SAN ANTONIO – The seventh-seeded University of the Incarnate Word men's basketball team is set to take on 10th-seeded Houston Baptist in the first game of the 2021 Hercules Tires Southland Basketball Tournament at the Leonard E. Merrell Center in Katy, Texas beginning on Tuesday, March 9 at 8 p.m. (CT).
TOURNAMENT LINKS
THE CHAMPIONSHIPS THIS WEEK
- UIW's trip to Katy, Texas marks the first time in program history it will play in the Southland Conference Championships since moving to Division I in 2013-14.
- The Cardinals look to snap a five-game losing streak when they play Houston Baptist in the first round of the tournament on Tuesday night, March 9 at 8 p.m. (CT).
- All games will be streamed live on ESPN+ or listen to UIW Play-by-Play calling from Nick Springer.
- HBU is the final seed in the Southland Tournament with a 5-18 (4-11 SLC) record.
- Sixth-seeded Lamar awaits the winner of Tuesday's game and will play Wednesday night. The winner will take on third-seeded Sam Houston on Thursday, then second-seeded Abilene Christian on Friday in the semifinals for a chance to reach the Championship Game set for 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 13.
- The Southland Tournament Champion receives an automatic bid for the NCAA Championships held in Indianapolis, starting Thursday, March 18.
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.
- Overall team GPA rose from sub-3.0 in 2017-18 to 3.23 in 2018-19, 3.46 in 2019-20 and a Fall 2020 GPA of 3.35.
- In 2018-19, the Cardinals registered the program's first 1,000 APR score.
- In 2018-19, UIW completed 282 hours of community service. The team was also the top men's program at UIW by completing 261.5 service hours in 2019-20.
- 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.
- This season, the Cardinals set a new program record and ranked second in SLC, holding opponents to 30.0% shooting from 3-point range. UIW was also second in opponent's overall shooting percentage (38.2%).
HISTORY
- UIW began playing men's basketball in 1980-81. Our teams have achieved a 643-398 (.618) record. The Cardinals transitioned to Division I status when they joined the Southland Conference in 2013-14.
- The Cardinals are 95-123 (.436) all-time in Southland Conference games.
- UIW is 42-22 (.656) all-time in neutral site games.
- The Cardinals hold an overall record of 8-12 in the postseason and have won six tournament championships as a member of the Heart of Texas and Heartland Conferences.
- The Cardinals are making their first postseason appearance since being invited to the NCAA Division I College Insider Tournament in 2014-15 season.
UIW QUICK HITS
SCOUTING THE #7 CARDINALS
- UIW ranks among the top-25 teams in the country in both 3-point shooting (18th, 38.2%) and 3-point defense (23rd, 30.0%).
- Sophomore Keaston Willis is the 2021 Southland Conference scoring champion averaging 18.95 points per game this season, beating out Sam Houston's Zach Nutall (18.94).
- Willis, also a 2021 Southland All-Conference second team selection, is shooting 42.9 % (118-of-275) from the field, 77.1% (84-for-109) from the foul line, 38.8% (40-of-113) from 3-point range and averaging 2.1 3-pointers per game in the regular season. All top-15 marks in the SLC.
- Senior Des Balentine is the only Cardinal to start in every game this season. Balentine ranks fifth in the conference in assists-to-turnover ratio (1.98) and sixth in assists per game (4.0).
- In his last three games to close out the regular season, sophomore Drew Lutz averaged 16.7 ppg, 1.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists and two steals and set season-best scoring marks in back-to-back games against New Orleans and HBU.
- Lutz is 11th in the league with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.5 and the league's 14th-best assist mark at 3.0 assists per game.
- Logan Bracamonte is the only freshman to appear in the conference's top-10 3-point shooters. Bracamonte ranks seventh with a 38.2 % 3-point percentage and averaged two 3s per game.
- 12 different Cardinals have registered at least one start during the regular season.
SCOUTING TOURNAMENT OPPONENTS
#10 HUSKIES
- The Cardinals are 7-8 all-time against the Huskies. HBU swept the 2021 season series, UIW is looking to snap a three-game skid against HBU.
- HBU is averaging 71.5 ppg but giving up 81.6 ppg to opponents. The Huskies are averaging a SLC's third-best mark of 8.3 3-pointers per game.
- The Huskies are second in the league shooting 73.4% from the foul line and blocked shots per game (3.78).
- Pedro Castro leads the Huskies in both scoring and rebounding. Castro leads the conference in 3-point FG percentage (47.8%), ranks 12th in league scoring (14.2 ppg), and fourth in rebounding (7.2).
#6 LAMAR
- Both Cardinal programs won on the opposite home court, splitting the season series. LU holds the all-time record of 9-5 in the Cardinals' matchup.
- Davion Buster ranks ninth in league scoring, leading the Cardinals with an average of 15.1 points per game.
- Avery Sullivan ranks second in the conference, averaging 7.7 rebounds per contest.
- Kasen Harrison leads LU and is fifth in SLC assists at 4.1 per game.
- 2021 Southland All-Defense selection, David Muoka leads the conference with an average of 2.8 blocks per game.
#3 SAM HOUSTON
- Sam Houston holds an all-time series record of 5-3 against UIW.
- SHSU ranks second in league turnover margin (+3.6), forcing 17.9 turnovers per game and giving up 14.3 turnovers.
- 2021 Southland All-Conference first team selection, Zach Nutall leads the Bearkats scoring, averaging 18.9 points per game.
- Tristan Ikpe and Nutall ranks 11th and 12th in conference rebounding, respectively. Ikpe is averaging 5.9 and Nutall is averaging 5.8 rebounds per contest.
#2 ABILENE CHRISTIAN
- ACU swept the regular season series and riding an eight-game win streak over UIW. The Cardinals hold a 12-10 all-time record against the Wildcats.
- 2021 Southland All-Conference first team selection, Kolton Kohl leads the Wildcats in scoring, averaging 12.1 points per game.
- 2021 Southland All-Conference second team selection, Joe Pleasant leads ACU with an average of 5.4 rebounds per game.
- Reggie Miller ranks third in the conference assists, averaging 4.4 points per game.
FOLLOW ALONG
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