From the Mic

| From the Mic w/ Bill Culhane II

March 9 | March 3 | February 24 | February 17 | February 11

From the Mic - March 9, 2010 | Top

Let the Madness commence!:

I'm happy to report that I'm doing the blog a little early this week. After the Bobcats record of 15-15 overall, 9-7 in the Southland, I will be heading to Katy on Tuesday afternoon with the men's basketball team for the 2010 State Farm Southland Conference Tournament. As I'm sure you know by now, the `Cats will be taking on the Southeastern Louisiana Lions, Wednesday, tipoff at approximately 8:30PM. Robert Fisher and I will have the play by play on KTSW, 89.9FM and txstatebobcats.com as long as the `Cats are in the tournament. I hope we have a game to do on Saturday!

You can go to southland.org for tournament and ticket information. If you can make it to the Merrell Center, I know your/our Bobcats appreciate the support and be sure to come by and say hello. We finished third in SLC attendance this season. How `bout we finish 1st in SLC tournament attendance?

Record is 0-0:

The Bobcats and the Lions are the only two Southland teams coming into the tournament with winning streaks as long as three games. The Bobcats are the fifth seed (not bad for a team picked to finish last in the West by the SLC coaches) and the Lions, who finished in second place in the SLC East, earned the fourth seed.

Not so Sweet 16! In SLC games this season, the Bobcats were 3-7 in games in which the Bobcats committed 16 or more turnovers. The `Cats were a perfect 6-0 in league games when the turnovers fell below 16. Speaking of turnovers, the Bobcats led the SLC in turnovers forced with 18.3/game for opponents. The Bobcats are 1st in the SLC with 9.3 steals per game. The 'Cats shot 50% from the floor in their past two games, not surprisingly both victories (@ UTSA, vs Sam Houston).

Southeastern is 1st in the SLC in FG percentage (47.5%) and FG percentage defense (39.5%). The Lions are led by senior post player Patrick Sullivan who was the SLC Player of the Week for the final regular season week. Sullivan is a shot blocking machine and is ranked 6th in the SLC in scoring (15.7/game) and 3rd in rebounds (8.7/game). The Lions also have a few three point threats led by Trey Hutchin who is 1st in the SLC nailing 43.8% of his three point attempts.

In the record books:

Entering action on Wednesday, Junior Cameron Johnson is now a member of the prestigious 400 Point Club having scored 414 points already this season. The 400 Point Club is a `Who's Who' of Bobcat basketball greats. Cam is also 19th all time at Texas State with 472 career rebounds and 9th all time in career blocked shots with 39.

Ryan White, yet another Junior, is 8th all time in career steals with a nice, even 100 (one ahead of Jeff Foster, one behind Brandon Thomas). Ryan, who has averaged 18 points in the recent three game winning streak, is also 9th in career assists with 255. This puts Ryan behind 8th place Donte Mathis who had 259 in his career. Those of you who saw Donte perform, know that this is very select company = Donte, the '98-'99 SLC Conference Player of the Year, was one of the greatest Bobcats ever.

Our two Bobcat seniors are in the history book act as well. Emmanuel Bidias a Moute, who is 10th in the Southland in rebounds during SLC games (6.9/game), is tied for 10th place on the Texas State career blocks list with 36. John Rybak, who registered 25 points (including two electrifying three pointers late in regulation), is 9th all time at Texas State in career 3 pters with 118 makes.

1960. Oh what a year:

This past Saturday prior to the Sam Houston game, I had the honor to sit down with members of the 1960 NAIA National Championship Team. The gentlemen took time out of their 50 year anniversary celebration to recount some of their experiences. To Howard Lockhart, Boonie Wilkening, Bruce Gregg, Earl Lankford, and Rudy Davalos: Thanks a million! I will be compiling the interviews and posting here on the blog soon. Trust me when I write that some of their recollections are amazing and insightful. To the man, they are proud of where they went to school, who they played with, who and what they played for, and their championship. More than any of that though, they are proud to the core Bobcats!

Last week's Trivia Question:

Who did the Bobcat men's basketball team defeat for the SLC tournament championships in 1994 and 1997? In 1994, led by Lynwood Wade, Russell Ponds, DeJuan Brown, and others, the Bobcats beat North Texas for the SLC tourney crown. In 1997, led by Dameon Sansom, Donte Mathis, Jeff Foster, and others, the Bobcats knocked off Louisiana Monroe for the tournament title.

