Emporia State Basketball: A Program on the Rise

Emporia State basketball is a program on the rise. The Hornets have made back-to-back NCAA Division II Tournament appearances and are looking to make it three in a row this season. Head Coach Shaun Vandiver has built a strong foundation for the program, and the future is bright for Emporia State Basketball.

Emporia State Basketball A Program on the Rise

Emporia State Basketball is a program on the rise. The Hornets have improved their win total in each of the last three seasons, culminating in a 21-9 record and a trip to the NCAA Division II Tournament last year.

Head coach Shaun Vandiver has Emporia State playing an exciting brand of basketball, and the team has a core of young talent that should keep them contending for years to come.

The future is bright for Emporia State basketball If you’re not already a fan, jump on board and join the fun!

The History of Emporia State Basketball

The Emporia State University men’s Basketball Program has a long and storied history, dating back to its inception in 1903. The program has seen its fair share of success over the years, most notably in the 1950s and 1960s when it won six conference championships and made three NCAA Division II Tournament appearances. After a period of relative dormancy, the program experienced a resurgence in the early 2000s, winning three consecutive conference championships from 2001 to 2003. The team has continued to be competitive in recent years making four NCAA Division II Tournament appearances since 2010. With a rich tradition and a bright future Emporia State Basketball is a program on the rise.

The Current State of Emporia State Basketball

Emporia state basketball is a program on the rise. The Hornets have improved their win total in each of the last three seasons, culminating in a 20-9 record and a berth in the NCAA Division II Tournament last year.

The Hornet’s success is due in large part to the play of their two star players seniors Marcus Weathers and Jaelin Bethea. Weathers, a 6’5″ guard/forward, was named the Midwest Region Player of the Year after averaging 20.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game Bethea, a 6’7″ forward, was also named to the All-Region team after averaging 16.8 points and 7.5 rebounds per game

WithWeathers and Bethea leading the way, Emporia State is poised for another successful season The Hornets are currently 14-4 overall and 9-3 in conference play good for second place in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA).

The Future of Emporia State Basketball

In just a few short years, Emporia State Basketball has quickly become one of the premier programs in all of NCAA Division II.

Under the leadership of head coach Matt Jurich, the Hornets have won back-to-back Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) regular season titles and made two consecutive appearances in the NCAA Division II Tournament. In 2017, Emporia State also reached the Elite Eight for the first time in program history.

With Coach Jurich at the helm, and a core group of talented players returning for the 18-19 season Emporia State is poised to make another run at a National Championship Be sure to catch all the action this winter as the Hornets continue their quest for greatness on the court!

The Coaching Staff of Emporia State Basketball

Emporia State Basketball is a program on the rise. After years of struggling, the team has begun to turn things around. One big reason for this is the coaching staff The Head Coach Dave Burgess, has been with the team for six years. In that time, he has built a strong staff of assistant coaches Each member of the staff brings something different to the table.

Burgess is a defensive specialist. He has coached at all levels, from High School to Division I. His experience has helped him develop a strong defensive strategy. This has been a big part of Emporia State’s success in recent years

Assistant Coach Mike Lewis is an offensive guru. He played college basketball at Kansas State and then spent several years as an Assistant Coach at various schools. His knowledge of the game is second to none. He has helped Emporia State develop a more explosive offense.

Assistant coach Pat Strickland is a former professional player. He played in Europe for many years before joining the Emporia State staff. His experience as a player has been invaluable to the team’s development.

The Coaching Staff of Emporia State Basketball is one of the best in Division II basketball. They have helped turn the program around and have it headed in the right direction.

The Players of Emporia State Basketball

The Emporia State University men’s basketball team has seen a lot of success in recent years The team has won the NCAA Division II National Championship three times, most recently in 2019. They have also made it to the Elite Eight six times and the Sweet Sixteen eight times.

But what makes Emporia State Basketball so successful? Part of it is the players. The team is full of talented individuals who are dedicated to their craft. Here are just a few of the players who have helped Emporia State become a force to be reckoned with in Division II basketball.

