February 7, 2001

By Gary Rubin

Washburn's Chipman reaches 500 win; Ichabods look for more

Washburn head coach Bob Chipman has his Ichabods climbing the national Division II charts. Washburn, which started the year ranked seventh in the preseason, is 16-3 and ranked No. 11 in the latest Top 25. The Ichabods lead the Mid. America Intercollegiate Athletic Association by a game over Northwest Missouri, Missouri Southern and Pittsburg State. Chipman reached a career milestone last Saturday night when he won for the 500th time as head coach at the school. The Ichabods beat Southwest Baptist 82-62 and raised Chipman's overall record to 500-176 in 22 seasons. He is the 25th coach in Division II to reach that mark, and the 15th NCAA Division II coach to win all 500 games at one school. Under Chipman, the Ichabods have had 17 20-win seasons and made 10 national tournament appearances. He led Washburn to a 35-4 record and a NAIA national championship in 1987. Washburn has never had a losing season under Chipman.

Southwest State remains red hot

Want to know who the hottest teams are in Division II? After Adelphi, 20-0 and the last unbeaten men's NCAA team, look to Tim Miles' Southwest State squad. The Mustangs have won 17 straight games and lead the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Miles is in his third season at the helm of the Southwest State University men's basketball program and in only two seasons has brought an exciting brand of basketball back to campus. After starting the season slowly, the Mustangs haven't lost since November and are running away with the conference regular season crown. Miles is familiar with life in the NSIC, having been an assistant coach at Northern State for six years before moving to SSC.

Armstrong State's streak reaches 12 straight

The Armstrong Atlantic State basketball team set a school record with its 12th consecutive win, defeating Georgia College & State 67-66 on Monday night. The Pirates (19-5, 11-0 PBC) also set a school record for best conference start with their 11-0 mark in Peach Belt play this season. AASU clinched the No. 1 seed from the South Division in the upcoming Peach Belt Conference tournament and are on the verge of cracking the Top 25.

During his nine-year tenure at Armstrong Atlantic State, head coach Griff Mills has enjoyed several achievements. In 1991, he was the youngest head coach in NCAA Divisions I, II, and III. In 1994-95, Mills won a conference championship and earned a bid to the NCAA Division II tournament. His program's biggest accomplishment could be the growing list of 27 student-athletes that have received diplomas or are currently finishing up coursework. Mills has also taken the Armstrong Atlantic State program to new heights off the court. Community programs such as "Reading Pirates," "Junior Pirates Basketball League," "Griff Mills Summer Basketball Camps" and various volunteer efforts, including working with Special Olympics, have made a lasting impact on the Savannah, Ga. community.

Another team on a 12-game win streak is the Nebraska Kearney Lopers, who again are peaking as playoff time approaches. Head coach Tom Kropp, who won his 200th career game earlier this season, is in his 11th season as head coach. From 1990-96, he was co-head coach with Jerry Hueser and the duo posted a 111-60 record. Kropp has led UNK in each of the past four seasons by himself.

By winning at least 20 games from 1995-99, Kropp has the second longest such streak in school history (nine/1976-85). In the 1999-00 campaign, Kropp took a young Loper squad that struggled early and turned them into one of the best clubs in the RMAC at season's end. Only National Champion Metro State beat the Lopes after Jan. 28 last year.