MTSU

Daily Conference Poll: Who Will Win the Sun Belt?

Shawn Siegel — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 01:02:15 -0500

Sun Belt Basketball Preview: 08-09

CHN — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 21:51:49 -0500

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Conference Rank: 18th

All-Sun Belt Team
Pos.	Player	Team	Yr.

G	Josh White	North Texas	So
G	Dominic Tilford	So. Alabama	Sr
F	Desmond Yates	MTSU	Jr
F	Alex Galindo	Florida Int'l	Sr
F	Carlos Monroe	Florida Atlantic	Sr
CHN Award Winners		Returning Leaders
Mid-Major All-Americans Carlos Monroe Desmond Yates		Points: Desmond Yates 16.0 Rebounds: Carlos Monroe 9.5 Assists: Kevin Kanaskie 3.3

Sun Belt Standings
Nat'l	Team	League	Tourney

79	South Alabama	Sun Belt	1	NCAA
95	Middle Tenn St	Sun Belt	2
123	West Kentucky	Sun Belt	3
175	Ark Little Rock	Sun Belt	4
191	LA Lafayette	Sun Belt	5
201	North Texas	Sun Belt	6
213	Florida Intl	Sun Belt	7
231	Florida Atlantic	Sun Belt	8
241	Denver	Sun Belt	9
247	Arkansas State	Sun Belt	10
264	New Orleans	Sun Belt	11
280	LA Monroe	Sun Belt	12
307	Troy	Sun Belt	13

*Click on links for full Top 144 team preview

Poll: Who Do You Think Will Win the Sun Belt?

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Rise & Fall: The Sun Belt

State of '08: Tennessee

Shawn Siegel — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 12:22:22 -0400

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Duke or Carolina? BC or UMASS? Gonzaga or Washington.. or Washington State? What is the best program in each state? While there's not much competition in Hawaii.. there are great debates to be had in loaded regions like California, North Carolina, and Texas. The State of '08 is a ranking of every program in every state.. based mostly on recent success (the last five years) mixed in with subjective factors such as conference prestige, historical success, and overall program direction.

For more info, check out the State of '08 introduction.

TENNESSEE

MEMPHIS - Whatever blueprint John Calipari follows seems to work. In his eighth year at Memphis, the Tigers advanced to the National Title game after making back to back Elite Eights. At UMASS, it also took eight years for him to reach the Final Four.

TENNESSEE - The Vols are in the midst of a good run under Bruce Pearl, three NCAA Tournaments in a row including back to back Sweet Sixteen trips. Before Pearl arrived, Tennessee hadn't made the Tourney in five years.

VANDERBILT - Vandy has been a consistent winner the last five seasons under Kevin Stallings. There's been four 20-win seasons, 5 postseason trips, and a pair of Sweet Sixteen runs. After winning 26 games last year (the 2nd best in school history), the team's first round loss to Siena was a bit of a downer.

BELMONT - Long-time coach Rick Byrd is suddenly the leader of a mid-major power. Belmont has made three NCAA Tournaments in a row, and is once agan favored to win the Atlantic Sun in 08-09.

AUSTIN PEAY - Dave Loos is nearing 20 years at APSU, a time in which the Govs have consistently been one of the top teams in the OVC. In the last decade, there hasn't even been a sub-.500 finish in conference play. In the last six years, they've made 2 NCAA trips and one NIT.

6. MIDDLE TENNESSEE - Before Kermit Davis took over in 2002, MTSU was coming off a brutal season that included just 4 D1 wins. While Davis hasn't led the Blue Raiders to the Big Dance, the program has made amazing strides under his leadership. Last year, the team advanced to the Sun Belt finals, and many feel they are that league's team to beat in '09.

7. CHATTANOOGA - Just as Davidson is the current Southern Conference darling, Chattanooga was once the league's team to beat. The last decade has been a bit more pedestrian however, with just a lone tourney trip in 2005, though the team came close in '03 & '04 as well. The last few teams have been mediocre, with win totals boosted by playing an oddly high amount of D2 teams.

8. EAST TENNESSEE STATE - With the exception of a horrible 2005 campaign, ETSU has been one of the A-Sun's most consistent winners. In 2004, the Bucs won the league title, in 2007 they dominated the regular season before falling to Belmont in the finals, and they were solid once again in 2008.

