Hoops look: Troy at Ole Miss
November 27, 2007
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
