SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – The Golden State Warriors are arguably the most exciting team in the NBA.  Already known to be one of the most offensively explosive teams, new head coach Steve Kerr has a brought a new edge adding ball movement and defense to the Warriors arsenal.  So who does Steve Kerr and the Golden State Warriors have in common? UIW head basketball coach, Ken Burmeister.

Coach Burmeister was assistant coach at Arizona and recruited an impactful recruit, Steve Kerr. He said Kerr made himself into a great player with his "impeccable work ethic" spending late nights in the gym to improve his skill sets. Kerr developed into one of the most successful players in the NBA, achieving five championships with the Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs.

Here is a UIW trivia question for all Cardinals fans, "What do the UIW Men's Basketball team and the Golden State Warriors have in common?"
 
STYLE OF PLAY
UIW was one of the top team scoring teams in the nation last year finishing seventh in all of Division I basketball.  A lot of coaches claim to have an "up-tempo" style but UIW actually plays that way. Coach Burmeister says his offensive philosophy is predicated on giving his players the "ultimate freedom" to score the ball. UIW scored more points per game than the following teams: Notre Dame, Arkansas, UNC, Indiana, Arizona, Ohio State, and Kentucky. The Golden State Warriors led the NBA in scoring at 110 points per game. Kerr also gives his team offensive freedom, which captivates fans and piles on wins for his organization.
 
SPLASH BROTHERS
NBA MVP Steph Curry and Klay Thompson (Splash Brothers) are widely considered the best two guard combination in the NBA. UIW had their own version of the "Splash Brothers" this season with Denzel Livingston (21.5 points per game) and Kyle Hittle (15.3 points per game). The up-tempo brand of basketball allows multiple players to play at a high level and play more teams. It truly is fun to watch Draymond Green showing off his versatility, Andre Iguodala's high-flying plays and Harrison Barnes showing all of us he could be the next NBA star.
 
THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT
The future is looking bright for both for the Cardinals as well. UIW has added six incoming players to the roster to increase scoring weapons, athleticism and toughness. UIW has signed three top 50 recruits in the state of Texas which is second only to Texas A&M.
 
2015 INCOMING CLASS
Miles Banks, 6-9, F, Queens, NY (Kilgore College)
Sam Burmeister, 6-4, SG, San Antonio, TX (Red-Shirt Sophomore)
Derail Green, 6-7, F, Houston, TX (Red-Shirt Sophomore)
Jorden Kite, 6-4, SG, San Antonio, TX (Clark HS)
Tyler Singleton, 6-3, PG, Dallas, TX (Triple A Academy)
Curt Wesley, 6-6, F, Houston, TX (Sterling HS)
 

DENZEL LIVINGSTON UPDATE:
Senior Denzel Livingston received an invite to the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament where 64 college seniors are invited to perform in front of NBA and international talent scouts. Livingston completed the event leaving a good impression with his scoring ability, versatility and upside.  He received an invite from with the Utah Jazz for an individual workout on May 5. We will be following him closely and providing an update.
 
Coach Burmeister is proud of his association with individuals like Steve Kerr, who set the NBA record for most wins by a rookie coach this season.  In addition, Kerr is the recipient of the 2014-15 Rudy Tomjanovich Award.  This prestigious award honors coaches who are outstanding on and off the court and that is the type of players Burmeister seeks for the UIW program every year.
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