Basketball 2014

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Contents

4-5 | Last season’s stats 6 | Men’s basketball schedule 7 | Men’s basketball preview 8-9 | Marcus Marshall 10-11 | Christian Kirk 13 | Kenzie Williams 14-15 | This season’s game plan

16 | Women’s basketball schedule 17 | Women’s basketball preview 18-19 | Meet the newest Lady Bears 20-21 | Coach Lusk 22-23 | Sugar Bears 24 | Why basketball matters 26 | Where to pickup tickets

Standard staff Editorial staff Theresa Brickman copy editor Emily Campbell reporter

Callie Dunaway reporter Annie Gooch reporter Rachel Henderson copy editor Phoenix Jiang reporter Rose Marthis news editor Trevor Mitchell editor-in-chief Chase Probert reporter Nicole Roberts reporter John Robinson reporter Kayla Seabaugh copy editor Peyson Shields life editor

Briana Simmons reporter Mike Ursery sports editor Sadie Welhoff reporter Eli Wohlenhaus reporter Professional staff Jack Dimond faculty adviser Sandy King ad manager

Basketball Preview 2014 Cover design by Brooke Partridge

Advertising staff Brandi Frye sales Holly Johnson sales Nick McConnell sales Brooke Partridge design Emily Dilley office assistant

is published by The Standard, Missouri State University’s student-produced newspaper.

The university has not approved and is not responsible for its content, which is produced and edited by The Standard staff.

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Get your head in the game

2014-2015 men’s basketball schedule

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The Bears’ den Sports reporter breaks down the season — here’s what you need to know about men’s basketball Eli Wohlenhaus Sports Reporter

@eliwohlenhaus

The season is here, the timing is now, Missouri State basketball is ready to wow. And that is their vow as they prepare for the season with high hopes from fans and opponents — and themselves.

Last season, the men’s basketball team went in with an identity, an identity that has changed and is still unknown.

“Early on, as a staff, we’re going to have to figure out who gives us the best opportunity to win,” said head coach Paul Lusk. “But I do think we do have the ability to play more guys.”

With the new strength and conditioning coach, Collin Crane, the team’s physicality and speed has increased. The Bears are confident that, with the new workout regimen and newcomers Loomis Gerring and Camyn Boone, the team will be able to reverse its underwhelming rebounding performance from last season.

Although many uncertainties loom on the court, the schedule is already locked in, and there are specific games that mean more than others (at least to college sportswriters).

Nov. 22 at Texas Tech Last season, the Red Raiders finished 14-18 and 6-12 in the Big 12 Conference. They had two notable wins versus ranked opponents Baylor and Oklahoma State, but both came at home. The Bears travel to Lubbock, Texas in what will be both teams’ third game of the season.

Nov. 27 vs. Colorado State in Anchorage, Alaska Although the Rams are solid from season to season, the Bears’ main concern will be traveling from Texas to Alaska in under five days and getting acclimated to both the altitude and time change. The tip-off time for MSU’s first

game of the tournament is 1 a.m. central time.

Dec. 17 at Tulsa 96-93: That was the final from last season’s contest between the Bears and the Golden Hurricanes in MSU’s home opener. Tulsa went on to win the Conference USA tournament and earn a bid into the NCAA tournament. Tulsa won 11 straight before losing to UCLA in the second round of March Madness.

Jan. 7 at Indiana State Yes, ANOTHER road game. That’s just my view of what is a good matchup for our boys in maroon. The Sycamores have long been near the top of the Missouri Valley Conference, and a win in Terre Haute, Indiana goes a very long way. Last year when Indiana State hosted, they won 70-55.

Jan. 21 vs. Wichita State Finally! A home game — and this one is the biggest. Last season, the Bears very nearly torched the Shockers at the “Q,” but Wichita State pulled it out in overtime. The NCAA didn’t even acknowledge that game, but this year will be different. FANS: BE AT THIS GAME. Jan. 28 at Illinois State On the road again, the Bears go to Normal, Illinois to take on the Redbirds. These two teams were evenly matched last season, each taking one game to one, winning at home. To be elite, the Bears need to separate themselves with at least a 10-point win in this contest.

Feb. 15 vs. Northern Iowa Nate Scheer’s full-court pass to Keith Pickens at the rim with under two seconds to go came so close to sending the Bears into overtime in Springfield. Instead, the Panthers stole the win, 62-60. MSU has to attack UNI’s big center, Seth Tuttle, and keep him from dominating the glass like he has in the past to win this game.

