HUNTSVILLE, Ala.—The Barry University Buccaneers are in rarified air this week as they prepare to take on the Alabama-Huntsville Chargers on Tuesday, Mar. 15 at 8:30 pm Eastern time in Spragins Hall for the South Region Tournament Championship.
The Bucs (25-6) advanced to the regional final, the "Sweet 16" of NCAA Division II basketball, with a 74-65 win over Union (Tenn.) on Sunday night. It is the first time in program history that the Bucs will play for the region title.
"We're very excited to advance this far in the tournament," Barry head coach Butch Estes said. "I guess it's every coach and every player's dream, when they're growing up, to play in the NCAA Tournament and March Madness. To get to the Sweet 16 with the opportunity to go to the Elite 8 is a great opportunity for our team."
The Bucs have played two very different games in the tournament so far. Against Rollins, the Bucs shot lights out, hitting nearly 60 percent from the field, including over 50 percent from three-point range. They scored 107 points, the most of any team in the tournament. Against Union, the Bucs played a more defensive game, holding the Bulldogs to 39.7 percent shooting, including just 16 percent from three-point range. They held Union to just 65 points, tied for the eighth lowest output in the tournament.
In two tournament games, the Bucs are shooting 50.8 percent from the field, 43.1 percent from three-point range and 81.6 percent from the line. Five players are averaging in double figures, led by first-team All-South Region pick Yunio Barrueta at 20.5 per game. Barrueta became the Bucs' all-time leading scorer against Union and now has 1,734 points in his three seasons. He is also the school's all-time rebounding leader at 835 and is second on the team at the tournament at 7.0 per game.
Anders Haas has chipped in 14.5 points per game, including a perfect 10-of-10 from the free throw line. Elvar Fridricksson is third with 13.0 points and five assists per game. Undra Mitchem accounts for 12.0 poiints and 4.5 rebounds. Arie Williams comes off the bench for 11.5 points and 2.0 assists.
Tray Leonard leads the team on the board at 9.0 per game, while scoring 9.5 points. Adrian Gonzalez is another weapon off the bench, averaging 9.0 points per game.
The Bucs will face another member of the All-South Region team in UAH's Seab Webster. He is averaging 21.5 points per game in the tournament and 7.5 rebounds. Greg Gardner has chipped in 19.5 points per game and 6.5 rebounds.
The Chargers are playing in their fourth regional final in the past six seasons as UAH reached the national round of 16 also in 2011, 2012, and 2013.
In 2011 and 2012, UAH captured the South Region title, and both times came on the Spragins Hall floor.
The winner of the contest will earn the region's berth to the 2016 NCAA Division II Men's Elite Eight held in Frisco, Texas, starting on March 23.
GAME LINKS:
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