Sept. 25, 2007
Princeton, N.J. - Pairings for the 2007 O'Reilly Auto Parts College Basketball Experience Classic were finalized on Tuesday, when Gazelle Group officials (tournament organizers) announced that Fordham, Central Michigan and Central Missouri have been assigned to compete in the Missouri Regional, Nov. 12-13 in Columbia, Mo.
Fordham and Central Missouri will meet on Nov. 12 at 4:30 p.m., while Missouri will take on Central Michigan at 7 p.m. Regardless of the outcome during Monday's opening round, Missouri will play at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, while the initial game will take place at 4:30 p.m.
The Missouri Regional promises to be an exciting one, as Fordham headlines the list of incoming programs. The Rams finished 18-12 last season, which includes a 10-6 record (T-4th) in the Atlantic 10 Conference. The Rams return a remarkable 97 percent of their scoring and rebounding from last season's club, paced by returning All-Atlantic 10 performers Marcus Stout and Bryant Dunston. An honorable mention all-conference player last season, Stout led the Rams in scoring (15.3) and three-point makes (79), while Dunston was a Second Team pick with 14.5 points and a team-leading 7.2 rebounds. In addition to returning all-five starters from last season's team, Head Coach Dereck Whittenburg (of North Carolina State fame) returns his top 10 scorers from last-year's club.
Central Michigan enters its second season under Ernie Zeigler. A former assistant coach at Pittsburgh and UCLA under Ben Howland and Kansas State under Tom Asbury, Zeigler returns an experienced unit led by speedy point guard Giordan (pronounced Jordan) Watson. The 5-10 senior averaged 18.8 points (No. 2 in the MAC) and 4.2 assists (No. 6 in the MAC) last season for the Chippewas and was selected the preseason Player of the Year in the MAC by Lindy's and Athlon magazines. Watson will be aided by the addition of Purdue transfer Nate Minnoy down low. A 6-foot-3, 270-pound bulldozer in the middle, Minnoy averaged 10.1 points and 5.1 boards during his freshman season at Purdue, which was eventually cut short by a knee injury. Considered by many to be a top recruit entering the Mid-American Conference this season, Minnoy adds even more veteran leadership to a CMU club returning four starters and eight total players that boast starting experience.
Rounding out the four-team event is Central Missouri. Coached by Mizzou All-Century Team member and longtime Tiger assistant Kim Anderson, the Mules are coming off an exciting 31-4 season that saw them advance to the championship game of the NCAA Division II national tournament. Anderson will undergo a rebuilding process with his young Mules this season, as he adds eight junior college standouts to his 2007-08 roster.
Other regional host sites for the 2007 CBE Classic include Maryland, Michigan State and UCLA. Winners of the Missouri and Michigan State regionals will meet in the semifinals of the CBE Classic, as will winners of the Maryland and UCLA brackets. The semifinals and finals will be played at the new Sprint Center in downtown Kansas City, Mo., on Nov. 19-20. Those contests will be aired live on ESPN2.
With the release of its opponents for the opening rounds of the CBE Classic, Missouri also unveiled its 2007-08 television schedule. Including exhibition games against Missouri-St. Louis (Nov. 3) and Missouri Western (Nov. 8), Mizzou will have a record 31-of-32 regularly-scheduled games appearing on television this season. Should the Tigers advance to the semifinals and finals of the CBE Classic in Kansas City that number will increase to 33-of-34. Mizzou Sports Network telecasts will be available in Kansas City on Metro Sports and in St. Louis on Fox Sports Midwest. Television clearance assignments (stations carrying Tiger games) in Mid-Missouri will be finalized at a later date.
Season tickets for Mizzou Basketball are on sale. Fans can contact the Mizzou Athletics Ticket Office at 1-800-CAT-PAWS for more information.