Ring "Fingers"

Mama Guiot thought our former players and fans with a sense of humor would enjoy laughing at my crooked fingers filled with our rings.  D'Ante Harris blamed my messed up fingers on why he would break off plays but we all know he just wanted to shoot.  Most of the time, of course, we were glad he did.

Unfortunately, some championship rings never got made.

• 1994 Neosho County Conference Champions (A group of tough overachievers that had to make a mid-season turnaround with a first year college coach)

• 2000 Neosho County Conference Champions (Third in a row, I would say "Three-Peat" but have to give Pat Riley credit for the trademark) 

• 2001 Southern Utah University Conference Champs, Conference Tournament Champs, and NCAA Tournament Appearance (Fred House and Jeff Monaco are still screaming about not getting the rings and their total meal stipend)

After 2001, I made sure to come up with the funds to buy rings for championships, not really for the hardware, but to remember the people representing them.  GREAT MEMORIES OF GREAT RELATIONSHIPS!!

Conference Champions 2004

Bemidji State University

Charles "Buster" Hanks - All American       NSIC Player of the Year (1st in BSU History)      10 Time NSIC Player of the Week      USBL Player James Robeson - NSIC Newcomer of the Year Adam Daley - 2nd NCAA 3-Pt % Coach Guiot - Coach of the Year Most Wins in School History First NCAA Tournament Appearance in BSU History

D'Ante Harris

ALL-MIAA

ALL-South Central Region

Back to back Conference Champions 2008, 2009

D'Ante's Youtube Highlights

"D'Ante was an explosive gamer, able to score in bunches and lift the crowd to their feet.  He brought his fearless attitude to the team and backed it up with his performance.  D'Ante is one of the key reasons SBU brought home the hardware and was a joy to coach."

Jeremy Logan

SOUTHWEST BAPTIST UNIVERSITY

2006

Conference Champs

Conference Tournament Champs

2008

Conference Champs

                                    2009

Conference Champs

"PUT IN LOGAN, PUT IN LOGAN"  The crowds would chant for Jeremy when they knew the Bearcats had the game in the bag.  I called Jeremy my cigar.  Putting Jeremy in the game was like Red Auerbach lighting his cigar.  Feb. 28, 2009, against Missouri Western, the Bearcats wound up the game to win the conference title.  As the fans chanted for Logan, I told him to check in the game and he pulled a cigar out of his sock to hand me as he ran to the scorers table.  The crowd went wild.  Jeremy has a talent for including others along his path to success.  He is the ultimate team player.

Click here to see where Jeremy is now:
Jeremy Logan Big Rentz Director, Operations

Ryan Dougherty

SBU 2008-2012

MIAA All-Conference

NCAA All-Region

Team Captain 3 years

Academic All-American

Active with Special Olympics

Student Athletic Advisory Committee

Physical Therapy Degree

NABC National Honors Court

Rex Brown Award

MIAA Ken Jones Award Finalist

School Records Broken - 3 point baskets made (218), games played (119), and minutes played (3,133). Ryan also ranks in the top 10 all-time in several other categories including: points (6th, 1,322), assists (7th, 318), and steals (5th, 136)

“Ryan Dougherty is an example of what excellence is in athletics and academics.  He has performed at the highest level in both areas while enduring personal injury and family tragedy.  Ryan has always honored his team, his family, and his community by demanding perfection from himself and doing his very best even when circumstances afforded him excuses to lower his expectations.  His lifestyle of “toughness” inspires those around him to raise their standards".

Conference Champions 2009

2009 Record: 26-5

Nationally ranked #2

Most Conference wins in a season

Third MIAA regular season crown in the last four years

Advanced to the South-Central regional final, (2nd-best NCAA tournament finish in SBU history)

Extended their home court winning streak to 30 games, one of the best active streaks in NCAA

Defeated DI Utah (NCAA Tournament Team and Mountain West Conference Champ)

Coach Guiot's 300th Career Win

"CUPCAKE TOO MUCH FOR UTES TO SWALLOW" Deseret News

Matt Rogers: All-American(4 Different All-American Awards) 

    All-Region South Central

    All-District 

    MIAA Defensive Player of the Year

    MIAA LEAGUE MVP (Unanimous)

D'Ante Harris: All-South-Central Region, All-MIAA

Coach Jeff Guiot: Coach of Year

2009 You Tube Highlight Film

Nick Kovacevich

Successful Businessman Nick Kovacevich

NCAA Academic All-American

MIAA All-Conference

SBU Team Captain (2 Seasons)

2007-2009

Nick's SBU YouTube

"Nick was the heart and soul of our back to back championship teams that won 38 consecutive home games, the longest home-winning streak in the nation at that time.  While at SBU, Nick's carried the highest academic standards, charisma, the look, intelligence and was by far the hardest working basketball player we had at SBU.  Nick can do anything he puts his mind to."

Sheldon Pace

SBU 2004-2006 ALL-AMERICAN Bob Cousy Award Finalist NCAA All-Star Participant

"Sheldon Pace showed his incredible basketball skills by scoring when the game called for him to score, passing to make his teammates better and break down defenses, and shutting down the opposing teams key players.  His presence brought crowds to their feet and inspired unity among his team members and fans.  He is the type of player you drove the extra mile to watch and were never disappointed.  Sheldon has talented people skills using his charm and compassion which reaches from the special olympics athlete to the presidents of organizations."

Calvin Slaughter

Neosho County Community College
1998 All-American

Jacksonville University

Calvin's daughter, Ivey, is a sophomore on the Florida State University basketball team.  

Calvin is by far the toughest player I have every coached.  He was a relentless warrior at both ends of the court.  No one took losses harder than him.  It is not surprising that he is an outstanding fireman and father in Georgia.

Anthony Evans

Neosho County Community College
1997-1999
All-American
Academic All-American
NJCAA Student Athlete of the Year




University of Georgia



Great Article on "BIG ANT" from 2001.
http://www.redandblack.com/sports/anthony-evans-dispelling-the-stereotypes/article_7fec97fe-0298-5d36-914a-54a122a2961e.html

"Everyone loves "BIG ANT"!  Unless of course you had to guard him.  The gentle giant could physically dominate a game, and yet have the grace and speed of the Panther mascot he represented.  His powerful court presence is a sharp contrast to his overwhelming kind spirit to others.  Those giant calves were as quick to leap to the rim and they were to rush to pick up a teammate from the floor. One minute I called Anthony 'Super Sugar Bear' the next minute I screamed to the team, 'No one shoots the ball until Anthony touches it'.  Winners loves "BIG ANT"!"