Men's Basketball 11/25/2020 9:48:00 AM

Cardinals tip off 2020-21 season hosting the Thanksgiving Invitational

SAN ANTONIO – The University of the Incarnate Word Men's Basketball 2020-21 season begins with a home invitational against Conference-USA foe Rice on Friday, Nov. 27 at 1 p.m. and close out Thanksgiving weekend against Our Lady of the Lake on Nov. 29, also at 1 p.m.

GAME NOTES

THE GAMES THIS WEEKEND

UIW tips off the 2020-21 season with a home Thanksgiving Invitational against Rice on Friday, Nov. 27 and Our Lady of the Lake on Sunday, Nov. 29. Both are 1 p.m. game times.
Rice and OLLU play on Saturday, Nov. 28 at 1 p.m.
Rice competes in Conference USA, while Our Lady of the Lake competes in the Red River Athletic Conference.
Historically, UIW is 1-1 against both Rice and Our Lady of the Lake.
UIW aims to redeem losses to both Rice in 2016 and OLLU in 2015.

UIW QUICK HITS

The Cardinals are 22-12 all-time in season openers.
UIW finished 10th in the Southland Conference after going 9-22 overall and 6-14 in conference play in 2019-20.
The Cardinals return four of the team's five starters from 2019-20.
The Cardinals added seven freshmen and a junior transfer to its 2020-21 lineup.
Sophomore, Keaston Willis, returns after capturing SLC Freshman of the Year.
Willis led the team in field goals (133-of-358), 3-point field goals (81-of-232) and 3-point field goal percentage (34.9), points (412) and scoring average (13.3).
Sophomore, Drew Lutz, led the SLC in free throw percentage (88.6). Last season, he also led the team in minutes played (998), free throws (78-of-88), assists (108) and steals (38).

THE CUNNINGHAM CULTURE

Since taking over as head coach in 2018-19, Dr. Carson Cunningham has guided the Cardinals to new heights in the classroom, in the community and on the court in his first two seasons.
Overall team GPA rose from sub-3.0 in 2017-18 to 3.23 in 2018-19 and 3.46 in 2019-20.
In 2018-19, the Cardinals registered the program's first 1,000 APR score.
In 2018-19, UIW completed 282 hours of community service and was the top men's program by completing 261.5 service hours in 2019-20.
The Cardinals have logged 31 service hours in 2020-21 while adhering to COVID-19 safety protocols.
UIW had a five-win improvement in conference play, going from one (2018-19) to six (2019-20) - the highest conference wins total since the team went 7-11 in the 2016-17 season.

HISTORY

UIW began playing men's basketball in 1980-81. Our teams have achieved a 599-463 record. The Cardinals transitioned to Division I status when they joined the Southland Conference in 2013-14.
UIW holds a 393-162 (.708) record inside the McDermott Convocation Center.
UIW, the largest Catholic university in Texas, was founded in 1881 by the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word. Enrollment is 10,389.

SCOUTING THE OWLS

Rice was selected to finish 14th in Conference USA preseason polls after finishing 12th in 2019-20 with a 15-17 (7-11 C-USA) record.
Rice rolls out a new lineup this season after losing five starters from last season. The Owls return six student-athletes and added nine newcomers (three freshmen, three sophomores, one junior, two grad transfers).
Rice added five Division I transfers to its roster for 2020-21 - Riley Abercrombie (R-So., Boise St.), Tre Clark (Gr., Furman), Travis Evee (So., VMI), Cavit Ege Havsa (Gr., Utah Valley) and Malik Ondigo (Jr, Texas Tech).
The Owls' lone returner, junior Chris Mullens, averaged 7.3 points and 2.6 rebounds per contest last season.
Incoming sophomore, Travis Evee averaged 12.6 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.6 assists at VMI last season.

SCOUTING THE SAINTS

Our Lady of the Lake is slated to finish fifth in the Red River Athletic Conference preseason polls after finishing fifth in 2019-20 with a 10-18 (6-12 RRAC) record.
The Saints return ten student-athletes who saw playing time a season ago.
OLLU looks to replace the No. 2 and No. 5 scorer on the 2019-20 team. Junior, Ruben Monzon returns to the lineup after averaging 13.1 points and the league's sixth-best 7.8 rebounds per contest.
Senior, Darin Minniefield, shot 47.2 percent (51-of-108) from the floor and 65.8 (25-of-38) from the free throw line.
Senior, Edvin Trevino, grabbed 92 rebounds (17 off.,75 def.), seven steals and five blocks in 2019-20.

TIPOFF COVERAGE
GAME NOTES WEEK 1 (PDF)
vs. Rice

Watch/Listen: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/uiw/
Live stats: SIDEARM Live Stats

vs. OLLU

Watch/Listen: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/uiw/
Live stats: SIDEARM Live Stats

FOLLOW ALONG
For the most up-to-date information on UIW Athletics, visit uiwcardinals.com, follow the Cardinals on Twitter @UIWAthletics and like UIW Athletics on Facebook.

Follow the team on Twitter @UIWMBB and on Instagram @uiwmensbasketball.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#2 Keaston Willis: G; 6' 3"; Freshman

#3 Drew Lutz: G; 6' 1"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#2 Keaston Willis
: 6' 3"; Freshman
: G

#3 Drew Lutz
: 6' 1"; Freshman
: G

Players Mentioned

#2 Keaston Willis

#3 Drew Lutz

Players Mentioned

#2 Keaston Willis

#3 Drew Lutz