First we look at it from the MTSU angle, where it’s mentioned that the Troy-Arkansas State winner will go to New Orleans. That’s written by Adam Sparks of the Daily News Journal in Murfreesboro.
Last week I was told by a Sun Belt rep that Troy could ask out and go to Birmingham. I don’t know if that has changed. Tomorrow’s the weekly media gathering, and I’ll have a chance to talk to more people about it.
I personally thought that playing 6-6 Memphis or 6-6 Southern Miss wouldn’t be good for the Trojans, but those two teams are a combined 3-0 against Sun Belt teams this year. Southern Miss beat both Arkansas State and ULL, while Memphis beat Arkansas State. As it was learned last year, you’re never too good for a bowl. If Troy does win and go to New Orleans, Southern Miss is definitely the more attractive matchup.
It will be interesting to see how things unfold. The good thing for Troy fans is that there will be a postseason this year, somewhere.
Posted by Drew Champlin on 11/30 at 08:40 PM
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Not sure of my overall record, though I’m sure it’s near-perfect. I’m still visiting family, so hence the lack of original updates the past couple of days. You know how the holidays go.
Light Sun Belt schedule today. Here goes Arkansas State at North Texas, 1 p.m. - ASU has a warmup before the “Sun Belt championship” next week. ASU 45, UNT 14 Florida International vs. Florida Atlantic, 3 p.m. - I look for the Owls to rebound here and end FIU’s “dream season” bowl-eligible hopes. FAU would finish at 6-6. FAU 27, FIU 20 Next Wednesday
For some reason, Middle Tennessee is playing at UL-Lafayette on an ESPN Regional game. Not ESPN or ESPN2, but regional TV. That means me and my cable package can’t get it. I remember asking MTSU head coach Rick Stockstill about it casually during Sun Belt Media Days, and he wasn’t thrilled with it either. Meanwhile, I’ll go with the Blue Raiders to steal a road win, get 6-6 and knock ULL to 5-7. It’s a little revenge from last year. MTSU 34, ULL 24
Now, for a poll
Posted by Drew Champlin on 11/29 at 08:32 AM
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It talks about the CUSA bowl talk. Four teams are eligible, with UTEP, Southern Miss and Memphis needing one more win to get in. Like I mentioned on a post below, I like UTEP’s chances to lose to East Carolina, but unfortunately I don’t like Southern Miss’s chances to lose to 1-10 SMU, or Memphis’ chances to lose to Tulane, but Memphis lost to a bad UCF team last week, so that might actually happen.
Even then, I’m not sure which bowl would get the 5th pick, New Orleans or St. Pete. Now it’s hard to a see a team like, oh, Notre Dame coming to New Orleans, but the more CUSA teams lose this weekend, the better.
Posted by Drew Champlin on 11/26 at 11:09 AM
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FINAL SCORE - Troy beats Georgia State 68-63. Trojans held on to the lead this time, as Regis Huddleston and Mike Vogler hit key free throws at the end to seal the win. I’m not sure how good GSU is, and I’m still not sure how good Troy is, but head coach Don Maestri compared GSU to a Sun Belt team with their physical defense. Troy responded pretty well to that, and only got outrebounded 37-35 though they were in a severe height disadvantage for 27 of 40 minutes of the game (7-footer Tom Jervis played just 13 minutes).
Richard Delk’s the most talented player on this team, but it’s nothing without Vogler. He’s the one that makes it go offensively. There was one possession where the shot clock was winding down, and he hollered out some play, then delivered a beautiful pass over two GSU guys to Antywan Jones, who laid it in at the buzzer. He missed the first two games, losses to UAB and UNC-Wilmington, and I think they might could have beaten UNCW. The game would have run a lot better, because the only other true PG is Josh Williams. Delk and Travis Lee are combo-guys.
My opinion is that Vogler (34 min) and Delk (28) need to play in the 30-plus minute range, while Jervis needs to be in more because of his size. He’s better than he was last year, but they like how scrappy Mario Telfair is. With the other guys, like Lee, Regis Huddleston, Brandon Hazzard and Kenny Ware, it really depends on how hot they are shooting the ball. Hazzard played 25 minutes, Lee 21, Huddleston 17 and Ware 12.
But Vogler and Delk are the two horses. The difference between this year and last is that there are more options around them who can score.
Defense should get a mention too. Not too often that Troy holds Division I-A teams to 63 points. GSU shot just 40 percent. I was told it’s the best defense Troy has played this year. —————————————————————-
At the Troy-Georgia State basketball game, which will tip off at about 7:50 p.m. CST. Troy’s women won 59-56 on the strength of Donnette McNair‘s 17 points and 15 rebounds.
GSU’s top player is Joe Dukes, a 6-foot-1 guard, who is scoring 16 points per game and is also averaging 5.8 assists. He and Troy’s Mike Vogler should be a good matchup at the point position. GSU, coached by former Ole Miss coach Rod Barnes, has something like 5 Division I-A transfers, including Trey Hampton (Ole Miss), Xavier Hansbro (Ole Miss) and Bernard Rimmer (Miss. State). They’re a good-sized bunch, but 2-3 on the season.
HALFTIME - Troy’s up 35-30. Mike Vogler has made some nice passes for dunks. I remember Rod Barnes’ Ole Miss teams in the SEC and they hand-checked you the entire game because they weren’t talented enough to score with you. Well, this team is about the same way, which is surprising that Troy’s been called for double the fouls that GSU has. Troy’s been at its best when Jervis is in the game, because of his size, but he’s got two fouls. Troy should probably be up a little more, but the Trojans haven’t been too careful with the ball. It’s still a game they need to win because it’s at home.
Based on what’s happened so far this year, maybe it’s a good thing the lead isn’t as big.
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One recruiting note, OT Tyler Graves didn’t commit on his visit, neither did OT Jamar Bass. They’ll both take other visits before deciding.
If you want to go to New Orleans, but don’t want to see Troy play a crappy team, pull for SMU to beat Southern Miss, Tulane to beat Memphis and East Carolina to beat UTEP, making all the losing teams 5-7. That would mean (I think) CUSA has just 4 bowl-eligible teams and maybe, just maybe, a 6-6 ACC team could slide in there.
New Orleans is a better destination, but playing Memphis won’t get anyone too excited. Birmingham would be against a better team, even if Connecticut/Rutgers isn’t appealing in name. No, I don’t know where Troy’s going bowling.
Posted by Drew Champlin on 11/25 at 07:34 PM
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