At least two former Bobcat track and field stars are heading to the Olympics at the time this is being written.
First congratulations to Mike Hazel. The Pan Am Games Gold Medalist finishes second in the javelin throw at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene and is heading to Beijing. Hazel has been one of the most successful former Bobcat men on the world track and field stage since Charles Austin won a Gold for the high jump in 1996.
This Saturday night at 6pm Texas State Bobcat football fans will get their first preview of the team during the annual Maroon and Gold spring game.
There is a new excitement among the Bobcat faithful because of a new emphasis on defense. The defense has been a weak spot, especially last season as the 'Cats gave up a record number of yards and tons of points.
New Defensive Coordinator Fred Bliel was hired to stop all of that and reports from spring practice indicate he may just do it. The defense has looked strong in both practice and scrimmages. Reports from the last scrimmage before the spring game indicate that the defense had a tremendous goal line stop and has shows vast improvement in both blitzing and deep pass coverage (a real weak point in the past couple of seasons).
I am not sure I have ever witnessed a more exciting finish to a basketball game. The Bobcats struggled all game, were down by double digits most of the game and were clearly outplayed at points. The ‘Cats come back with around 9 minutes left in the game then go back down by 10 before coming back again. 2 seconds left, ‘Cats bring it down the floor, three pointer is good by Joyce Ekworomadu making it 84-83 Bobcats over Prarie View with 1.4 seconds left. Prarie View takes a time out as Ekworomado collapses to the floor with severe cramps. They work on her for a few minutes and then have to literally roll her off the floor. Prarie View tries the long in bounds pass, ‘Cats intercept the pass and hold the ball and the game ends, Bobcats win 84-83. Strahan Coliseum absolutely erupts as the team takes a victory lap high fiving students, the band and fans. It was a great night in the history of the Texas State women's basketball program. The ‘Cats now face a very tough Texas Tech team in the second round of the WNIT on Saturday. Eat Em' Up!!!
With exception of Southland Conference player of the year Joyce Ekworomado scoring a career high 37 points the Bobcats shooting was off all night and the defense struggled as the Bobcats lose in the first round of the Southland Conference tournament. The final-A&M Corpus Christi 106, Texas State 88. That ends the quest for an NCAA tournament berth. The Bobcats strength of schedule and the lack of a win over a ranked opponent will likely not get the ‘Cats an at large bid. The story is different however when you look at the invitation criteria for the Women's NIT tournament. According to the WNIT website 1 team from the 31 Division 1 conferences will get automatic invitations. Those teams either finish first in the regular season, which the ‘Cats did, or are the highest seeded team not to win the conference tournament and get an at-large NCAA berth. Texas State would also fill that bill going into the Southland tournament as the number 1 seed. Let's all hope that's the way it works out. This team is too good not to do more post season playing despite the performance in the first game of the Southland tournament.
Don't look now but what was supposed to be a rebuilding year for Texas State baseball could be a conference winning year. Yes the Bobcats have had their share of trouble in a couple of games, getting slammed by both Houston and New Mexico and losing a close game to TCU but the ‘Cats have also had big wins. The latest against Texas Tech, 14-3 and sweeping Northern Illinois 3-1 and 16-5, a win against the Big 10's Illinois 3-2 as well. The Bobcats have also beaten two conference foes, Sam Houston (which will battle Texas State for the championship in my opinion) and Stephen F. Austin. Those two games were considered out of conference games however so they will not count in conference standings, but it does allow us to measure up against two good conference opponents.
The true tests for this team however are still to come. Texas State plays national powers Texas and Rice in the next three weeks and begins conference play this weekend. Obvisouly beating teams like Texas and Rice don't lead to a conference championship but beating those teams and maintaining a strong conference record does help with the argument at the end of the season that Texas State should be an at large team in the post season if the Bobcats don't win the conference tournament.
© 2008 STATS LLC
Olympic Track Stars to Watch
