Men's Basketball: A Retrospective look at a season Mav fans forgot

Jon Green is the sports director for MavRadio, where he hosts "The Omaha Sports Show," and is the president of the Bullpen, an organization aimed at increasing student engagement in Maverick athletics. Green is a sophomore majoring in civil engineering.

The 2007-08 men's basketball season did not bring many expectations for UNO. Picked to finish last in the North Central Conference in a media poll, the Mavericks came in to the season with little attention.

Few could fault the media for their lack of belief in the Mavericks. They had suffered through a 15-16 and a 12-16 season since Kevin McKenna had left for Creighton. The Mavericks had gone a combined 7-17 in the NCC the last two years.

Students on campus, if they ever knew UNO had a basketball team, were more interested in the undefeated football team, or the hockey team whose season had just started.

However, over the off-season Head Coach Derrin Hansen had changed things up at UNO.

He'd installed a new offense. He'd added several players, including brothers Mitch Albers and Tyler Albers, while starters Andrew Bridger and Michael Jenkins had healed up after injuries the year before. He had two seniors, Denny Johnston and Jerry Bennett, ready to lead the team.

Still, as the calendar turned to November, there were still more questions than answers.

As the season began, UNO faced more injuries. A possible scrimmage to show off the team's new weapons to fans, and build some excitement, was scrapped.

The Mavs started the season with a trip up to the St. Cloud State Tournament for two games. UNO won both games, to start 2-0 for the first time in three years. But the two teams they defeated had both had bad years in 2006-07.

Next up two game at home in the UNO Thanksgiving Classic, where UNO again won twice, including a 57 point win in the second game, to go to 4-0 for the first time in four years. But, again, over teams who had losing seasons in the previous year.

UNO then went on the road and beat 4-0 Missouri Western, a future Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association rival. That win set up a game with 5-0 Northwest Missouri State, a Top 5 team, and a chance to prove they were for real.

The Mavericks won that game 80-66, and people began to take notice. The Mavericks then came home and knocked off another Top 10 team, No. 7 Emporia State.

There were few questions now; this UNO team was for real.

UNO came into its first NCC game, a home game with Augustana, at 12-1. They fought an epic battle with Augustana, emerging the victor in a 98-97 2 overtime thriller.

They capped their non-conference season with two more wins, going to 15-1 before hitting the conference on the road.

Unfortunately, Jan. 19 wasn't a good day for the Mavericks, as they suffered a 73-56 loss at Minnesota Duluth, a team 7-11 at the time.

They lost their next two road games - while staying hot at home winning the next two home games - moving the Mavericks to 3-3 in conference going into a game at home against South Dakota.

The Coyotes were another Top 5 opponent for UNO and a chance to prove they were a contender for the NCC title. UNO again stepped up to the challenge and beat South Dakota 75-60, in a game that was never closer than 7 points in the second half.

The Mavericks were for real, and had a shot at the conference title.

UNO took care of business in their next road game at St. Cloud State, setting up a huge game with Minnesota State, Mankato, on the Feb. 16. Mankato led the conference, and a win here would put UNO in the driver's seat for a conference title.

The Mavericks were down 1 point at halftime, and lead 59-58 with 13:40 to go. Things turned south for UNO, though.

Both Jenkins and Bridger fouled out, and a technical was called on the Mavs. UNO ended up losing 94-82, a loss that ended the team's dream of winning the regular season title.

The Mavericks finished the regular season winning at North Dakota, beating Duluth at home and losing a heartbreaker to Mankato at home in the final game of the regular season.

The loss knocked the Mavericks from the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament, to the No. 4 seed. They now had to beat St. Cloud State in the first round to set up a rematch with Mankato in the semifinals.

UNO hosted St. Cloud State in what would be the final NCC game in the Sapp Fieldhouse. UNO, ranked No. 6 in the region at the time, appeared to be a good bet to make the NCAA North Central Regional Tournament, even with a loss to St. Cloud, but didn't want to leave any questions.

However, the Mavs started very slow, trailing by as many as 16 points in the first half, and trailed by 14 points at halftime. UNO started quicker in the second half, cutting the lead to 5 after a 13-4 run to open up the half.

UNO took its first lead of the second half with 11:28 to go. The lead went back and forth between the two teams until Bridger hit Johnston with a beautiful pass and Johnston finished with a lay up, giving UNO an 83-82 lead.

The Mavericks held on to win 84-82 and moved on to a rematch with Mankato.

UNO's third bout with Mankato initially looked to be going the same way as their first two: Mankato led by 13 points late in the first half, but UNO cut it to 5 points at the half.

They came out on fire to start the second half, and tied the game 3 minutes in on a Denny Johnston 3 pointer. Mankato stayed with UNO for a few minutes.

But, when UNO took the lead again on a Bennett jumper with 11:55 to go, the Mavs didn't look back and raced to a 16 point win and a berth in the NCC championship against North Dakota.

The Fighting Sioux were the No. 6 seed into the tournament and had shocked South Dakota and Augustana to get within one game of the NCAA Tournament. UNO would have a fight on their hands to claim the final NCC Tourney title.