Jacob Weide
Springfield, Ohio — The Wittenberg University men's and women's basketball teams welcome anoutstanding field of eight teams for the 2011 Charles B. Zimmerman Memorial Classic. The competition is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 29, and Friday, Dec. 30, at Wittenberg's Pam Evans Smith Arena in the HPER Center, with games on both days scheduled for noon, 2:15, 4:30 and 7 p.m.
Men's tournament participants for 2011 include Olivet College from Olivet, Mich., Marian University from Indianapolis, Ind., Monmouth College from Monmouth, Ill., and Wittenberg. Action gets underway Thursday at 4:30 p.m. as Olivet and Marian square off, followed by a clash between the host Tigers and Monmouth at 7 p.m. or 30 minutes following the conclusion of the first game. On Friday, 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 27 of the 28 title games in the men's tournament history, winning 24 championships. Their three title game defeats came in 1986 against Centre College, 1997 against the University of Chicago and 2002 against Ohio Dominican University, while the Tigers placed third in 2008. The Tigers have won seven of the last eight championships, including the 2010 title with victories over Kean (NJ) and Taylor (Ind.).
The Tigers enter the 2011 Zimmerman Classic with a 5-3 overall record, including a mark of 3-0 in the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC). The Tigers' first-round opponent, Monmouth, is off to a 2-6 start to the 2011-12 season. Olivet stands 2-7 and Marian comes into the tournament with a 6-4 record.
Women's tournament participants for 2011 include Wilmington College from Wilmington, Ohio, Brescia University from Owensboro, Ky., Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology from Terre Haute, Ind., and Wittenberg. Action gets underway Thursday at noon as Wilmington and Brescia square off, followed by a game between the host Tigers and Rose-Hulman at 2:15 p.m. or 30 minutes following the conclusion of the first game. On Friday, 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 25 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 hosted a "classic" formatted tournament and wound up splitting a pair of games against Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference opponents, losing to Hanover before defeating Mount St. Joseph.
The Tigers check into the 2011 competition with a 3-5 overall record, including a mark of 1-1 in the NCAC. Wittenberg's first-round opponent, Rose-Hulman, is off to a 2-7 start to the 2011-12 season, while Wilmington is 7-3 and Brescia, an NAIA scholarship program, is 6-8.
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
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