Southern Arkansas Muleriders men's basketball explained

Southern Arkansas Muleriders
University:Southern Arkansas University
Conference:Great American Conference
Location:Magnolia, Arkansas
Coach:Andy Sharpe
Tenure:8th
Arena:W.T. Watson Athletic Center
Capacity:2,500
Nickname:Muleriders
H Pattern B:_basketball
H Body:FFFFFF
H Shorts:FFFFFF
A Pattern B:_basketball
A Body:003DA5
A Shorts:003DA5
3 Pattern B:_basketball
3 Body:FFD100
3 Shorts:FFD100
Ncaatourneys:NAIA: 1957, 1966, 1967, 1971, 1989
Conference Tournament:Southeastern Junior College Championship: 1948
NAIA District 17: 1957, 1966, 1967, 1971, 1983, 1990
Conference Season:AIC: 1934, 1935, 1966, 1967, 1971, 1989
GAC: 2021 (Eastern Division)

The Southern Arkansas men's basketball program is the college basketball program that represents Southern Arkansas University, competing in the Great American Conference. The program began as early as 1911. Though it has been sporadic, the Muleriders have had successes on the hardwood.

Coaches

There have been 9 Mulerider Basketball coaches since 1947. The school's all-time winningest coach was W.T. Watson. Watson also lead the Muleriders' to three conference regular season championships. Watson's contributions to SAU as basketball coach and later athletic director lead to the Muleriders home gym to be named the W.T. Watson Athletic Center.

Southern Arkansas Coaching History[1]
TenureCoach SeasonsWon Lost Pct. Conf. Champs.
1927–1937Ves Godley 11 80 59 .576 1934, 1935
1937–1946Unknown n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
1946–1954 Elmer Smith 7 108 74 .593
1954–1957P.T. "Duddy" Waller 3 45 24 .652
1957–1963Delwin T. Ross 6 39 86 .312
1963–1980W.T. Watson 17 300 151 .665 1966, 1967, 1971
1980–1997Monroe Ingram 17 257 193 .571 1990
1997–1998Burt West 1 12 14 .462
1998–2005 Brian Daugherty 7 84 106 .442
2005–2012 Eric Bozeman 7 73 116 .386
2012–Present Andy Sharpe 9 127 118 .518 2021
TOTAL 85 1,125 941 .545 7 (1934, 1935, 1966, 1967, 1971, 1990, 2021)

Players

1500 Point Club

Six players have scored more than 1,500 points in their Mulerider careers.

1500 Point Club
No.PlayerYear
2290John Holmes 1986–1990
1886 Greg Alexander 1975–1979
1647 Calvin Thomas 1949–1954
1609 Alfred Flanigan 1968–1972
1604 Billy Barnes 1967–1971
1556 Shawn Mason 1998–2002

All-Americans

Eight players have been named to an All-American team a total of ten times.

All-Americans
No.PlayerYear
1968–1969Donnie Denton HM
1970–1971 Billy Barnes HM
1973–1974 James Armstrong HM
1973–1974 Johnny White HM
1978–1979 Greg Alexander HM
1987–1988 Dwayne Smith HM
1988–1989 John Holmes 2nd
1989–1990 John Holmes 1st
1990–1991 John Holmes 1st
1993–1994 Cedric Williams HM

Postseason results

NAIA National Tournament results

Southern Arkansas has appeared in the NAIA National Tournament six times. Their combined record is 2–6.

Year Round Opponent Result/Score
First Round Western Illinois L 70–101
First Round
Second Round
Guilford, NC
Georgia Southern
W 72–67
L 62–80
First Round
Second Round
East Montana
St. Benedict's
W 75–62
L 56–67
First Round Eau Claire L 50–66
First Round Ft. Hayes St. L 65–71
First Round Siena Heights L 70–83

Arena

The W.T. Watson Center, a 2,500-seat multipurpose arena, is home to the SAU men's and women's basketball teams, as well as the SAU volleyball team.[2]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2014–2015 Media Guide. MuleridersAthletics.com. 2015-04-17.
  2. Web site: Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum . AuburnTigers.cstv.com. 2007-04-06. https://web.archive.org/web/20070407161947/http://auburntigers.cstv.com/facilities/aub-facilities-m-baskbl.html. 7 April 2007. dead.