Eastern Bracket of DIAA Playoffs in Kansas This Weekend
Eastern Bracket of DIAA Playoffs in Kansas This Weekend
The Eastern Bracket of the DIAA playoffs is set for this weekend with four somewhat eastern teams in action.
Heart of American champs Kansas take on UT San Antonio, and Lonestar Conference champs Texas State take on Minnesota in Lawrence, Kans.
Our repeated attempts to have anyone from Texas State talk to us have fallen on deaf ears so no quotes from them. But we have thoughts from the other teams.
Kansas won the HOA but they haven't rested on those laurels. They played Iowa and the Kansas City Blues and Missouri, testing some combinations, and Head Coach Andy Stewart is pretty happy about what he's seen.
"I am really happy with where the boys are at," said Stewart. "We've been experimenting with some guys and playing some physical games and trying to get their mindset right. We've changed a lot of things since the end of last year and I'm pretty confident in the style of rugby we're playing."
While Kansas has seen some film of their opposition, it's mostly going to be about executing what they want to do and the rest will take care of itself.
"We'll give it a really good nudge," said the Aussie.
Kansas has seen some good performances throughout the team, but captain and flyhalf Chandler Owens is certainly a key cog in the machine. Two relatively new players, wing Kahlil Allen and lock Nick Hafford have impressed, but Stewart said he has a really hard time singling out any player. They've had injuries and seen players step in to take up the job and do well.
"We have 45 to 50 guys coming out to training and it really is a full-squad effort," said Stewart. "I charged the leaders with connecting with guys who come out and we've got a cool environment. The guys are hanging out together and working out together. It's been good."
Kansas takes on UT San Antonio. UTSA was working toward a 15s playoff but had to take a break (as did Texas State) in order to prepare for the Lonestar 7s tournament (ultimately won by Sam Houston State). That break was a little weird.
"We had to make a transition between 15s and 7s and then back to 15s," said co-captain Caleb Ackerson. "And while a lot of the backs play 7s some of the forwards don't, so they'd come to training but we wouldn't be working on the stuff they needed to work on."
But the forwards kept working and the coaches, Peter Lewis and Roland Aquilar, tried to keep 15s in as part of the training.
"Without them we couldn't do it," said Ackerson. "In the end it was pretty seamless. We all had to be fit for 7s and 7s has put me in the best shape of my life."
Dealing with difficulty is no problem for UTSA, whose slogan, 'get it out of the mud,' means essentially that you have to get down and do the tough jobs.
"We get it out of the mud every game and our coaches are hear with us," he said.
UTSA is just a bunch of hard-nosed guys who hit hard and run hard, said co-captain David Phillips.
"What can set us apart is our ability to move the ball and out athleticism," said Phillips. "And the main thing we want to work on is our ball continuity—not going to ground so much and just making the offload."
That kind of game requires fitness—see Ackerson's comment above.
"We've definitely been scouting our opposition," added David Bailey. "We see Kansas is talented. Their #10 is phenomenal."
that would be the aforementioned Owens.
"They have good backs but that #10 runs that engine—he knows exactly where to place the ball with his boot so we have put an emphasis on our back three and swinging the pendulum on defense to handle those kicks. We're going to have to keep our heads on a swivel."
The teamwork and chemistry within the UTSA team is strong, added Bailey, and that's how they've been able to handle injuries, changes, and challenges. That, and the support of their families, friends, and classmates to pay for their trip—including the coahces taking time off work to drive the vans and help the team prepare.
"This is the deepest run we've ever made it into the 15s playoffs in school history," said Bailey. "We're proud of what we've done so far."
Minnesota finished 2nd in the HOA, but by a razor-thin margin. Kansas Edges Minnesota to Win Heart of America, so you can imagine that they think they can bridge that three-point gap.
"We feel good going into playoffs," said Head Coach Sean Lindersmith. "Although it’s been a busy spring so far, we have selected a traveling roster that we believe will compete to their fullest potential in Lawrence. We are looking forward to the challenge that Texas State presents in the first match."
The busy spring has been helped by the facilities on campus that allowed them to train even in winter weather (which, we hear, Minnesota gets a lot).
That's been crucial even as the Gophers have mixes 15s and 7s through the winter/spring. On the 15s side they have played St. John's, University of Wisconsin, and the Eastside Banshees men's club as part o the preparation.
"We want to compete against the best to try and raise our game to meet them," said Lindersmith. "Without those teams, our preparation would’ve been tougher. This is our first 15s Nationals bid in over a decade and it’s generated a good vibe in our community and school. We’re excited to represent them this weekend."
