Senior point guard David Nowicki has a sparkling assist-turnover ratio of 46-13.
Springfield, Ohio — The Wittenberg University men's and women's basketball teams welcome an outstanding field of eight teams for the 2009 Charles B. Zimmerman Memorial Classic. The competition is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 29, and Wednesday, Dec. 30, at Wittenberg's HPER Center Arena with games on both days scheduled for noon, 2:15, 4:30 and 7 p.m.
Men's tournament participants for 2009 include the Ohio Dominican University from Columbus, Ohio, Olivet College (Mich.), Marian University from Indianapolis, Ind., and Wittenberg. Action gets under way Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. as Ohio Dominican and Marian square off, followed by a clash between the host Tigers and Olivet at 7 p.m. or 30 minutes following the conclusion of the first game. On Wednesday, the consolation game is slated for 2:15 p.m. or 30 minutes following the conclusion of the women's consolation game, and the championship contest is slated for 7 p.m. or 30 minutes following the conclusion of the women's championship game.
Wittenberg has appeared in 25 of the 26 title games in the tournament's history, winning 22 championships. Their only three title game defeats came in 1986 against Centre College, 1997 against the University of Chicago and 2002 against Ohio Dominican University. The Tigers had won five straight before last year, when Taylor University defeated Wittenberg 58-56 in the first round. The host team bounced back to finish third with an 82-75 win over the College of Mount St. Joseph.
The Tigers enter the 2009 Zimmerman Classic with a 7-2 overall record, including a mark of 1-1 in the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC). The Tigers' first-round opponent, Olivet, is off to a deceiving 4-5 start while playing primarily NCAA Division II and NAIA scholarship teams from around the state of Michigan. Ohio Dominican, coached by former Wittenberg assistant coach Artie Taylor, started the season with five straight losses but after beating nationally ranked NCAA Division III foe Hope, the Panthers have evened their record at 6-6. Marian is 6-5 on the 2009-10 campaign.
Senior point guard Elise Jenkins has played well in her first year as a starter, leading the Tigers with 22 assists and ranking second with 11 steals.
Women's tournament participants for 2009 include Wilmington College (Ohio), Case Western Reserve University from Cleveland, Ohio, Grove City College (Pa.) and Wittenberg. Action gets under way Tuesday at noon as Wilmington and Case Western square off, followed by a game between the host Tigers and Grove City at 2:15 p.m. or 30 minutes following the conclusion of the first game. On Wednesday, action opens with the consolation game at noon and the championship game at 4:30 p.m. or 30 minutes following the completion of the men's consolation game.
Wittenberg has won 10 of the 23 title games in the women's tournament history, with the last title coming in 2004 by virtue of wins over Centre and Hanover College. Last year, the Tigers defeated the College of Mount St. Joseph in the first round before falling 63-60 to the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh in the championship game.
The Tigers check in with a 3-4 overall record, including a mark of 2-0 in the NCAC. Wittenberg's first-round opponent, Grove City, is off to a 4-4 start in 2009, while Wilmington is also 4-4 and Case Western is 7-1. The Spartans started the season with a loss to Washington and Jefferson before reeling off seven wins in a row, including the last four against NCAC opponents.
Formerly known as the Kiwanis Wittenberg Holiday Classic, the annual basketball competition was dedicated in 2005 to the late Charles B. Zimmerman, Wittenberg class of 1956, a longtime Tiger fan and a local attorney. Tickets are $10 for all sessions or $6 for adults, $5 seniors/students and $2 for children under age 12.
No passes of any kind will be accepted. Doors will open one hour prior to the first game each day.
Written by: Ryan Maurer
Photos by: Erin Pence
084-09