UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. - The Saginaw Valley State Men's Basketball program has launched the Christopher Jacobi Roundball Club for the 2024-25 season, which serves as the support group for SVSU Men's Basketball.
"The Christopher Jacobi Roundball Club has been a tremendous support system for our program over the years and we are so grateful for those who have previously donated. With 40% of our budget being fundraised dollars, the Roundball Club is an essential piece in our operating and developing the type of quality program that the Cardinal Basketball Family — which includes alumni, parents, friends, and fans — will feel proud to support and that our student-athletes deserve," said 13th-year head coach Randy Baruth. "All funds generated go directly to our student-athletes by way of gear, travel, nutrition, leadership development, and team building."
Men's Basketball alum (2016) Damon Bozeman was one of the fiercest competitors on the court and is reaching out to all Cardinal fans to step up and increase their support. "As a former player and graduate under Coach Baruth, I know first-hand what kind of program he runs. He had a huge impact on my success on and off the court and is a huge reason I'm where I'm at with my career and the memories I've made, including our Elite 8 run and playing professionally overseas. So that is why I am pledging to help, and why I am urging other supporters to as well. We can compete financially to assist Coach and the program get to the level needed to consistently win in the most competitive D2 league in the country, the GLIAC."
To be a perennial contender for banners and rings, the resources and funds must be there. The Christopher Jacobi Roundball Club is essential to helping the program reach its maximum potential. The coaching staff and student-athletes ask you to please consider donating to help push the program to new heights.
In 2021, the program announced the renaming of their Roundball Club for Christopher Jacobi, who started at point guard for the Cardinals in 1990-1994. Chris, 49, passed away early in the morning on September 5th, 2021. He left behind his wife, Morgan, and their four children, Titus, Lucy, Livie, and Jack. Chris was not only a talented player on the court – finishing in the record books for career assists, career-made made three's, and career steals – but a standout person off it.
To learn more about the Christopher Jacobi Roundball Club, and the various membership levels, and to make a donation, head to https://svsucardinals.com/sports/mbkb/RoundballClub/index
The Christopher Jacobi Roundball Club serves as the support group for SVSU Men's Basketball, which is coming off the 2023-24 season that saw four men's basketball players earn all-league awards with Tre Garrett earning first-team All-GLIAC and All-Defensive team. Juniors Freddie McIntosh and Toodles Seal were named second-team All-GLIAC and Sophomore Kevonne Taylor was an All-Defensive selection. Garrett, Dylan West, McIntosh, and Seal all reached 1,000 career points during the season as well. Taylor led the GLIAC in blocks per game with 2.59 (he was sixth in all of NCAA DII in that category).
The Cardinals have reloaded for the 2024-25 season with an incoming recruiting class that includes one junior college, two Division 3 transfers, and five stellar high school student-athletes. Following three home exhibition games, the Cardinals open the season on the road at Hillsdale on November 8th before a rematch with Hillsdale in the season home opener on the 10th.