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Legacy lives on: Seals to succeed Marvel
by Josh Goff
When it came time to look for a successor
to the retiring Ron Marvel, UCA didn’t have to search very far. All that was
needed was a look one seat down the bench or a quick glance halfway up the
Farris Center seats. The next Sugar Bears head basketball coach has already been
looking over the program for years.
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Ron Marvel passed the baton to Checola Seals March
20. Photo/Josh Goff |
High above the court, behind the home bench, the likeness of
decorated Sugar Bear Checola Seals graces the arena, a constant reminder of her
ultra-successful playing days. Seals, the all-time leading scorer in Sugar Bears
history, was named to replace Marvel on Friday, March 19 after spending five
years as assistant coach.
“I can’t express in words how happy I am,” Seals said. “This is
definitely a blessing.”
The announcement of Seals as new coach came only four days after Marvel
announced his retirement, a sure sign the administration knew who it wanted from
the outset.
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Marvel retiring after legendary career
by Josh Goff
Beware the Ides of March. Exactly 2,048 years to the day after Caesar’s death, a
big part of Sugar Bears basketball died when coach Ron Marvel announced his
retirement Monday afternoon.
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Sugar Bears fall in NCAAs
by Kai Caddy
After a furious comeback Friday afternoon, the Sugar Bears were unable to hold
of Fort Valley State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Winter Park,
Fla. losing 79-77.
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Bears advance to semis, fall short
by Josh Goff and Kai Caddy
TUPELO, Miss. -- Rand Chappell's first year rebuilding project ended with a
surplus of bricks.
Lamar Grimes falls to the floor after he attempts a shot in
last Saturday's GSC Tourney game. Photo/Josh Goff
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The Bears came into the Gulf South Tournament at the BancorpSouth Center as
the fifth seed out of the west and managed to go further than any other West
Division team after a pair of dramatic, come-from-behind wins over West Florida
and Henderson State.
However, the Bears' run came to an end Saturday when they missed 49 shots in
their 58-50 semifinal loss to the State University of West Georgia Braves.
UCA shot 29 percent from the floor for the game and struggled both from the
free-throw line (40 percent) and 3-point line (10.5 percent).
"It was a good defensive game," Chappell said. "West Georgia did a good job
guarding us. We couldn't get the ball in the basket."
The Bears, who entered the game as the nation's leader in field goal
percentage defense, only allowed 32 percent to the Braves, but couldn't overcome
their own offensive woes.
"It's a hell of a lot better to win ugly than have a good game and lose,"
West Florida coach Ed Murphy said. "We did a good job of guarding them."
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Rollin' to Rollins
by Josh Goff
When the Sugar Bears left the BancorpSouth Center after their quarterfinal loss
to Lincoln Memorial Friday in the GSC Tournament, coach Ron Marvel said he
figured his team had "about a 25 percent shot" at making the South Regional.
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Chappell, young show they are best in
tourney
A Round of Goff
After five crazy days at the Gulf
South Conference Tournament in Tupelo, I'm
back in the friendly confines of Conway
ready for sleep and more basketball.
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About the BEARS
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Quotables
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"The
game came down to one
rebound, and we didn't
get it."
- Ron
Marvel on the Sugar
Bears first round NCAA
game.
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