Coaching Matchup Highlights CIT Tilt Saturday
3/20/2015 12:17:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Jason Hooten and Bob Marlin, the two head coaches who have combined to lead Sam Houston men's basketball to an overall record of 323 victories and only 197 losses since 1998, meet Saturday afternoon in the second round of the CollegeInsider.com Tournament.
Sam Houston State (26-8) and Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns (21-13) battle at 2 p.m. at Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum. Marlin was Bearkat head coach from the 1998-99 season to the 2009-10. Hooten joined Marlin's staff as his top assistant before the 2005 season and took over as head coach in 2011.
During those 17 seasons, the Bearkats stand not only as one of the winningest programs in the Southland Conference but in the entire Southwest. By comparison, in Sam Houston's first 11 years at the NCAA Division I record before Marlin and Hooten, the Bearkats never had an above .500 season record while compiling an overall mark of 79-188.
Both coaches enter Saturday's match-up with mixed feelings.
“It's not something you look forward to doing,” Hooten said of playing Marlin. “It's like me trying to play against coach (Lonn) Reeseman at Tarleton State (Hooten's former coach and first boss as an assistant coach). Obviously, Coach Marlin has meant a lot to me. I wouldn't be where I am today without Bob. I remember Bob bringing my wife and me here to Huntsville in July 2004 and telling us that, one day, the opportunity to be a head coach would come along.
“But, for the CIT, it's a great regional matchup. I'm excited that our guys are still playing basketball. It really doesn't matter who you are playing. You're going to prepare the same way you do every opponent.”
Marlin echoes similar sentiments.
“It was 12 years (at SHSU) and we won a lot of basketball games at Johnson Coliseum,” Marlin said. “It's going to be a bit different sitting on that other bench. Jason is part of our tree. He has done a really good job and has a really good team.”
Both coaches know their squads must play a complete game Saturday to be able to advance to the quarterfinals of the CIT tournament.
“They're very talented and very athletic,” Hooten said of the Ragin' Cajuns. “They're well-coached and play hard and physical. They do all the things that you would expect from a team that's still playing at this time of the year.”
The Bearkat head coach points to a key match-up between UL's leading scorer and rebounder, 6-9 Shawn Long and SHSU's 6-11 Michael Holyfield. Long comes into the game averaging 16.3 points and 10.3 rebounds.
“A lot of people believe he is going to be a second round draft choice,” Hooten said. “They have an outstanding backcourt as well.”
The Ragin' Cajuns have won eight of their last nine games with the only loss to Georgia State, 83-79, in the Sun Belt Tournament semifinals.
Marlin sees Sam Houston's experience and balanced attack as a concern.
“They've got four seniors starting. They're very experienced,” Marlin said. “There are no do-overs at this stage. You have to continue to play and play well.”
Sam Houston earned its spot in the CIT second round with an 87-71 victory over UNC-Wilmington Wednesday night. The win and last year's CIT first round victory over Alabama State stand as the Bearkats' first two NCAA Division I post-season tournament victories.
“We still have a lot to play for,” Hooten said. “We've reminded our players there are only four teams that are going to cut a net down at the end of the season. That's the winners of the NCAA, the NIT, the CBI and the CIT. There were 148 teams that got to play in the post-season. At the start of next week, more than half of those teams will be done. The Ragin' Cajuns and the Bearkats both want to be one of the teams that are still playing. It ought to be a great game.”
The first 100 Sam Houston State University students to show their active Bearkat One Card at Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum will receive free admission to Saturday's game. Students looking to be among the first 100 should report to Gates 27-28. Gates will open at 1 p.m.
Sam Houston State 2015 basketball season ticket holders have the opportunity to purchase their same seats for the C.I.T. second round game by calling the ticket office at (936) 294-1729. Regular tickets for Saturday's game are $10 each. Student tickets are $5 each.