My thoughts Missouri State has a very manageable nonconference record. Out of 12 games, I think they should win at least 10. Conference is naturally going to be a lot tougher. However, with the aid of a solid fanbase, the Bears should win every home game. They are that capable.

The Bears open up the season with their annual exhibition against the Missouri Southern State Lions on Saturday, Nov. 8 at 7:35 p.m.

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Marcus Marshall 1 of 13, hailing from St. Paul, Minn. and 20122013 MVC Freshman of the Year. Get to know Marshall.

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Faster. Better. Stronger. Marcus.

All-star expected to bring the heat after returning from knee injury

By Mike Ursery The Standard @MikeUrsery

Junior guard Marcus Marshall sat on the bench and merely watched, unable to participate in the game that he was seeing.

The Missouri State men’s basketball Bears were playing a game in the semifinal round at Arch Madness, the Missouri Valley Conference men’s basketball tournament held annually in St. Louis.

That semifinal game was played against the Wichita State Shockers; a game that ended with a 67-42 thumping by the heavily-favored regular season champions.

With just under nine minutes left in the game, MSU trailed 61-23. The game was completely out of reach, and the Bears were humiliated. Marshall could only sit and watch with one thing on his mind — next season.

“All I was thinking about was next year and the offseason,” Marshall said. “Coming into this season, we’ll never be in that position where

we’re down 40 or 30 or 20. I have so much faith in me and my teammates that we’ll never be in that position again.”

Marshall missed most of last season due to a torn right meniscus, which happened against Wichita State on Jan. 11.

After surgery to have his meniscus repaired, Marshall underwent a rehabilitation routine to get his body back to full strength in time for the upcoming season.

“I’m doing pretty good. It healed just as expected,” Marshall said. “I’m doing everything that everyone else on the team is doing.”

Marshall played in just 12 games last season, but he was averaging 14.3 points per game. Without his production in the lineup, MSU still managed to win 20 games and accepted an invitation to the Collegeinsider.com Postseason Tournament.

With Marshall back in the lineup this season, the Bears are expected to exceed last season’s results.

“This year we’re looking to build off of last year— get four or five more wins,” Marshall said.

“As a team, our expectation is obviously to make it to the NCAA Tournament.”

The 6-foot-3-inch point guard is in his third year at MSU. He elected to attend this university despite receiving offers from college basketball heavyweights such as Kansas, Marquette and Wisconsin, as well as rival Valley schools Northern Iowa and Indiana State.

“I don’t regret anything about my decision,” Marshall said. “I received letters from Kansas.

They wanted to recruit me very hard. I really liked Missouri State, and I still love it to this day.”

Marshall was a part of the first recruiting class by head coach Paul Lusk, who is now in his fourth year as the Bears’ play-caller.

“The thing that was attractive to him at the time was that he was going to have an opportunity to come in and play right away,” Lusk said.

“He played a ton as a freshman.”

With the playing time and production Marshall contributed as a freshman, he was given the 2013 MVC Freshman of the Year award. He also set freshman scoring records during the regular season (368) and the conference tournament (43).

Photo courtesy of Missouri State Althetic Communications

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Courtesy of Missouri State Athletics Communications

Christian Kirk will start underneath the basket for the Missouri State Bears this season, stepping into a bigger role inside after the departure of Jarmar Gulley.

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Kirk is a big man filling a big role

The 6-foot 8-inch senior forward talks about choosing MSU, missing out on his senior season in high school and how playing in the AAU prepared him for the competition he has faced at the college level

By Eli Wohlenhaus The Standard @eliwohlenhaus

New season, new hair, new physicality, new presence at the post — but still the same old Christian Kirk. This 6-foot8 senior forward is ready to get the season underway with focus.

Despite a Missouri State High School Activities Association technicality that kept Kirk from playing in his senior season at Kickapoo High School, schools such as Minnesota, Mizzou, Illinois and Saint Louis were interested in the threestar recruit.

Kirk stuck with a strict practice schedule for himself and elected to stay in his hometown of Springfield to pursue college basketball.

At Missouri State University, Kirk started in 14 games ias a freshman, instantly displaying his ability to dunk and rebound.

This transition was easier for Kirk because he didn’t have to move cities, but also because his skills were ready. In high school, he played in the Amateur Athletic Union, as well as

with his high school team.

“AAU prepares you for playing against those elite athletes, and you get the exposure to college coaches,” said Kirk.

