A Fresh Start: Men's Basketball Eyes Success in 2017-18
WATERTOWN, Wis. -- With a 1:1 ratio of returners to rookies, the Sabercats Men's Basketball Team is primed for a fresh start to a promising season ahead.
Coming off a heartbreaking finish to the 2016-17 season, the Sabercats are more motivated than ever to achieve postseason success - something that has eluded them in recent history.
Playing on their home floor, MBU saw a second-half lead slip away to Moody Bible in the regional championship game last year. The Sabercats were ultimately just 3 points shy of their first regional title since 2000.
Disappointing? That's putting it lightly.
With 2016-17 in the rearview mirror, Keith Salscheider approaches his 6th season at the helm. Salscheider has led the team to double-digit wins in each of the last 4 seasons.
With an even mix of vets and rookies this year, Coach Keith and his staff anticipate progress and are making the necessary changes for this progress to be made.
"We as a coaching staff have been pleased with what we have seen so far," Salscheider notes. "We have added some new items offensively and defensively that the guys have adjusted to well. Our three graduating seniors helped build a solid foundation for our returners to build on."
The Sabercats will look to build 3 wins into their schedule this month, as they hold 3 home games in November. They open play tomorrow night against Cornell College (Mount Vernon, Iowa), who went 12-12 last season and finished as a semifinalist in the Midwest Conference Tournament. This will be the first meeting between the two teams.
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| First Game................................... | 11/16 - 7 p.m. vs Cornell |
| 2017-18 Home Games................... | 12 |
| 2017-18 NCCAA Games................. | 11 |
| 2016-17 Record............................ | 11-17 |
| 2016-17 Overall NCCAA Record....... | 7-5 |
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On the NCCA scene, the Sabercats will play 6 North Region opponents during the regular season. The only regional opponent the Sabercats will not face during the regular season is Providence-Manitoba. Last year, the Sabercats dispatched Providence at home to the tune of 104-69.
NCCAA Regionals will be held Feb. 22-24 at Faith Baptist Bible College in Ankeny, Iowa. The tournament will feature up to 8 teams and is slated to be a proverbial dogfight.
Regional success, among other things, is precisely what Salscheider and the Sabercats are shooting for.
"Our goal every year is to, first of all, show Christ in everything we do," says Salscheider. "Our second goal is to grow and improve on the basketball court consistently over the course of the season. Lastly, our goal is to be the #1 seed in our region and make it to Nationals."
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All home games will be live streamed to YouTube and to Facebook. Live statistics will be available for each home game at mbusabercats.com/composite.
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