ANDREW SHORTALL | staff writer
Azusa Pacific is looking to stamp their ticket to Kansas City by qualifying for the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) tournament for the 14th consecutive year.
The team knew if they won their last three regular season games they would secure third place in the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) as well as a trip to the NAIA tournament.
“It feels really good to have our destiny in our own hands,” junior guard Dominique Johnson said. “It is like we have something to play for and work toward.”
So far, the Cougars have pounced on their opportunity, knowing their postseason dreams rest on their ability to finish out the season strong.
The team was tested after one of their starting five players, freshman guard Marshall Johnson, was hospitalized and unable to play on Thursday, Feb. 26 after a supposed allergic reaction.
Fortunately, Marshall Johnson was able to play during the 76-55 win over Westmont on Monday, March 2.
Dominique Johnson said the absence of Marshall left a lot of the team unfocused for the game against San Diego Christian.
Head Coach Justin Leslie also believes the success of the team so far this year has been their ability to protect the ball while causing turnovers.
“When we’re playing well, we are defending, and that’s really where we hung our hat,” Leslie said.
The GSAC tournament begins tomorrow, Thursday, March 5.
Leslie has a confident outlook on the upcoming GSAC tournament.
“I’d like to think we have a chance at winning the conference tournament. We are certainly talented enough. It is just a matter of chemistry and health,” Leslie said.
The GSAC tournament not only offers conference bragging rights, but it also offers an automatic bid to the NAIA tournament.
The conference tournament is a primary precursor to the NAIA tournament.
“Our goal is to get to Kansas City,” Leslie said.
The Cougars currently hold the second longest streak in consecutive appearances, 13, for the NAIA tournament.
Azusa Pacific is also the only team to qualify for the “Elite Eight” in the NAIA tournament for four consecutive years within the last four years.
“No other school has done that over the past four years. So we have a very good history back there. We are considered one of the elite programs,” Associate Director of Athletics and Sports Information Director Gary Pine said.
Pine added that the tournament plays up the Cougars’ strength, as they have one of the two or three best benches in the GSAC.
“What you have to understand is once you get to Kansas City it’s a whole new season and a whole new tournament,” Pine said.
Right now, Leslie thinks the Cougars are poised to make a run at the upcoming tournaments.
“Right now we control our own destiny in the NAIA tournament. With that being said, our focus is just on the next day,” Leslie said.
Leslie said the team is more focused on maximizing their strengths, heading to the end of the year.
“We are just trying to keep gaining momentum and get to Kansas City,” freshman forward Mike Meza said.
The Cougars are hoping to build up momentum heading into the NAIA tournament, but Leslie has a different definition of momentum.
“It’s tough to always quantify that with wins and losses. Sure it’s nice to have wins, but it’s more important to be playing well and playing together,” Leslie said.
Right now, the team is not worried about the NAIA tournament or even the conference tournament.