More essential than playing with stiff competition is playing together as a team, which is what playing for a high school encouraged.

“High school is more about your team and the camaraderie that comes with it,” Kirk said.

Grabbing 134 rebounds in 25 games started highlighted his sophomore season as a Bear. He was a major go-to in the post, averaging 8.7 points per game.

Entering his junior year, MSU brought in another big body to aid down low. While Kirk’s minutes dipped with the addition of freshman Tyler McCullough, his efficiency did not, nor his winsome attitude. And that was hugely influential to now-sophomore McCullough. “(Kirk) was the one who showed me around, and now I have the experience to send his experience off in the right way,” said McCullough. “I feel like I owe it to him.”

As he enters his senior season, the focal point for the entire squad became getting stronger and leaner. Kirk set the tone as a leader, and won the team’s strong man competition.

The reason for the new intensity in the weightroom was a

necessity as the Bears lost in the rebounding category time and time again last season, while also graduating the teamleader Jarmar Gulley.

Kirk knows that working out is going to pay off in the long run, as does McCullough, who thinks that he and Kirk can be dynamic together on the court.

“Combined, we have a lot of experience in the Valley together, and I know playing together at the same time can be a really good thing for us,” said McCullough.

These Bears come into the season ranked third in the Missouri Valley Conference, and with all the focus on Wichita State and what they’ve done, Kirk maintains a level head for his team.

“Them doing it shows us that we can do it,” said Kirk. ”We have just as many resources as they do.”

Kirk has come a long way from being a new freshman who is just learning the ropes, but his zeal for the game is still evident.

“Once you get stronger, it’s like your whole game has changed. You’re finally hanging with the people that have been pushing you around, and it’s just a huge confidence booster for me.”

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New knees, but still same Kenzie Coming off of her second ACL tear last season, Williams is easing back into her role as Lady Bears’ leading scorer

By Callie Dunaway The Standard @Callie_Dunaway

With Missouri State women’s basketball starting up, there is a lot of talk and excitement about Kenzie Williams being back in the game this season.

In the 2011-12 season, Williams tore her ACL and this season she tore her other one. Williams has gone through rehab and has been training to get back in the game this season.

As a junior this year, Williams said she is feeling really good about being back this season.

“It’s been a long journey –– seven months –– but I’ve built up total confidence because we’ve taken it slow, and whenever I felt ready to move up to the

next step, I was able to.”

Williams said she is feeling stronger than before and feels able to play at full intensity in practices so far. Williams said going through the rehab process was easier for her this time mentally because she knew what to do and was ready to take on the next challenge. Her teammates were a great support throughout the process.

“Everybody plays with a little more confidence when they’ve got Kenzie around,” head coach Kellie Harper said.

Harper was very pleased with her progress through rehab and said that if you didn’t know Williams was injured before, you would not be able to tell through her playing.

Williams was the leading scorer for the Lady Bears before her knee injury.

Courtesy of Missouri State Athletics Communications Redshirt junior guard Kenzie Williams is returning this season after suffering an ACL tear near the end of last season. She is expected to contribute that same production during the 2014-2015 season for the Lady Bears as she

did before her injury last season.

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Hoop it up 2014-2015 women’s basketball schedule

Screenshot/THE STANDARD

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Lady Bears — Check them out

What to expect from the women’s basketball 2014-2015 season John Robinson Sports Reporter

@SaxmanJohn

Kellie Harper’s first year as the Lady Bears’ head coach was inconsistent. At times — like the soaring 67-53 win over the Missouri Tigers — the Lady Bears showed how high the ceiling was. Losses –– like the 73-37 loss to Indiana State –– showed how much the team needed to improve. With two of her top three scorers back, will Harper and the Lady Bears take the next step in the Missouri Valley Conference?

Getting Kenzie Williams back will certainly help. The redshirt junior guard was leading the team in scoring when she tore her left ACL. She finished third on the team in scoring.

“It’s great to be back out there with my team (after) watching them work hard all offseason. Nice to finally be back on the court with them,” said Williams.

“Having (Williams) back is a huge boost to our team,” said Harper. “She does so many things you don’t see on the stat sheet.”

Williams, starters senior guard and forward Nijay Gaines and junior guard Tyonna Snow return to the squad. Seven other nonstarters will also return to the team this year.

This Lady Bears team is young. Out of 13 total players, six are freshmen and three are sophomores. Forward and center Hillary Chvatal and Snow are the only juniors.

Gaines is the lone senior.

