Hot start for the Cougars!

By Mark Siefert

Welcome back to the Cougar Den!

What a way to begin basketball season! The Men’s team is off to a hot start; they are 5-0 and playing really well with a young core group of players. The team is starting three sophomores and two seniors, which is impressive since only two of the five players were full-time starters last year.

Julian Scott is continuing his dominance of the NAIA, setting a new career record in points. Coming out of nowhere this year is the post play of sophomores Zach Opheim and Phil Riggs, who each only saw clean-up minutes last year but have started every game this season. I never would have expected this team’s depth at the beginning of the year but many freshman and sophomores are making huge contributions off the bench.

Also, it’s scary to think about the number of big men who have come to SXU from the Rockford Boylan men’s basketball teams of years past, including Opheim, Riggs, and SXU football’s sensation offensive tackle Matt Renfro.

On the women’s side of the court, I’m glad we are struggling and playing tough D1 competition even though the team blew out its two NAIA opponents. I never understand why NAIA teams try to get cheap early season blowout wins, instead of proving themselves by trying to topple NCAA giants.

Playing tough and competing with NCAA D1 teams is a win in my book. The Lady Cougars are competing against the best players in the nation. When they start conference play, I guarantee they will be a force to be reckoned with.

Finally, the game I have been waiting for is only a few days away; CollegeFanz.com chose SXU football’s first 2009 NAIA Championship Series game against McKendree as its game of the week. Sometime on Friday, the CollegeFanz crew will be around campus and getting a feel for what we are really all about.

We should show CollegeFanz, McKendree, and the entire NAIA crew coming to town that we back our Cougars. Let’s all wear red, show our pride and let every member of our football team that we have their back!

Stay classy, Cougars!

Mark Siefert is a senior social science major from Crest Hill. He is a member of the baseball team. Consideration for the student bloggers is provided by Saint Xavier University.