Troy missed out on a big-time running back

January 13, 2008

Drew Champlin

When Dillon (Texas) running back Brian “Smash” Williams announced his intentions to play for nearby TMU. Sources close to the situation say Troy had Williams pegged as its No. 1 RB next year and would have abandoned the spread for whatever would get Smash to the NFL in three years, but Williams picked TMU at about 8:50 p.m. CST Friday night, live on NBC, in front of several friends at a local restaurant. He picked TMU over Oklahoma Tech, Alabama and Michigan.

I hope you guys watch Friday Night Lights. It’s the best show on television, and I think has three more episodes to air before production stopped after the writers’ strike.

Troy falls at FAU

January 12, 2008

Drew Champlin

In case you didn’t see it, Troy lost its second straight, this time at Florida Atlantic.

Seems as if the Owls got guard Paul Graham going. Guy had been suspended for almost two months but found his groove in his third game back. I said if he and big-time forward Carlos Monroe had big games, FAU would win, and it did. That’s a talented team, a better team than Troy, but had been winless in SBC play. Still, Troy needed a win there.

Now, we’re seeing what Sun Belt coaches saw prior to the year. I think Troy will win its share of Sun Belt home games remaining (probably 5 of 7), but right now I can’t see them winning another Sun Belt road game.

Sharing some love

Drew Champlin

edit - was asked to remove an earlier post.

Troy on television

Drew Champlin

A couple of TV notes Troy-related, though they overlap.

Basketball - Tonight at 5 p.m. CST, Troy is at Florida Atlantic on CSS

Football - At 5 p.m. CST, on the VERSUS channel is the Hula Bowl. Former Troy linebacker Marcus Richardson. He is No. 26 on the East. Here are the Hula Bowl players.

Hoops look: Troy at Florida Atlantic

Drew Champlin

What: Troy (8-7, 1-3 Sun Belt) at FAU (4-15, 0-4)
When: 5 p.m. CST Jan. 12
Where: FAU Arena “The Burrow” in Boca Raton
Last time out: Troy lost at FIU 74-49, FAU lost at MTSU 61-57

Probable starting lineups
TROY
G-Jerome Odem (6’1, 160, Sr.) - 7.3 ppg
G-O’Darien Bassett (6’2, 190, Sr.) - 18.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg
F-Jarvis Acker (6’6, 210, Sr.) - 6.8 ppg, 3.8 rpg
F-Trayce Macon (6’8, 191, Soph.) - 8.3 ppg, 5.1 rpg
C-Tom Jervis (7’0, 230, Jr.) - 6.7 ppg, 4.9 rpg

FAU
G-Sean Alarcon (6’3, 195, Sr.) 5.4 ppg
G-Carderro Nwoji (6’0, 175, Jr.) 9.3 ppg
G-Sanchez Hughley(6’4, 225, RFr.) 4.8 ppg
F-Jeff Parmer(6’8, 235, Sr.) 7.0 ppg, 4.1 rpg
F-Carlos Monroe (6’8, 245, Jr.) 16.6 ppg, 9.2 rpg

What to watch for: Both teams are off to slow starts in Sun Belt play. Troy’s momentum was halted by a horrendous offensive performance Wednesday against an inferior FIU team in a 74-49 loss. Troy forced 25 turnovers, but couldn’t do anything offensively. The Trojans move Tom Jervis into the starting lineup, pushing Jarvis Acker to the 3-spot and Justin Jonus to the bench. The move was to have a better rebounding team at the start of the game and to use Jonus’ offensive ability to create a spark off the bench. FAU has the league’s best frontcourt player in Carlos Monroe and a good bit of talent, but have been plagued by chemistry problems.

Player to watch, Troy: Justin Jonus. The 6-foot-6 senior hasn’t scored double digits in four games but when he’s on, he’s one of the league’s best 3-point shooters.

Player to watch, FAU: Paul Graham. The junior guard is FAU’s second-leading scorer at 14 ppg, but has been suspended for much of the year. He returned two games ago but is still looking to find his groove off the bench.

Troy will win if: it makes a few shots and doesn’t get too badly outrebounded.

FIU will win if: it gets Monroe to dominate and a good game from Paul Graham.

Drew’s prediction: FAU 78-72