“It’s kind of bittersweet knowing I’m going to be leaving the team all by myself after this year,” said Gaines. “We, upperclassman, have to be sure and take these freshman and younger players under our wings, show them the ropes.”

So what changes have the Lady Bears made in the second year of the Harper era?

“We all understand each other better this year. The first year you spend time teaching the terminology you use, how you coach,” said Harper. “We’re so much more physical this year. The players are coming in in great shape. We can’t wait to get started.”

“We’re all gelling together well, starting to understand what (Harper) wants from all of us,” said Snow, who led the team in points and steals the previous year. She has spent her offseason working on getting a new jump shot all in the name of finding that consistent scoring potential.

Defense is another concern for Harper.

The Lady Bears had a -2.9 scoring margin last year and had three 35+ point losses.

“Every single day we worked on our defense — and that’s not fun in the summer — but our players have really bought into what we need to do on defense. We’ll need to see if it translates from drills to games,” said Harper.

For a young team in their second year with a new head coach, the schedule is not a kind one. After two home exhibition games, the Lady Bears head on the road for over a month and will not play their first home game until Dec. 6. It’s a road trip which sees contests against Oklahoma State, Memphis and Colorado.

“They’re winnable games,” said Harper.

“The biggest stretch will be if we encounter difficulties; we need to have shown improvement during the month. It could set the tone for the rest of the season.”

The Lady Bears have some talent, young talent, but talent all the same. Unfortunately for Lady Bear fans, I do not see them making the leap quite yet.

I see this Lady Bears team taking a step up from last year, but I see a middle-toupper half finish in the conference. They need a little more experience before they’re ready to challenge Wichita State for the crown.

MSU plays its first exhibition game on Nov. 4 against Central Missouri at 7 p.m.

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Meet the newest players for the Lady Bears Missouri State signed six freshmen to its latest recruiting class— get to know them here

By Eli Wohlenhaus The Standard @eliwohlenhaus

Israel is a guard from Crane, Missouri. She went to the state championship twice playing for Crane High School, giving her an advantage on knowing what it is like to play in big games. She facilitates an offense well without turning the ball over. Her addiThe Missouri State Lady Bears are loaded with young talent, having only four upper- tion will help at the point guard position long-term for the Lady Bears. classmen on the squad. Of those youngsters, six are freshmen. These freshmen each bring with them dynamic additions to head coach Kellie Harper’s squad.

Audrey Holt Holt played in two state championships at Rock Bridge High School in Columbia, Lee Ann Polowy Missouri. As a forward, Holt was consistent as a shooter and had a nose for the ball, Polowy is a guard from Blair Oaks High School in Jefferson City, where she broke tracking down 3.0 rebounds per game. school records in points scored and three-pointers made. There she racked up a number of awards at the conference, region and state levels as she proved not only to be a point- Aubrey Buckley scoring machine, but a great passer and defender as well. Harper discussed the lack of a Buckley is a top prospect forward from local Parkview High School. She establishes true point guard going into the Lady Bear’s season, which opens up the door of oppor- herself in the paint well, offensively and defensively. She is a prolific scorer and is a tunity for Polowy. force at the net with an uncanny ability to block an opponent’s shot. She and Holt will relieve veterans Nijay Gaines and Hillary Chvatal.

Fruendt is a guard from Batavia, Illinois. She is the most decorated player coming out of high school, scoring as many as 51 points in one game (a Batavia High School record). Her ability to create and make a high percentage of shots from any place on the court will see her thrown into the lineup immediately. Fruendt will also see opportunity at the point guard position, especially with her knack for being able to get to the basket.

Liza Fruendt

Riley Israel

Albeit one of the shortest players in the NCAA at 4-foot-8, Farmer is a slick passer and a stout defender who can swipe the ball from the opponent’s top handler. Farmer, a guard, can also score the ball well, averaging 7.8 points per game her senior season at Seckman High School in Imperial, Missouri.

Kori Farmer

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Courtesy of Missouri State Athletics Communications

Lee Ann Polowy

Courtesty of Missouri State Athletics Communications

Aubrey Buckley

Courtesy of Missouri State Athletics Communications

Liza Fruendt

Courtesy of Missouri State Athletics Communications

Riley Israel

Courtesty of Missouri State Athletics Communications

Audrey Holt

Courtesy of Missouri State Athletics Communications

Kori Farmer

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Courtesy of Missouri State Athletics Communications

MSU men’s baskeball head coach Paul Lusk.

