Eagles have ups and downs on the way to nationals

There always are concerns and speed bumps, even in a 28-win season.

The Kirkwood men's basketball team started 4-3 in mid-November, but ended the regular season winning 21 of 23 games. Still Coach Doug Wagemester thought his team's rebounding and ball security were too sloppy.

Those basics became points of emphasis leading up to the NJCAA Division II Region XI Tournament the first week of March. Kirkwood swept through the competition there, winning three games by an average of 13 points to gain entrance in the national tournament.

“We didn't play our best basketball towards the end of the regular conference race, but I feel like we picked it up a notch in the regional tournament,” Wagemester said. “It was good to see that.”

Kirkwood makes a record-tying 11th overall appearance in the NJCAA D-II men's basketball championships today in a first-round game against Highland (Kan.) Community College at 1 p.m. The Eagles placed third a year ago and look to win the school's first national championship since 1998.

Highland, an offensive machine that averages 81.4 points a game, is one of two teams in this year's field going to the national tournament for the first time in school history. The Scotties (21-12) won District 12 with a 112-81 blowout over No. 12 Clarendon (Texas).

The Scotties have two of the top scorers in DII in Jarmar Gulley and De'Andre Upchurch. Gulley was a 2010 NJCAA DII honorable mention All-American and ranks seventh nationally in scoring with 23.1 points a game. Upchurch ranks 13th at 21.7.

“They're a very talented offensive group,” Wagemester said. “They like to score fast. We're going to have our hands full.”

The Eagles are led by forward Brennan Cougill, the University of Iowa transfer from Sioux City. Cougill averages 14 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. Highland has only two players taller than 6-5 and neither has the mass of Cougill.

Freshmen guards Michael Weber and D'Monte Hopkins add just less than 10 points per game each for Kirkwood.

Wagemester breaks down the year into three chapters - regular season, regional tournament and national tournament - and thinks the tough early schedule allowed the group to really hit stride in March.

“We have to rinse that and start getting your minds prepared for season three,” Wagemester said. “The goal is to win the national tournament.”