ron hunter: 'no justice' if jags bypassed for postseason.

While bubble teams sit anxiously around television sets across the nation Sunday evening as the NCAA announces its 65 bids for the 2008 Men’s Basketball National Championship Tournament, IUPUI Jaguars Head Coach Ron Hunter and his team will be waiting just a little bit longer in hopes of securing a postseason bid in either the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) or the inaugural College Basketball Invitational.


"Take a look at our resume and look what we’ve done. We've beaten some good teams, we’re 26-7. This team has done a tremendous job," said Hunter. "I know it's about money and it's about match-ups, but at some point it's got to be about rewarding what a team does."

What has his team done? Despite losing the Summit League Tournament Championship game to Oral Roberts Tuesday night, the Jaguars have an impressive record (26-7), quality wins (UMass, Western Michigan, Oral Roberts) and Summit League Player of the Year George Hill. But is it enough? Hunter thinks so.

"I hope that people will see that and that we’ve got a marquee kid in George Hill that we know can play with anyone in the country," said Hunter. "We just hope that we get an opportunity to play in postseason play because these kids have worked hard for it."

NIT bids will be announced at 9 p.m. EDT Sunday night on ESPN2. The 32-team field begins play on March 18. The 16-team College Basketball Invitation also begins play on Tuesday, March 18. Bids will be announced after the NCAA announces its bids for the national championship tournament.

"I will be heartbroken and really disappointed if this team isn't in postseason play," said Hunter. "There is absolutely no justice if this team is not in postseason play."

george hill earns fourth potw honor.

Well, here's the least-shocking news of the day:

IUPUI’s Hill Named Player of the Week

Hill earns Player of the Week honors for the fourth time this season after averaging 28.5 points on 65 percent shooting, 5.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists in a pair of wins last week.

The junior opened the week with 23 points, including 19 in the second half, to go with five rebounds and four assists vs. South Dakota State. He followed that up with 33 points, one shy of his career high, seven assists and six rebounds in a come-from-behind win at North Dakota State.

Hill, who made a career-high 14 free throws in the victory, assisted John Ashworth on the game-winning three-pointer as the Jaguars closed the game on a 14-0 run. IUPUI has now won six in a row and sits in second place in The Summit League standings.

Also nominated: Tim Blackwell, UMKC; Brett Winkelman, North Dakota State; Johnathon Jones, Oakland; Geoff Payne, Southern Utah.

I can't see anyone coming close to Hill in Player-of-the-Year honors.


Previous winners:
Feb. 4 - Gary Patterson, IUPUI
Jan. 28 - George Hill, IUPUI, and Robert Jarvis, Oral Roberts
Jan. 21 - Jaraun Burrows, IPFW
Jan. 14 - Shawn King, Oral Roberts
Jan. 7 - George Hill, IUPUI
Jan. 2 - Tate Sorensen, Southern Utah
Dec. 26 - Derick Nelson, Oakland
Dec. 17 - Brett Winkelman, North Dakota State
Dec. 10 - Demetrius Johnson, IPFW
Dec. 3 - George Hill, IUPUI
Nov. 26 - Ben Woodside, North Dakota State
Nov. 19 - Nick Stallings, Centenary
Nov. 12 - Jeremiah Hartsock, UMKC