9. TENNESSEE TECH - The Golden Eagles haven't won their conference tournament in over 40 years, but they've come close in the last decade. From 2000-2003, Tech was one of the best teams in the OVC but they couldn't get over the postseason hump. The last five years have been up and down however, and this year could be one of the downers.

10. LIPSCOMB - From 2002 to 2004, this was one of the country's worst program. But after those initial growing pains, this young program has made nice progress in the A-Sun. 2006 was the program's best season with 21 wins, a 143 RPI, and a close loss to Belmont in the conference title game. This year, expectations are a bit muted.

11. TENNESSEE STATE - In the early part of the decade, Tennessee State was one of the country's worst programs. But a lot of progress has been made, and last year was the first time in a decade that the Tigers won an OVC Tournament game. Not only did TSU win one game, but they made it to the conference championship.

12. TENNESSEE-MARTIN - Over the last 20 years, UTM has hovered between bad and worse, with only 2 winning seasons in that period. But last year was surprisingly mediocre with a 15-16 D1 record and 11-9 OVC finish. Now, there's suddenly high expectations for the first time, and some publications are projecting a league title.

* Note: An unfinished version of this article, with the wrong ranking (Lipscomb in 12th) was originally posted, but it has since been corrected.

Last: South Carolina - Next: Texas

State of '08: The Introduction (& State list/links)

2008-09 Middle Tennessee State Basketball Preview: #95

Joel Welser — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 10:58:04 -0400

Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders

Overall Rank: #95

Conference Rank: #2 Sun Belt

2007-08: 17-15, 11-7, 3^rd

2007-08 postseason: none

Middle Tennesse State returns just about everybody and brings in some talented newcomers. That will allow Coach Kermit Davis to have a deeper lineup and players like Kevin Kanaskie will not have to play over 35 minutes a game this year. With that new depth and a whole lot of experience, not to mention that both South Alabama and Western Kentucky will not be as strong as last year, this is the time for the Blue Raiders to make a run at a Sun Belt title.

Who’s Out:

Josh Sain and Uriah Hethington only played in 15 games last year before heading out of the program. The Blue Raiders survived without them most of the year anyway, so it will not be much of an issue. The transfer of Broderick Gilchrest could have a longer lasting effect on the team. Gilchrest only averaged 10.2 minutes per game as a freshman, and that number would have gone down this year, but Gilchrest could have been a major contributor in a year or two.

Who’s In:

Middle Tennessee State is building for success this year by bringing in a few junior college transfers. Eric Allen is a great shooter and he could be starting from day one. And that is saying a lot on a team that returns five starters. Even if he does not start, Allen will be a high scoring spark off the bench. Montarrio Haddock is another junior college shooting guard. Haddock is not a pure shooter like Allen, but can score in bunches mostly around the basket. His former teammate at Brunswick Community College in North Carolina, Josh Jones, will add depth up front. At 6-9 and 240 pounds, Jones can battle in the paint; however, he also has decent ballhandling skills and can pass effectively from the lane. He might not put up huge numbers, but Jones is still improving and will provide experienced depth off the bench. Incoming freshman point guard DeMario Williams and redshirt freshman Antwaun Boyd are going to have to bide their time on the bench for at least a year.

Who to Watch:

One does not usually rank second on a team in scoring, start 26 games and start the next year on the bench. It might not happen here either, but Demetrius Green’s starting job is not safe. Neither is Nigel Johnson’s. Overall Johnson was not as prolific of a scorer as Green, but Johnson did come on strong at the end of the year and helped the team in other ways by averaging 4.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists. Their starting jobs are in jeopardy because of the addition of Allen and the return of Calvin O’Neil. O’Neil only played in part of one game last year before suffering a season ending knee injury. His toughness and 6-4 frame make him a dangerous player, but it is O’Neil’s ability to play defense that very well could earn him the starting job. Two things are for sure…Allen, Green, Johnson and O’Neil will all play plenty of minutes on the wing and Kanaskie will get them the ball. Kanaskie is a smart floor leader and a solid scorer. He is a good shooter from long range, but he will also get to the basket with ease. His assist-to-turnover ratio took a turn for the worse in 2007-2008 compared to the previous season, but with so many weapons to work with, Kanasie’s senior season should be a great one.

