Kats proceed to Thibodaux tonight with caution
2/10/2010 6:10:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By Cody Stark, Huntsville Item Assistant Sports Editor
The Bearkats will try to remain unbeaten in Southland Conference play tonight, but it isn't going to be easy.
Things can go wrong in a hurry in Thibodaux, La.
Nicholls' record might not show it, but the Colonels (3-6 in SLC, 7-15 overall) have the potential to beat any team in the league on any given night, especially at home.
Stopher Gym is a tough place to play. Winning streaks can come to an end, and judging by the Colonels' 6-1 home record this season, the Bearkats (8-0, 16-5) are going to have their hands full when today's game tips off at 6:30 p.m. The contest will be broadcast live on KSAM 101.7 FM.
"They had a tough schedule early and played their first eight games on the road," SHSU head coach Bob Marlin said Tuesday. "They finally got home and started playing better. They have been up and down, but they are always tough.
"Stopher Gym is always a difficult place to play. They beat SFA at home this year. They are a dangerous team, are well coached and you have to beat them."
One of the reasons Nicholls is dangerous is that the Colonels have one of the top players in the SLC.
Junior foward Anatoly Bose is a scoring machine. The Australia native is averaging 21 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. He has scored 20 or more points 15 times.
"Last year (Ryan) Bathie got all the praise at Nicholls, but we thought Bose was their best player," Marlin said. "He is certainly showing that this year. He is a versatile forward who can shoot from outside and score around the basket. How we defend him will be crucial to our outcome (today)."
The Colonels also have a nice compliment to Bose in sophomore guard Fred Hunter. The Denton product is averaging 13.5 points.
"Hunter has played well," Marlin said. "Last year he only played a few minutes against us because he was sick. So they beat us without him. They just don't have much depth this season."
If the Bearkats want to improve to 9-0 in the SLC, they need to break out of a recent shooting slump.
Sam Houston has shot less than 30 percent from long range in three of its past four conference wins, including two in a row before Saturday's 75-70 victory over Central Arkansas. The Kats hit 6 of 16, or 38 percent, of their 3-point attempts against the Bears.
"We need to rebound and take care of the ball, but we really need to make shots," Marlin added. "We haven't been shooting well from 3. We did better against Central Ark, but that was because we didn't force anything.
"(Today) would be a good time to get going, and it is only a matter of time before we have a good night. We have been shooting well in practice."
Following the Nicholls game Wednesday, the Bearkats will return home to host Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Saturday night at 7 p.m. in Johnson Coliseum.
Tickets for Sam Houston men's basketball home games are on sale now on-line. 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. Ticket office telephone is (936) 294-1729.
Tickets for the annual State Farm Southland Conference Basketball Tournament March 10 through March 13 at the Merrill Center in Katy also are on sale . Please see the Link to Southland Conference Tournament Tickets_
