Approximately 275 Arkansas Tech University students and 150 members of the surrounding community attended the Monday Madness event to launch the 2012-13 Arkansas Tech basketball season at Tucker Coliseum on Nov. 5.
Approximately 275 Arkansas Tech University students and 150 members of the surrounding community attended the Monday Madness event to launch the 2012-13 Arkansas Tech basketball season at Tucker Coliseum on Nov. 5.
Four Arkansas Tech students — Jennifer Gillam, Hailee Mason, Kirbey Blake and Cameron Thomas — were randomly selected to participate in a contest for $10,000. In order to win, the contestants had to make a layup, a free throw, a 3-point shot and a half-court shot in 25 seconds or less.
Despite their best efforts, none of the four contestants were able to advance beyond the 3-point shot.
Other Monday Madness events included introduction of the 2012-13 Wonder Boys and Golden Suns basketball teams, shooting competitions between members of the two teams, performances by the Arkansas Tech Cheerleaders and the Arkansas Tech Golden Girls dance team and speeches from the head coaches and team captains.
Kevin Solomon, associate dean for campus life, served as on-court master of ceremonies.
At the end of the events, fans came to the Tucker Coliseum floor to meet and greet Arkansas Tech basketball players and coaches.
View more photos from Monday Madness 2012.
Since the beginning of the 2009-10 season, Arkansas Tech has posted a combined overall record of 164-24 for its men’s and women’s basketball programs. Tech’s .872 basketball winning percentage over the past three years is best in all of NCAA Division II.
Last season, the Golden Suns finished 22-4 overall and won the inaugural Great American Conference women’s basketball regular season championship.
The Wonder Boys were 26-6 overall, regular season GAC men’s basketball champions and winners of the GAC Basketball Tournament title during the 2011-12 season. Tech’s men went on to reach the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Tournament for the first time in school history.
Arkansas Tech head women’s basketball coach Dave Wilbers has a career record of 128-25 in five seasons with the Golden Suns. Tech won NCAA Division II South Region women’s basketball titles under Wilbers’ leadership in 2010 and 2011.
Doug Karleskint is beginning his third season as the head men’s basketball coach at Arkansas Tech. He has led the Wonder Boys to a two-year mark of 51-12. Karleskint has guided Tech to regular season conference titles and NCAA Tournament appearances in both of his first two seasons as the Wonder Boys’ head coach.
]]>
