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Opinion

Fans could help put UH in tournament 

Tom Penders
Guest Columnist

A good student turnout at a men's basketball game is worth at least 10 points. Whenever we have a big student crowd, like we did last year against Arizona and this year against Rice, it really gets our players fired up. For those of you who were at those two games, you know how electric Hofheinz Pavilion was, and you know that both games ended with the same result -- a win.

The team only has four home games left this season, and we need you -- the students -- to show up and support us. There are two huge games this week, the first against South Alabama (who has won 12 consecutive games) at 7 p.m. Wednesday and the second against Alabama-Birmingham (which has made it to the NCAA Tournament each of the last three seasons) at 5 p.m. Saturday.

After winning seven of our last eight games, we are tied for second place in Conference USA and still have a realistic shot at making the NCAA Tournament this year. However, if we don't win all of our remaining home games, our chances are slim. Help us make it back to the NCAA Tournament -- where we belong -- for the first time since 1992.

I want to invite all of you to come out to Hofheinz Pavilion this week and enjoy some exciting college basketball. Student tickets are free and you can buy guest tickets for your family or friends for only $5. 

We need as many fans as possible -- especially students -- at these last four home games. I cannot overemphasize the impact you have on our team and the outcome of our games. Those extra 10 points can make the difference between a win and a loss. Be a part of that difference.

Penders, head coach of the UH men's basketball team, 
can be reached via dccampus@mail.uh.edu