The True Definition of a Student-Athlete

Please join me in congratulating Emmanuel Engulu, who has just been named a University Scholar by the College Society Advisory Board. To be named a University Scholar, a student must exhibit the highest level of academic achievement with the goal of serving Christ in the university community. A student applying to become a University Scholar must have at least a 3.5 GPA, a recommendation from a faculty member, written statements describing his or her Christian faith, and a Statement of Intent to Earn a PhD. As a final step in the process, the candidate is interviewed by members of the College Society Advisory Board.

University Scholars from Ouachita have won prestigious fellowships, including a Pew Graduate Fellowship and a Fulbright Fellowship, and they have been accepted at graduate programs at Yale, Notre Dame, Duke, the University of Illinois, Emory, Oxford, the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Florida, Baylor, The Eastman School of Music, The Medieval Institute at Leeds University, Wheaton College, Southern Methodist University, and Hebrew University. Emmanuel, a Christian Studies/Theology and Kinesiology double major, joins Stephanie Beck and Sarah Stark as our other University Scholars on campus this semester. PROUD OF YOU EMMANUEL KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!

TIGERS HAVE A VISITOR!

It’s really encouraging to have individuals come forward who are willing to contribute their knowledge and experiences toward the development of our team! Last night the Tigers had a visit from All- American performer at the University of Kansas and member of the 2005-2006 NBA champions Miami Heat's Wayne Simien. The guys truly enjoyed the wealth of knowledge that Wayne shared with us and know that it will help us in preparing for the upcoming year! THANK YOU WAYNE!

2010-2011 Men's Basketball Roster

Take a look at your new Ouachita Baptist Tigers!!!!

2010-2011 Roster

OBU Men's Basketball Announces Upcoming 2010-2011 Schedule

September 15, 2010

ARKADELPHIA- Ouachita Baptist Director of Athletics David Sharp and Head Men’s Basketball Coach Mark Price announced Sept. 15 the release of the upcoming 2010-2011 men’s basketball schedule.

“Whenever you play in the Gulf South Conference, your schedule is challenging by default and the GSC will once again be one of the nation’s strongest leagues, if not the strongest,” Price said. “The non conference portion of the schedule offers its share of excitement as well as it includes three teams that participated in last season’s NCAA tournament along with a pair of early exhibition games against well-coached NCAA division I opponents.”

The Tigers will open with three-straight home non-conference games, including GSC Crossover games against Alabama-Huntsville on Nov. 18 and North Alabama (Nov. 19), then playing Baptist Bible on Nov. 23. Ouachita will then take road trips to San Antonio, Texas and Dallas, Texas to face Incarnate Word and Dallas Baptist on Nov. 27 and 29.

In the month of December, Ouachita returns to Bill Vining Arena for a pair of matchups with Ecclesia on Dec. 2 and College of the Ozarks on Dec. 9. The Tigers then hit the road to Florence, Ala. to face North Alabama for a second time on Dec. 11, then come back to campus to defend their home court against Lambuth (Dec. 18).

Intriguing Gulf South Conference cross-over matchups with West Georgia and West Alabama on Dec. 30-31 are also among the final stretch of non-conference competition for the Tigers.

To begin GSC play, Ouachita hits the road to kick off the new year, traveling to Harding on Jan. 8 and Delta State (Jan. 13). Ouachita then returns home to face Southern Arkansas and Christian Brothers on Jan. 15 and 20, followed by trips to Monticello to face Arkansas-Monticello (Jan. 22) and across the street for the first installment of the Battle of the Ravine series with Henderson State on Jan. 27. The final game of January matches Ouachita with defending GSC Champion Arkansas Tech at home on Jan. 29.

For the month of February, the Tigers begin the second rotation of GSC play, swapping the locations of each conference opponent from earlier in the season. The season finale puts Ouachita on the road to Russellville to face the Wonder Boys on Feb. 26 to close out the regular season schedule.

“As it is early in our preseason activities, I feel good about the character and energy level of our team. We emphasize effort level with them, and I don’t have to fight with these guys much on that particular issue. They are an extremely good group of young men from very good backgrounds.”

In his first season on campus, Head Coach Mark Price guided the Tigers to an 8-19 record overall, including a 7-9 record at Bill Vining Arena. Among the returners for Ouachita will be senior Scott Day, who averaged 9.6 points and 4.2 rebounds in 27 games. Junior Julian LaDay rarely left the court for the Tigers last season, averaging a team-high 31.1 minutes/game, while scoring 7.7 points, while also recording team-highs in assists (75) and steals (45). Junior Austin Mitchell provided three-point range for the Tigers off the bench last season, averaging 8 points and shooting 44 percent behind the arc.

