By Drew Champlin
GAMEDAY LINKS
Dothan Eagle: Troy hosts WKU.
Bowling Green Daily News: Western Kentucky’s second season begins at Troy
What: Western Kentucky (8-4) at Troy (6-5)
When: 7 p.m. CST Dec. 29
Where: Trojan Arena, Troy (4,000)
Last time out: Troy fell at South Alabama 84-73; WKU lost at Southern Illinois 88-78
Probable starting lineups
TROY
G-Jerome Odem (6’1, 160, Sr.) - 6.7 ppg, 2.6 apg, 52.9 3pt%
G-O’Darien Bassett (6’2, 190, Sr.) - 17.1 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.8 apg
F-Justin Jonus (6’6, 221, Sr.) - 14.0 ppg, 3.9 rpg
F-Trayce Macon (6’8, 191, Soph.) - 8.1 ppg, 5.0 rpg
F-Jarvis Acker (6’6, 210, Sr.) - 6.7 ppg, 2.8 rpg
WESTERN KENTUCKY
G-Tyrone Brazelton (5’11, 170, Sr.) 12.0 ppg, 3.3 apg
G-AJ Slaughter (6’3, 180, So.) 7.4 ppg, 46.7% 3pt
G-Courtney Lee(6’5, 200, Sr.) 21.8 ppg, 4.2
F-DJ Magley(6’9, 260, Fr.) 5.0 ppg, 2.4 rpg
F-Jeremy Evans (6’9, 190, So.) 3.7 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 1.7 bpg
What to watch for: Troy head coach Don Maestri feels this WKU team is the best to ever come to Trojan Arena. Courtney Lee, the Hilltoppers’ star swingman, has been mentioned as an NBA prospect, even by NBA star LeBron James. Troy is 1-2 against WKU in two years, but could be 3-0. After a win two years ago, Troy let a 10-point lead with 4 minutes to go evaporate, and Lee hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to send it to OT in Bowling Green. That came after Troy’s Justin Jonus missed the front end of a 1-and-1 with five seconds to go that would have iced the game. WKU won in OT. In Troy later last year, Troy’s O’Darien Bassett missed a potential game-tying free throw with five seconds left. After a turnover, Bassett banked in a half-court shot, but officials said he stepped out of bounds. WKU won 75-74.
Both teams will play as many as 12 players.
Player to watch, Troy: Justin Jonus. The 6-foot-6 senior needs to improve on that 29.8 3pt percentage.
Player to watch, WKU: Jeremy Evans. The 6-foot-9 string bean had 18 points and 13 rebounds against Troy last year in Troy.
Troy will win if: The Trojans keep the game going fast-paced and don’t get totally outmanned on the boards. A nice, boisterous crowd would help.
WKU will win if: Lee is on track and the big men dominate down low
Drew’s prediction: The Hilltoppers are a little bit better. WKU 84-78.
Posted by Drew Champlin on 12/29 at 05:36 AM
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By Drew Champlin
Troy hosts Western Kentucky Saturday at 7 p.m. Head coach Don Maestri feels like this WKU team is the best team to ever come to Trojan Arena. Senior swingman Courtney Lee averages more than 21 ppg and he’s being touted as an NBA prospect. Senior point guard Tyrone Brazelton averages 12 ppg but isn’t much of an assist man.
I think the WKU team two years ago was better, but that’s just me. I’m also not a 26-year head basketball coach. That team featured Lee as a sophomore, who was still very good, and Anthony Winchester, a 6-foot-4 guard who was Sun Belt Player of the Year. It also had a dominant center in Elgrace Wilborn and a ton of depth, like this year’s team, but no real point guard as Brazelton was in junior college.
This year’s team has a point guard, but no dominant big man. 6-foot-9, 190-pound forward Jeremy Evans had his fun with Troy last year with an 18-point, 13-rebound performance in a 75-74 win at Troy, but that was more the exception than the norm.
Two years ago? Troy shot WKU out of the gym in a 76-49 win. It was one of just two conference regular-season losses for the Hilltoppers last year.
It should be a good game. It would be better if school was already back in session, but if you’re in the Montgomery, Troy or Dothan area, drive the hour or less and catch a good basketball game.
Here’s some reading. From longtime Sand Mountain Reporter sports editor Shannon J. Allen, here’s a feature on Justin Jonus.
From the Louisville Courier-Journal, the Hilltoppers are wary of improved Sun Belt rivals.
Posted by Drew Champlin on 12/28 at 07:48 PM
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By Drew Champlin
Sorry not a whole lot of news coming from me as of late. With our Dothan Progress/Dothan Eagle/Southern Star Holiday Prep Classic basketball tournament going on, I’m lodged at the desk helping with copy coming in. I will be at Troy vs. WKU Saturday night hoops though, so looking forward to something different.
That’s going on at the Ozark Civic Center tonight, tomorrow, Friday, Saturday and Monday if you want to see some good prep hoops.
Saw this Associated Press report that Tebiarus Gill had signed with Troy out of junior college.
If I remember right, he was pretty well-touted in high school but I’m guessing he went the JUCO route in order to get his grades up.
He’s listed at 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds and could be the guy to replace Gary Banks at the Z-receiver position if they keep Jerrel Jernigan at the inside spots. He could also be a good-sized cover corner that Troy isn’t sure it has coming back.
Regardless the position, he’s got the size that Troy doesn’t have right now at either WR or DB. We’ll see where he ends up.
Posted by Drew Champlin on 12/26 at 08:53 PM
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By Drew Champlin
Here’s what I’m thinking some Troy coaches would like for Christmas
Larry Blakeney - head football coach
1. A raise
2. Raises for his assistants, and the ability to keep most good ones for more than a year or two
3. A bowl game
4. A quarterback for next year (and a running back and a couple of cornerbacks)
Don Maestri, head basketball coach
1. A raise
2. Raises for his assistants
3. A new arena
4. A 6-foot-8, 250-pound behemoth down low
Bobby Pierce, head baseball coach
1. A raise
2. Raises for his assistants
3.
Facility improvements, well Santa brought that, how bout some pitching?
4. A third straight NCAA Regional berth
Posted by Drew Champlin on 12/25 at 04:40 PM
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By Drew Champlin
Since there’s not much Troy athletics going on this holiday season, in a few days I will post a Top 10 Troy athletic moments of the year - probably on Dec. 31.
My question to you, faithful readers, is what are your suggestions?
We already know of two recent ones. This could include memorable games, good or bad, in all sports, or decisions to come or go from Troy by certain coaches/players.
Leave a comment or e-mail me at
. I’ll be out of pocket Dec. 23-25 so I may not get to them until after Christmas, but here’s wish you all a safe and happy holidays and a Merry Christmas, and a thanks for reading the blog. Want a New Year’s resolution? Here’s one - tell five different people about the blog and let’s see if we can double the hits next year that we got this year.
Posted by Drew Champlin on 12/22 at 10:34 AM
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