Trivia Question: Who was the last Bobcat men's basketball player to be honored with first, second, or third team All-SLC honors? Check the next blog for the answer.

Reminder: If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to contact me at lightthestar@gmail.com.

Eat em up Cats!

Bill

Note: To read past posts from Bill Culhane go to From the Mic in the Bobcat Blogs section.

From the Mic - March 3, 2010 | Top

Do you have your tickets to the Bobcat Bonanza? The Bonanza is Saturday, March 20th, and you don't want to miss this opportunity to support our student-athletes and incredible enjoyment.

Here, there, everywhere. This time of year is incredibly busy around Bobcat athletics and hats off to the administration, coaches, student-athletes, supporters and fans who make it all happen. Along with assorted other activities, Bobcat baseball and softball are well underway, the pads are cracking at Spring football and our Bobcat basketball teams are wrapping up their regular seasons. This past Saturday at Northwestern State I witnessed a historic performance by a Bobcat hoopster and the next day got my first look at the 2010 Bobcat baseball team.

On a sad note, former Bobcat head football Coach Jim Bob Helduser passed away last week. My heartfelt condolences go out to his family and many friends. Coach Helduser is the first football coach I worked with when I started broadcasting Bobcat football in 1994. You will not meet a kinder, nicer guy than Coach Helduser Along with his unquestioned care for and love of his players, he was as proud to be a Bobcat as anyone I've met. We were blessed to have him in our Bobcat family.

Hoops!:

As the Bobcat men's basketball team made the drive back to San Marcos from their win in Natchitoches on Saturday, results elsewhere in the Southland earned the Bobcats a ticket to the Southland Conference tournament next week in Katy, Texas. After a three year absence, the Bobcats have advanced to the SLC tourney two seasons in a row. I know making the tournament is just one of the goals and I also know the only way you can win the tournament is to get there! Congratulations to the Bobcats!

Speaking of Saturday, after a 360 mile drive on a bus for essentially a must win game, the Bobcats grabbed hold of the lead and persevered despite playing without leading scorer and rebounder Cameron Johnson. JB Conley was unbelievable in scoring 42 points against the Demons with a majority of his points hard earned in the paint. Junior point guard also chipped in with 17 points and had nine, count em nine, rebounds - not bad for a 5' 10" point guard. In my opinion, the Bobcats haven't had a better "team" win this season as everyone grabbed the rope and did their part.

On Saturday, the Bobcats host the Sam Houston Bearkats at 2:00PM (game time was changed from 4:00PM). Just a few reasons to come to the game: Senior Day (John Rybak and Emmanuel Bidias a Moute), honoring our 1960 NAIA National Championship team at halftime, game will be televised on the SLC television network, and well, it's the Bearkats!

Batter up!:

The Bobcat baseball team had a tough weekend at the QTI Baylor Classic in Waco, but the `Cats were in all three games and I came away confident that the Bobcats have the pieces in place to win a lot of baseball games this season. Our pitching has been very good thus far and the bats will catch up - there is just too much talent on this team for that to not be the case. I witnessed the Bobcats loss to Texas A&M and with the exception of a couple of pitches, plays, and at bats, the game was winnable for the `Cats.

Last week's Trivia Question:

Where did baseball coach Ty Harrington play his college baseball? Coach Ty was a two-year letter winner at the University of Texas, where he played for coach Cliff Gustafson.

Trivia Question:

Who did the Bobcat men's basketball team defeat for the SLC tournament championships in 1994 and 1997? Check the next blog for the answer.

Reminder: If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to contact me at lightthestar@gmail.com.

Eat em up Cats!

Bill

Note: To read past posts from Bill Culhane go to From the Mic in the Bobcat Blogs section.

From the Mic - February 24, 2010 | Top

Break out the brooms! I'm having difficulty figuring out how the Bobcat baseball team could have had a better start to their 2010 season. Congratulations and a "wow" to Coach Harrington and the Bobcats for their three wins compared to zero losses performance at the University of Houston. I know Coach Ty would be the first to say there is a lot of baseball left to be played.

