Tuesday links

November 27, 2007

Drew Champlin

From me, Troy understands FAU’s situation, plus I’ve got a basketball update.

From the Palm Beach Post, here’s an FAU extra. Plus, FAU is coming full circle and its bowl hopes hinge on beating Troy.

From the Sun-Sentinel, check out Ted Hutton’s blog examing the history between Troy and FAU.

Hoops look: Troy at Ole Miss

Drew Champlin

What: Troy (1-3) at Ole Miss (4-0)
When: 7 p.m. CST Nov. 27
Where: Tad Smith Coliseum (8,700), Oxford, MS
Last time out: Troy fell at Georgia State 97-92. Ole Miss beat UL-Monroe of the Sun Belt 94-70.

Probable starting lineups
TROY
G-Jerome Odem (6’1, 160, Sr.) - 7.5 ppg
G-O’Darien Bassett (6’2, 190, Sr.) - 18.8 ppg, 6.5 prg
F-Justin Jonus (6’6, 221, Sr.) - 21 ppg, 4.3 rpg
F-Trayce Macon (6’8, 191, Soph.) - 11 ppg, 7 rpg
C-Tom Jervis (7’0, 230, Jr.) - 7 ppg, 7 rpg

OLE MISS
G-Chris Warren (5’11, 170, Fr.) 12.5 ppg, 6.8 apg
G-Eniel Polynice (6’5, 200, So.) 16.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg
G-David Huertas(6’5, 195, So.) 11.0 ppg
F-Kenny Williams(6’8, 240, Sr.) 11.0 ppg, 8.3 rpg
F-Dwayne Curtis (6’8, 280, Sr.) 11 ppg, 7.5 rpg

What to watch for: Troy’s Jarvis Acker is still out awaiting his eligibility and forward Mario Telfair won’t play after having surgery on his broken nose. Center Tom Jervis and point guard Mike Vogler are also battling leg injuries, but will play. Troy’s defense gave up a bunch of points to a Georgia State team that hadn’t scored 97 points combined in two of its first three games, but the frenetic pace gave the Trojans a chance to win it at the end. The two leaders, Justin Jonus and O’Darien Bassett have struggled with their shot. Ole Miss will press it right back and can score a lot of points. Second-year head coach Andy Kennedy has worked wonders with this program, which could find its way among the SEC’s best before the season is over. Troy has absolutely no match for Ole Miss’ size down low with Dwayne Curtis, Kenny Williams and Jermey Parnell off the bench. It’s a growing process for Troy early, and there’s no doubt the Trojans will take lumps this week, but if the health improves and Acker gets eligible, it could gel into a decent Sun Belt team.

Player to watch, Troy: O’Darien Bassett. The senior all-conference selection is shooting just 32 percent, including just 6-of-23 in the loss to Georgia State. Troy will lose every time with shooting nights like that.

Player to watch, Ole Miss: David Huertas. Pick him or sophomore Eniel Polynice, but people associated with Ole Miss have raved about Huertas’ natural shooting ability. With as many wide-open shots as Troy’s defense allows, Huertas could hit 10 3-pointers in the game.

Troy will win if: The Trojans get near-perfect shooting nights from Jonus and Bassett, get Ole Miss’ big guys in foul trouble, and force numerous turnovers with the press.

Ole Miss will win if: they play even an average game.

Drew’s prediction: Ole Miss 97, Troy 68

Basketball update

November 26, 2007

Drew Champlin

Senior Jarvis Acker won’t make the trip to Ole Miss, but head coach Don Maestri said he hopes the issue to be resolved Wednesday. Whatever it is, there doesn’t seem to be much of an urgency from the academic people at Troy to get it cleared up, which is frustrating to the coaches because Maestri says he knows he’ll be cleared. Acker’s a guy that will graduate next May without even having to take a full course load. He’s got a great story and I hope he’ll be eligible so I can tell it.

It’s a rough patch this week for Troy, especially since the team is banged up. Point guard Mike Vogler is battling through a muscle injury in his leg. Center Tom Jervis can’t even jump because of a calf injury, but is battling through it. Forward Mario Telfair had surgery on his broken nose and they hope to have him back soon, but it won’t be tomorrow.

Troy didn’t sign anyone in the fall signing period. Maestri said the team is very much looking for a physical presence down low, someone in the 240-250 range even if he’s not a dominant scorer. Mississippi State transfer Richard Delk is sitting out this year and he’ll be a pretty good player for the Trojans next year as a scoring guard.

Some Monday stuff

Drew Champlin

It’s championship week here in Troy, though this won’t get as much play as the MAC or CUSA deals, which I believe are both on the ESPN family of networks. This one’s on CSS (though both teams are better than Miami of Ohio), which I don’t even get anymore since I moved to a house just outside of Dothan where Comcast/Charter is not offered. Bah humbug.

Of injury note, both running back Kenny Cattouse and wide receiver Josh Allen are fighting through high ankle sprains and may not play this weekend. That’s another hit to the Y-position, which has pretty much lost Austin Silvoy for the season (as a receiver, he still holds on PATs and FGs) with a torn PCL in his knee. If Allen can’t go, look for Cornelius Williams and Andrew Davis to share time. Davis moved over from the H, where Gerald Tate and Jerrel Jernigan split time, with Patrick Cherry as a third guy.

If Cattouse can’t go, look for Sean Dawkins to get more touches along with freshman DuJuan Harris.

Speaking of which: If you asked any coach who the best football player on this team is, would any of you think Sean Dawkins would be the answer? Well, he is. My Saturday feature will likely be on him, though I have yet to talk to him today.

Some FAU reading

November 25, 2007

Drew Champlin

If you’re interested, FAU has a couple of beat writers with blogs. Here is one from the Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale) beat writer Ted Hutton.

Here’s one from the Palm Beach Post and beat writer Marcus Nelson.