Little baseball note

February 11, 2008

Drew Champlin

Took a stadium tour of the renovated Riddle-Pace Field today. Everything looks pretty good except for the still-under-construction coaches’ offices/clubhouse, but that will be done by the end of March.

Senior Ryan Ellison will get the opening day start on the mound. The righty’s been very, very, very good at times and very, very, very bad at times. When he’s on, he’s got top 3 stuff in the league.

On injuries, senior JJ Whetsel is throwing live as is junior Steven Morelock. Both missed all of last year with arm injuries. Senior Jeff Green and JUCO transfer Jordan Mathers are getting there. Both have had arm surgery in the last year.

Troy falls to South Alabama

February 10, 2008

Drew Champlin

Justin Jonus gave Troy fans something to cheer about with his 10 3s and 32 points, but Troy fell to league leader South Alabama 90-72.

The 10 3-pointers are a school record, but Jonus didn’t get much help otherwise. It didn’t help that South Alabama was red-hot too. For the most part, Troy played well, but they just aren’t as good as South Alabama. The Trojans can play with every team in this league, but it hasn’t shown that it can beat most of them. It’s all a four-game season for the bulk of the league, so if Troy’s playing well at the end, it has a shot in the tournament to do a little bit of damage.

Troy-South Alabama game update

Drew Champlin

Junior Kenny Ware draws his first start at forward, replacing Trayce Macon. Not sure why or where this move came, but you can’t blame Troy for trying to change things up. Ware’s definitely in for his defense and hustle.

HALFTIME - South Alabama leads 44-37. Troy’s not playing that bad, except for in the last four minutes when the shot just went cold. Biggest difference in the game? South Alabama 9-of-10 from the FT line. Troy 0-of-0.

What has to happen in the second half? Troy has to be hot from the outside. The looks are there. Tough, though as South Alabama stars Demetric Bennett and Domonic Tilford are lights out when given just a glimmer of space.

Maybe I’m at a South Alabama home game

Drew Champlin

The first thing I noticed when I got to Trojan Arena was a big South Alabama tailgate right outside the arena (not in the parking lot, on the grass) just feet from the building. Whatever they had smelled pretty good, but I wonder if Troy charged them a hefty sum. There’s a decent amount of USA fans here already, at least equal or more than the Troy fans here 26 minutes before tip.

You know those floor seats behind the goal near the visitors’ bench? Usually Troy students occupy both sides of the three rows of bleachers. South Alabama’s students that traveled up have taken over one of the sides.

I do wonder this. How does anyone at Troy let that happen? There’s no problem with them bringing fans, but on the floor? That’s like a home court advantage away from home.

South Alabama has the league’s best program right now, and with an RPI in the high 30s, if they keep winning but lose in the Sun Belt tournament championship game, they could get an at-large bid. This league needs two teams in the NCAA tournament, but it can’t gripe in hoops like it can in football. It needs to get better besides South Alabama and Western Kentucky.

I’ll have some postgame thoughts later this afternoon. The media is being treated to a tour of the renovated Riddle-Pace Field in between games. It’s weird driving by and seeing a big wall in right field, but everything’s looking good so far. How good will the baseball team be? If they can find some pitching, they can be pretty good.

Troy vs. South Alabama, Sunday at 1 p.m.

Drew Champlin

GAMEDAY LINKS

Dothan Eagle: Troy needs a win
Mobile Press-Register: Jags wary of road trap

For those of you who like the roundball, Troy is hosting South Alabama Sunday at 1 p.m.

In the Sun Belt, teams are allowed to change their schedules around. Troy head coach Don Maestri isn’t a fan of it, but if everyone else is doing it, why not? So after a long trip to Denver, Troy moved their Saturday games vs. South Alabama (men and women) to today. The men play at 1 p.m. and the women 30 minutes following.

South Alabama has been up all season long. Troy has been bad for most of the conference schedule. The Trojans need to win out to finish at .500, which would give them a first-round home game. 8-10 got them a home game last year. But look at this schedule (vs. South, @ WKU, @UNT, vs. FAU, vs. FIU, @MTSU) and tell me where you see more than 1 or 2 wins.

COMING THIS WEEK: Defensive coordinator Jeremy Rowell breaks down the defensive signees. Baseball coach Bobby Pierce will tell me more about this year’s team. The season opener is soon, Feb. 22 vs. Rhode Island.