Tulsa World: Hillcat hype picks up steam

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Hillcat hype picks up steam
No. 1 RSU is again facing the team that gave it its only loss.

By JIMMIE TRAMEL World Sports Writer
Published: 2/26/2009 2:32 AM
Last Modified: 2/26/2009 3:46 AM

CLAREMORE — Rogers State University is bracing for the biggest game in the very short history of the Hillcat basketball program.

A capacity crowd is expected when RSU, the NAIA's top-ranked team, hosts No. 2 Oklahoma Baptist University in an 8 p.m. regular-season finale Thursday at Claremore Expo Center.

Phones have been ringing off the hook at RSU's athletic offices, according to athletic director Wren Baker. He said athletic department officials have been deluged with calls for tickets, whiteout shirts and brackets for the national tournament.

Baker said he laughed and told his staff, "Hey, we've been working for almost three years to have these kind of problems."

Baker was hired in February of 2006 to oversee the athletic department and to launch a basketball program. The Hillcats' debuted last season and Baker, who coached the inaugural season, turned the basketball reins over to new coach Lloyd Williams, whose team has been ranked No. 1 five consecutive weeks.

Baker said he wouldn't have believed the fledgling program could rise to such heights so quickly.

"I think that's a credit to our fans and to the administrators on campus who have put a lot into our program, but more than anything, it's just a credit to coach Williams and these players," Baker said.

"They worked very hard this summer and this fall. He has done an unbelievable job coaching that team and defining their roles for them and they have bought into those roles. Our strength is our depth. We have got 10 or 11 guys and six of those guys played Division I basketball. They could be places where they are playing 30 or 35 minutes a game and instead they play 20 minutes and sometimes less. They play hard."

RSU has won 12 consecutive games and is 25-1. OBU is the only team to beat the Hillcats this season, taking an 85-75 decision in Shawnee. The Bison own the NAIA's longest current winning streak — 21 games.

In addition to coverage on RSU Public TV and RSU Radio 91.3 fm, fans will be able to watch and listen to game via the internet. Go to tulsaworld.com/rsuhillcats, then click on the link for the streaming video.

The video stream will begin before tipoff of a women's game at 6 p.m. and will continue through the end of the men's game.

Jimmie Tramel 581-8389
jimmie.tramel@tulsaworld.com

Rogers State basketball

Vs. Oklahoma Baptist

8 p.m. Thursday

TV: KRSC-19/35

Radio: KRSC fm91.3

By JIMMIE TRAMEL World Sports Writer

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trahernsfriend, (2/26/2009 3:25:28 PM)

GO BISON!!!!!!

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