File photo/THE STANDARD

Look to the MSU bench and you will see Paul Lusk constantly coaching his players with enthusiasm and animation. Lusk is beginning his fourth year as the head coach of the men’s basketball Bears.

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Get to know the Papa Bear this season Learn about what makes the Bears’ head coach successful, his recent contract extension and what he looks for in a recruit

By Mike Ursery The Standard @MikeUrsery

Missouri State men’s basketball head coach Paul Lusk, the man that students and faculty know as “Papa Bear,” is beginning his fourth year at the position.

Lusk was hired to be the men’s basketball coach in 2011, after former Bears’ head coach Cuonzo Martin departed to take the head coaching job at Tennessee.

“It’s a good job,” Lusk said. “It’s a place I’m familiar with from the standpoint of playing in the Valley.”

Lusk’s familiarity with the Missouri Valley Conference stems from playing basketball at Southern Illinois from 1992 to 1995, where he helped the Salukis earn three consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament. Prior to playing at SIU, he began his career playing for Iowa in the Big Ten Conference.

“I had a great experience. I think the Valley is a great

league,” Lusk said. “It’s a league that cares about basketball.”

Lusk took over as head coach just one season after MSU won the MVC regular season title and earned a trip to the National Invitational Tournament. Three years later, MSU is coming off of a 20-win season where it earned a trip to the postseason.

“When I first took the job, I was concerned about getting some guys for that first season,” Lusk said.

Fortunately, Lusk has been able to bring quality players in during his tenure as the Bears’ head coach. Before the start of his second year, Lusk recruited current junior point guard Marcus Marshall, who eventually became the MVC Freshman of the Year. Along with Marshall in that class was junior forward Gavin Thurman.

“Right away, we had specific needs that we needed to address,” Lusk said. “I wanted to get those first couple of classes of high school kids that we could grow with and have a core group of young guys.”

The success that Lusk has had during his time at MSU is

paying off. He recently signed a five-year contract extension that keeps him in his current position through March of 2019.

He credits his early success with recruiting players that bring a variety of talents to the court.

“Recruiting is part of the job,” Lusk said. “Recruiting is about obviously identifying talent and finding someone who is a good player and person, but it’s also about finding players who have an interest in your program. It has to be reciprocal.”

The 20 wins that MSU recorded last season is a nine-game turnaround from the 2012-2013 season, in which the Bears only won 11 games. Of those 20 wins from a season ago, seven came against teams that went on to play in the postseason, including conference foes Illinois State and Indiana State.

You can find Lusk on the Missouri State bench again this season, as the Bears look to improve and garner as much success as they had last season.

The season begins on Nov. 8.

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The Missouri State Sugar Bears will show off their award-winning routines at the Missouri State Bears’ and Lady Bears’ games during the 2014-2015 season.

Raven Kohlenberger/THE STANDARD

The Missouri State Sugar Bears entertain fans on the court during halftime and othe game breaks at JQH Arena during basketball games.

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Games are sweeter with Sugar Bears Read about the ladies who will be entertaining fans during breaks at basketball games, and the special guests who will join them

By Phoenix Jiang The Standard @pho307

The Sugar Bears are a shining part of Missouri State University. People love them for many reasons, and one reason is watching little Megan’s dance.

“Megan White is an honorary Sugar Bear on our team — for over four years — through Champions Committed to Kids,” Susan Brown, coach of the Sugar Bears, said.

Champions Committed to Kids is an organization that gives children with chronic illnesses the chance to be part of an athletic team. They can focus on something they like to do and forget the pain in their life. The organization works with children ages 5 to 18 years old.

Tori Anderson is a senior early childhood education major and a fourth-year Sugar Bear.

“I started dancing the same studio with (Megan) when I

was in seventh grade, so she would have been little, 3 or 4 years old,” Anderson said.

Anderson uses three words to describe Megan: adorable, sweet and energetic.

“She loves dance, so she is always like sassy and dances everywhere. She is just really full of energy,” Anderson said. “My favorite memory was a couple of Christmases ago. She was in our Christmas team, so she has a little spotlight — solo section. We were kind of like her backup, just to see her perform in front of all the fans of the basketball game.”

She said she felt so happy to see Megan’s excited face.

Anderson said Megan has had cancer since she was very little.

“Seeing her little body with the big scar on her stomach; I was so sad,” Anderson said.

“I can’t imagine, even in my age, all the things she went through,” Brown said. “You will never know it by looking at her. I mean, she is so outgoing and such a positive ener-

gy. You will never know the struggle — the fight she has been in.”

