South Alabama Jaguars men's basketball

Infobox CBB Team
name = South Alabama Jaguars

logo_size = 150px
university = University of South Alabama
conference = Sun Belt Conference
conference_short = Sun Belt
division =
city = Mobile
stateabb = AL
state = Alabama
coach = Ronnie Arrow
tenure = 1st
arena = Mitchell Center
capacity = 10,041
nickname = Jaguars
color1= Blue
color2= Red
color3= White
hex1=000066
hex2=ff0000
hex3=ffffff
h_body=ff0000
h_pattern_b=_thinsidesonwhite
h_shorts=ff0000
h_pattern_s=_blanksides
a_body=000066
a_pattern_b=_thinwhitesides
a_shorts=000066
a_pattern_s=_whitesides
NCAAchampion =
NCAAfinalfour =
conference_tournament = 1989, 1991, 1997, 1998, 2006
conference_season = 1979, 1980, 1989, 1991, 1997, 1998, 2007, 2008

The South Alabama Jaguars men's basketball program has had a short but fairly successful history, despite being in the small Sun Belt Conference and located in a state dominated by football powerhouses Alabama and Auburn. In their 39 years of history, the Jaguars have compiled an overall record of 628-473 (.570). They are currently coached by Ronnie Arrow, who succeeded John Pelphrey after the 2006-07 season.

History

The University of South Alabama is a public, doctoral-level university in Mobile, Alabama, USA. The school was founded in 1963 and began it's men's basketball program in the fall of 1968 under former Auburn standout and Alabama Sports Hall of Fame member Rex Frederick. cite web|title="Rex Frederick"|work=Alabama Sports Hall of Fame|url=http://www.ashof.org/index.php?src=directory&view=company&srctype=display&back=company&id=312&pos=75,15,249&PHPSESSID=5ac7f00179880a8f10d0d26cc829b89d|accessdate=2007-04-14]

The Jags have participated in the NCAA Tournament a total of 8 times with a record of 1-8. Their last tournament appearance was in 2008 when they lost to seventh seeded, Butler University 81-61 in the NCAA Birmingham Regional First Round.

The Jaguars have been invited to play in the NIT Tournament four times and have a record of 3-4 in the NIT.

Coaches

Cliff Ellis was head coach at the University of South Alabama from 1975 to 1984.cite web|title="Head Coach Cliff Ellis"|work=AuburnTigers.us|url=http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:Po8_4fHK8IMJ:www.auburntigers.us/emplibrary/mbbmg03_71-90a.pdf+clifford+ellis+1945+chipola&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=5&gl=us|accessdate=2007-03-16] He is the all-time winning coach in South Alabama history with a 171-84 (.671) record during nine seasons.cite web|title="Auburn Head Coach Cliff Ellis To Be Inducted Into Mobile Sports Hall Of Fame"|work=Test.com|url=http://auburntigers.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/042203aaa.html
date=2003-04-22|accessdate=2007-03-16] When Ellis became head coach, the administrators at South Alabama were thinking of dropping to Divion II. Four years later, he had the Jaguars in the NCAA Tournament and six seasons later, they were ranked in the nation's top 10. Ellis, also was the athletic director during part of his tenure, led the Jaguars to three Sun Belt titles, two NCAA Tournament appearances and two NITs.

In his eight seasons as the Jaguars coach, Ronnie Arrow compiled a record of 114-93 (.551)cite web|title="Jaguars open 2006-07 season at Fresno Tournament Friday"|work=USAJaguars.com|url=http://www.usajaguars.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=38472&SPID=3258&DB_OEM_ID=8300&ATCLID=678323|date=2006-11-09|accessdate=2007-03-13] and was named Sun Belt Coach of the Year in 1989 and 1991. cite web|title="Ronnie Arrow, Sheryl Estes preparing Islander basketball teams for fall 1999"|work=IslanderSports|url=http://kanga.tamucc.edu/PublicAffairs/magazine/archives/fall98/sports.htm|accessdate=2007-03-13] His squads led the Sun Belt Conference in scoring four of his seven seasons at South Alabama.cite web|title="Ronnie Arrow"|work=GoIslanders.com |url=http://www.goislanders.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=14100&ATCLID=715302|accessdate=2007-03-13] His 1988-89 squad set a school and league record 91 points per game average and five of his seven teams tallied at least 80 points per game. cite web|title="Ronnie Arrow"|work=GoIslanders.com |url=http://www.goislanders.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=14100&ATCLID=715302|accessdate=2007-03-13]

Former NBA Minnesota Timberwolves coach, Bill Musselman returned to the NCAA after a 25-year absence and led the Jaguars to back-to-back NCAA tournament bids in his two years as coach. Musselman's 1997 South Alabama team went 23-7 and nearly upset eventual champion University of Arizona in the opening round of the NCAA tournament.

