The Southwestern Central Scorpions: An Origin Story

There is a lot going on in the blog right now with two tournament pools and a chronical of our trip to San Antonio to attend the Final Four. If you are reading the Chronicles, you have probably noticed that the Southwestern Central University Scorpions have a prominent role in the proceedings. 

I have been asked. So, let's go ahead and answer some frequently asked questions

Who are the Southwestern Central Scorpions?

Southwestern Central University is the brainchild of this blogs founders. We represent as a small National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) school approximately located near the Northeastern Panhandle of Oklahoma. The Fighting Scorpions don the red and black as primary colors and boast a proud basketball tradition dating back nearly 20 years.

Is Southwestern Central is a fake college?

That depends. While we do not play a traditional schedule of games, or maintain academic facilities and a paid faculty, our administration is serious about our status as a premier, small school basketball power.

How was Southwestern Central founded?

Glad you asked! In 2007, Sinickal, Pepster and Hopps were at the Final Four in Atlanta GA. During an unplanned social event at a bar called Jack's and Jill's, your blog team was having an animated debate about the future professional prospects of University of Kansas freshman center Cole Aldrich. After a Final Four debut with 7 points, 8 rebounds and 4 blocks in a win against Tyler Hansbrough and the North Carolina Tarheels, this is exactly the debate you are supposed to have. Anyway, some assistant coaches overhear our conversation and ask us where we coach. An idea was born.

Did the Southwestern Central coaching staff really attend the National Association of Basketball Coaches Convention?

Well, sort of. In 2015, the Southwestern Central coaches did arrive in Indianapolis IN with the intention of crashing the convention. We were able to get into the convention center and wandered by a conference session on Managing Player Social Media Use. We ultimately decided to go a different direction with our time at the final four.

Do you really hold an annual coaches meeting?

Of course we do! Generally in conjunction with the Final Four. The planning meeting occurs on the Sunday of the weekend and involves good food and drink. It is a great way for us to understand evolution in the game such as the intricacies of working in the transfer portal as an NAIA school.

How many Final Fours have you been to as a coaching staff?

For Sinickal, this is the 17th Final Four attended in person. As you know this is my favorite event every year. As for Southwestern Central, the staff has attended nine Final Fours together since 2015. The staff has changed over the years as we have added and lost coaches, but Sinickal and Pepster have attended all of them.

Which was your favorite Final Four?

Hard to say all of them have been a lot of fun. If I had to pick one, I would say it was Indianapolis in 2015. The coaches planning meeting was at St Elmo Steakhouse. Shortly after the meetings, Southwestern Central was validated in its quest for recognition when a couple of assistants from Yale University engaged us in a long conversation about our school and staff. 

Pepster and Sinickal had arrived!

Does the University have gear, and is there a place for fans of the Scorpions to purchase?

Of course we have gear. In fact, below are some additional pictures from coaches meetings over the years. While our primary colors are red and black, we have several alternate uniforms. Those are in black, green and blue. Unfortunately, there is no team store yet, and we have not made gear available to the public.

What's next for the Scorpions?

We will continue to represent the university at upcoming Final Fours and we will continue to innovate in our look and feel as a basketball factory.

We look forward to the remaining chronicles here in San Antonio, then next year in Indianapolis IN!

--Sinickal