The Wooster basketball season kicks off with a bang tomorrow night, as the Fighting Scots take on the Kent State University Golden Flashes.† While this is not the first occasion Wooster has faced off against a Div. I program, the match-up will be historic. For the first time ever, a Div. I program will be coming to Timken Gymnasium.
The exhibition game pits two of the winningest basketball programs in Ohio regardless of division, and for a very worthy cause.
All proceeds from the game will go to the Corey John Cline Foundation.† Corey Cline was the three-year-old son of Wooster assistant coach Doug Cline, who died in a tragic accident last year.† The fund was set up by the Wayne County Community Foundation, and will fund charitable acts for children.
ìWe tremendously appreciate this outstanding gesture by [Kent State head coach] Geno Ford and his staff to play at Wooster. Itís almost unheard of for a Div. I team to go on the road and play at Div. III, or for that matter, even Div. II,” said the Fighting Scotsí head coach, Steve Moore.† This will be the first time a team of this magnitude has come to play at the Wooster, and in fact itís amazing that this matchup is even taking place.† For a Div. III team to play a Div. I team a NCAA waiver is required and was granted this past Friday.† Regular admission price will be charged, $6 for adults and $4 for children.† College of Wooster students, who usually have free admission during the regular season, will be charged $1 and the faculty/staff will be charged $6 for this very good cause.† Cline said ìTo have an opportunity like this to honor Corey, it means so much … Corey lived a short life, but a good life. [This] is going to help kids in our community who [arenít] as fortunate as Corey was.”
Ford is also honored to be involved.† Ford said ìthe game is a way for us to pay tribute to Corey, the Cline family and the extended Wooster community. We are honored to be part of the game and look forward to having a positive impact with everyone involved.”
As for the matchup itself, it should be a good one.† The Fighting Scots have the winningest record of the 2000s in the NCAA with a .850 winning percentage, and come into the 2009-10 season ranked No. 9 by the D3hoops.com preseason poll.† Kent State was one of just seven Div. I teams to record 10 consecutive 20-win seasons from 1998-2007.† Both teams have high expectations for this upcoming season.† The Scots are coming off of a 23-7 last year which saw the Scots reach the Div. III NCAA tournament for the 14th time in 15 years, and their fifth NCAC Tournament championship.
The Kent State Golden Flashes are coming off of a 19-15 season which saw them reach the quarterfinals last season in the MAC tournament.† Two years ago, they reached the NCAA tournament.
Tickets will be on sale from noon to 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday in the Wooster Physical Education Center.† Doors and tickets sales will open and begin at 5 p.m. on Saturday.† Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
All quotes in this story are courtesy of the Wooster athletics Web site and the Kent State athletics Web site.
