2019-20 Omaha Men's Basketball: Season in Review
4/9/2020
PRESENTED BY
The 2019-20 Omaha men's basketball team featured a mix of veteran experience and fresh energy that came together to represent the Crimson and Black. On the court and in the classroom, achievement was strong for the Maverick program that continues to win fans across the Omaha community.
EARLY CHALLENGES
Omaha took on its usual challenging non-conference schedule, facing in the first six weeks the likes of No. 14 Arizona, Wichita State and Dayton, which counted the eventual National Player of the Year and went on to rank No. 3 by March.
On Nov. 21, the Mavericks checked a new feat off the list -- beating a Pac-12 opponent in an 85-77 win road at Washington State. KJ Robinson provided the spark in Pullman, scoring 18 in the second half as Omaha overcame a 15-point second-half deficit.
THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME
The Mavericks proved time and time again that Baxter Arena is a special place to play, as they never surrendered a game on their home court in 2019. Their 16-game home win streak -- which stretched from Jan. 2, 2019 to Jan. 25, 2020 -- ranked as the sixth-longest nationally.
Omaha was among the last 29 teams in the country to be undefeated at home in 2019-20.
Entering today, these teams have been dominant at home ????
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) January 30, 2020
RT if your team is on the list! ?? pic.twitter.com/cCKGaI78jB
Omaha opened Summit League play by defeating defending regular-season champion South Dakota State 81-78 on Dec. 29. And the Maverick faithful turned out -- 4,234 were on hand that night to set a Baxter Arena basketball attendance record.
Our fans have been loyal. They've been great. They're loud, and they give us that extra boost of energy, and we feed off that.KJ Robinson
PILING UP PLAUDITS
Whether athletically or academically, Matt Pile continued to stake his claim at Omaha. The chemistry major became the program's first two-time Academic All-American after earning first-team honors in 2020.
Pile also was the only Summit League player to average a double-double at 11.6 ppg and 10.0 rpg and led the league in rebounds per game, total rebounds, offensive rebounds, defensive rebounds and blocks in his junior season.
THE SENIOR DUO
Senior leadership came in the form of KJ Robinson and JT Gibson. Both four-year letterwinners, they each hit the 1,000 career points milestone during their senior campaign and inked their names in the Omaha record books.
Gibson capped his career as the second-best 3-point shooter in school history and 13th for scoring, 17th for steals and 18th for assists, while Robinson finished 11th for threes made, 14th for assists and 23rd for scoring.
POSTSEASON HAUL
Matt Pile led Omaha's postseason haul with Summit League Defensive Player of the Year recognition, and he and KJ Robinson earned All-Summit Honorable Mention. Robinson had a team-leading 15.2 ppg and finished on a 15-game double-figure scoring streak.
Marlon Ruffin capped his impactful sophomore campaign with Summit League Sixth Man of the Year honors, averaging 12.5 ppg and 4.3 rpg in league play with 12 double-figure scoring performances.
A SQUAD ON THE RISE
From an unprecedented streak at home...
...to every crowd-pleasing slam and jam...
Rim Rockin'. ??#EveryoneForOmaha | #OmahaMBB pic.twitter.com/uJEJZsVoDW
— Omaha Video (@OmahaVID) February 6, 2020
That's RUFF. ??#EveryoneForOmaha | #OmahaMBB pic.twitter.com/6jfNATAcDL
— Omaha Basketball (@OmahaMBB) February 27, 2020
????????, ??????, ????????. ??#EveryoneForOmaha | #OmahaMBB pic.twitter.com/hlnJARRQcS
— Omaha Basketball (@OmahaMBB) January 5, 2020
...and every thriller in between...
KJ Robinson extends the lead 62-58 with 47.6 seconds left??#MidcoSN | @OmahaMBB pic.twitter.com/ZFep9kBavq
— Midco Sports Network (@MidcoSN) January 9, 2020
AYO!
— Omaha Basketball (@OmahaMBB) February 21, 2020
Omaha in front 61-59 with 3.4 seconds to go!#EveryoneForOmaha | #OmahaMBB pic.twitter.com/MpyKmLqva9
What a time to play for this city and this university.
What a time to be a Maverick.
?? “Don't take a day for granted. Put the work in every day. Fight every day and work hard."
— Omaha Basketball (@OmahaMBB) March 24, 2020
#EveryoneForOmaha | #OmahaMBB pic.twitter.com/cgaMAD2Ij2
