UNO figures to see a heavy dose of zone defense Saturday night when the Mavericks take on Tarleton State in the first round of the NCAA Division II South Central Regional basketball tournament.

That's because UNO shot 21.7 percent from 3-point range Sunday in its MIAA championship victory over Washburn.

“I'm sure if they've watched us against Washburn's zone, they're feeling like they're going to be pretty effective,” UNO guard Tyler Bullock said. “But shooters like Jeff (Martin) and Bridge (Andrew Bridger) aren't going to struggle like they did on a regular basis. The key is being aggressive.”

Tarleton State (23-7), which is ranked fourth in the region, ranks third in Division II in field-goal defense, limiting foes to 37.9-percent accuracy. The Texans, who also prefer playing a halfcourt game, are fifth in Division II in scoring defense, holding teams to an average of 58.6 points.

Their zone defense differs from that of Washburn, which plays a standard 2-3. Tarleton State prefers playing a 3-2, with 6-foot-8 Jeremiah Wilson and 6-6 Wale Ogunoye guarding the basket. For the season, UNO shoots 35.1 percent from 3-point range.

“It's a wide 3-2, and a lot of teams we've seen don't attack it,” said Bullock, the MIAA tournament most valuable player and UNO's leading scorer at 19.2 points per game. “We've got different ways to attack and to get shooters good looks.

“We can't stand around against it. And we want the tempo up and down, get defensive stops and get in transition.”

The University of Nebraska at Omaha (22-8), which dropped from fourth to fifth in the region despite winning the MIAA tournament, offers a contrast of styles to Tarleton.

The Mavs average 85.3 points, 15th in Division II, and shoot with 48.6 percent accuracy. UNO isn't overly reliant on its 3-point game, but the Mavs would like to see the sharpshooting Martin get untracked after he went 8 for 31 (25.8 percent) from long range at the MIAA tournament.

The Texans held three teams under 40 points this season.

The Mavs can take confidence in their ability to advance to the regional, despite Martin being less than his best and Bullock playing through foul trouble.

“When you get to the tournament, every game is its own entity,” UNO coach Derrin Hansen said. “For a team to advance, someone has to step up — it might be a different person or from a different position. You just don't know.

“I don't know that I could say I'm comfortable that we got through without everyone playing his best, but I am comfortable knowing we're going to give a great effort and play together.”

The winner of Saturday's 8:30 game plays in Sunday's 7 p.m. semifinal against third-ranked and top-seeded host Midwestern State or eighth-seeded Incarnate Word. Three of Tarleton State's losses came to Midwestern State, including in the Lone Star Conference tournament final.

Other top seeds in the field include seventh-ranked No. 2 seed Central Missouri and 14th-ranked No. 3 seed Fort Hays State. Central Missouri, Fort Hays and Missouri Western are other MIAA teams in the eight-team regional, but UNO wouldn't have a potential regular-season rematch until Tuesday's regional final. The regional champion advances to the Division II Elite Eight.

“Tarleton is really talented, but because it's the postseason I guess I'd rather prepare for a new team than someone we've seen twice already,” Hansen said. “It puts a new flair on it. Central Missouri and Missouri Western (first-round foes) are probably sick of each other.”

Tarleton State shoots 44 percent from the field, but it can get hot from the outside and rebounds well offensively.

“They've got athletes all over, similar to Missouri Western, but maybe a little better inside because of their length,” Hansen said. “We've got to keep their bigs off the glass, keep them from getting second chances or tips to keep it alive. If they get seven, eight, nine offensive boards, we might be able to make adjustments, but if it's 15 to 17 … that's something that would be tough to overcome.”

Contact the writer:

444-1027, rob.white@owh.com

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