I've broadcasted somewhere around 400 Bobcat basketball games. In that time, I recall three buzzer beaters. In 2000, first round of the SLC tourney at UTSA (played at campus sites back then), packed Birdcage and your typical `Cats v Roadrunner battle. Wesley Williams elevated from the deep, deep right corner and sank a three pointer to clip, shock, kick the Roadrunners, 88-86. On the road back in 2001, the `Cats stunned SFA, 54-53, when Clay Click nailed a three-pointer off a perfect inbounds pass from David Sykes with the buzzer echoing in the background. I, along with the Bobcat fans in attendance, lost our minds and received a few sideways glances from our friends at SFA. Does anyone else remember those games?

This past Saturday, the opposite happened to tbe Bobcats as Nicholls hit a dagger three at the buzzer. It was a difficult way to lose, but I give our guys credit for the fight they showed to get back into the game and the poise they showed after the loss. The Bobcat players I spoke with after the game know the importance of shaking off the loss to the Colonels and that there is obviously so much left to play for this season. Sigh...the nights in San Antonio and Nacogdoches sure were more fun than the afternoon in Thibodaux.

Hoops!:

Maybe one of the more interesting things coming out of the Nicholls game is that the Bobcats had a chance to win the game despite not playing their best basketball. The two three-pointers that Nicholls hit at the end were outstanding efforts on their part. The Bobcats have taken the approach to not let one loss turn into a second loss.

This Saturday, 2PM, the Bobcats travel to Natchitoches, Louisiana, to face a hot Northwestern State squad. With only four games left in Southland Conference play, both of the games this week are HUGE. Correction...

HUGE.

Congratulations are in order! The Bobcat women picked up a critical win over the Nicholls Lady Colonels last Thursday at Strahan Coliseum. It was so, so good to see the Bobcats rewarded for their effort. The Bobcats travel to take on a very good SFA team tonight and then host an equally strong Northwestern State team this Saturday. The Bobcats can make some noise and life uncomfortable for a few other SLC teams if they pick up a couple of wins this week.

p.s. The men's basketball matchup with Sam Houston on March 6th has been picked up by SLC television. The game start has been changed to 2:05PM!!! We will also be honoring our 1960 NAIA National Championship team at halftime as they celebrate the 50th anniversary of bringing the biggest trophy back to San Marcos. Please help get the word out!

You can catch Bobcat basketball on KTSW, 89.9 FM, ktsw.net, and/or txstatebobcats.com all season long for the men and women. In addition, you can go to txstatebobcats.com for the audio/video of all home games. Follow both teams and check broadcast details on txstatebobcats.com.

Batter up!:

Did anyone think it would be a good sign if the Bobcats took two out of three from Houston? Hah! Disappointing that the Bobcats got rained out yesterday at Rice. The `Cats will get their chance against Rice when the Owls come to San Marcos for the home opener on Wednesday, March 3rd.

The softball team has had a tricky start to their 2010 season. Playing quality opponents and not quite getting the wins. However, and this is a big however, if there is a coach who can build a team, make adjustments, put the right people in the right spots, and get her team ready for the Southland Conference slate, it's Ricci Woodard. You need evidence. Go to txstatebobcats.com and look at her track record.

Last week's Trivia Question:

What very special event is planned at Strahan Coliseum during the Bobcat men's final regular season game vs Sam Houston on Saturday, March 6th? Well, because you read this blog so thoroughly, you already know that we are honoring our 1960 National Champion basketball team at halftime. The team has a busy weekend planned. Be there to honor these true Bobcat legends.

Trivia Question:

Where did baseball coach Ty Harrington play his college baseball? Check the next blog for the answer.

Reminder: If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to contact me at lightthestar@gmail.com.

Eat em up Cats!

Bill

Note: To read past posts from Bill Culhane go to From the Mic in the Bobcat Blogs section.

From the Mic - February 17, 2010 | Top

Greetings From the Mic with Bill Culhane

As I drove to campus this past Saturday, the AD was a buzz of activity with the softball team hosting the CenturyLink Classic Tournament and the men's basketball team hosting their key SLC showdown with Lamar. Because our facilities are relatively close together fortunately, it's always interesting and fun to see our fans and visitors quickly moving around to make sure they don't miss that important pitch or clutch shot. Speaking of important, Coach Ty Harrington and the baseball team follow up the softball team, and will start their 2010 season at the University of Houston this weekend. I know our softball squad will have better weekends in terms of wins/losses and best of luck to the baseball team in Houston. Go to txstatebobcats.com and get your tickets to cheer on your Bobcats!

