Jackson Freeman: A Coaching Legacy (CH 2K8)

[southernmetalhead]

North Florida Ospreys (4-10, 0-4) 74


Kennesaw State Owls (11-4, 3-0) 91

KENNESAW, GA - When Kennesaw State embarked on their five game home stand, Coach Freeman set the team goal to go 5-0 and protect home court at the KSU Convocation Center. The Owls did just that with a 91-74 romp over North Florida and also improved their record to a perfect 3-0 in Atlantic Sun Conference play.

Unlike the Jacksonville game, Kennesaw State did not get off to a slow start in this one. By the 11:15 mark of the 1st half when Jimmy Villanueva converted a transition basket, the Owls had taken a 25-14 lead. That margin would balloon to as many as 18 points in the opening 20 minutes, but to North Florida's credit they battled back and cut the Kennesaw State lead to just 8 points by halftime to 47-39.

Not liking that his team had taken their foot off the gas, Coach Freeman challenged his club to come out in the 2nd half and finish the job. The Owls did just that as the lead rose to 21 points at 81-60 when Hensley Karis netted a bucket at the 6:52 mark of the second frame. The Ospreys were unable to keep pace as they shot just 37% for the game (29/77 FG) and Kennesaw State cruised to a 17 point win.

Villanueva scored 23 points in the winning effort for Kennesaw State, Isaac Abbott followed up his 20-20 game last time out with 20 points and 12 rebounds in this contest, Seamus Olaiya added 18 points, Josip Dewitt tallied 10 points, and Brian Sloan was workmanlike with 6 points and 12 rebounds. Tahric Dowling also had 23 points for North Florida, Andrew McCully posted 17 points, Jameer Lawrence picked up 11 points, and Hawley Warner scored 10.

On a 5-game winning streak and now standing at 11-4 and 3-0 in Atlantic Sun Conference play, Kennesaw State will head on the road for a huge showdown with the Stetson Hatters (8-7, 3-0). The winner of this game will secure 1st place in the conference by themselves depending on what Belmont (9-7, 3-0) does against East Tennessee State.

North Florida Ospreys at Kennesaw State Owls
Jan 12, 2008	1ST	2ND	SCORE
North Florida (4-10, 0-4)	39	35	74
Kennesaw State (11-4, 3-0)	47	44	91

[southernmetalhead]

NCAA Hoops Rankings - AP Top 25 - Updated: Jan 13, 2008
RK	LW	TEAM (VOTES)	RECORD
1	1	Kansas	13-1
2	2	Michigan State	13-2
3	4	Marquette	13-2
4	5	Louisville	13-3
5	3	UCLA	13-3
6	6	Arizona	13-2
7	12	Tennessee	11-3
8	10	Oregon	13-3
9	7	Georgetown	11-3
10	9	Georgia Tech	11-3
11	8	Georgia	10-2
12	14	NC State	11-1
13	16	Texas A&M	11-3
14	17	Florida State	13-4
15	15	Connecticut	12-3
16	11	Kentucky	10-4
17	24	Ohio State	10-3
18	23	Vanderbilt	14-4
19	NR	Illinois	12-5
20	18	North Carolina	9-8
21	NR	Mississippi State	13-4
22	25	Gonzaga	12-4
23	21	Providence	12-4
24	NR	Oklahoma State	11-3
25	20	Memphis	9-6

[southernmetalhead]

Kennesaw State Owls (12-4, 4-0) 112


Stetson Hatters (8-8, 3-1) 104 2OT

DELAND, FL - In an epic showdown for first place in the Atlantic Sun Conference, the home standing Stetson Hatters blew glorious chances in both regulation and the first overtime to put away the visiting Kennesaw State Owls who finally came away with the victory 112-104 in double overtime. Kennesaw State had been 0-2 in overtime games this season with losses to UL Lafayette and Mississippi State before picking up this extra frame win. It was also the first time this season Coach Freeman's team has won when surrendering 100 points. The Owls had been 0-3 in those games up until the win over Stetson. Finally, Kennesaw State improved their record to 4-0 when scoring 100 points themselves.