Brown said Megan also used her positive energy to comfort other people and cheer up the little kids.

Anderson said she remembered at the end of one year, they dedicated their big production number to Megan. The song had Megan’s voice-over on it, talking about her condition and everything she went through.

Now, Megan is 13 turning 14 years old.

“I think now she is six years cancer free. It’s a miracle.

We are just so lucky to have her in our life. She changed our perspective and our view. She made our lives better,” Brown said.

Brown said Megan’s last game was the final men’s basketball home game in February.

Now, the Sugar Bears have a new honorary member named Maria, who started dancing with them at the second football game this season.

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Missouri State basketball and a sports reporter’s love for the game Eli Wohlenhaus Sports Reporter

@eliwolenhaus

Basketball season; my favorite time of year.

It is the only sport I ever had any success at in my lifetime. Up until the point I reached my goal of being a sports journalist, my basketball life was highlighted by winning the Seneca Middle School 3-point competition in December 2006.

And now I am all grown up and get to cover the Missouri State Bears men’s team. A team that I watched every game loyally last season and plan to do the same for this season. A team that started off hot and then took turns staying

hot and losing in flabbergasting fashion.

This team that was so successful a season ago, earning a spot in the CollegeInsider.com posteseason tournament, can build on their success in several ways, according to my opinion.

Rebounding The key of basketball is to score more points than the other team. Let’s pause as you say “thank you, Captain Obvious.” Okay, back to the article. The only way to create extra possessions to give your team the opportunity to score more points than the other team is to win the turnover battle and rebound battle.

Rebounding was a weak point in the Bear’s arsenal last season, plus the team-leader in rebounds –– Jarmar Gulley –– has since graduated. With a new focus in the weightroom, a veteran lineup, and a host of new forwards, the Bears are positive that they can win that category each game.

“Tyler (McCullough) is going to be a better rebounder,” said head coach Paul Lusk.

“Loomis Gerring and Camyn Boone, that’s what they do. They did that in junior college.

We’re focusing on that, and we need to get better in those areas, and I think that we just naturally have guys that will go get the ball a little bit more.”

Youth Lusk told me that the young guys just don’t have to be taught aggressiveness, that “they chase the basketball and go to rebound.” With six newcomers –– four freshman, two junior college transfers –– the Bears are having a lot of guys jockeying for playing time.

The competitive battles are necessary to fill holes left by the graduations of Jarmar Gulley, Keith Pickens and Nate Scheer.

Veterans Although there are only two seniors on the squad –– Christian Kirk and Ron Mvouika –– there are seven players in all who have significant playing experience. Led by all star point guard Marcus Marshall and the sniper from beyond the arc Austin Ruder, there is little to

question about what to expect offensively from MSU. If these veterans can show composure, they can lead this mixed group of old and new to a high place in the Missouri Valley Conference.

Go the distance Play four quarters, play consistent all season. The Bears can’t afford to have any lapses with their weaker non-conference schedule and need to assert themselves at home all season in order to take the crown from the Shockers of Wichita State that we are all so tired of talking about.

I firmly believe that MSU can be a force to be reckoned with. However, history proves that regardless of talent, the Bears struggle to take the conference title. As I state in every editorial I have written for The Standard, the students at Missouri State hold the key to the Bears becoming the peak of the Valley. Fanbases are wonderful, but an absolute ruckus crowd makes a world of a difference.

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Get pepped for basketball season

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File photo/THE STANDARD

Student ticket pick-up moves to new location within JQH Arena

By Rose Marthis The Standard @RoseMarthis

Whether you’ve been standing in line for every game each season or this year will be your first, there are some changes to the way you get student and Maroon Madness tickets that everyone should pay attention to.

Last year, student and Maroon Madness member tickets were at a table inside the main lobby in JQH Arena. This year, the pick-up location has been moved to the northeast entrance, near the corner of Harrison Street and John Q. Hammons Parkway, for people picking up tickets up to an hour before the home games.

This entrance will close 30 minutes after tipoff.

Maroon Madness members will also be scanned at this entrance to get points.

If you would rather avoid the lines, you can pick up tickets before game day. Starting three days before the game, student tickets are available at all campus box office locations.

As always, students must bring their BearPass ID for free entry.

BOX OFFICE LOCATIONS

°JQH Arena °Plaster Student Union

°Craig Hall °Juanita K. Hammons Hall

File photo/THE STANDARD

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