2011-12 guide - Ohio Wesleyan University

2011-12 OWU Men’s BasketballA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP REVISITEDYou will not soon find Scott Tedder’s name on the frontof any supermarket tabloids, making predictions for thecoming year.But as far as Ohio Wesleyan fans are concerned, Tedderranks right up there with Kreskin, Jeane Dixon and all therest.At the team’s 1987 postseason banquet, Tedder promisedhis teammates they would win the national championshipthe next year. “I was half-joking,” Tedder said later.“But The Delaware Gazette had it in big headlines: ‘Tedderpromises national championship.’ ”Tedder opened the 1987-88 season with a pair of34-point performances in leading the Bishops to a title in theKiwanis Tournament. The big headlines started coming afterthe Bishops’ next game, a 122-115 win at Division I OhioUniversity, where Tedder scored a career-high 50 points. Theheadlines kept coming after a narrow 98-95 loss to DivisionI Morehead State. Tedder and Lee Rowlinson each scored 34points in the contest, with Tedder becoming Ohio Wesleyan’sall-time leading scorer, passing the 1905 points scored byBarry Clemens ’65, an 11-year NBA veteran.After an overtime loss to Allegheny to open North CoastAthletic Conference play, Ohio Wesleyan was unstoppable,reeling off wins in its final 11 league games for a share ofthe regular-season crown. Ohio Wesleyan then claimed theNCAC tournament championship with wins over Kenyonand Allegheny.The Bishop starters begin their celebration in the finalseconds of the championship game. From left, Scott Tedder,Lee Rowlinson, Mike Smith, Casey Lee, Chris Truskowski.(photos by Chuck Frostick)With a 22-5 record, Ohio Wesleyan was not only goingto its first NCAA Division III tournament, but was selected tohost the Great Lakes Regional. Ohio Northern, seeded fourthdespite giving the Bishops 2 tough games during the season,was Ohio Wesleyan’s first foe. Rowlinson scored 16 straightpoints during the second half to lead the Bishops to a 77-70win.Then it was Tedder’s turn, scoring 29 points, includingthe game-winning 3-point bucket with :02 left in the secondovertime, for a nailbiting 110-107 win over Hope. Tedderearned the regional’s Most Outstanding Player award, but itwas reserve baseline Mark Slayman who sank 2 free throwsthat sent the game into overtime.At his best in the big games, Tedder was brilliant againin a 106-103 quarterfinal win over Illinois Wesleyan. Hefinished the game with 39 points.In Grand Rapids, Mich., Tedder and Rowlinson scored35 of their 64 points in the second half as the Bishops pulledaway from Nebraska Wesleyan for an 87-71 semifinal win.Tedder then led the Bishops with 27 points in thechampionship game, a 92-70 verdict over 2-time championScranton. He was named the Most Outstanding Player of theFinal Four, joining Rowlinson on the all-tournament team.Rowlinson was a second-team All-America pick and was theNCAC’s Player of the Year, while Tedder went on to earn DivisionIII Player of the Year honors. Tedder didn’t quite sweeppostseason honors — he just missed breaking the DivisionIII tournament scoring record — but when was the last timeKreskin had that good a season?President Ronald Reagan and U.S. Representative John Kasichwelcome Ohio Wesleyan president David Warren, Mike Smithand Lee Rowlinson to the White House. The Bishops' visit to theWhite House was the first ever by an NCAA Division III team.1988 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS47