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Metro State Continues To Show Its Dominance In Division II Basketball

By Will Connolly

With a Final Four appearance in last year's Division II NCAA Tournament, followed by a National Championship appearance the season prior; Metro State University is becoming a forced to reckoned with. Continuing that run of success in his fourth season with the Roadrunners, head coach Derrick Clark has shown progress towards further success with every coming season. This run of success really started with head coach Mike Dunlap (1997-2006), who led the team to National Championship runs in 2000 and 2002.

This season isn't much different from those of the past though, as the Roadrunners boast a record of 24-4 and are currently ranked No. 14 in the NABC Division II College Basketball rankings. They would be sitting even higher in the rankings if it weren't for a recent loss to Fort Lewis. But Metro has gotten where they are by demonstrating stellar defense throughout the season, holding their opponents to an average of 60 points per game (4th in Division II).

Their fantastic season can only be attributed to the consistently stellar play of seniors Mitch McCarron and Nicholas Kay, who are both averaging over 20 points and six rebounds per game. At 6'9", Kay isn't afraid to get down low and snatch up some boards with the big boys; demonstrating his aggressive nature with four double-doubles this season. At 6'3", McCarron is a guard who doesn't shy away from mixing it up with the best of them, as he too boasts two double-doubles on the season, both coming from points and boards. But McCarron is better known for his ability to hit the three, shooting an impressive 42 percent from downtown. McCarron also demonstrated his prowess at the free throw line this season, shooting an incredible 84 percent; which ranks second best on the team.

The Roadrunners are currently gearing up for the Rocky Mountain Athletic Tournament, of which they have won 11 out of their past 16 appearances. But MSU has much bigger aspirations than just winning the RMAC and reaching the NCAA Tournament. The Roadrunners want a chance to redeem themselves after suffering a heartbreaking loss to eventual winner Central Missouri last season. The season prior may have been an even tougher loss to swallow as MSU fell at the hands of Drury by one single point in the national championship game.

Metro State currently ranks second in the South Central Region behind Tarleton State, but in-state rivals Colorado Mines and the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs trail close behind at No. 3 and No. 5, respectively. However, with the amount of success that the Roadrunners have enjoyed in year's past, they're looking far beyond the competition within the state of Colorado. And as the team has gotten better and better with each and every season under coach Clark, they could be hoisting up a national championship trophy come season's end.

 

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