As the score indicates, this one was a close battle from the start. Kennesaw State was fortunate that Stetson didn't take advantage of foul trouble to leading Owls scorer Jimmy Villanueva in the 1st half as Villanueva had to go to the bench with 12 points and 2 fouls at the 8:49 mark with the Hatters leading 27-24. Showing resilience, Coach Freeman's side didn't buckle without their top player but instead pushed forward and were able to secure a narrow 42-40 lead at halftime.

With Villanueva back on the court in the 2nd half, Kennesaw State looked to be pulling away when Brennon Nystrom dunked at 14:38 to make it a 58-48 game. Stetson however roared back and when Marcello Acasio hit a 3-pointer at the 1:36 mark, the game was finally tied again 82-82. The teams would then trade baskets to make the score 84-84 when Stetson got the ball with one last chance to win the game. Doug Works fired up a 3 for the Hatters with 7 seconds left that rimmed out, but Konimba Toumou got an offensive rebound and put back that went all around the cylinder and then out to send the game into overtime.

Down 94-93 in overtime, Kennesaw State got a crucial bucket from Villanueva who hit a jumper just inside the 3-point line to make the score 95-94 Owls. Then with 20.4 seconds left, Hensley Karis added two free throws for Kennesaw State and the score was 97-94. Needing a triple, Stetson got exactly that with 10.2 seconds when Works drained the trey to even the score 97-97. Kennesaw State could then play for the final shot in overtime, but point guard Jay Jay Wisniewski made a critical turnover that got Stetson on the fast break. Kennesaw State was forced to foul on the Hatters' shot to prevent the easy bucket, but Stetson was going to the free throw line with 1.8 seconds left needing just one make to win. Remarkably, Works missed both free throws and the game would go to a second overtime.

In double OT, Kennesaw State finally got the separation they were looking for all game. It helped that the Owls got to the free throw line 41 times in this contest, making 34 of their attempts (83%). Stetson, on the other hand, only got to the stripe 19 times, and made 15 but missed the two critical ones already mentioned.

Villanueva finished a monster game with 35 points to lead Kennesaw State, Brian Sloan had a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds, Seamus Olaiya added 16 points himself, and Josip Dewitt scored 12 off the bench. John Warsaw was Stetson's leading scorer with 31 points, Works contributed 25 points, and Acasio had 19 points in the defeat.

Now at 4-0 in the Atlantic Sun and winners of 6 straight games, Kennesaw State is tied for first place in the conference with Belmont (10-7, 4-0). The Owls will stay in Florida and travel to Fort Myers to take on the struggling Florida Gulf Coast Eagles who are just 2-16 overall, and 1-3 in A-Sun play.

Kennesaw State Owls at Stetson Hatters
Jan 17, 2008	1ST	2ND	OT	SCORE
Kennesaw State (12-4, 4-0)	42	42	28	112
Stetson (8-8, 3-1)	40	44	20	104

[thesportsguru11]

Man you have a high scoring squad. You guys are looking good in the A-Sun so far.. hopefully you can keep that going.

[southernmetalhead]

Quote: Originally Posted by thesportsguru11

Man you have a high scoring squad. You guys are looking good in the A-Sun so far.. hopefully you can keep that going.

Thanks, we play a pretty fast pace. It's a good style for us. We got so lucky to beat Stetson because all they needed was 1 free throw out of 2 to go in and they had us beat. He missed them both though, so we got saved on that one. Happy to be 4-0.

[vidgames]

Nice man! What difficulty?

[southernmetalhead]

Atlantic Sun Conference Standings - Updated: Jan 18, 2008
TEAM	REC	PCT	CONF	GB	STRK
Kennesaw State	12-4	.750	4-0	-	W6
Belmont	10-7	.588	4-0	-	W5
Gardner-Webb	6-10	.375	4-1	0.5	W4
Stetson	8-8	.500	3-1	1	L1
Campbell	8-8	.500	3-2	1.5	L2
Mercer	9-7	.563	2-2	2	W1
Jacksonville	6-9	.400	2-2	2	W2
South Carolina Upstate	5-11	.313	2-2	2	W1
Florida Gulf Coast	2-16	.111	1-3	3	L3
Lipscomb	7-10	.412	0-4	4	L4
East Tennessee State	5-11	.313	0-4	4	L7
North Florida	4-10	.286	0-4	4	L4

[southernmetalhead]

Quote: Originally Posted by vidgames

Nice man! What difficulty?

All-Conference with AuburnAlumni's sliders.