowling Green.
But FIU has some talented players led by junior forward Eric Frederick, who is averaging 17 points per game. Junior guard DeJuan Wright chips in 13.7 points and senior guard Marvin Roberts is scoring 10.8.
The Golden Panthers will also be trying to avenge the 93-63 setback the Bearkats handed FIU last season at Johnson Coliseum.
"They are not going to need any extra motivation. They are like us, just trying to play better," Hooten added. "Even though we are 5-3, we feel like we can play better and get better. I'm sure they feel the same way. They are a team that has a lot of talent, and they will be a huge challenge for us."
Following the trip to Florida International, the Bearkats will meet the University of Houston in a rematch of the pair's overtime battle in Huntsville December 4. The Kats and the Cougars tangle in Houston Tuesday night at 7 p.m.
Next, Sam Houston heads to El Paso, Tex., to participate in the Bank of the West Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational and play a road game with tournament host UTEP. The Kats face Air Force on Tuesday, Dec. 28 and Western New Mexico on Wednesday, Dec. 29 in the tournament. The Miners and Sam Houston face off on Sunday, Jan. 2.
Sam Houston opens the defense of its Southland Conference championship on Sautrday, Jan. 8, with a road game encounter at UTSA. The Bearkats' first Southland home game will be a 7 p.m. tilt with UT-Arlington on Wednesday, Jan. 12 at 7 p.m.
Tickets for Sam Houston basketball are on sale now online at www.gobearkats.com/tickets.
Fans also may purchase tickets at the Sam Houston athletic ticket office located in the Ron Mafrige Field House at Bowers Stadium. Ticket office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The ticket office telephone is (936) 294-1764.
