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Webcast/Multimedia

Audio/Video

 Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Gillian Welch - Time (the Revelator) (25 mins. of Audio) - An audio essay on the traditional and postmodern sources and implications of Welch's 2001 album.

Webcasts


Photo Gallery

 Updated Friday, April 20, 2007
Mens_Basketball: MBB Celebration 2007

2007 NAIA National Tournament

DANCIN’ IN BRANSON 2007

Front: (l-r) Scott Theis, Chris Reinhart, Reid Flaagan, Andy Parochka, Zack Alvidrez, Matt Stenehjem, Monty Rogers, Erick Edmond.
Middle: Blaine Restad, Micah Berge, Marques Benjamin, Derek Gathman, Chad Hobbs, Ron Howard, Brandon Schafer, Student Manager Mike Mitchell.
Back: Assistant Coach Justin Johnson, Head Coach Craig Smith, Sebastian Ramirez, Student Manager Ryan Swallow, Nick Maly, Ethan Evenson, Assistant Coach Bruce Erdmann, Assistant Coach Joe Kittell. Tremel Gilot is not pictured.

Mayville State Men’s Basketball Team Makes History as National Championship Runner-Up

With a run that seemed improbable to some and impossible to others, the Mayville State University men’s basketball team overcame the odds and a season full of adversity to make history in 2006-2007 — advancing to the NAIA II national championship game to stand atop the country as one of only two teams left remaining at the end of the national tournament.

The magnitude of the team’s accomplishments are astounding. For starters, no other team in the history of North Dakota collegiate men’s basketball had played for a national championship before. That’s something special.

The Comets advanced to the Final Four, the first time any team from the Dakota Athletic Conference (DAC) had ever made it that far. Only two other teams in conference history had gotten to the national quarterfinals, but Mayville players and coaches looked far beyond that.

“This is the vision we’ve had for the program since the first day we stepped on campus in Mayville three years ago,” head coach Craig Smith said. “We weren’t trying to sell an impossible dream. We always believed that this could be accomplished if we did things the right way.”

Outsiders may have considered the Comets’ lofty goals as unrealistic dreams from the beginning. A year prior to Smith’s arrival at Mayville State, the Comets won just a single game and finished the season 1-27, not exactly the type of program you would expect to see playing for a national championship a few years later.

“We’ve always believed that we could get to this point, but everything happened in stages,” Smith said. “In our first year we made it to the national tournament and lost a tough game to the defending champions. We followed that up with a trip to the national semifinals. Those were steps our program had to take. This year we found a way to take it one step further.”

As resurrections go, Mayville State’s rise from the ashes has been one for the record books — and it’s happened quickly. The Comets haven’t just baby-stepped their way into the national spotlight, they’ve leaped into the limelight at warp-speed.

Following that agonizing one-win season in 2003-2004, the Comets made it to the national tournament under their new leadership in 2004-2005. Year number two brought MSU its first-ever DAC regular season and tournament championship, not to mention a final record of 28-6. Those 28 wins set a school record.

And then there was year number three … second straight DAC regular season championship, second straight DAC tournament championship, MSU’s second straight trip to the national quarterfinals, the school’s first-ever trip to the national semifinals, and North Dakota’s first collegiate men’s basketball team to play for a national championship.

Each team, it seems, has been connected from year to year.

“You can’t talk about where you are in the present without taking a look at where you’ve been in the past,” Smith said. “Everything we’ve done this year has been a direct result of what those guys started three years ago. One wouldn’t be possible without the other.”

With a handful of former players in the stands throughout the 2007 NAIA Division II National Tournament and during the championship game on March 13, it was easy to see a seamless bond between generations of Comet players, family, and fans.

“Our players have had incredible relationships with each other,” Smith said. “A lot can be said about the success we’ve had and the strength of our relationships. Eventually those relationships spill over to our players’ families and our fans. It’s one of the biggest strengths we have—our community and our team family. It gives people more to look forward to more than just wins and losses, it gives our program a higher purpose and a true sense of family.”

Comets at the National Tournament

The Mayville State University Men’s Basketball Team made its third consecutive appearance at the NAIA Division II national championship tournament in 2007. At the end of 2006-2007 regular season play, the Comets were ranked 15th in the nation. The tournament was held March 7-13 at College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Mo.


Awards

Mayville State Head Coach Craig Smith was named the Rawlings NAIA Division II National Coach of the Year.

Mayville State received the Naismith/Liston Sportsmanship Award.

Monty Rogers, Ron Howard, and Matt Stenehjem were named to the all-tournament team.

Chris Reinhart received the Champions of Character Award.

Records Broken

Mayville State's long-standing record of most points scored in a national tournament game, set by Tom Iverson in 1962, was tied by Gilby Sanchez in 2006. Their record was broken during the 2007 tournament by Monty Rogers, Ron Howard, and Matt Stenehjem. Monty Rogers currently holds the record.