Tyler Mitchem: A 6’5” guard from Blue Springs Missouri, Mitchem is a two-time All-American and the 2019 Division II National Player of the Year. He averaged 20 points, five rebounds, and five assists per game during his senior season.

Mitchell Fink: A 6’7” forward from Wichita, Kansas, Fink was named the 2018 Division II Defensive Player of the Year. He is a two-time All-American and was named the 2019 Midwest Region Tournament MVP. Fink averaged 13 points and eight rebounds per game during his senior season.

Daniel Nwosu Jr.: A 6’6” guard from Houston, Texas, Nwosu is a three-time All-American and was named the 2019 Division II National Defensive Player of the Year. He averaged 14 points and six rebounds per game during his senior season.

The Fans of Emporia State Basketball

In recent years, the fans of Emporia State Basketball have become some of the most passionate and vocal in all of Division II. They have been rewarded with a team that has consistently contended for conference titles and made several deep runs in the NCAA tournament

The Hornets faithful pack White Auditorium for every Home game creating an electric atmosphere that is tough for opposing teams to handle. They are known for their creative chants and signs, and they are always ready to celebrate a Big Win

Whether it’s storming the court after a victory over a rival or traveling to support the team at a far-away tournament game, the fans of Emporia state basketball are always there to lift up their team.

The Rivalries of Emporia State Basketball

Emporia State Basketball has a long and storied history, with some of the most intense rivalries in all of college basketball The Hornets have faced off against some of the biggest names in the sport, including the Kansas Jayhawks the Missouri Tigers and the Nebraska Cornhuskers But there are two rivalries that stand out above the rest: the Washburn Ichabods and the Pittsburg State Gorillas

The Washburn Ichabods are Emporia State’s biggest rival, and the two teams have been going at it since 1901. The Hornets and the Ichabods have met a total of 205 times on the hardwood, with Emporia State holding a slim 102-103 lead in the all-time series. The two teams play each other every year in what is called the “Turnpike Tussle,” one of the most intense rivalries in all of College Basketball

The Pittsburg State Gorillas are another severe rival of Emporia State, although the two teams have not met as often as they have Washburn. The Hornets and Gorillas first squared off in 1913, and they have played each other 97 times since then. Pittsburg State currently holds a narrow 50-47 lead in the all-time series. Like Washburn, Pittsburg State is another team that Emporia State plays every year in what is known as the “Milk Bottle Classic.”

The Championships of Emporia State Basketball

In 2018, the Emporia State men’s Basketball team clinched their first-ever NCAA Division II National Championship It was a momentous achievement for the program, which has experienced a sharp rise in recent years.

Under the guidance of Head coach Shaun Vandiver, Emporia State has transformed into a national powerhouse. In just four years, the team has gone from being unranked to becoming the number one seed in the NCAA Division II tournament. This is an incredible accomplishment and is a testament to the hard work of Coach Vandiver and his players.

The 2018 championship is just the latest triumph for Emporia State Basketball With more strong seasons surely on the horizon, this is a program that is on the rise and one to watch in the coming years.

The Legacy of Emporia State Basketball

Emporia State Basketball has a long and storied history. The program has been on the rise in recent years, but it has a long way to go to catch up to some of the other programs in the country.

The program has produced some Great players over the years, including Hall of Famer caliber players like Wilt Chamberlain and Maurice Cheeks. More recently, the program has produced players like Jimmy Butler and D’Angelo Russell.

The program has also had its share of success on the court. The team has won conference championships and made appearances in the NCAA Tournament

In recent years, the program has been on the rise, thanks in part to the hiring of head coach Shaun Brown. Under Brown’s leadership, the team has won back-to-back conference championships and made appearances in the NCAA tournament

The future is bright for Emporia State basketball With Brown at the helm, the team looks poised to continue its ascent up the ranks of College Basketball programs.