Troy falls, 8-3

March 01, 2008

By Drew Champlin

Troy’s bid for a 56-0 season has gone down the drain, as the Trojans fell 8-3 to Wake Forest in the first game of the doubleheader. More to come, either soon or after game 2, which starts at 6 p.m.

Troy-Wake Forest (Game 1) update

By Drew Champlin

Not sure how many of you guys are getting updates since it’s not on the radio.

Going into the top of the 8th, Wake Forest leads Troy 8-3. Trojan starter Tim Wheeler didn’t have his best stuff but Wake Forest hit a lot of soft balls that found holes.

Troy’s best scoring opportunity came in the 7th. With the bases loaded, WF reliever Phil Negus got Michael Precise to pop out to end the inning. Earlier in the frame, Trevor Tyre was thrown out at the plate.

Still one game left to play after this one, beginning at 6 p.m. at Northcutt Field in Dothan.

Saturday linkage

By Drew Champlin

From the Dothan Eagle, I wrote on Troy’s baseball win over Penn State. My game stories in the paper are different than the postgame blog entries.

I didn’t write any about hoops today, but the Daily News Journal wrote about MTSU being set up for the tournament and MTSU freshman won’t suit up tonight against Troy.

Troy basketball today

By Drew Champlin

Trojans finish the regular season tonight at Middle Tennessee at 7 p.m.

There are several possible scenarios for this outcome. The way I’ve figured it, Troy will open Sun Belt Tournament play next week at either UL-Lafayette, North Texas, Middle Tennessee or New Orleans. Florida Atlantic might be a possibility. It’s more jumbled than it was at the end of last year for the Trojans, when everything that could have happened for Troy happened - including Troy upsetting South Alabama - to host a first-round Sun Belt game (which Troy lost).

I tried to figure out a couple of scenarios, but there are way too many. If you’re a Troy fan, pull for a first-round game at New Orleans or MTSU, because they are the only ones that sound remotely beatable (Troy led by 10 at UNO earlier before blowing it; Troy could have beaten MTSU at home and the Blue Raiders’ style can keep Troy in the game, even though the talent differential is pretty big in MTSU’s favor). I don’t believe Troy stands a chance at ULL or UNT. Troy can score on FAU, but didn’t show me it could stop them.

If Troy wins, the Trojans will be the No. 11 seed no matter what. Troy would play at New Orleans if Troy beats MTSU, UNO beats UNT, UALR wins at ULM, Western Kentucky beats FAU and ULL beats Denver.

This will all be figured out likely after the Trojan baseball team makes its bid to go 8-0.