Basketball/baseball update

January 30, 2008

By Drew Champlin

Basketball-wise, forward Justin Jonus is questionable for Thursday’s game with back spasms, head coach Don Maestri said. Knowing Jonus like I do, I think he’ll play but I wonder how effective he’ll be.

Head coach Bobby Pierce was in Dothan Wednesday at the ScreenTech Wiregrass Baseball Classic press conference. This will be the last such tournament in Dothan because the NCAA has shown time and time again it doesn’t care about the sport of college baseball, cutting down on the number of weekends in the college baseball season.

Next year, Troy has 11 conference weekends and just 2 non-conference weekends. With Troy completing the 4.7 million renovation project to Riddle-Pace, the Trojans are trying to get as many home games in Troy as possible.

The shortening of weekends also calls for more midweek games. More midweek games = more classes missed = lower GPAs. All because a few northern teams complained. Not that any of them are any good at college baseball, anyway. Thanks, NCAA.

Off my soapbox. I’m looking forward to seeing Troy’s 2008 squad. Lots of question marks, but a lot of talent is on that roster. It will hit, but will it pitch? Time will tell.

EDIT - Pierce did say the field would be ready for the Feb. 22 season opener, including the wall, sound system, field, etc. The power is scheduled to be turned on for the first time next Tuesday. The new coaches’ offices/clubhouse won’t be ready, I don’t believe, but everything essential to playing the game will be ready.

Preseason softball

January 29, 2008

By Drew Champlin

From the Sun Belt office, Troy was picked third in the preseason poll

2008 Sun Belt Conference Softball Preseason Coaches Poll
Team (First Place Votes)

Louisiana-Lafayette – 80 (80)
Florida Atlantic – 70 (1)
Troy – 62
WKU – 46
South Alabama – 45
Middle Tennessee – 40
North Texas – 32
Florida International – 16
ULM – 14

Preseason All-Sun Belt Team
Brittany Cuevas (Louisiana-Lafayette, So., P)

Jennifer Kempf (WKU, Jr., P)

Rachelle Boucher (WKU, So., C)

Jessica Lyle (Troy, Sr., 1B)

Jenny Stevens (South Alabama, So., 2B)

Katya Muller (NT, Sr., SS)

Rebecca Horesky (WKU, Jr., 3B)

Kim Rodriguez (FIU, Jr., OF)

Karli Hubbard (Louisiana-Lafayette, Jr., OF)

Evelyne Pare (South Alabama, Sr., OF)

Heidi Johnson (Troy, Jr., OF)

Holly Tankersley (Louisiana-Lafayette, Sr., DP)

Preseason Player of the Year
Holly Tankersley (Louisiana-Lafayette, Sr., DP)

Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Jennifer Kempf (WKU, Jr., P)

Troy basketball blown out

January 27, 2008

By Drew Champlin

Troy fell 87-66 to ULL Sunday. It was 41-40 at the half after Jerome Odem hit a 3 at the buzzer, but ULL ran away with it in the second half.

ULL was just a lot better than Troy. It’s hard to find many more games where the Trojans could win on its schedule. There’s still 9 conference games left, but Troy must go 7-2 just to even its record.

On the women’s side, Troy, which is playing ULL right now, is without the services of leading scorer Amy Lewis. I think I’ve jinxed her after writing a story about her last week. She’s missing her first career game after 104 consecutive starts with an undisclosed injury.

I won’t be around at the end so I’m not sure what it is. My best guess is something to do with her right foot. She’s in street clothes on the bench. On her left foot is a shoe. On her right foot, I have no idea. It looks like a bedroom slipper covering a protective boot. Hopefully for her and Troy’s sake, she’ll be back soon because she’s a quality representative of the program.

Sunday hoop links

By Drew Champlin

First off, much apologies for not providing a Troy vs. ULL hoops look. The Sunday early afternoon game threw me for a loop, and I didn’t want to bury the stuff I had posted yesterday. ULL is a lot like UALR, no real superstar but a lot of guys that can hit an open shot. Seems like many times they’ll run about 5 guys out there that range between 6-foot-5 and 6-foot-7. Troy coach Don Maestri says they play tough defense. If so, I like ULL 76-73 in keeping with the recent trend

Daily Advertiser: ULL coach harps on transition
Dothan Eagle: Troy tries to get back on track (I didn’t write the headline on the web because they’re only on a one-game losing streak)

All American Football League

January 26, 2008

By Drew Champlin

Haven’t paid a whole lot of attention to it, but former Troy OL Zarah Yisrael made headlines as the first pick in the draft by team Arkansas. Looks like there’s six teams - Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Texas, Michigan, Tennessee

Here’s a complete round-by-round selection list. Former Troy left tackle Rob Austin and defensive tackle Frankie Lloyd were picked by team Alabama.

Here’s a link to the league’s web site.