---

By David Boyce  |  Northwest vs. Lincoln  |  Thursday, March 2, 2017  |  Municipal Auditorium  |  Kansas City, Mo.
Live Video  |  Live Stats  |  Live Audio  |  MIAA Tournament Homepage  |  Tickets

Commentary

MARYVILLE, Mo. - At 6 p.m. Thursday, a unique team will step on the court at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City in its quarterfinal game in the MIAA Tournament.
 
There are many superlative adjectives to use for Northwest Missouri State men's basketball team. The Bearcats just completed a 26-1 regular season. They went 18-1 in the rugged MIAA. The second-place team had six losses.
 
In addition, Northwest shattered an 86-year-old conference record with 28 consecutive regular-season MIAA victories. The old mark was 19.
 
Sure, it is easy to use words like great, unbelievable, spectacular to describe the 2016-17 Bearcats and what they have already accomplished as they head into postseason.
 
I look at this group as unique. The quality that makes them unique is their consistent unselfishness.
 
In this social media era, it is easy to get caught up in showing the world what "I" have done instead of what "We" can accomplish working together. There is no "I" in these Bearcats.
 
They understand they will have a battle on their hands in their quarterfinal game against Lincoln University and will have to work together to win. They will ignore the fact they beat Lincoln 82-53 just five days ago, to conclude the regular season.
 
With the exception of one game this season, the Bearcats came ready to play every time they put on the Northwest uniform. They truly don't care who scores the points. Northwest players only care about winning.
 
During this four-year run of MIAA regular-season titles, the Bearcats have played that way. In the previous three years, there were three or four MIAA teams with as much or more physical talent than the Bearcats. Northwest won those games because of their team unity.
 
This season, quite honestly, the Bearcats have the most basketball talent in the conference. They are the only team in conference that can get consistent scoring from all five positions on the court.
 
And that is what makes the way Northwest plays all the more remarkable and unique. The Bearcats remain unselfish even though any of the starting five is capable of scoring 20 or more points in a game. But you never see a player just throw up a shot because he hasn't scored. Instead, he is still willing to make that extra pass for the easier shot.
 
On defense, their communication is impeccable. They make opponents work to score baskets and that usually wears a team down by midway through the second half.
 
The Bearcats are now in the most competitive part of their season and they are looking forward to the challenge.
 
"This time of the year is great," senior Zach Schneider said. "Kansas City is our most fun weekend of the year. Winning it last year was great. We are looking forward to going down there.
 
"We haven't experienced a regional at home yet, so I can't tell you about that. But hopefully, that will be awesome, too."
 
Northwest, ranked No. 1 in the Central Region, is in prime position to play host to the regional tournament. Southwest Minnesota State is second in the region and it has five losses.
 
The Bearcats will face desperate teams in the MIAA. Northwest is the only conference team ranked in the top 10 in region and only eight teams advance to the regional tournament. That means in order for any of the other MIAA teams to reach regional, they must win the conference tournament.
 
Northwest will be ready for those teams playing to extend their season. Because of all their success the last four years, the Bearcats have taken opponents' best shot all season. Only Missouri Southern was able to deliver a winning blow. Northwest quickly bounced back by winning its final two regular-season games.
 
"Just to get our confidence was huge," Schneider said. "A couple of guys were down mentally playing in a game like that. We hadn't experienced it this year. It was big to get back on track right away and not let it snowball."
 
If you get a chance to see Northwest in the MIAA Tournament or the regional tournament in a little over a week from now, take a moment from cheering to marvel just how unselfish this group plays the game. It is a special thing to see.