Who Qualifies?

151 teams began the season pursuing the NAIA Division II title. Thirty-two teams meet in the national tournament. Teams may receive an automatic bid from their conference through regular season records or tournament results. Non-conference teams may meet in a regional playoff to advance. Teams can also receive an at-large berth based on their national ranking.

Mayville State University NAIA Tournament History

This is the seventh time Mayville State has qualified for an NAIA national tournament. Here are the results from previous tournaments:
1962: #14 Peru State (NE) 90, Mayville State 74
1996: #1 Bethel (IN) 98, Mayville State 58
1997: #3 Oregon Tech 77, Mayville State 69
1998: #3 Mayville State 99, Bellevue (NE) 72
        #3 Mayville State 68, Black Hills State (SD) 59
        #11 Northwest Nazerene (ID)84, #3 Mayville State 75
2005: #6 Oregon Tech 67, Mayville State 60
2006: #7 Mayville State 82, Daemen (NY)College 56
        #7 Mayville State 99, Montreat (NC) College 92
        College of the Ozarks 80, Mayville State 61

NAIA Tournament Game Stats

If you are interested in reviewing any of the NAIA National Tournament Game Stats, Game Summaries and other National Tournament Articles, please click here.

Donations

A trip to the national tournament is an exciting event for the players, fans and university. Unfortunately, a trip to the national tournament is not a regular part of the athletics budget and travel reimbursement from the DAC and NAIA is limited. Any outside assistance you can provide is greatly appreciated. To make a donation via credit card, please click here.
If you would like to make a donation via cash or check, or a credit card, contact the Mayville State Foundation Office at 701.788.4864 or 1.800.437.4104 x34864

To mail your donation, please indicate that it is for the men’s basketball national tournament expenses and send it to:
MSU Foundation
330 Third Street NE
Mayville, ND 58257

Videos Plus Fundraiser

Videos Plus Pizza & Subs of Mayville donated half of their food and beverage sales on Wednesday, February 28, to assist the Comets with expenses associated with attending the national tournament.

Radio-a-thon

KMAV Radio (105.5 FM/1520 AM), the voice of the Comets, supplied air time on Wednesday, February 28, for a radio-a-thon where Comet backers could call in and pledge their financial assistance for the trip to the national tournament. Team members answered phones and were interviewed live on the air. Nearly $7,000 was raised.

Sendoff Party

A crowd of fans and well-wishers gathered at the Lewy Lee Fieldhouse Sunday, March 4, at 1:00 p.m. for a Sendoff Party for the Comets. To see pictures, click here.

Treats for the Road

Many Comet fans and friends brought snacks and goodies for the team to enjoy while on their trip. These friends include some businesses in Grand Forks, ND, like Big Sioux Travel Plaza, Grand Forks Grocery, Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Super One, and Target. Top Taste, Inc. in Finley, ND, and Sindy and Greg Riedman of Portland, ND also supplied goodies.

Comet Crazies

A number of Comet fans made the trip to the national tournament to cheer for the team. They became known by the media and others as the “Comet Crazies.” The “Comet Crazies” drew a lot of interest when they held pep rallies at the parking lot of the motel where the Comets stayed prior to each game. Pep Rally Photos and Comet Fans

NAIA Fab Four Banquet

By winning their quarterfinal game against Cedarville, Mayville State’s men's basketball team was one of four teams that earned the honor to attend the NAIA Fab Four Banquet. The other teams represented at the Fab Four banquet were Northwest, MidAmerican Nazarene, and Northwestern. The banquet was held aboard the Showboat Branson Belle. Photos of the event: Fab Four Banquet and Branson Belle Showboat

Welcome Home!

The Comets team bus was escorted into Mayville by police and fire vehicles when they returned from the national tournament on March 15. Many well-wishers greeted them along Mayville’s Main Street as the team made its way to a welcome home celebration at the Lewy Lee Fieldhouse. To see pictures, click here.

Celebration of a Historic Season

On Monday evening, April 16, 2007, Comets fans from the campus, community, and beyond gathered to celebrate the Comets Men’s Basketball Team’s historic season at a dinner and program.

“A Taste of Branson” was the theme for the buffet meal. The program included a Comet Crazies pep fest, a video presentation showing highlights of the team’s trip to the NAIA Division II men’s basketball championship, and remarks from North Dakota Governor John Hoeven and community dignitaries, along with students, parents, players and coaches.

To add to the fun, there was a silent auction featuring Comets Basketball memorabilia. Team members autographed team photos and shirts for those who attended.

Click here for the photos.

More Photos

Click here to see complete gallery.
Click here to see more photos from the 2007 NAIA Division II National Men’s Basketball Tournament website.
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