Thought I'd check in to see how one of our previous coaches is doing down the way. Wilson is having a pretty good year so far, and has a shot to get into the NCAA Tourney. HBU, who beat us this season, stands in their way.


Willis Wilson- Head Coach TAMCC
Overall record: 284-326 .465

Quote:From the first day of Willis Wilson’s tenure at the Island University on March 25, 2011, he made it instantly clear what his goal for the program was.

“We want to be the premier program in the Southland Conference and follow down the paths of a Butler, Gonzaga, George Mason or Virginia Commonwealth.”

Taking a program with one NCAA Tournament appearance and just 12 years of Division I history into a place alongside the premier names in college basketball is a tall task. The first step is building a culture and foundation for the Islanders.

The program’s philosophy for recruiting student-athletes – Character, Toughness, Talent – will be a major step in the building process for the Islanders. These attributes in basketball players that work hard will build Islanders Basketball into a championship program.

In the 2014-15 season, the Islanders posted the strongest campaign of the Willis Wilson era, notching 20 wins for the first time since the 2006-07 team advanced to the NCAA Tournament. The Islanders went 13-5 in conference play to finish third, and were the only team to defeat champion Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston State. A&M-Corpus Christi again advanced to the Southland Tournament semifinals, falling to SHSU, and earned a spot in the College Insider Tournament for the second year in a row. This time, the team knocked off former NCAA Tournament Cinderella Florida Gulf Coast before hosting the first postseason home game in program history, a loss to Kent State, in the second round.

We have losses to two of that conference's leaders. I know after those losses, some people posted that it was embarrassing to lose to teams of that ilk. But at least they're proving to be better than people gave them credit back in November and December. I hope either Willis or HBU makes the NCAA's, but I suspect it will be SFA in the end.

(01-24-2016 03:44 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  We have losses to two of that conference's leaders. I know after those losses, some people posted that it was embarrassing to lose to teams of that ilk. But at least they're proving to be better than people gave them credit back in November and December. I hope either Willis or HBU makes the NCAA's, but I suspect it will be SFA in the end.

It's still embarrassing to lose to #227 Houston Baptist and #192 Incarmate Word. The fact that they're toward the top of the Southland doesn't change that.

Wonder how we'd fare against Willis' TAMUCC team this season- they're in 2nd place in Southland:


Texas A&M-CC beats Sam Houston , 51-48; now tied for 2nd

HOUSTON -- Bryce Douvier scored 10 points, including a pair of free throws to give Texas A&M-Corpus Christi the lead for good in a 51-48 win over Sam Houston State on Saturday night.

The Islanders move into a second-place tie with Houston Baptist, two games back of undefeated Stephen F. Austin in the Southland Conference standings.

Texas A&M-CC (17-5, 8-2) was 21 of 61 from the field (34.4 percent).

(Dakarai) Henderson scored 20 points for Sam Houston State (12-12, 7-4).

Willis had a taped message for Brent Scott that they played last night (so did Todd Smith, who was also there in person). I thought that was a nice move on his part, and Willis looks good - he hasn't aged as much as the rest of us.

(02-07-2016 07:46 AM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  Willis had a taped message for Brent Scott that they played last night (so did Todd Smith, who was also there in person). I thought that was a nice move on his part, and Willis looks good - he hasn't aged as much as the rest of us.

+1

(02-07-2016 12:30 AM)GoodOwl Wrote:  Wonder how we'd fare against Willis' TAMUCC team this season- they're in 2nd place in Southland:

Sagarin's ratings say TAMU-CC would be about an 8 point favorite on a neutral court.

Willis wins 20 games at TAMCC, beating Incarnate Word.

Douvier has 19, Texas A&M-CC dominates Incarnate Word 90-69
10:26 PM ET

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas -- Bryce Douvier had 19 points and 10 rebounds as Texas A&M-Corpus Christi sprinted to an early lead and coasted to a 90-69 win over Incarnate Word on Saturday night.

The Islanders jumped out to a 27-9 lead and led by 30, 53-23 at the break. That is the most points Texas A&M-CC (20-6, 11-3 Southland Conference) has scored in one half this season.

The Islanders, who lost to Incarnate Word 70-65, in their last meeting, remain in second place in the conference, 2.5 games behind Stephen F. Austin, which rolled over Nicholls 88-53 on Saturday night.

Rashawn Thomas had 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Hameed Ali added 16 points, dished out six assists and had four steals for Texas A&M-CC, which has won four of its last five games.

Kyle Hittle was 8 of 10 from the floor for 23 points, and Simi Socks added 13 for Incarnate Word (13-11, 8-5).

And TAMU-CC defeats HBU last night to go 23-6 on the year and 14-3 in the SLC.

Still a tough road to the NCAA tournament since the only realistic route is winning the SLC Tournament and once again SFA is really the class of the league. Nevertheless, it's been a good year for Willis, Marty and the Islanders.

As far as I can tell from my 3 minutes of research, against common opponents, TAMCC is 6-1 while Rice is 2-3. Common opponents were Lamar, HBU, St. Edwards, UTSA, and Incarnate Word. TAMCC had 2 games against HBU and Incarnate Word.

With a little luck at the end, CC A&M finishes a big comeback against Sam Houston to make the Southland tournament championship game. They are one win away from the big dance, but will have to play their best game of the year to knock off SFA today.

They are playing at Louisiana Lafayette in one of those alphabet tournaments.

Also, HBU made the other alphabet tournament (it's way too early to remember which one is in which). No CUSA teams in either of those tournaments. UAB is in the NIT, but if no other conference teams make a tournament, that's just two conference teams in the postseason which is pretty sad.

(03-14-2016 04:21 AM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  They are playing at Louisiana Lafayette in one of those alphabet tournaments.

Also, HBU made the other alphabet tournament (it's way too early to remember which one is in which). No CUSA teams in either of those tournaments. UAB is in the NIT, but if no other conference teams make a tournament, that's just two conference teams in the postseason which is pretty sad.

There's still the Vegas16.

Wilson had a pretty good season this year, sitting at 25-7, but SFA was clearly superior in that league. They've won the Southland 3 years in a row, now. I would think SFA might have a better than average shot at winning a game in the NCAAs, as they are somewhat seasoned to it now. SFA opens as a #14 seed against #3 West Virginia, so not completely impossible.

As for Wilson and the Islanders, they head to the CIT tournament to play on the road at the Ragin' Cajuns. Don't know what he loses after the season, but maybe Wilson can make a run the the Southern Conference tittle next year. Wonder if Rhoades would see fit to schedule them to come to Tudor instead of Incarnate Word? Wilson's return in a contest would generate a bit more fan interest, I would think. We should be better next year, and they'd be a good test.