McCollum leading 'Cats back to regional championship game

Sunday showed us that the miaa has some of the best divsion ii basketball in the country with missouri western, northwest missouri state, and washburn all playing in the central regional..

And now northwest finds themselves playing in the regional championship against northern state..

In aberdeen south dakota..and that is where kq2's chris roush is at with more on the bearcats..

Adam... there's no place like home... and northwest missouri state men's basketball..

The bearcats making themselves right at home... fifth central region championship appearance..

In the last 6 tournaments..

Not including last year because of covid cancellation..

Players change..

Venues change... assistant coaches change..

The one common..

Head coach ben mccollum... last night's win..

The largest northwest margin of victory in program history..

The 41-point win against washburn in the region semifinals... here's how impressive mccollum's squads have beento this point..

This is the 9th ncaa tournament in mccollum's 12-years..

Including going 19-5 in the ncaa tournament... and winning 13 of their last 14..

The only loss coming in 2018... all of this success starting with mccollum..

He's built this program into a national powerhouse... year after year... those around him from years of covering the program and coaching in the program say..

The mad scientist just competitive and built different... (sot, austin meyer: "he's constantly seeking information.

He's always trying to learn.

He's not one of those coaches that think he's got it all figured out.

He's always improving every year.")(sot, matt tritten: "ben mccollum has a chip on his shoulder just the same.

He might not talk about it as much, but he's a competitor just like these 20-something year old kids are.

He wants to go out there and win.

He loves the game of basketball and there's a lot of that coming out in them, too.")(sot, andy peterson: "he's a student of the game.

He's a sponge when it comes to that.

He's always watching division i games and that sort of stuff, breaking down.

That's the part of the mad scientist.

He wants to master his craft.") northwest has won their last two central region appearances..

In 2019 and 2017, en route to a national title... the three losses..

2013, 2014, and 2015..

All decided by five games or less..

And two of those to the eventual national champion...northwest takes on northern state in the central region championship..

Tomorrow night at 7 p.m.

Here in aberdeen, south dakota on northern's home floor... coming up tonight at 10..

We'll take a closer look at the creation of this incredible run... until then reporting from aberdeen, south dakota..

Chris roush..

Kq2 sports...