LITTLE ROCK — John Brown University won its first Sooner Athletic Conference regular-season men’s championship this year, but that doesn’t mean the Golden Eagles are taking the conference tournament lightly.
JBU (25-5) has been ranked as high as third in the NAIA coaches poll and is the favorite to win the league tournament after going 14-2 in conference play this season, but Coach Clark Sheehy doesn’t want his team looking past tonight’s tournament opener at Oklahoma Baptist in Shawnee, Okla.
The Golden Eagles will face St. Gregory’s at 6:15 tonight.
“There have been lots of close games in our conference this year,” said Sheehy, who was named SAC’s coach of the year Monday. “There’s not a lot of separation between the teams.”
Senior all-conference guard Coleson Rakestraw leads the Golden Eagles with an average of 11.4 points a game, but he isn’t JBU’s only option. Sophomore Max Hopfgartner (10.5), SAC Freshman of the Year Kofi Josephs (10.4) and freshman D’Shon Taylor (10.1) also average at least 10 points a game.
JBU opened the season with eight consecutive victories and owns a pair of seven-game winning streaks in SAC play, but it closed out the regular season with a 73-48 loss to Oklahoma Baptist on Saturday in Siloam Springs.
“Offensively, we never gotin a good rhythm on Saturday,” Sheehy said. “We’re going need to play better in the conference tournament.”
JBU isn’t a lock for an at-large berth in the NAIA national tournament if they don’t win the SAC Tournament, but Sheehy said he likes the Golden Eagles’ chances of earning a bid.
Of course, winning in Shawnee will eliminate any doubt.
“I like this team,” Sheehy said. “I think we’ll be ready for the challenge.”
JBU’s women’s team, which went 12-16 overall and 7-9 in conference play, opens play in the SAC tournament at 12:30 p.m. today against Oklahoma Baptist (14-13, 7-9).
At a glance SAC TOURNAMENT At Shawnee, Okla.
All times Central MEN TODAY’S GAMES Science & Arts Oklahoma (16-8) vs. Lubbock Christian (15-13), 4:30 p.m.
John Brown (25-5) vs. St. Gregory’s (7-20), 6:15 p.m.
Oklahoma Baptist (24-6) vs. Oklahoma City (14-10), 8 p.m.
Mid-America Christian (14-11) vs. Rogers State (20-10), 9:45 p.m.
WOMEN TODAY’S GAMES Rogers State (22-8) vs. Wayland Baptist (15-15), 9 a.m.
Lubbock Christian (26-3) vs. St. Gregory’s (12-18), 10:45 a.m.
John Brown (12-16) vs. Oklahoma Baptist (14-13), 12:30 p.m.
Oklahoma City (24-2) vs. Mid-America Christian (14-14), 2:15 p.m.
Sports, Pages 23 on 02/28/2013