March 5, 2008

Men’s Basketball Team on to Playoffs

Men’s basketball team celebrates NCAC tournament title.

Ohio Wesleyan advanced to the NCAA playoffs by winning the North Coast Athletic Conference tournament title last weekend. Both the NCAA bid and the NCAC tournament crown were the Bishops’ first since 1988, when Ohio Wesleyan went on to win the NCAA Division III national championship.

The NCAA bid and conference tournament title also were firsts for Ohio Wesleyan head coach Mike DeWitt.

“Making the NCAA playoffs is a goal you’re always working toward as a coach and as a program,” says DeWitt. “It’s nice to achieve that.”

Ohio Wesleyan defeated Hiram, Allegheny and Wabash during its run through the NCAC tournament.  The Bishops got key contributions from senior post Jesse Jean, who had 23 points and 19 rebounds in the quarterfinal win over Hiram; junior wing Kyle Holliday, who had 23 points in the semifinal win over Allegheny; and senior post Dustin Rudegeair, who had a career-high 29 points in the championship game against Wabash.  Rudegeair was named the NCAC tournament’s Most Valuable Player and was joined on the all-tournament team by Holliday.

Seniors Brian Cafarella and Casey Teeters round out the Bishop starting lineup.

“I think this year’s success is due in large part to a tremendous senior class which has steadily improved as their careers have progressed,” says DeWitt.

On Friday, Ohio Wesleyan will play Heidelberg in a first-round matchup at 6 p.m. on Friday, to be followed at 8 p.m. by Franklin (Indiana) versus Centre. The winners of Friday’s games will play in a second-round game at 7 p.m. on Saturday at Centre.

– Mark Beckenbach