Travis Comer, our Associate Athletics Director - Major Gifts, joined us at halftime of the Lamar game. Travis reminded our listening audience that the Bobcat Bonanza is coming up on Saturday, March 20th. The proceeds from the Bonanza go towards scholarships for our Bobcats, our student-athletes. Stop by to say "hi" when I see you there. Go to txstatebobcats.com or contact Chris Park for all of the details.

Hoops!:

At this time of the year, every win seems to be even bigger than the previous victory. I got that feeling after witnessing the Bobcat men's basketball team take down the Cardinals on Saturday at Strahan. After a slow start by both teams in the first half, the Bobcats raced out to a 70-45 lead at one point in the second half enroute to the 81-67 victory. Just my opinion, but the first 15 minutes of the second half were some of the best basketball by the Bobcats this season. We had just under 2,000 in attendance and their contributions to the win were obvious and acknowledged by Coach Davalos and the student-athletes. The 'Cats are now 6-5 in the SLC, right in the middle of the SLC pack, and will now take on three straight SLC East division opponents.

The trio of inter-divisional games will start this Saturday, 2PM, at the Nicholls Colonels. The team will fly to New Orleans on Friday afternoon, take the hour or so bus ride to Thibodaux, Louisiana, face the Colonels on Saturday afternoon, and then return to San Marcos bright and early on Sunday morning. The Colonels, who are coming off a 20 win season and second place finish in the SLC a year ago, haven't had the SLC season that many "experts" predicted. Words of caution: The trips to and games at Nicholls are always a formidable challenge. A win at Nicholls in the Bayou Lafourche would be big...there's that word again.

Calling all `Cats! The two time defending SLC champions, the SFA Lumberjacks, will be in our house on Wednesday, February 24th, at 7PM. If you've already been to Strahan this season, you know your key role in our wins. In case you haven't made it out yet, Wednesday is a great opportunity to help Coach Davalos and your Bobcats.

The Bobcat women went to Beaumont this past Saturday to face Lamar, played a good basketball game, but weren't able to knock off the best women's team in the Southland Conference. The Bobcats still have a chance to grab a spot in the SLC tournament, but will obviously require a late season surge of wins to get it done. The quest begins tomorrow night, that's right, Thursday, when the Bobcats host the Nicholls Lady Colonels, 7PM, at Strahan Coliseum. You are cordially invited to the friendly confines to help the Bobcat women light the star.

You can catch Bobcat basketball on KTSW, 89.9 FM, ktsw.net, and/or txstatebobcats.com all season long for the men and women. In addition, you can go to txstatebobcats.com for the audio/video of all home games. Follow both teams and check broadcast details on txstatebobcats.com.

Batter up!:

Getting closer, excitement growing. As I mentioned above, the Bobcat baseball team will kickoff their season when they travel to the University of Houston for three games against the Cougars, February 19th-21st. Houston didn't have a great season a year ago, but year after year they have been a very good, post season caliber, college baseball team. On Tuesday, February 23rd, the Bobcats will be at the Rice Owls. Of course, Rice is a bona fide national powerhouse and not that far removed from a national championship. Remember that the same Rice team will be our opponent when we open up the home schedule on Wednesday, March 3rd.

The CenturyLink Classic started great for the Bobcat softball team with a 3-0 shutout of Northern Illinois, but ended with four straight defeats for the 'Cats. Thank you to everyone who attended the tournament and our friends at CenturyLink for their continued support of Bobcat athletics. Coach Woodard and the softball team won't have time to dwell on the season opening tournament as they are scheduled for five games at the Littlewood Classic in Tempe, Arizona. The Bobcats start things off at Iowa, this Friday, at 9:30AM.

Last week's Trivia Question:

What is the combined won/loss record for our Bobcat softball team (SLC games only) in the past two seasons? The Bobcats have an astounding record of 48-11 in SLC games. The Bobcats will start SLC play on Tuesday, March 2nd, when we host UT-Arlington at the Bobcat Softball complex.

Trivia Question:

What very special event is planned at Strahan Coliseum during the Bobcat men's final regular season game vs Sam Houston on Saturday, March 6th? Check the next blog for the answer.

