Troy University Athletics
Trojans Hoping for Postseason Chance
3/13/2009 5:00:00 AM | Basketball (M)
TROY ? Following last Sunday's loss to South Alabama in the 2009 Sun Belt tournament, Troy head coach Don Maestri was speechless.
The veteran coach paused and admitted he was really at a loss for words after the three-point defeat by a Jaguar team that his Trojans had defeated two previous times during the season.
But perhaps Troy's coach of 27 seasons will have another chance to coach this squad and speak about the team as the Trojans are being considered for a pair of postseason tournaments.
“There is a chance we could play in a postseason tournament,” Troy head coach Don Maestri told the Troy Messenger. “And that would be something great for this special group of guys we have here."
He echoed the sentiment to the Dothan Eagle, saying that he knows his squad is being considered.
"I know we're on the board. I believe we've got a legit chance to get an invite to either one. If it happens, it would be a nice reward.”
Troy lost 78-75 in Hot Springs, Ark. March 8 to USA, but the Trojans (19-12) still have the possibility of playing in the second annual College Basketball Invitational (CBI) or the inaugural CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT).
Both of the tournaments are comprised of 16-team fields and were created after the National Invitational Tournament (NIT) started guaranteeing bids to teams who won their conference regular season title, but failed to win their conference tournament. Tulsa defeated Bradley last season for the first CBI crown.
The tournaments afford 129 division I basketball teams (34 percent of the nation's teams) the opportunity to experience postseason play, closer to the 54 percent of football teams that are invited to bowl games.
The game is a reward for the program, but it is also another opportunity for the team to finish the season or in the case of senior Josh Williams, a career, strong.
“I feel like going to a tournament would be giving us a second chance after lost the first one,” Williams said. “We would thank the Lord for another opportunity to win a championship and hopefully go out on top.”
Maestri believes additional games this year would give the program a boost and also be a nice bonus for the fans and the university.
“It would enhance the image of our basketball program, which also enhances our university,” Maestri told the Eagle. “There's a bunch of people that really got in to this basketball team by the end of the year, and this would be another chance to see them play.”
One factor helping the Trojans gain the eye of the tournament committees is their strong play over the second half of the season. Since a January 1 loss at Western Kentucky, Troy holds a record of 14-3, with the three losses coming by a total of six points.
Another factor is the strong showing of the team and its players nationally. Junior guard Brandon Hazzard is ninth in the country in 3-point field goal percentage. The Atlanta native is hitting 44.6 percent of his attempts. Fellow junior Michael Vogler is tied for 24th nationally with 166 assists and senior big man Tom Jervis is tied for 32nd with 66 blocks.
“Our guys have gained recognition and we have submitted information to the NIT, the CBI and the CIT,” Maestri told the Messenger. “I just hope one comes to pass and we will know Sunday night.”