The incoming recruiting class undoubtedly filled a major need for Ouachita last season: size. Of the six newcomers, five have heights of 6′4 and above. Among the recruits, are freshman Jaron Vierra (6′6, 195; Forward) of Georgetown, Texas (Georgetown High School), David Day (6′7, 200; Forward) of Highlands Ranch, Col. (Thunder Ridge High School), John Kornet (6′9, 205; Forward) of Lantana, Texas (Liberty Christian Academy), Leith Hobbs (6′8, 200; Forward) of Crown Point, Ind. (Lake Central High School) and sophomore transfer Nigel Ramsey (6′4, 190; Guard) of Birmingham Ala. (Shelton State).

“We have a group of six talented newcomers,” Price believes. “I am strongly encouraged that each of our seven returning players are guys that were playing significant roles on our team as we were playing our best basketball down the stretch. Five of those guys were freshmen last year. Hopefully that experience will translate into significant improvement for our program.”

-By Alan Greenwood, OBU Sports Information Director

2010-2011 Basketball Schedule

Summer Thoughts From Coach Price…

This is always an exciting time of the year for me. I love the anticipation of the beginning of the school year and preseason basketball workouts. I have finished watching a lot of potential future tigers on the AAU circuit during July, and anxiously await the arrival of our current team to campus. I am more excited this August as many improvements have been and are being made to our campus and athletic facilities. Two of the oldest dormitories on our campus have been torn down and replaced with two brand new ones. We have renovated our weight training facility in Bill Vining Arena with new, state-of-the-art flooring and equipment. It is a great time to be at OBU and especially to be a part of the men’s basketball program. Having completed the first season of a new era of Tiger basketball, we look forward to building on the foundation laid by last season’s team. All seven of our returning lettermen from 2009-10 played a crucial role in our progress. It is equally exciting to welcome six new faces to the program.

As I watched high school seniors-to-be during July, I thought a lot about the two most significant elements of our program: Attitude and Effort. These happen to be the only two factors in life that we execute control over. Coincidentally, they will also have the greatest impact on our personal and collective success. Rarely, will I become upset or impatient with a player’s shortcomings when his attitude and effort have been adequate.

Effort is not merely physical. Some players think that they are giving sufficient effort if they are running as hard, cutting as hard, or jumping as high as possible. Maximum physical exertion is certainly non-negotiable in terms of effort, but satisfactory effort also requires concentration. It is important to never mistake activity for accomplishment. Mental focus coupled with maximum physical exertion is our standard for effort.

We also have full control of our attitude. Similarly, many players mistake their attitude for whether or not they react verbally in a negative way or talk back to a coach. Our attitude about anything is a direct result of what is in our heart. A poor attitude can be demonstrated by simple things such as poor or disinterested body language, or lack of eye contact. Some of the worst attitude and behavior that is most detrimental to teams is NOT what is said in the presence of the coach or teammates, but what is said about them in the locker room, behind their backs, or even to members of the media. When placed in adverse situations, what is in our heart usually surfaces. Adversity WILL come, and this is why a winning attitude comes from the status of our heart. A player with a winning heart and attitude will put the success of the program in front of personal achievement and statistics. He will allow himself to be coached and mentored.

Attitude and Effort are at the core of a True Tiger!

In Christ,

Coach Price
Galatians 6:7-8

Tiger Strength!

With all of the amazing campus improvements happening all over OBU's beautiful campus it was only fitting that the athletic department got a upgrade as well. This Monday the athletic department came one step closer to the completion of the athletic weight room with the arrival of the new equipment. Everything is really starting to come together and we can't wait for the athletes to get back on campus so they can enjoy the new facility. I would like to thank everyone that has put long hard hours into making this project a reality and look forward to the first basketball workout in the new weight room. If you can't wait to get back on campus here are some pictures of the new weight room. Enjoy! GO TIGERS!!!

OBU Weight Room Pictures

Individual Camp

OBU Individual Camp was a great success and I would like to thank everyone that took part in it! I hope that all of the participants had a good time as I know all of the OBU basketball staff really enjoyed working with all of you! Keep working hard this summer on your game as it will pay off this upcoming season. Many of the skills that were learned over the 4-day camp can really help you in developing important skills. Everyone enjoy the remainder of the summer and have a amazing 2010-2011 basketball season. We hope to see you all next year in camp. GO TIGERS!!!