Bob Weltlich was named interim coach at South Alabama in 1997 following Musselman's sudden resignation.cite web|title="Weltlich Hired"|work=New York Times|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C01E2D91531F93BA15753C1A961958260|date=1997-10-28|accessdate=2007-03-15] Weltlich coached the Jags from 1997 to 2002 and compiled a record of 81-65 (.559) and three 20-win seasons. cite web|title="Rebels Face Road Challenge at South Alabama Saturday"|work=OleMissSports.com |url=http://www.olemisssports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=2600&ATCLID=723770&SPID=739&SPSID=12840|date=2006-12-14|accessdate=2007-03-15]

John Pelphrey spent five seasons as head coach at South Alabama. In 2005-06 the Jaguars defeated Western Kentucky University in the Sun Belt Conference tournament championship game, earning USA's first NCAA tournament bid since 1998. The Jaguars lost to the tournament champions, Florida in the round of 64. In 2007, Pelphrey led the Jags to an NIT birth which resulted in a first-round loss to Syracuse (79-73). cite web |title="College Hoops" |work=CNNSI.com |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/ncaa/men/scoreboards/divia/today/|accessdate=2007-03-14] South Alabama finished the year with a 20-12 record, giving Pelphrey an overall record of 80-67 with the Jags and an offer to coach for the University of Arkansas in the SEC. cite web |title="Report: Arkansas Inks South Alabama's John Pelphrey To Be Next Head Coach"|last=Smith|first=Matthew|work=All Headline News |url=http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7006991242|date=2007-04-09|accessdate=2007-04-09]

Ronnie Arrow has returned to Mobile to lead the Jags as head coach once again. They are currently enjoying a 20+ win season, and earned their eighth trip to the NCAA Tournament as a 10 seed in the East region, via an at-large bid.

Arena

The "Mitchell Center" 10,041-seat multi-purpose arena was built in 1998. It is home to the University of South Alabama Jaguars men's and women's basketball teams. The 2001 and 2008 Sun Belt Conference men’s basketball tournaments were held at the "Mitchell Center".

Mascot

In 1965 the South Alabama Board of Trustees selected the Jaguar as the University’s official mascot and during the late 1960s, USA housed a live Jaguar on the campus. However, the University later decided against housing a live animal on campus after Mischka, the jaguar, was accidentally set free on the campus after someone made the mistake of leaving her pen door unlocked. cite web|title="The Jaguar Mascot"|work=USAJaguars.com|url=http://www.usajaguars.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=38527&SPID=3266&DB_OEM_ID=8300&ATCLID=344409|date=2006-07-11|accessdate=2007-04-13]

In the 1971 Retrospect (Yearbook) a person is seen wearing a jaguar costume with a paper mache head covered with spotted fur. By 1972, the costume had changed to a look that showed the persons face and included a fur hat and body. In the late 1970s a mascot-naming contest was held and the name "South Paw" was chosen. In 1986 USA began its first structured mascot program, building the image of "South Paw" that exists today. A new costume with an enlarged soft head with comical expression have now replaced the old paper mache head.

"Miss Pawla" joined "South Paw" in 1992. Today, the duo of "South Paw" and "Miss Pawla" represent the Jaguars at USA athletic competitions and other events throughout the Mobile community.

ee also

*University of South Alabama
*South Alabama Jaguars

References

External links

* [http://www.ashof.org/index.php?submenu=Home&src=&PHPSESSID=13fcab1948a654717589a669a4765702 Alabama Sports Hall of Fame]
* [http://www.southalabama.edu/ University of South Alabama]
* [http://www.usajaguars.com/ Jaguar Athletics]