By: by Mark Toma
KENNESAW, Ga. – The Owls head out on their longest road trip of the season on Saturday morning as they prepare for a nine-day, four-game trek beginning in St. Louis and ending in Chicago as they participate in the Chicago Invitational Challenge.
“This is going to be a good challenge for our players,” said Kennesaw State head coach Tony Ingle. “With four games in seven days we’re going to find out a lot about ourselves after this road trip.”
In a battle of undefeated teams, the Owls (2-0) will face the Billikens of Saint Louis on Sunday afternoon at Chaifetz Arena on the first leg of the trip, before facing All-American and Big East Player of the Year in Luke Harangody and Notre Dame on Tuesday night in South Bend, Ind.
The trip concludes with back-to-back games in Chicago where the Owls will face Tennessee State on Friday afternoon, Nov. 27, before playing either Liberty or Mississippi Valley State on Saturday at the 10,000 seat UIC Pavilion. The final two days of the event were originally scheduled to be played at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, Ill., but have been moved to downtown Chicago.
“We are excited to get on the road,” added Ingle. “And from a coaching standpoint we’re looking forward to seeing how our kids are going to play on the road against some tough non-conference opponents.”
Sunday afternoon’s game with Saint Louis will be the second all-time meeting between the teams. The Owls visited the Billikens on Dec. 17, 2005 when Saint Louis took a 74-60 decision. Saint Louis holds a 10-1 record against non-conference teams at Chaifetz Arena and has won nine straight games after suffering their lone defeat at the hands of Kent State.
The Billikens (2-0), who have 10 underclassmen on their roster, enter the game with a two-game winning streak after defeating Southeast Missouri State in their opener before beating Nebraska, 69-55, on Wednesday evening behind a 20-point effort by Kwamain Mitchell.
The 5-foot-10-inch Mitchell was named Third Team All-Atlantic 10 Preseason All-Conference and last season was chosen to the league's All-Rookie team. He averaged 11.0 ppg, 3.2 rpg and was second on the team with 42 three-pointers and 38 steals.
The Owls are fresh off a pair of victories last weekend with wins over North Greenville and North Georgia, marking the first time since 2004-05 that the Owls have started the season with two straight wins.
Redshirt freshman Markeith Cummings is fresh off his first collegiate double-double, with a 14-point, 11-rebound night against North Georgia. Senior tri-captain Jon Michael Nickerson has posted back-to-back double-digit scoring games and is coming off a game-high 18-point night against the Saints.
The game will also be the third all-time meeting between head coaches Tony Ingle and Rick Majerus. The two went against each other when Ingle was interim head coach at Brigham Young and Majerus was coaching at Utah.
All four games of the Chicago Invitational Challenge can be heard by listening to Craig Corbin and Scott Webb on 920 am WGKA, the new home of the Owls. The broadcast can be heard at 920 am and will also be streamed online at www.920WGKA.com.
2009 Chicago Invitational Challenge
Sunday, Nov. 22 | 1:00 p.m. cst
Kennesaw State (2-0) at Saint Louis (2-0)
Tuesday, Nov. 24 | 7:00 p.m.
Kennesaw State (2-0) at Notre Dame (3-0)
Friday, Nov. 27 | 12:00 p.m. cst
Tennessee State (0-1) vs. Kennesaw State (2-0)
Saturday, Nov. 28 | TBD
Kennesaw State (2-0) vs. Liberty (1-3)/Mississippi Valley State (1-2)
* records as of Thursday, Nov. 19
