Game Notes
Kentucky Wesleyan coach Todd Lee will try to make Saturday's game as normal as possible.
The fact is, there's a lot going on surrounding the game against No. 15 Bellarmine at 7:30 p.m. at the Sportscenter.
Off the court, it's senior night, where KWC will recognize its three seniors — Kreig Oxley, Cornbread Walker and Dazmond Starke. The school's first ever Athletic Hall of Fame class will also be introduced at halftime.
On the court, the Panthers are playing for a tie with Bellarmine in the Great Lakes Valley Conference East Division standings.
When asked whether it would be a distraction or not, Lee said the hope is that all of the extra energy in the building is a good thing.
"I think the last (home) game can motivate you, obviously if you have a good crowd," Lee said. "We've had good crowds the last number of years on our senior night. I think it really helps from that standpoint. You try not to let it be a distraction in any way, and I don't think it will be for our three seniors. ...There's always a bit of emotion that goes into a senior night from a player's standpoint, from a coach's standpoint because you've been with these guys and coached them and been through a lot with them. There's always some emotion that goes before the game.
"Once the ball is thrown up, it kind of all goes away. Before the game, there is some emotion and some different thoughts going through your mind."
The Panthers (18-6, 10-6 GLVC) have won three straight road games heading into Saturday's game. After losing six out of seven games before that, including an 86-69 losst at Bellarmine (19-5, 11-5 GLVC) on Feb. 2, KWC is left having to essentially play its way into the NCAA Tournament.
That was Lee's message to his team this week after the first of three NCAA Midwest Regional Rankings had KWC at No. 9 and on the bubble for a tournament berth. Only the top eight teams in the region make the tournament.
He said he knows that message can't be lost in the pomp of Saturday's activities.
"We can't rely on anybody else," Lee said. "We've got to win games. I'm not going to break down the standings for them. They know where we were in the regional rankings. We had to take care of business (Thursday) night, which we did. These last two games are important for the GLVC standings and the regional rankings, so they know all that."
• KWC (17-7, 12-4 GLVC) hosts Bellarmine at 5:15. Following the contest, KWC seniors Biance Barton, Lauren Goffinet, Kailyn Mitchell, Jordan Ogle and Neika Smith will be honored in their final home game.
