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Appalachian gears up for SoCon Tournament |
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Thursday, 06 March 2008 |
by RYAN WIXTED
Sports Editor
The Appalachian State University men’s basketball team laid claim to its second consecutive Southern Conference North Division title with a victory over Western Carolina University Saturday.
Now, the men’s basketball team has turned its focus on the SoCon tournament to be held in Charleston, S.C., March 7-10.
The Mountaineers earned the No. 4 seed in this year’s tournament and are slated to play the No. 5
seeded University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
The Mountaineers split the regular season series with UNCG. Appalachian beat the Spartans 91-68 at home Jan. 12, but lost on the road in late February, 79-55.
With a week to prepare for the tournament - which is something new as the tournament will start a day
later than in previous years - ASU head coach Houston Fancher believes the extra time will give his
squad the chance to rest and allow them to focus on the team aspects of the game.
“I think it’s good for us because we spend days focusing on ourselves,” he said. “It gives us time to
really work on our team and not have to spend two days [preparing for a game] and then jump down
and play the tournament.”
Appalachian finished 18-12 overall and 13-7 in the SoCon, and shared part of the North Division title
with the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
UNCG finished 18-11 overall and finished second in the North Division with a 12-8 conference record.
Nevertheless, the Mountaineers understand they have a daunting task in front of them in hopes of
claiming a bid to the NCAA tournament.
“We still have to play three games when we go down there and every team is playing for their
basketball lives,” Fancher said. “There’s not going to be an easy route to a championship. You’re going
to have to play well three nights [in a row] to win regardless of who you’re playing.”
Despite another North Division title, the Mountaineers have experienced some personal achievements
as well.
Seniors Donte Minter and Jeremy Clayton and freshman guard Donald Sims were all named to the
Southern Conference Sports Media Association All-Southern Conference Teams.
Minter, Appalachian’s leading scorer, earned first team honors.
Clayton, who became ASU’s all-time career leader in blocked shots earlier in the season, earned third
team honors, and Sims was named to the all-freshman team.
 Senior forward Jeremy Clayton was selected to All-SoCon Third Team after averaging 2.4 blocks and 8.2 rebounds per game this season. Photo by Derek DeSha
|  Senior forward Donte Minter was selected as All-SoCon First Team after averaging 14.3 points and 6.0 rebounds per game this season. Photo by Derek DeSha
|  Freshman guard Donald Sims was selected as All-Socon Freshmen Team after averaging 11.6 points and 2.7 assists per game this season. Photo by Derek DeSha
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