It’s great when programs, as was the case for Omaha basketball, can play with house money. It’s even better when teams go on to take care of business anyway. Coach Chris Crutchfield’s men had already booked their passage to March Madness.
In a good sign of a culture with a solid foundation, the Mavericks went on to beat St. Thomas-Minnesota Tommies in the Summit League championship. The 85-75 capped a successful year. More importantly, the win shows that this squad is ready to take advantage of their opportunity, potentially preparing to make something of a Cinderella run.
Fortunately for Omaha basketball supporters, the student-athletes they were rooting for had nothing to lose. Because their conference newcomers weren’t eligible yet, coach Crutchfield knew he had already guided his side to an NCAA tournament berth.
This marked the first time for the former Division II program. The Mavericks have been Summit League members since 2012. Omaha basketball has seen past years of winning records, but the 22-12 overall record and first-place conference finish is the best season for the Nebraska team as D1 members.
Continued trust by Omaha basketball players in coach
Achieving unprecedented levels of program success takes something extraordinary. A coach having trust in those on the roster and vice versa is a proven winning formula.
In a telling moment, guard Tony Osburn shared how coach Crutchfield instills confidence in his players:
(Coach Crutchfield) told me I owed him one for Thursday. I was pretty bad and didn’t make any shots. He believed in me and I believe in myself and my teammates kept coming back to me.
This quote came from their semi-final win. It was a game in which Osburn shot 8-for-9 from range and scored 30 points. A player knowing that he can play through mistakes and that a coach will continue to put him in great positions can be unstoppable.
This mentality flows through the team. More importantly, it’s a balanced side that doesn’t overly rely on any single individual.
Balanced approach bodes well for upcoming games
The Finals matchup saw JJ White go off for a game-high 29 points on 10-of-14 shooting from the field. Meanwhile, the hero from the previous game, Osburn, only needed to chip in eight points. This Omaha basketball program goes eight deep, with the starters and three main bench contributors averaging roughly 20 minutes per game.
Leading scorer on the year, Marquel Sutton only needed 19 and 22 points, respectively, in the last two games. His consistent scoring and 8.0 rebounds per contest show how much of an overall contributor the senior forward is.
Teams often reflect their coach. The Mavericks and their fanbase are proud and should celebrate this latest major accomplishment. Expect them to be this year’s bracket buster. This is a side that refuses to become complacent.
Even in their semi-final outing, coach Crutchfield urged his team to keep playing until the final whistle, even with the late lead:
I told the guys to just keep pushing, keep pushing, keep scoring, don’t try to kill the clock and that is what they did
Approaching the game like this and then finishing the job with a conference championship should show a lot to NCAAB onlookers. Omaha basketball is dangerous for future unsuspecting opponents. Expect them to make the most of their first dance. They’ll prove to be more frequent visitors to March Madness with this mindset as well.