Final Projection:

Two years ago Desmond Yates exploded onto the scene as a freshman. Last year he got even better and averaged 16.0 points per game. Now as an upperclassman, the 6-7 forward will become known outside of the Sun Belt. Theryn Hudson, a 6-10, 250 pound center, compliments Yates quite well. Hudson is a decent scorer under the basket and is the team’s best rebounder and shotblocker. Junior Donaries Hair and the newcomers will have to provide depth for Yates and Hudson. There are 11 upperclassmen on the roster. Sure, some of them are new faces, but there is a heck of a lot of experience on this team. If this is not the year Middle Tennessee State makes the NCAA Tournament, it may be a while.

Projected Post-season Tournament: none

Projected Starting Five:

Kevin Kanaskie, Senior, Guard, 11.7 points per game

Nigel Johnson, Senior, Guard, 7.3 points per game

Calvin O’Neil, Junior, Guard, 10.0 points per game

Desmond Yates, Junior, Forward, 16.0 points per game

Theryn Hudson, Senior, Center, 9.1 points per game

Complete Top 144 Ranking | 2008-09 Preview & Awards | Coach Interviews | Discuss the Preview

Championship Week: Stars of the Day

Shawn Siegel — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 09:06:53 -0400

We handpick the best performances of the day, whether it be stat lines that make you drool, or clutch performances. Either way, its our way of showing the love:

Kevin Kanaskie - MTSU

The junior scored a season-high 23 points in an upset win over South Alabama that shakes up the Big Dance

George Hill - IUPUI

Lit it up like always with 32 points and 13 boards as IUPUI advances to the Summit League title game

Robert Jarvis - Oral Roberts

Scored 17 of his 19 in the 2nd half as the Golden Eagles rebounded from a slow start to beat IPFW

Other Top Performers

De'Jon Jackson - San Diego - In the Toreros WCC Championship victory, Jackson had 16 & 8 and made big 2nd half plays

Will Thomas - George Mason - The Patriots advanced to the CAA title game behind 18 & 13 from Thomas

Previous Stars of the Day

March 9th - Brandon Johnson, San Diego

March 5th - Marquis Weddle, UTM

March 4th - Joe Alexander, WVU

March 3rd - Kevin Love, UCLA

March 2nd - Tyrese Rice, BC

Three Stars of the Day: Golden, Yates, Graham

Shawn Siegel — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 09:18:19 -0500

Three Stars of The Day

We handpick the best performances of the day, whether it be stat lines that make you drool, or clutch performances. Either way, its our way of showing the love:

Todd Golden - Saint Mary's

The senior sharpshooter was 6 for 6 for three, and the Gaels needed everyone of them to put away Gonzaga in OT

Desmond Yates - MTSU

Played all 45 minutes in an OT win over Arkansas State, and hit a pristine 12 of 14 from the floor for 28 points

Louis Graham - Georgia Southern

The Eagles leading scorer continued his great play of late with 25 points in a close win over SoCo rival UNCG

Other Top Performers

John Bryant - Santa Clara - Controlled the paint with 15 points, 13 boards and 5 blocks in a victory over Portland

Rob Ferguson - Saint Joseph's - Hit five threes, and finished with 20 points, in the Hawks blow out win over Villanova

Jeremy Pargo - Gonzaga - Had they won, Pargo would be #1 on the night, as he had an impressive 27 point, 9 assist effort

Previous Stars of the Day

February 3rd - Tyler Hansbrough, UNC

January 30th - Chase Budinger, Arizona

January 29th - Beasley/Walker, Kansas State

January 28th - Chris Godzinski, Wofford

January 27th - DeMarcus Nelson, Duke

January 26th - Hackett/Lewis/Mayo, USC

January 24th - Jerryd Bayless, Arizona

January 22nd - Patrick Patterson, Kentucky

January 21st - DJ Augustin, Texas

January 20th - Dezmon Harris, Weber State

January 19th - James Gist, Maryland

January 18th - Abbott/Harden, Arizona State

January 17th - Dionte Christmas, Temple

January 14th - Roy Hibbert, Georgetown

January 11th - Lester Hudson, Tennessee-Martin

January 9th - DJ White, Indiana

January 8th - Lester Hudson, Tennessee-Martin

January 7th - Wayne Ellington, UNC

January 6th - Shan Foster, Vanderbilt

January 5th - Damon Huffman, Brown

January 4th - Luke Harangody, Notre Dame

January 3rd - Damon Huffman, Brown

January 2nd - Martin Zeno, Texas Tech

November/December Star of the Day Archive