Reminder: If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to contact me at lightthestar@gmail.com.

Eat em up Cats!

Bill

Note: To read past posts from Bill Culhane go to From the Mic in the Bobcat Blogs section.

From the Mic - February 11, 2010 | Top

Greetings From the Mic with Bill Culhane

Play Ball! The Bobcat baseball and softball seasons are upon us. Can the warm weather be far behind? Coach Harrington and Coach Woodard have built traditions of success and we wish continued wins to them and their teams. The Bobcat basketball conference seasons have turned the halfway mark and the SLC standings are starting to shake out, but just by a bit. Please don't forget that the Bobcat Bonanza is coming up on Saturday, March 20th. Golf, 2010 Spring Football Game, Champions Club, food and beverages, maroon and gold, treasures, who could ask for more? Major pats on the back to the Bobcat fans who have turned out recently to Strahan Coliseum to support our basketball teams. Well done, indeed!

Hoops!:

The Bobcat men knocked off McNeese State at Strahan this past Saturday. Is it too early to use "Cameron Johnson" and "All-SLC selection" in the same sentence? Nope. Cam put up 29 points in the win and three Bobcats came off the bench to contribute double figure scoring. Coach Davalos continually points out that we don't have "starters". Our team is a "team" where literally everyone is expected to contribute. The win over the Cowboys demonstrated this attribute of our team and has been a key difference in many of our victories.

The `Cats travelled to Texas A&M Corpus Christi last night and had a couple of chances to pull out a win, but in the end fell to the Islanders in a close one. Despite the loss, a number of teams around the Bobcats in the SLC standings also lost. I'm sure you know, but you can go to

www.southland.org to check out the SLC standings. Remember, the top eight teams advance to the SLC tournament next month.

Calling all `Cats! The Bobcat men will host the Lamar Cardinals this Saturday, 4PM, in a rematch of a game the Bobcats won at the Montagne Center back in January. The Bobcats knocked off the Cardinals 97-92 in OT. The Cardinals will come in as one of the hotter teams in the SLC, so we need 3-4k in attendance to ensure the Cardinals don't feel welcome, wink, wink. In the past three home games, the attendance has been absolutely stellar: UTSA (3,519), UTA (2,531), McNeese (2,012). By my unofficial tabulations, this has been the best three game turnout in a while. Do I hear four?

The Bobcat women dropped a pair of games against McNeese State and Texas A&M Corpus Christi. The team isn't where they want to be right now in terms of wins and losses, but there is still time to get back in the SLC race. I have seen much stranger things happen in the SLC race in years past. The important thing is that the Bobcats get on a roll. Six games, six chances, to go!

You can catch Bobcat basketball on KTSW, 89.9 FM,

You can catch Bobcat basketball on KTSW, 89.9 FM, ktsw.net, and/or txstatebobcats.com all season long for the men and women. In addition, you can go to txstatebobcats.com for the audio/video of all home games. Follow both teams and check broadcast details on txstatebobcats.com.

Batter up!:

The Bobcat baseball team has one of the best non-conference schedules, not in the SLC, but in the nation. The Bobcats, picked to repeat as SLC champions, have their season opener next weekend at the University of Houston. It will be interesting to see if the returners can repeat some of their stellar 2009 seasons, who the new sticks will be, and how the pitching staff shakes out. We all know there are some big shoes to fill, but there are some interesting candidates in place.

By order of the Grand Governing Executive Committee, rain and cold stay away! Reminder that our Bobcat softball squad will open up defense of their 2009 SLC regular season and tournament championships when they host the CenturyLink Classic starting this Friday, February 12th. How sweet would a SLC three-peat be by our Bobcat softball team? Go to

txstatebobcats.com for details on the CenturyLink Classic tournament and other details on our softball team.

Last week's Trivia Question:

What is the attendance record for a Bobcat men's basketball game at Strahan Coliseum? According to the history books, the 5,591 who filled Strahan on Jan 29, 1998, vs UTSA, is the all time high.

Trivia Question:

What is the combined won/loss record for our Bobcat softball team (SLC games only) in the past two seasons? Check the next blog for the answer.

Reminder: If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to contact me at lightthestar@gmail.com.

Eat em up Cats!

Bill

Note: To read past posts from Bill Culhane go to From the Mic in the Bobcat Blogs section.