By: Keller Sherman
Featured Image Courtesy of Southern Utah Athletics
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — It may not be the Big Dance as Southern Utah had hoped, but the Thunderbirds are still dancing. SUU fell just one win short of March Madness losing 84-66 to Grand Canyon in the WAC Tournament Championship. Todd Simon announced earlier this week that he is taking the job at Bowling Green. He will not coach the CBI and associate coach Flynn Clayman has assumed interim head coaching duties. Clayman will look to make himself a serious candidate for the full-time job with a deep run in Daytona.
One Last Ride
The College Basketball Invitational will be the last games played for a handful of seniors on the roster. Dee Barnes, Harrison Butler, Maizen Fausett, Cameron Healy, and Tevian Jones will all graduate after this season. It is possible that some of the younger talents like Drake Allen and Jason Spurgin may hit the transfer portal. It will be crucial for the next coach to keep these two players or 2023-24 could be a rebuilding year.
We Want (North) Bama
North Alabama went 18-14 this season and finished sixth in the Atlantic Sun Conference. Daniel Ortiz has been a dynamic scorer for the Lions. He enters this game having scored 20+ points in four consecutive games. SUU will need its offensive firepower on full display if the Thunderbirds want to win this one. A combined team effort was the key to SUU’s wins in the WAC Tournament. Can they bring it again here?